Staring at their joined hands, briefly wondering when he grabbed her hand again, or had she grabbed his? She tried to ignore the pounding of her heart. “I can’t fall in love with you.”
“Did you say that because you really believed it was true? Or because you were already falling for me? All you have to do is be honest, and everything else will fall into place.”
“You want me to be honest?” Pulling her hand free, she reached up and cupped his chin with both of her hands. “Jarik, I did group you in with all the other rich people, but I know you now, and I don’t need you to give up all your money for me. I do, however, need you to realize what a life with me entails. I’m not going to give up my job to be some trophy girlfriend. Not that I’m exactly a trophy, but I’m a pilot. I’m not going to stay at home and host parties. I’m going to fly. I’m going to travel. I’m going to do my damnedest to help out anywhere that I can.”
Jarik wrapped his hands around hers and held them to his face turning to kiss each of her palms. “I wouldn’t change anything about you, Maria. I love that you find freedom in the skies. I love that you want to change the world, and the only thing that I want is to be by your side when you make that happen.”
A dam broke inside her, and she stood up to slide into his lap. Pressing her lips to his, she tried to convey everything that she couldn’t say. She didn’t care that she was in public, making out with a very public figure. She was happy that after everything, this wonderful man was in love with her.
“I love you,” she whispered. “And although I have a feeling we’re going to fight a lot, I can’t imagine trying to get over you. I’m yours, Jarik. My heart belongs to you and I wouldn’t change anything about you either.”
“Good,” he whispered in her ear. “Because I had no intention of letting you push me out again.”
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 together.
14
Jarik felt the tension in Maria when the car pulled up to the royal palace. 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 would be more 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 got 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. “When we were children.”
A giggle drifted from the main room, and he grabbed Maria’s hand and 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. It was hardest for him to hold on to the memories, and it had broken Jarik’s heart that he couldn’t help his brother. And yet, now, it was Samir that 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.”