Page 12 of The Princess Home for Christmas

JC nudged her. “Isn’t that someone we know?”

Dahlia followed her gaze. “It’s Thomas’s mother…Mrs. Castellanos.” She stepped closer, curious. “With three children.” A young boy and what looked to be his two sisters peered over the tops of the tables at each exhibit. Dahlia smiled. Her favorite part about working this exhibit was seeing the wonder in the eyes of the children, wonder she still felt herself.

She approached. “Mrs. Castellanos, hello.”

The woman’s face broke into a joyous smile.

Dahlia laughed at the joy she saw there. You couldn’t help but be wrapped up in it.

She pulled Dahlia into a tight squeeze. “Oh, it’s good to see you, my dear.” She placed soft hands at the sides of Dahlia’s cheeks. “How have you been?”

Her kind eyes searched Dahlia’s with so much sincerity, so much feeling that her eyes misted. She swallowed. “I’ve been well. I’m glad to be home for a little bit.”

“Oh, I think everyone’s glad you’re home too. Torren isn’t the same without its princess. Don’t let those brothers of yours fool you. They think they’re all that, but it’s the women who get things done around here.” She winked.

Dahlia gave her shoulders another squeeze. “And who do we have here?”

And then Mrs. Castellanos’ eyes clouded. And the joy dimmed, replaced by worry. “These are some dear angels who have come to stay with me for a time.” She pointed to each one in turn. “This is Joe, Carrie, and Stefanie.”

Stefanie waved, her blonde pigtails bobbing in time with her excitement.

“I’m so pleased to meet all of you. How are you liking the exhibits?”

“I’d like to live in one, that one.” Joe pointed to a remake of the firehouse.

“Do you suppose the fairies live there? Carrie’s eyes held the same dreamlike wonder that Dahlia’s often had. “Take care of it at night?”

“There’s no such thing as fairies.” Joe shook his head and crossed his arms.

Dahlia held up a hand. “What? No such thing as fairies? That’s preposterous. For I know of a fairy garden. I’ve seen it myself.”

Little Stefanie’s eyes grew wide. “You do?”

“I do.” She tapped a finger on her chin. “Do you suppose you might like to visit it one day?”

The girls started jumping up and down. “Yes! Yes! Please!”

Dahlia grinned. “Looks like it’s all arranged.”

“It certainly does, and I most definitely wish to be a part of whatever mischief is being planned.” His deep voice again sent shivers through Dahlia. She whirled around, not bothering to dim her smile. “Thomas!”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Hello to you. I see you’ve met my friends.”

Stefanie ran and hugged his leg. “Uncle Thomas she’s gonna bring me to a fairy garden!”

“Is she now?” He knelt down. “You must be a special little girl. She doesn’t let just anyone visit her fairy garden you know.”

The little beauty’s eyes grew even wider. “It’s your own one?”

Dahlia knelt beside Thomas. “Well, Thomas helped me find it.”

All the children were captivated now. But Dahlia had to keep moving. “Come with me as I inspect all of these houses. They aren’t fairy houses, but…they are the homes of gingerbread families.”

“What?” Carrie ran to the table, titling her head to one side then another. “Can we see the gingerbread families?”

“Only if they let you.”

Even Joe became fascinated with each house, looking at all the detail, so much that Thomas laced her fingers with his and whispered in her ear, “Is it still there?”

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