More Titles ~ 12

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Chapter Twelve

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Anna Margaret and Isabelle had waited patiently until everyone had finished chatting to Frederick – or maybe he had politely asked them to come back the day after tomorrow – and then they had walked to the house.

He had swum for a bit with Alex and then had a little time alone with his wife. Anna Margaret did not care if anyone was going to say anything about that.

“Seeing you in swimwear after a day apart usually works,” she murmured. “And playing with Alex, of course.”

“Swimwear, yes.”

“Speaking of that, I heard that you post pictures of me on your Strava.” She raised herself up a bit to look at him.

“Only if we’ve worked out together, but not a whole lot. And there was only one in swimwear and you were hardly visible in it, because you were in the water.”

“I saw that one. It made Isabelle nervous about Philip’s Strava.”

“Oh, was that what all the fuss was about? Philip’s Strava?” Frederick sounded amused.

“I saw he has one. He has so far refused to let me follow him.”

“And you know what that means.”

“No.”

“That there’s absolutely nothing to see on it.”

That was not such a surprise after all. “Does Isabelle know?”

“Very likely. Hi Alex,” he said when he saw Alex watching them from his travel cot. “You’ve rolled over. Can you roll back yet?”

“I don’t think he can. He’s going to whimper in a minute when he’s bored.”

“I’ve got to get dressed and go to the bus,” Frederick said, kissing her. “Tomorrow I’m going to watch Rick’s match. I don’t know if I’ll have time to come to the stadium. It’s all so far apart.”

“You should support each other,” she agreed. “The media are placing all bets on the cycling, aren’t they?”

“No medal there yet, although Thomas himself was satisfied with his result. It was just the media who had expected more. Nobody expects anything from me.”

”Your followers seem to.”

“Now. It was nice how they have followed me and came here to see the results,” Frederick nodded.

---

“The children want to go to the National House tomorrow,” said Isabelle when Florian and Julian had offered to walk Frederick to the stadium. They might or might not stop by the supermarket to buy some illicit ice cream now that they had mastered how supermarkets worked, but their mother had decided to turn a blind eye. “I told them it was going to be boring, but they read something about a DJ and a pool disco.”

“What does that have to do with the Olympics?” Anna Margaret wondered. Or with their country at all?

“Nothing. But it’s clever, I suppose. You drop the kids in the pool disco and you can immerse yourself in our cultural and economical achievements. I don’t know what they’ll do if anyone really wins something. I think Fan Central is actually a pub across the street from it. Or so the kids say. They want to go to both. Are we going?”

“Can we only go if we both go?”

“Well, it does help.”

“Pool disco?”

“Maybe not. I’ll ask around to see if we really need tickets or if we could be considered the main attraction.”

“Tell them you’ll bring your swimsuit. But your talent to get into places for free is amazing.”

Isabelle looked modest. “I sacrifice a lot for it. I don’t want to have to pay to be an attraction.”

---

Someone had swiftly taken action after Isabelle’s inquiries and an announcement appeared on social media.

Announcement from the National House
We are pleased to share that on Wednesday, the National House will be welcoming high-level visitors in the early afternoon as part of our Olympic celebrations and cultural showcase.
Due to the special nature of this event, entry will be limited to a maximum of 200 visitors to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all. We recommend arriving early, as access will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Doors open at 13:00

She told the children that she would not stay for longer than two hours, however. It took more than an hour to get there. Anna Margaret wondered what Isabelle would think of having to take public transport. Finding out where and how far driving their own car was allowed was too much work, she would say. And then there would still be some extra distance to be covered, so they might as well get on a train from the start. Well, that was her idea anyway.

She would not mind going there for only two hours. With the distances here she could really only visit one location with Alex, unless she wanted to make things very uncomfortable for them. That he was an easy baby did not mean that she did not get tired carrying him all the time.

She texted Frederick where they were going and told him not to try and fit that in. Yes coach, he texted back.

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Florian and Julian returned with ice cream. Isabelle eyed them warily. “Think about your sixpacks. You don’t know which eligible Parisiennes you’ll meet tomorrow at the pool disco.”

