Page 17 of The Princess Home for Christmas

Chapter 7

Breakfast in the Valdez family was a big deal. They all met every morning at the same time, even if they were far away. They opened a video chat and, except under dire circumstances, every family member joined.

Dahlia entered the room filled with dread. And just as she expected, the news stations were up and running on the far wall. Mercifully, the sound was turned down. But each image portrayed Dahlia or Thomas or a combination of the two of them.

Thad, their brother who worked with the press, had brought the spread of tabloids and their country’s regular newspapers. Seraphina, Trane’s wife, and Nico were having a rapid and in depth conversation. She was now head of a department in the country’s largest newspaper.

Dahlia cleared her throat and her mother stood. “Oh, honey. I’m sorry. Look at this mess.” She came forward and placed her arm around Dahlia’s shoulders. Normally Dahlia didn’t much appreciate such a display of affection but today, feeling suddenly lonely, her mother’s arms were as welcome as they had been when she was a child.

They sat close together at one end of the table.

Everyone in the room quieted and turned in her direction.

“So, what’s the damage?”

Seraphina cleared her throat. “Actually, that’s just it. So far everything is quite good.”

To them, positive press was always good. Even negative press could be turned into something useful. But to Dahlia, any attention at all was an intrusion in her life, and a danger to a very dear group of people. She closed her eyes. If only she could have hurried the efforts to find a safe relocation process for them. As is, they were kept in homes on safe land only because Dahlia hid them there.

Nico clicked on the news so they could hear the pundits.

“The hottest new couple this year, Dahlia and Thomas make their first public appearance together. More to come for this new relationship?”

“We haven’t seen or heard much from the youngest Valdez sibling. She’s kept much to herself and we weren’t sure she’d ever make her way into the limelight. That all changed when heartthrob and international sensation Thomas Castellanos stepped into the scene. Apparently the two of them used to play as children…”

Nico turned down the sound. “It’s all positive and all the truth. They’ve included all sorts of charming details.” He shrugged. “This is way better than my first debut in the limelight.”

Everyone snorted, or laughed. Nico had had a rough time of it, partying more than he should, getting into trouble, the press following every moment of his embarrassing early twenties.

She found Lucan’s sympathetic eyes. He said, “It was bound to happen. No Valdez royal has been able to avoid the limelight forever.”

“How long till they stop talking?”

Everyone in the room looked uncomfortable.

“What?”

Seraphina held her face in a careful mask. “We don’t think this is going away.”

“Ever?” Dahlia couldn’t believe that. Every blast of publicity came and went.

“Well, not for a long while. You two have sky rocketed to the tops of all social media. You’re trending everywhere and your accounts are all tumbling over with follows and comments and likes. They are into you. They’re gonna want to watch the love story play out. And then if you guys break up, they’re gonna follow that too.”

Dahlia felt her face go white, she rested her head in her hands on the tabletop. Then she jerked her head up. “Should I leave? Go in hiding?”

“No, no, actually, we were kind of hoping for the opposite.”

“What do you mean?”

Thomas’ voice called from the doorway. “Good morning.”

They all smiled at him. Suddenly her family was in love with Thomas. Dahlia couldn’t meet his eyes.

He grabbed a plate from the side board and joined them in the meal. “Are we talking strategy?”

“We were just about to.” Nico looked pointedly at Dahlia, an expression she did not miss. “We think the best thing to do in situations such as this one is to use the press to our advantage.”

A feeling of dread weighed in her stomach.

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