Chapter Four
My mother was the first to squeal. It was chaos as screams of my name erupted around the room and I caught even the servants breaking into giddy smiles. The only person not smiling was Maxon.
His eyes were fixed on something only he could see just over my shoulder. The screams and hysterics blurred into a loud wall of sound around me as I said Maxon's name over and over, pleading for him to look at me.
Slowly the wall became quieter and quieter as those around us picked up on our expressions...and the fact that I hadn't told Maxon yet.
When the sounds were replaced with an equally uncomfortable quiet, Maxon snapped out of his revere to finally meet my eyes. I wish he hadn't. His gaze was cold and I watched as a wall came down over him. It held none of the affection he showed me the morning after our wedding. How did I ever think keeping this from him would be a good thing? Didn't I just earn back his trust?
He gets up and walks out, everyone looked at me. I couldn't bear their faces, a mix of those who still held their smiles and those who realized what I'd done. "Excuse me," I rose and walked out as well.
As soon as I was out of my family's sight, I bolted, tears streaming down my cheeks, to Maxon. I tripped over my heels, "Damn it!" I screamed and threw them across the hallway. I was desperate to reach him.
"Maxon, wait!" He didn't acknowledge me. "Maxon, Maxon pl-" He stopped abruptly and turned to face me. His face was stern, if not disgusted. I started to regret chasing him.
"When were you going to tell me America? I should've been the first to know! Who did you tell before me?" He watched my every move. I felt small. "No, don't tell me you told Marlee, that is what you were talking about earlier! That's what she wanted you to tell me wasn't it?"
"Because I was afraid of overwhelming you! You've been so busy! I thought that I would tell you after the Northern Delegates left. You have so much on your plate. I tho-" He stopped me.
"You thought wrong, I should've been the first to know. I am your husband. Not just that, I am your King, I will determine what is too much for me! Not you!"
"I'm sorry, I was just scared,"I whispered.
"Dammit America, you're scared? What about me? In case you forgot, it takes two to make a baby!" At that, I finally flinched.
"I'll be in our room," I muttered.
"Your room, America," Maxon said to me. He sounded like he was a million miles away. "Go to your room. I need my room to myself."
I could feel fissures begin in my heart as I walked away from him. Just before I got to my door, I began to run, hoping to make it inside before the fissures turned to cracks and the cracks broke me apart.