“Well, the last one you forced me to meet two days ago wasn’t all that impressive,” Florian commented. “And I thought you were all about character and personality.”

“Queens are all about looks.” And Florian’s wife would presumably once become queen.

“Then you should come running with us tomorrow, Mum.”

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@RickDrawsGold
Roommate is coming to watch tomorrow. He says other people will now come too. For me or for him? #NoPressure #Frederick #OlympicArchery

@diplomatictea
I was there when he said he was going. Turned out a lot of bystanders didn’t have plans yet, so they’re all going to check you out. #Frederick #OlympicArchery

@eyewitnessrow
Frederick said "I’m watching Rick" and suddenly half the rowing crowd switched to archery. Never seen a fan migration this fast. #RoyalEffect #Frederick #OlympicArchery

@Fr3d3r1ck
But I heard my sister will go to the pool disco with DJ Tricky. Choices, choices. #NotGoingToTagMyself #OlympicArchery #NationalHouse

@diplomatictea
Is that you? #Frederick

@Fr3d3r1ck
replying to @diplomatictea
Usually. #DontTell #WasNotAllowedToHaveAccounts

@Fr3d3r1ck
Here’s a photo. #NotGoingToTagMyself
[Image of Frederick in swimwear, sitting at the edge of a pool with baby Alex on his knees]

@CheckingDep
Alex? Check. Same pool as Strava? Check. No tattoos? Check. #Frederick #Alex

@PoolsideFanGirl
OMG so cute!!!!!!!!!!! #Frederick #Alex #CutenessOverload

@Fr3d3r1ck
Replying to @PoolsideFanGirl
Thank you. We train really hard for that look. #TeamEffort

@TheFlorian
Replying to @Fr3d3r1ck
Think I should borrow Max tomorrow to imitate that pose? #ChickMagnet

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The next morning, Isabelle had to go for a run with Florian and Julian. Anna Margaret went for a swim while she left Alex in his travel cot with Max, and Murielle to keep an eye on them. There were other people in the house, so should one start crying, someone would undoubtedly help out.

After swimming Anna Margaret got dressed and checked the kitchen. The adults had tried to enforce times for breakfast, but that had gone well for exactly one day. Several people were up, but not ready, and two were even still in bed.

Then Charlotte got out of bed and in her pyjamas, hung over her father. “Dad, can I go to the supermarket?”

“What do you want to do in the supermarket?”

“I just want to shop.”

He found that funny. “In the supermarket?”

“No,” she admitted. “I want a bikini. I don’t want to go in that old-people swimsuit if we go to the disco.”

“Did you see any bikinis at the supermarket?”

“I wasn’t looking.”

“That we agreed to allow you to go to a pool disco doesn’t mean we’ll allow you to wear a bikini,” said Philip. “What has got into you, children? Florian wants to borrow Max so he can be a chick magnet as well. I blame Frederick.”

“Why? Is he now a chick magnet?” asked Anna Margaret.

“Florian thinks so. Check X.”

“I’m not on it.”

“But you know how to check it, because you’ve recently found that that lots of things happen on social media behind our backs. I’ve just caught up on some of it. But Charlotte, no. No bikini. There’s nothing wrong with your swimsuit.”

“I like your swimsuit,” said Anna Margaret.

“But you’re old.”

“Exactly. So she can wear one if she wants, because she’s an adult. I bet her father also didn’t want her to be going around in a bikini on social media when she was fourteen,” said Philip. “So do the parents of all other fourteen-year-olds a favour and wear your swimsuit.”

Anna Margaret had gone to X and entered search terms.

“I suppose she can also use a phone at the table because she’s an adult,” Charlotte grumbled.

“Exactly. And she’s not my daughter.”

Anna Margaret found the photo Frederick had posted to prove his identity. She had taken it – but for Alex’ Strava and not for X. But Philip was right: lots of things happened on social media behind her back and Frederick was not her son, so he could do as he liked with pictures of himself. The reactions were interesting, though. She could see why Florian also wanted to be a chick magnet, if he had even been serious about that.

