“That would be marvelous, Gio. Thanks a bunch.” Francesca flits around the table, giving my shoulder a squeeze, kissing our mother on the cheek, and then leaning down to kiss Father. She immediately pulls back, her dark eyes widening. “Oh! Are you growing a beard again, Father? You’re all stubbly.”
Our father beams at her. “I’m considering it,” he says, clearly pleased with himself.
“Do it. You look amazing with a beard. A total silver fox.” Francesca plunks herself down at the table.
I roll my eyes. My sister issucha daddy’s girl.
“Isn’t it a stunning day today?” she says as she pours herself a cup of tea.
For the record, it is not a stunning day. It’s Monday, and everyone knows Mondays are terrible, no matter how much sunshine there may be.
My sister turns to me. “You look like you’ve swallowed a lemon, Fred. What’s up with you?”
“Nothing,” I grind out, my jaw tight.
“We’ve been discussing whether Frederic should marry Princess Astrid of Elkevik,” Mother begins brightly, as though we’ve all but set the date.
“Mother,” I warn.
Francesca’s eyes have widened. “What?You’re in love with Princess Astrid? But you only met her last week! And before that you hadn’t seen her since we were children.”She gapes at me as though I’ve sprouted another head. “Is this for real?” Her eyes swivel between me and our parents and back again.
“I’m not in love,” I say decisively. “How could I be in love with someone after spending only a handful of days with her?”
“Haven’t you heard of love at first sight?” my sister asks.
“I am not in love,” I repeat.
“Then why are you talking about marrying her?” Francesca asks as she butters a piece of toast.
“Good question.” I look pointedly at our parents.
“We think Princess Astrid might be a good fit for your brother,” Mother says. “See?” She holds up the offending photo.
“Fred! You’re smiling!” my sister exclaims.
I harrumph. “Exactly. It’s just a smile.Nota declaration of love.”
“Well, I suggest you don’t dothatagain in a hurry,” she replies with a giggle.
“Do what?” I ask.
“Smile. It’s so rare, everyone will think you’re having a stroke.”
“Hilarious,” I deadpan.
“They didn’t think he was having a stroke,” Mother corrects. “They thought he’d fallen in love with Princess Astrid.”
Gio delivers Francesca’s eggs, and she beams up at him. “Thanks ever so much.”
“You’re more than welcome, ma’am,” he replies with a wink.
Francesca has always been friendly with the staff. It’s ill-advised. I keep them at arm’s length because that’s the way it should be. That’s the way I was taught. My fatherdoes that, and his father before him, and his father before him.
Not Francesca. She doesn’t play by those rules. I suppose she’s a little like Princess Astrid in that way.
“I would be more than happy to have Astrid as a sister-in-law. I think she’s just marvelous. We still fax each other, you know. We have been doing this since we were children. She always tells me such fun things about her chickens and her goats,” Francesca says.
“Princess Astridismarvelous, darling. You’re quite right,” Mother agrees.
