“Here’s the news,” Stein interjected. “Why don’t we all sit down and watch.”
“You can sit on my lap and I’ll tell you everything that’s going on,” Eric said to Sonia. They sat down on the nearest seat. Then his dark brown gaze swung to Kristin. He patted the place next to him.
Her cheeks felt hot, yet once again she had no choice but to join him. When their thighs brushed against each other, she started to tremble and couldn’t stop.
The boys sat on the floor in front of the television set while their mother found a chair next to Stein’s.
Sure enough the top story of the night was the visit of Prince Eric to the Chocolate Barn where he met Sonia.
His nephews whooped it up to see their uncle in front of the giant chocolate nisse. The footage didn’t stop there. It followed them through the square to the post office shop.
The boys asked their mother if they could visit both shops the next day like Sonia. She told them they’d talk about it later.
Then the camera zoomed in on Kristin and Eric as he was helping her into the limo.
Judging by the way they were looking at each other at that particular moment, the viewer could be forgiven for thinking they were in love. In truth they were responding to something Sonia had just said about giving Santa Claus a dog for a Christmas present.
Evidently the journalist had the same impression as Kristin because he ended the segment by saying, “Sources tell us the Prince whisked Sonia and her beautiful aunt Kristin to his home as part of their fairy-tale visit to Frijia. Was this too in the name of duty? Or could it be that Europe’s most eligible Prince is finally playing for keeps?”
CHAPTER SIX
“WHAT did the man mean about playing for keeps?” Knute asked his uncle.
By this time someone had turned off the television. A crimson-faced Kristin leaped to her feet ready to leave.
“I’ll tell you what,” Eric answered in kind without missing a beat. “Why don’t you and Jan take Sonia to your playroom.”
No!
“I asked the staff to put some presents in there for all of you. Just remember that she lost her sight two months ago, so Thor will lead her around.”
Jan looked wounded. “She’s…blind?”
“That’s right.”
The shocking news subdued the boys who stared hard at Kristin’s niece.
“Sonia? Hold on to Thor.” He’d switched to English. “He knows where there’s a surprise waiting for you. The boys will go with you.”
She jumped in place. “What kind?”
Eric grinned. “You’ll have to wait and find out.” He placed Sonia’s hand on the dog’s collar.
Kristin stifled a moan. She’d hoped they’d be able to say their goodbyes and slip out of the palace, but no such luck.
“Here, Thor!” Knute prompted the dog, behaving like the adult. Kristin watched the four of them start for the entrance. The boys showed great deference to Sonia who jabbered in English all the way to the double doors. Who knew how much the young princes understood?
“I’ll go with them and supervise,” Sofia volunteered before leaving the room.
Suddenly Kristin felt a strong masculine hand on her arm. “Come with me,” Eric murmured before ushering her out. “I’ll show you the apartment where I grew up.”
Once they were in the corridor, Kristin pulled back in panic, forcing him to let go of her. “I—I’d rather wait outside for Sonia in the limo.”
“If that’s your wish.”
Surprised at his easy capitulation, she walked slightly ahead of him before she realized she was displaying terrible manners. At the bottom of the staircase she turned to him out of breath.
“Forgive me. I haven’t even said goodbye to your family or thanked the Princess.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he murmured. “I’ll explain that I wanted to be alone with you and that’s why we didn’t return.”
While her heart slammed against her ribs so hard it hurt, he told one of the security men hovering close by to bring Sonia and Thor to the car when they were ready. Then he escorted Kristin through the outer doors to the waiting limo.
Once they were settled across from each other in the warm interior, he leaned toward her. “Do you have a job you must get back to before Christmas?”
Why did he want to know that? “No. I’m off until January Third.”
“What a coincidence. So am I. What kind of work do you do?”
“I’m involved with the AFCE in Chicago.”
His dark eyes fired with genuine interest. “That’s a program my brother is interested in. What’s your precise job?”
“I train elementary teachers from your country for an exchange teacher program.”
“Have you been on the exchange program?”
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“My mother was ill for a long time before she passed away last year. I never felt I could leave my father alone.” She kneaded her hands, wondering how to steer the conversation away from her. “What kind of work do you do?”
He sat back in the seat, eyeing her with an enigmatic expression. “You mean you actually believe I do something to justify my existence besides stand around looking official?”
“I have no idea what you do,” she came back quietly, “but I know your life couldn’t possibly be the continual party the press would have the world believe.”
“How do you know that?”
He was beginning to sound like Sonia.
“Because I see how close you are to your family. The rapport with your nephews tells a lot about you. Your sister would never have asked for your help today if she didn’t trust you implicitly. You’ve been wonderful to Sonia…Thank you,” she said in a husky voice.
“You don’t need to thank me. I wouldn’t have missed this experience. Sonia’s a remarkable child. When she cries, it’s never over her blindness. She’s a joy to be around.”
“I love her desperately.”
“I can see why. After being cooped up on a submarine for the last month, you could have no idea how much I’ve enjoyed today.”
A submarine? “Are you in the military?”