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@FlorianFanAccount
Florian better BRING IT if he wants to compete with that. I want matching poses, matching babies, and matching hashtags. #Frederick #Florian #ChickMagnetChallenge

@FanZoneOverload
Frederick: married
Florian: chick magnet on the loose, and reportedly available?? Watch out National House, he’s coming. #OlympicFlirt #Florian #SingleAndServing

@DramaDiveDaily
Okay but we still haven’t seen Frederick with his wife tho… just saying. #WhereIsShe #Frederick

@Fr3d3r1ck
Replying to @DramaDiveDaily
Alex can't take photos yet

@Fr3d3r1ck
@diplomatictea @stadiumguy @eyewitnessrow not posing, but will treat the best sneakily shot proof to a bottle of water

@TheFlorian
Replying to @Fr3d3r1ck
Got you covered, uncle. I may not have a baby, but I do have eyes. Check your DMs. #Confirmed #SheExists #Sneaky

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“I see your problem,” Anna Margaret said to Philip after seeing some of these exchanges. “Does Florian also see the problem?”

“Florian might not fully realise what he started.”

And Florian was running. She could not ask him what sort of photo he had sent to Frederick. Frederick had not yet posted it, which could mean all sorts of things. Either it was completely unsuitable – had they ever behaved in that manner? – or he wanted her approval first.

“Did you find the chick magnet thread?” Philip asked.

“I think I did, unless there are several. I’ll need to text Frederick.” She proceeded to do so. It took a while to get an answer, which very nicely included the photo in question. But it was another photo in swimwear, of course. Luckily Florian’s accompanying message could be read. He did appear to have some common sense and she was glad to see it. She passed her phone to Philip to let him know.

“Well,” he commented, but he did sound a bit pleasantly surprised. “And he didn’t ask you if he could post that?”

“Not yet.”

He handed her phone back. “That’s decent. Not that the photo isn’t.”

She studied it again. They were only entering the pool via the steps with Frederick carrying Alex and saying something to her that she laughed at. “I don’t look fat, so it’s OK. Don’t I look good in a swimsuit, Charlotte? Bikinis are overrated.”

“Meh,” said Charlotte. “But you were going swimming, so of course you didn’t wear a bikini.”

“At a disco you might also be a bit more active, so a bikini there might not be the best choice either.” Anna Margaret texted Frederick back and asked him to keep it factual.

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@Fr3d3r1ck
Replying to @DramaDiveDaily
[photo] With my wife’s permission

@eyewitnessrow
You. Can’t. Fake. That. @TheFlorian wins.

@SatdiumGuy
Florian better be careful. Borrowing a baby won’t get you this. #NiceTryTho

@Fr3d3r1ck
Hope that ends the stupidity now.

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Florian came home a few seconds later. He had already been informed. Apparently he could run and be active on the socials at the same time. “Yes, at Mum’s pace...” he said. “But I threw it on Insta as well, so no media outlet can claim they found it first.”

“There’s nothing wrong with my pace,” said Isabelle, who looked a little more overheated than her sons.

“I hope you can still walk to the station later,” Philip said in concern.

“I need a swim to cool off,” she decided.

Philip gave his eldest son a look of warning, but Florian pretended not know what he meant. “When she comes out or when she gets in?” he asked his father.

“Neither!”

“Get your trunks on then and I’ll catch you both.”

“Don’t let those favourable reactions on social media go to your head.”

“Carry Florian in,” Anna Margaret suggested.

“Now that...” Philip said with a contemplative look at his son.

“...would kill your back,” Florian shot back.

“I’ll take a snap,” Anna Margaret offered.

“You’re on Snap?” Charlotte heard something of interest.

“Just a minute.” Philip disappeared.

“He’s not serious, is he?” Florian asked Anna Margaret. His idea of being a chick magnet did not involve being carried.

“Better change, or you’ll be going in with your clothes on.” Anna Margaret sipped the last bits of her coffee and went outside to take up a good position.