Royal Wedding - Meg Cabot Page 0,106

home now. We’ll see you later, Clarisse.”

“Pregnant?” She stood there murmuring, still staring at the ultrasound. “Twins?”

I don’t know what she did after that because Michael shut the door behind us. He doesn’t really approve of the way I broke the news to my parents (well, paternal grandparent).

But I think I did the best I could under the circumstances, which admittedly were not ideal.

Now I’m in bed with my foot up (finally), eating Rocky Road ice cream (I’m totally going to set up an appointment with a nutritionist like Michael wants us to, but until then, I’m just going to finish this ice cream) and watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer with Fat Louie and Michael beside me.

I suspect tomorrow is going to be a bad day—like, epically bad—so right now I’m going to take Dr. Delgado’s advice and practice gratitude.

Three things I’m grateful for:

1. That I’m safe in bed with the person (and cat) I care about most in the world, watching this awesome TV show.

2. That I have a sister, even though I don’t know how she’s doing. I hope she’s okay. She hasn’t responded to any of my text messages.

3. That I sent the RGG to sit outside her house and monitor her movements, including when she’s at school tomorrow, because I don’t trust that Annabelle Jenkins girl.

And I don’t care what anyone says: it’s not spying, or intrusive. It’s simply making sure my little sister is safe, and being well looked after.

4. That unlike Olivia, I have a mom, even though I can’t necessarily call to tell her my news, because it’s not really the kind of thing you should tell someone over the phone, especially when they live in the same city as you do . . . Hello, Mom? I’m having twins!

It would be nice just to hear her voice. But I know she’s with Dad right now, dealing with whatever it is the two of them are dealing with. I don’t even want to know, really. I just hope they’re happy.

5. And that it’s the episode where Buffy’s class gives her the special award of an umbrella, to thank her for protecting them, which she wasn’t expecting, because she didn’t know they knew that she was the Slayer, and that she was protecting them the whole time. But they did, and they’re grateful. It makes me cry every time.

Hmm, that’s more than three things. I have so much to be grateful for. I feel like I might burst.

CHAPTER 67

12:05 a.m., Friday, May 8

Third-Floor Apartment

Consulate General of Genovia

Why do you keep calling me? I’m studying. Unless the consulate is under attack by protesters again and Lars is eating GMO oranges whole, I do not want to know.

Sorry. I just have something important to tell you. But it’s not about Lars.

I saw your statement on the news about your sister. It was good.

Thanks. It didn’t do any good. Her aunt came and took her back to New Jersey.

What? We had an agreement!

She has legal guardianship, therefore your agreement was not valid. But she may have violated terms of said guardianship. Dad’s lawyers are going to be up all night working on it. Anyway, what I wanted to tell you before you hear it somewhere else is 1 M pr3gnt.

Ha ha ha, I know, I read it on the covers of like three tabloids this week. It’s twins.

No, for real, I am, and it is.

Is my brother telling the truth about administering a “mouthful of fist” to J.P. at your grandma’s place?

Yes, it’s true, Michael did. Although he didn’t hit him in the mouth. And I don’t know how the press figured out about the twins before I did. Maybe it’s because they watch me 24 hrs a day and noticed my very slight weight gain.

You really need to cut back on the meds, Thermopolis. I know you’re under a lot of stress, but this is crazy.

I’m not on any meds. I just thought you’d want to know since you’re going to be an aunt for real, but if you don’t want to believe me, that’s fine, too. I’d say ask your brother, but he’s asleep next to the now-empty carton of Rocky Road.

Okay, now I KNOW you’re hallucinating. It’s okay, we did a case about this in class once, over 30 percent of people experience hallucinations right before or after waking and they can feel very convincing . . .

Okay, well, I look forward to your abject apology when I turn