“After my naval training, I became an oceanographer. More recently I’ve headed a project that is studying the fjords.
“With the use of satellite remote sensing, we’re able to do better underwater mapping. Hopefully it will aid us in the process of undersea exploration and drilling to discover new resources for our country that won’t harm the environment.”
“Now I’m the one who’s impressed,” she whispered. “With responsibilities like that, it’s a miracle you have any time for a personal life.”
“I make time for family, but it’s true I spend most of it working or attending international oceanographic conferences. Unfortunately the paparazzi never miss the opportunity to photograph me with some woman.
“Usually it’s a total stranger walking along the sidewalk next to me, or a woman from a seminar who happens to be seated at my table for dinner.”
Kristin believed him.
“That isn’t to say there haven’t been a few women in my past.”
She moistened her lips nervously. “You mean like Bea?”
His lips twitched. “When Eva informed me Bea had called, I didn’t realize you understood Frijian to that extent. She’s a woman I’ve been seeing for a short while. If my sister hadn’t asked me to fill in for her, Bea and I would be in Kvitfjell for a day of skiing before Christmas.”
“Where is that?”
“Near Lillehammer in Norway.”
“I see.” Naturally he was involved with someone. What went on in his personal life shouldn’t matter one way or the other. But it did…
Cross with herself, Kristin struggled to maintain a nonchalance about their whole conversation.
“I think you’re a great brother to put off personal plans in order to accommodate your sister’s wishes. However there’s always tomorrow.”
“You’re right,” he said on a satisfied note that hurt Kristin because she would love to be the woman who spent the whole day with him, and all the days after that. “I’m looking forward to it.”
She didn’t want to hear any more about the latest woman to capture his interest. “Eric—would you mind bringing Sonia out to the car? You know how children forget everything when they’re playing.
“No doubt my niece is having the time of her life, but I do need to get her back to the hotel. We have to leave for the airport at seven in the morning.”
“Of course.” He used the limo phone and rang someone inside the palace to fetch Sonia. When he’d finished and had hung up he said, “She’ll be with us in a moment.”
Kristin avoided his eyes. “Thank you.”
He didn’t try to engage her in further conversation. She didn’t know whether to be happy or sad about it.
Before long she saw the palace doors open. Thor raced down the steps and climbed into the limo to curl up next to Eric.
Stein followed carrying a chattering Sonia in his arms. The two boys walked on either side of them, followed by someone on the palace staff holding a large shopping bag which was put in the trunk.
There was a flurry of conversation from all the children as Stein handed Sonia over to Kristin. While the boys asked Eric in Frijian if Sonia could stay overnight, she begged Kristin in English for permission to sleep over.
“We haven’t finished playing fort yet, Aunty Kristin. We were having a big war and everything!”
“Please, Ms. Remmen,” Knute begged politely. Apparently the children had gotten along well.
“I wish she could stay, Knute. I’m sorry,” Switching back to English she said to Sonia, “Remember what you promised? You told me you wouldn’t cry if I let you visit the Princess.”
Sonia’s lower lip quivered on cue. “I’m not crying,” she said, but she was close to it. So was Kristin who hadn’t spent nearly enough time with Eric.
“Boys? I’m sorry to bring your fun to an end, but we’re leaving for America in the morning. Sonia needs her sleep,” Kristin said in Frijian.
And your Uncle Eric has a date to go skiing.
“Thank you for being so good to her. You’ve made it possible for her to take home another wonderful memory. Please thank your mother for watching her. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye,” they muttered. Two glum faces were the last things Kristin saw before she and Stein said goodbye to each other and he shut the limo door.
“Can I sit on your lap, Eric?” Sonia asked in a tear-filled voice.
“What do you think?” He plucked her from Kristin’s arms and hugged her.
“Where’s Thor?” she cried.
The dog inched his way closer to lay his head on her lap. He was bilingual all right.
A lump lodged in Kristin’s throat.
More than anything in the world she wanted to join that threesome for the return trip to Brobak. Secretly she ached to feel Eric’s arm around her.
Determined to get her mind on something else, she gazed out of the window at the moon which would be setting in a few hours. It was so strange to have daylight for about five hours and then go to bed before the moon did.
By the time they reached the hotel a half hour later, Sonia had fallen asleep against Eric’s shoulder.
“I’ll carry her to your room,” he mouthed the words to Kristin. “Come, Thor.”
The dog made a low moan before obeying his master.
Because it was the Prince, special arrangements had been made for them to slip in through a back entrance. With the aid of a couple of security men to clear the way, they rode the elevator to the third floor and entered Kristin’s hotel room without being observed.
As he started to lay Sonia down on one of the double beds, her eyelids opened. “Daddy?”
His concerned dark gaze met Kristin’s for a fraction of a moment. “No, Sonia, it’s Eric.”
“Will you stay with me?”
“I’ll be right here until you fall asleep again.”
“Why don’t we get ready for bed first, sweetheart?”
“Okay. We’ll be right back. Don’t leave me.”
“I promise I won’t move.”
