Page 38 of The Princess Home for Christmas

Chapter 14

As the helicopter lifted away from Dahlia’s smiling face and waving arms, Thomas let the stress roll off of him in waves. The refugee problem had been diverted, but just barely. As is, he knew Lucan and Nico were still working out details. And then one of the best experiences of his life had just happened. He smiled, thinking of the children, running around on the playground, the looks of magical surprise on their faces. What a treat, to be able to experience that with Dahlia. The magical surprise in her own expression was one he would treasure in memory forever.

They’d had such a rocky time of it and he kept gritting his teeth against the next disaster.

He had told the pilot to take him home. His mother, the lovely saint that she was, had taken over the care of Theresa’s children. They both felt responsible, but his mother’s selfless reaction taught him more about what it means to show love for fellow humans than anything else. They had all been shaken after the death of Thomas’ father, to learn of another child. She was born before his marriage to Thomas’ mother, but they were still shocked.

And the children needed a permanent home. They were becoming used to his home, his mother, and their routine and it felt cruel to uproot them yet again.

Theresa had stopped sending him hate texts. And she seemed to be progressing, but it would be many months, maybe a year, if it happened at all, before she would be ready to return to her children. His efforts to track down a father had proved fruitless. And Theresa was still clammed up about his identity. If he hadn’t made himself known already, he was probably not any better as a parent than she was at the moment.

And so an effort to find long term foster care had ensued, but Thomas stalled. He wanted more for them. But what he wanted might not be available. And that was a temporary stable home if Theresa could one day rehabilitate enough to be their full time mother again.

His phone rang. “Mr. Castellanos?”

“Yes, speaking.” He didn’t recognize the number. The man on the other end sounded professional. If he didn’t think it highly unlikely, he would guess police officer.

“This is Officer Hendricks of the Torren police force.”

“Yes, Officer. What can I do for you?” He wondered with a smirk if there was some kind of problem with the massive amount of fake snow he had dumped on Main Street.

“We’d like to ask you to come in for questioning.”

A nervous itch filled his chest. “Of course. What is it regarding?”

“The children of Theresa Frenchy and Donald Frugalo.”

Donald Frugalo? “Certainly. I’ll be right down. Give me thirty minutes.”

When he hung up, he felt frozen for around thirty seconds. Then he texted Theresa. Who is Donald Frugalo?

Where did you hear that name?

A police officer just called me. I’m to go downtown for questioning. Anything I should know?

She called him. “Thomas?”

“Yes, what’s going on?”

A long silence followed, and Thomas waited. Some things were difficult to talk about, some impossible. Then she quietly swore and said, “I need a drink.”

“You can do it without a drink. You’re strong.”

“It doesn’t matter anyway. I couldn’t get a drink here if I tried to steal one.”

“Anyway, talk to me. I’m headed to the police station now. Who is this guy?”

“He thinks he’s their father.”

“Is he?”

“You know I don’t want to talk about that.”

“Theresa. If ever there was a time to talk about the children’s father, it is now.”

“Is this Donald man a good guy?”

“He is. He’s decent. Better parent than I am probably.” She laughed without humor.

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