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Laughing, she nestled in against his chest. What had started out as the worst Christmas ever was now turning into the most magical. Not only had she successfully pulled off Christmas in the Syrian refugee camp, but she’d also finally found someone to spend Christmas with.
17
Jarik felt the tension rolling off Maria as the car pulled up to the royal palace. When he’d first told her that he wanted to introduce her to his family, she’d immediately said no and offered to do anything else. He’d have chuckled if she hadn’t seemed like she was ready to bolt at the very thought of it. Instead, he had taken her to bed and spent the next several hours wringing one orgasm after another out of her until she agreed to go to the palace with him.
For the first time in a long time, he was excited to return home. Maria wasn’t just some fling for him, and he couldn’t wait to introduce her to his family.
He also wanted to check up on his father. It was nearing midday on Christmas, and he could tell that Maria was nervous. Although she loved him, he knew it would take some time before she was comfortable being surrounded by wealth.
“Are you okay?” he asked, as he kissed her on the temple.
She gave him a brave smile. “I think so. As long as you don’t care what your family thinks of me.”
“My family is going to love you. I know I do,” he teased gently.
Taking her hand, he guided her from the car and up the palace steps. When he stepped into the main room, he couldn’t help but freeze.
“Jarik?” Maria asked uncertainly.
For a moment, he couldn’t speak. As he gazed around at the Christmas decorations, old memories rushed to the surface. His mother smiling and laughing while the brothers got all tangled up in Christmas lights. He and his brothers bickering over where the ornaments should go. His father’s fake grumbling about all the Christmas music.
The decorations were the same. How was that even possible? He could have sworn that after her death, his father had gotten rid of all of them. Yet, here they were. The same glittery birds hung from the garland that swept down the stairwell. The same bows were tied to the columns.
The toy train that he’d picked out as a boy decorated the wreath above the door.
“This isn’t possible,” he whispered as he reached up to touch it.
“Jarik?”
“These are our decorations,” he said as he swallowed hard. Emotions that he hadn’t felt in a long time bubbled to the surface. “From when we were children.”
“Wow. They’re beautiful and there’s so many.” Maria reached out to touch some of the birds.
“My mother loved Christmas. She always made this time of year feel so special. After she died, we never celebrated it again. I think it hurt my father too much, so he just shut it all away.”
“Until now.”
Nodding his head, he squeezed her hand. “Until now.”
A giggle drifted from the main room. Tugging on Maria’s hand, he followed the sound. Stopping at the entryway, he found Samir locked in a passionate embrace with a blonde. Clearing his throat, he waited for the two of them to separate.
“Jarik?” Samir gasped.
It shouldn’t have surprised him that Samir was the one behind this. Samir had cried the loudest the first year that they hadn’t celebrated Christmas. As the youngest, it was hardest for him to hold onto the memories, and it had broken Jarik’s heart that he couldn’t help his brother. And yet, now, it was Samir who was bringing it all back for them.
“You found Mom’s decorations?” Jarik asked tersely.
Samir nodded nervously. “They were at the safe house.”
“And you thought that you’d put them up?”
“Yes.”
“Does father know?” Jarik rubbed his thumb across Maria’s knuckles in an attempt to steady himself.
“Not yet. We got in this morning, and he’s not here.”
“This morning?” Jarik whistled and looked around. “You’ve been busy.”