Eric handed Sonia to Kristin. She hurried her niece into the bathroom to help her undress and brush her teeth. Then she led her into the other room.
Kristin noticed one of the men had brought up the shopping bag from the trunk of the limo and had placed it on the dresser before disappearing.
“Eric?” Sonia called out. “Will you help me say my prayers?”
“I was just going to suggest it.”
Sonia knelt down by the side of the bed where he was sitting. “You go first.”
Kristin stood there mesmerized.
With his hands clasped, he bowed his head. “Dear God—” he began. “We thank you for this wonderful day. Please help Sonia to tell me and Thor about the accident because we love her and we’re all best friends who don’t keep secrets from each other. Amen.”
With those words Kristin knew what she’d suspected in her heart since the moment he’d quieted Sonia’s tears in the back room of the Chocolate Barn. She’d fallen in love with him.
At the realization, she sank down on the end of the bed because her legs would no longer support her.
Sonia forgot about her own prayers. She climbed in bed and let Eric pull the covers over her.
“Where’s Thor?”
“Right here.”
“Can he sleep with me?”
“Of course.” He gave a command to the dog who got up on the bed and found a comfortable spot with his head on Sonia’s stomach. She patted him.
“Daddy told me to stay down in the boat, but I got scared cos of the big waves. I started to run to him. He-he screamed at me to go back down. Then I fell in the l-lake. Mommy t-tried to get me. So did Daddy. But they c-couldn’t r-reach me. I was a bad g-girl cos I didn’t listen to him. Now they’re in h-heaven.”
The last came out in a strangled sob.
Eric had his arms around her before Kristin could join them from the other side of the bed. “You weren’t a bad girl, elskling. You could never be bad. It was an accident! You were frightened.
“If Jan and Knute had been on that sailboat with you, they’d have been frightened too and would have tried to run to their daddy.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.” He cradled the back of her head. “Your daddy was only trying to protect you. That’s a daddy’s job. But the wind was too strong for you to make it to his arms. He would never blame his little daughter for an accident.
“Right now your parents can see you from heaven and they think you’re the bravest girl in the whole world. They want you to be happy with Kristin, don’t they, Thor.”
The dog barked as if he’d understood every word.
Sonia lifted her tear-stained face. “Y-you promise they’re not m-mad at me?”
“I promise.”
“Eric is a Prince, Sonia,” Kristin broke in. A prince among men. “When he makes a promise, you can believe it. Now go to sleep, sweetheart, and dream about all the wonderful things we did today.”
Sonia’s eyelids fluttered closed and she lay back against the pillow with a deep sigh. Under a minute she was sound asleep.
Without conscious thought Kristin leaned over Sonia to grasp Eric’s arm. She lifted wet eyes to his. “You’ve just accomplished something miraculous—” she whispered shakily.
He moved closer and pressed a warm kiss to her lips. “Let’s hope it’s the start of one. I’ll be by for you in the morning to drive you to the airport. Goodnight, Kristin.”
Almost as if he couldn’t help himself, he cupped her face between his hands. This time he kissed her mouth deeply and hungrily before disappearing out the door.
He left Kristin so shaken with longings he’d brought to life, she had to cling to the end table so she wouldn’t fall down.
WHEN the phone rang, it felt like the middle of the night because it was still dark outside. Kristin groped for the receiver wondering if it was her father, but it turned out to be the wake-up call from reception downstairs.
Eric would be here soon to drive them to the airport. He’d been all she could think about last night. The thought of him produced such excitement within her, she felt actual physical pain to her heart with every beat.
“Come on, Sonia. It’s time to get dressed and eat breakfast downstairs before our trip home.”
She turned on the light and looked over at her niece. But Sonia wasn’t in her bed and there was no sign of Thor. Her pajamas lay on top of the covers.
“Sonia? Are you already up, sweetheart?” She slid out of bed and ran across the room to the bathroom.
It was empty.
Kristin’s body broke out in a cold sweat. When she searched in the drawers, she discovered one of Sonia’s jeans and top was missing. So was her parka which Kristin had hung in the nook near the door to the room. Her walking boots were gone. Everything!
Was it possible her niece had decided to go on a walk with Thor? There was just one problem with that scenario. The hotel wasn’t familiar territory to Eric’s dog.
Maybe Eric had come by the room early to take her and Thor for a walk. Would he do that without informing Kristin of his intentions first?
Or had some lunatic seen Sonia on television and decided to kidnap her? Even hold her to extort a ransom from the Prince himself?
Terror seized Kristin’s heart.
She raced across the room and phoned reception to inform them that her little niece was missing. The concierge sounded horrified by the news. He said he would alert the police and send the hotel staff on a hunt for her and Thor.
Kristin threw on a pair of wool pants, a sweater and coat. After lacing up her walking boots, she hurried out of the room to look for Sonia. Maybe she was trapped in the elevator and couldn’t get out.
Frantic with fear, she ran down the hall and rang for it to come. When it stopped on her floor the door opened, but all she discovered was a young couple on their way to breakfast.
12 Stocking Stuffers Page 98
