Page 2 of The Princess Home for Christmas

“I think so. It’ll be Anna’s first.”

Dahlia groaned. “And mother will talk about how everyone’s found someone. Then she’s say with an exaggerated sigh, ‘well almost everyone.’”

“You’re good not to let it bother you.” He squeeze her with his arm across her shoulders. “. Why will it be special?”

“We’re hosting the royal Christmas gift exchange.”

“That’s what’s gonna make it special?”

“Well, not just that, but it’s fun! Of course, we’ll eat all the food, play our games, and then there’s the orphanage.” Dahlia loved the orphanage. They went there on Christmas Eve, delivering gifts to the children every year. And every year it was Dahlia’s favorite memory of Christmas. Then Thomas told People about it, and she felt an invasion of her space.

“I’m excited for Anna to see the orphanage traditions.”

“And caroling.”

“Even though half of us can’t sing a note.” Lucan smiled and rested his head on hers. “I’m happy you’re home, baby girl.”

“I’m not baby girl.”

“Yes, I know. You always tell me, but you always will be to me. I remember when you were born. I burped you.”

“Ugh! So you remind me. It’ll all change when you have your own. I gotta admit I’m looking forward to the new prince of Spain.”

“Woa. I have to get married first. This spring. We are thinking April, as soon as your semester’s through.”

Dahlia felt her eyes mist, touched. “Thank you.”

“Of course, kiddo.”

She moaned. “Really Lucan. No one calls anyone else in the family, kiddo.”

He shrugged. “I can’t help it.”

The car pulled into the outer gate and they moved slowly up the canyon. “I can’t wait to see the village. Is it as lovely as ever?”

“It is. Tripp and JC have spent a lot of time down there and of course, the bakery is sending over all their best.”

“MMM. So happy our brother married a Stefano.” She drank in the beauty on each side of the car as they made their way up the canyon. “It’s good to be home.”

He nodded. “And Anna is having churros and dipping chocolate sent over from Spain.”

“As long as she sends the chocolate croissants, I’m good.”

He nodded. “Those too. She said you requested a batch.”

Dahlia grinned. She liked Anna, better than all the other sister-in-laws. Something about her seemed tough, like she could handle more than she let on.

They crested the hill and entered Grevena. The village just outside the palace doors had transformed into a Swiss Alps wonderland on one street, and then a Spanish fiesta on the next. African Kwanzaa and preparations for Chinese New Year which would fall in February that year. She couldn’t wait until the festival. In a rare moment of open gates, even the press would be invited up to the village and they would celebrate an international smorgasbord of holiday and Christmas spirit.

Her phone dinged. She took one look and tossed it aside on the chair next to her.

“What?” He picked it up to see the front of her phone. “Thomas?”

“Why does he think I want to hear from him?”

Lucan’s eyebrow rose. “Why don’t you? You’ve always been friends, right?”

“I don’t know. He bothers me. His sudden popularity. I don’t need a guy hanging around who looks in the mirror more often than anywhere else.”

---