Chapter 7
Lilly and Jack sat in the kitchen eating leftover sandwiches.
"Jack," Lilly said. "I never really believed that when women are pregnant, they eat a lot. I always thought that was a sexist stereotype, but now that I'm pregnant, I can't stop eating."
"I wouldn't know," Jack said.
"So who was that girl Alex was dancing with at the birthday ball last night?" Lilly asked.
"You didn't recognize her?" Jack asked.
"No I didn't," Lilly replied. "And I've met all the princesses within a 2,000 mile radius."
"Maybe she wasn't a princess," Jack said.
"Then who was she?" Lilly asked.
"All Alex said was her name was Emma," Jack said.
"Maybe we should do some investigating," Lilly said.
"Like what?" Jack asked. "Walk around Genovia until we find her?"
An hour later, Lilly and Jack walked around Genovia. Jack walked over to Lilly, who sat by the fountain eating a donut.
"I didn't find her in the library," Jack said.
"She wasn't in the bakery either," Lilly said.
A few minutes later, Jack and Lilly met in Town Square. Lilly had another donut.
"She wasn't in any of the shops on 5th street," Jack said.
"She still wasn't in the bakery," Lilly said.
"Really, Lilly?" Jack asked.
"Don't judge me," Lilly said. "I'm pregnant."
"I'll go check the shops of 6th street," Jack said.
"And I'll go check the bakery again," Lilly said.
"Lilly," Jack said.
"Fine," Lilly said. "I'll go check the shops on 7th street."
Meanwhile, Mia and Alex sat in the throne room.
"This is where you will give your acceptance speech," Mia said.
"My acceptance speech?" Alex asked.
"Yes," Mia replied. "It's a formality really. I had to do it. The press will be here from all over the world. It's the day before my birthday, in four days time."
"I have to give a speech in four days?" Alex asked.
"Yes," Mia replied.
"I'm not very good at public speaking," Alex said.
"Neither was I," Mia said. "I tried to run away."
"You did?" Alex asked.
"Yeah," Mia said. "But in the end, I did what was right."
"This is all happening so fast," Alex said. "A week ago, I was living in a tiny loft in New York."
"What was it like living in New York?" Mia asked.
"Crowded," Alex replied. "I rode the subway a lot."
"Oh yeah?" Mia asked.
"What about you?" Alex asked. "You grew up in San Francisco, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Mia replied. "Lilly and I used to ride scooters to school."
"You did?" Alex asked.
"San Francisco is very hilly," Mia said.
Clarisse walked into the room.
"There you two are," Clarisse said. "What are you in doing here by yourselves?"
"Just showing Alex where he will be giving his speech," Mia replied.
"Anyway," Clarisse said. "I will be saying goodbye now."
"Are you leaving, Grandma?" Mia asked.
"Yes," Clarisse replied. "Joe has surprised me with a trip to Honolulu, Hawaii. I've visited several places in the world, but Hawaii is one place I've never had the pleasure to visit. I'm not exactly as young as I used to be. I'll be back in 5 days time for Mia's birthday."
Alex and Mia got up and hugged Clarisse.
"Have fun, Grandma," Mia said.
"Yes, Grandma," Alex said. "Have a fun. And stay safe."
"I will," Clarisse said.
Clarisse walked towards the door.
"Grandma," Alex said.
Clarisse paused and turned around.
"Thank you for bringing me here," Alex said.
"You're welcome," Clarisse said.
Clarisse smiled and walked away. After she left, Lilly and Jack ran into the room.
"We found her!" Lilly and Jack exclaimed. "We found Emma!"