reason as well.”
She ran her hand gently over the statue. “From the time I was a little girl, I wanted Sofós Voskós to come rescue me. In some ways, he did. In most ways, I believe God put people in my path who helped rescue me from a father who...” She shook her head. “That story doesn’t belong on a day like this.”
Minnie looked at Kari. “Thank you for your friendship and for your faith in me. And now you know why Joss and I had to refuse to be judges.”
Kari laughed and stood next to Minnie, taking the microphones back. “I hope no one questions the process, but we will make it as transparent as we need to. I told my sister-in-law last week that we’d chosen a winner but I didn’t know who the person was. I didn’t. Not until three days ago.” Kari grinned. “I did wonder why two of the biggest Trilunium fans I know weren’t interested in helping with the process.”
She turned back to the reporters. “Once we found out who the author was, we scoured the rules to make certain there wasn’t anything that would prevent Minnie from winning, and there isn’t. I can’t wait to see how she helps fulfill my great-grandmother’s vision for where Trilunium goes from here. Minnie and I will take a few questions.”
Joss listened carefully, but none of the questions were disrespectful like he’d feared they might be. The questions lasted about half an hour before the press conference came to an end.
He and Cale joined Gideon and their wives at a reception for the finalists. He was afraid the others would be resentful, but instead they were excited and, as they shared their usernames with each other, tried to guess who Minnie was.
Since they’d all signed a non-disclosure agreement with regards to the gathering, she glanced at Joss, who nodded.
“I’m NotCharlotte95,” she told them.
Joss could tell she prayed they reacted well.
They did. They all recognized her name, and as they laughed and talked, it became obvious she already knew several of them. They agreed the stories they’d read were fantastic, and if those were any indication of what she was capable of, she deserved the win.
One of them, a grandmotherly woman Joss thought he’d talked with several times as RealJ1955, took charge and informed them they needed to release a statement supporting Minnie. The others agreed.
Hours later, as they got ready for bed, he asked how she felt.
“I don’t even know.” She sank onto the edge of the bed then flopped backwards. “It’s insane. And then everyone was totally okay with it. That was a huge relief.”
“Agreed,” he told her with a chuckle. “I’m pretty sure I’ve interacted with all of them online. I’m really glad for the statement they put out.”
“Me, too.” She sat back up. “But there’s something else I have to tell you. Something I didn’t even think about until this morning. Fortunately, we have some amazing assistants around here, though, and they were able to help me get what I needed.”
He sat next to her. “What’s that?”
A huge smile, bigger than the one earlier, crossed her face. “We’re having a baby.”
Joss blinked. “What?”
“I thought it was just nerves, and that’s why my stomach has been wonky in the mornings and sometimes even later, but I took a pregnancy test this afternoon. It came back positive almost immediately.” Tears began to streak down her cheeks. “I know we said we’d just let nature take its course and that it would happen in God’s timing, but I can’t help but think these two major revelations on the same day have His divine hand all over them.”
He leaned over and kissed her softly. “I think you’re right. Actually, I know you are.”
She kissed him back. “I love you, RealJ1955.”
Joss laughed. “And I love you, NotCharlotte95.”
This time when he kissed her, he didn’t stop and neither did she.
Happily ever after would be theirs, now that there were no more secrets of a prince.
Thank you for joining Joss and Minnie! I hope you enjoyed their story!
Up next, we just might find out what’s been going on with Zeke! Redemption of a Prince comes your way early 2021!
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At one point in her life, Nicolette thought she would marry a prince.
A crown prince at that.
She’d long ago