“Yikes. It’s that hard, is it?”
She nods and then looks immediately shocked and guilty. “Not that I’d trade him for the world. I love him to bits.”
“I’m sure.” I smile, realizing that I’ve had this exact conversation before. “I’ve noticed so many mums seem to feel bad for admitting motherhood isn’t all tea parties and roses.”
Hannah nods enthusiastically. “It’s true. I felt horribly disloyal just now.”
“No need. A little venting is healthy from time to time.”
“Thanks,” she says with a shy smile. “I bet you’ll have loads of breaks from your baby, what with all the servants and whatnot.”
“Yes, I’m very fortunate.”
“I heard you were going to hire several nannies.”
“Did you?”
“Yes, it was on the news.” She blushes. “They were speculating that you’d hire ten.”
The way she looks at me does something to me. It’s a mix of envy and disdain, like she both wishes she could hire a bunch of nannies and is judging me for it.
The woman to her right, who up to this point has been flipping through a magazine, sets it down on her lap and says, “Ten nannies? I can’t even imagine trustingonestranger taking care of my baby, let aloneten.”
Who asked you, Judgey McRude? Maybe these aren’t my people after all. Shaking my head, I say, “Well, the media often gets the story wrong.”
“So, you’re not hiring a team of nannies, then?” Judgey asks, her onyx eyebrow raised.
“Nope,” I say with a smile. “None, actually.”
None? That was a rather bold statement, Tessa.
Nikki, who’s been painting my hair with the dye, stops brushing for a second and peers over my shoulder to look at me. She places the back of her hand on my forehead. “Just checking for a fever,” she says, laughing.
I laugh along with her. “I’m fine. I just don’t want to turn the baby over to some stranger.”
“Good for you!” Judgey woman says. “I have a lot of respect for hands-on mums. I mean, why have the child if you’re not planning to raise them yourself?”
“Exactly,” I say. “Besides, I’m really just a regular person, so I fully intend to raise my children to be in touch with...you know, normal people, like us.” There, that ought to prove I’m one of them. I’m just Tessa from the block.
“How refreshing!” Hannah says, nodding. “I figured you’d be trying to escape your roots, not embrace them.”
“Oh, honey, the only roots I’m escaping are the ones right here,” I say, pointing to my head.
This earns me a laugh from the women around the table.Oooh, that felt good.
Kyle, who is dabbing colour on Hannah’s hair, cuts in. “Good for you, Princess. Do not let some young hussies into your house under any circumstances. When you’ve got a man like Prince Arthur, you claim your territory and protect it like a tigress.”
“Oh, gosh. I never would have thought of that. That really isn’t why I’m not hiring a nanny.”
Nikki makes a light coughing sound that resembles the word ‘bullshit.’
Hannah tilts her head and stares at me. “But won’t you be too busy with all your royal functions to look after your baby?”
“No more than any other mum. Besides, my parents will want to help out as much as they can.”
Judgey McLikesMeNow says, “How does Prince Arthur feel about this?”
“Reallysupportive,” I say. “He wants to be involved as much as he can with the baby, too.”
