Page 83 of Once Upon A Royal Christmas
“Only a decade? You know how I love my Christmas traditions, Princess. This could go on for twenty or thirty more years. Or possibly…” He reached for her hand, turned it over, and pressed a kiss to the emerald-cut diamond and platinum engagement ring that decorated the fourth finger of her left hand. “…for as long as we both shall live.”
Joy sparkled inside Gracie. “In that case, you’re definitely going to need a new costume. I can sew it myself if you like. Princess gowns are my specialty, but I’m sure I could manage.”
“I have no doubt you could, since you seem to accomplish anything and everything you set your mind to, but I kind of like this one. It’s special.”
Special, indeed.
In the year since Nick surprised Gracie by showing up as Prince Charming during her performance on Christmas Eve, so much had changed. Gracie accepted Nick’s invitation to stay in San Glacera through the start of the New Year, and they spent those precious, private days doing the things that normal people did when they’d just started dating.
They went for long walks in the quieter parts of the kingdom with Mittens romping ahead of them in the snow. They cooked together. They played board games, and every time one of Gracie’s checkers landed on the back row of Nick’s side of the board, she found great joy in yelling king me. They binge watched television, and it was revealed that not only was Nick familiar with the show Fairy Tale I Do, but he also had strong opinions about which theme parks were the best. Luckily, they both agreed that Once Upon a Time in Florida absolutely ruled, followed closely by Disneyland Paris.
Nick taught Gracie how to snowshoe, which she loved. He also taught her all about mountaineering and living in an ice cave on a jagged cliff for weeks at a time, which she decided might not be her thing. Most of all, they spent their time falling deeper and deeper in love. And on New Year’s Day, when Nick went down on bended knee and asked Gracie to become his princess bride, she said yes.
She still wasn’t willing to bend on the ice cave thing, though, which was perfectly fine. Even after he slipped the diamond on her finger, Nick still had his life, and she had hers. They decided that the next time Nick went on an extended mountaineering trip, Gracie and Mittens would spend those weeks in Denver helping Clara adjust to her new job as owner and director of Perfect Party Princesses.
That’s right—Gracie had hung up her tiara.
Sort of.
Once a party princess, always a party princess. Gracie took a full-time job as the activities director at the San Glacera Children’s Hospital, and on special occasions, she slipped back into her Princess Snowflake ballgown and performed for the kids. Even as San Glacera’s future queen, Gracie still pulled the occasional snowflake out of her sleeve and wore glitter on her face while she taught children about bravery, kindness, and everything that made them unique and special—mostly, when a patient had a birthday. Or on special holidays, like Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
But the entire kingdom had been holding its breath waiting for Christmas Eve when Gracie and Nick would repeat their appearance as Princess Snowflake and Prince Charming at the ice ballroom. And now the big event was only minutes away.
Gracie shivered beside the same silver curtain she’d hidden behind a year ago while the skaters glided and waltzed over the surface of the ice. San Glacera’s snowfall this year had hit records numbers already and showed no signs of stopping. Emilie insisted it was because the kingdom had its own snow princess now.
“Cold?” Nick asked as he slid his hands inside Gracie’s velvet cape. He rubbed her arms in an effort to keep her warm.
“Yes, but that’s okay. The cold is kind of my thing, remember?” She grinned at him.
“Are you kidding? I remember every single minute spent with you, Princess. And I treasure them all.” His gaze narrowed. “Even the one where you threw a snowball at my face and told me you didn’t like me.”
“I was lying about that, you know,” she confessed.
Nick bent to kiss her and whispered softly against her lips. “I know.”
Gracie let her eyes drift closed as she snuggled against his broad chest. “After this is over, do you want to sneak off to the Christmas market with me? We can share a waffle.”
“Sorry, love. I can’t.” Nick ran his hand over her back in gentle circles. “I’ve got plans.”
She opened her eyes and drew her head back to meet his gaze. “Do you, now?”
“I sure do.” His eyes glittered as gray as the sky after an early morning snowfall. “Big ones.”
She tilted her head. “And what might those big plans be, exactly?”
He smiled wide, like a kid on Christmas morning. “Marrying the love of my life.”
Gracie winked. “Oh, that’s today, isn’t it?”
“It sure is. Meet you at the cathedral instead?” Nick took her hand, brushed a tender kiss just below her knuckles, and then pressed her palm to the sash draped across his chest.
She felt the pounding of his heart against her fingertips, ever true. The heart of a prince. Her prince.
“When the clock strikes seven,” she said.
“Don’t be late, Princess.” He toyed with a lock of her hair, and a warm intimacy percolated between them.
Gracie hadn’t realized she’d stopped shivering until right then. “I wouldn’t dare.”
She felt light on her feet, just thinking about it—as weightless as a snow flurry. They were getting married today. What could be dreamier than a royal wedding on Christmas Eve in the kingdom she now called home?
“We’re in this together now. Nothing else matters—not the past and not the press. Just you and me. Are you ready?” Nick whispered.
“Always,” she said.
Then the music soared, the sparkly silver curtains parted, and with her prince by her side, Gracie Clark placed a glass slipper onto the ice and stepped into her future.
THE END
