A few minutes later, they were walking away from Lucas’s stall and Kaylie was carrying a bag full of the Santas that she’d bought, after also giving Lucas all the cash she had with her to donate to the Tolvania’s college scholarship fund.
She felt so foolish for jumping to conclusions and insulting Lucas like that and upsetting the prince. She stole a glance at him as they walked together in silence down the street.
“I really am sorry,” she offered.
The prince nodded. “I know. It was a mistake. A very big mistake. Let’s just move on and not mention this to my mother.”
Kaylie looked relieved. “I would appreciate that. Where to next?”
“Do you like chocolate?” the prince asked.
“Even more than wine,” Kaylie responded quickly. “So, yes, I love chocolate.”
“Excellent,” the prince said and picked up his pace. As they quickly made their way down several more winding streets, Kaylie found herself unable to resist window shopping. She wasn’t usually a big shopper, but for some reason, every cute boutique shop in Tolvania was calling her name. When she saw a shop called Imagine This, she couldn’t help but stop.
The Imagine This store window was filled with beautiful Christmas snow globes that Kaylie couldn’t take her eyes off of. Each one had a different Christmas theme with the village of Tolvania featured in many of them. There was even a snow globe that showed people skating on an ice rink surrounded by trees with twinkling white lights.
“I want to go there,” she whispered, gazing at the skating rink.
“Do you skate?” the prince asked, startling her as he joined her.
“I used to,” she answered. “My whole family did on Christmas day.”
“A tradition,” the prince said.
Kaylie nodded. “Yes, I guess you could say it was one of our traditions.” She leaned closer to the window to get a better look. “These look like the ones I saw in the Christmas Room.”
The prince nodded. “Yes, many of them came from here. Carl and his family have been making these special snow globes for generations. He and his family are known for creating scenes from around Tolvania, so it’s a keepsake people like to have.”
Kaylie gazed longingly at them. “I can see why.”
“Would you like to go in?” the prince asked.
Kaylie’s face lit up. “Really? Do we have time to stop?”
“We will make the time,” the prince said. “Why don’t you go inside while I run across the street to the jewelry store to check on a Christmas gift? How about we meet back up in ten minutes? Is that enough time?”
“More than enough. Thank you,” Kaylie said, excited. She was already heading into the shop. As she entered, the jingle bells hanging from the doors made a cheerful sound and had a man in his sixties looking up from the snow globe he was crafting. His smile was warm and welcoming.
“Merry Christmas. May I help you?” he asked.
As she looked around the tiny shop, she felt like she was being given a big, warm Christmas hug. There was a fragrant pine scent from all the real Christmas trees, wreaths, and garlands that decorated the shop, along with all the red and gold sparkling Christmas lights.
“Yes, hello,” she said, doing a slow spin, taking it all in. “I love your shop.”
The man joined her. “Thank you. I’m glad you like it. I’m Carl, I’m the owner.”
“I’m Kaylie. It’s very nice to meet you. The prince was just telling me that you and your family have been making these snow globes for years.”
Carl raised an eyebrow. “The prince?”
Kaylie nodded as she walked toward a table of snow globes that all had different scenes of the castle inside. “Yes, I’m staying with the family. I’m a…” she caught herself just in time before she said the dreaded seven-letter word, reporter. “I’m a family friend.”
Carl nodded but still looked curious. “From America?”
“Yes, New York City,” Kaylie said with pride. She picked up one of the snow globes and shook it gently, watching the snowflakes dance as they fell.
“So, you’re here for all our Christmas activities, like our special tree lighting ceremony tonight.”
“Yes,” Kaylie said. “And I saw one of your snow globes at the castle. The one the queen had made for the prince when he went away to college.”
Carl’s smile grew. “I made that one myself.”
Kaylie walked over to the table where Carl had been working. “So, you create all these different scenes from around the village and then make them into snow globes?”
“That’s right,” Carl said with pride. “I specialize in creating custom snow globes.”
“What are those?” Kaylie asked.
“People will have a special Christmas memory in mind that they want to remember and I’ll make that for them,” Carl said. “Let me show you.”
Kaylie watched him pick up a snow globe that was on his work table.
“This is one I just finished.” He handed it to Kaylie so she could get a better look. “If you look closely inside, you’ll see a family of four, two parents pulling two little girls on a sled.”
“Yes, I see it. That’s so cute,” Kaylie said.
“That’s the Owens family,” Carl said. “And one of their Christmas traditions is going sledding with their girls every Christmas morning, so they asked me to create that scene. See the matching pink hats the girls are wearing? Their Aunt Susan knitted them those hats.”
“Wow,” Kaylie said, impressed. “That’s amazing. It’s like you’re capturing a moment in time forever. Like a picture, but so much better.” She carefully handed him back the snow globe. “I’m sure they’re going to love it.”
“I hope so,” Carl said modestly. “I’m creating two, one for each daughter, so they can always have the memory with them wherever they go as they grow up.”
“Do you start by using a photograph?” Kaylie asked, fascinated.
“Sometimes,” Carl answered. “And sometimes people just tell me their memory and any details they would like added and I sketch up my idea and show them, and once it’s approved, we go from there.”
“What a wonderful gift,” Kaylie said. “The gift of a memory.”
“Thank you,” Carl said. “My great grandmother is the one who actually thought of it when she wanted to find a snow globe of our church in Tolvania. It’s where she got married but no one had one, so my grandfather, who was an artist, decided to figure out how to make one for her and the rest, as they say, is Tolvania snow globe history. Now my two sons and daughter are helping with the business, and my granddaughter is just starting to get involved. She’s already so talented. I’m sure she will outdo me in just a few years.” He chuckled.
“She’s lucky to have you as a teacher,” Kaylie said as she picked up another snow globe. This one showed the Christmas trees down by the lake. Every detail, including the red Christmas tree ornaments, were included. “I love this one. This is the view of the lake from the castle.”
“It is,” Carl said with a smile. “If you like it, please accept it as my gift.”
“Oh, no, I couldn’t,” Kaylie said, reaching for her wallet.
“Please, as an artist, we like knowing our work is going to someone who will appreciate it,” Carl said. “It would be our honor to have one of our snow globes in New York City with you.”
Kaylie held the snow globe to her heart. “Then it would be my honor and great pleasure to take this home with me.” She looked around the shop. “And I think some more of your snow globes also need to come to America. I would love it if you could help me pick one out for my parents and sister, and a friend who loves all things Christmas.”
“I would be happy to help you find some Christmas presents,” Carl said.
“They actually won’t be Christmas presents,” Kaylie said. “We don’t really exchange gifts anymore, but I will just give it to them when I see them next. Whenever that might be. We get together when we can. We’re all so busy.” Her voice trailed off when realizing how much she missed her parents and sister.
“Is everything okay?” Carl asked, watching her.
“Yes,” Kaylie said quickly, but as she thought about it, her real answer should have been no, because it has been months since she’d seen her family.
“So, what kind of things do your parents like?” Carl asked. “Let’s start with them.”
Kaylie thought about it for a moment. “Ice skating. They love ice skating. It’s how they met.”
“Come with me,” Carl said as he led her to a shelf of beautiful snow globes that all had different ice-skating scenes inside.
Kaylie’s attention was immediately drawn to a snow globe that showed two ice skaters, wearing matching red jackets, hats, and mittens. They were skating hand in hand around a Christmas tree.
“No way,” Kaylie said. She couldn’t believe it.
“What is it?” Carl asked, looking concerned.
Kaylie carefully picked up a snow globe. “This one, of the couple, they’re wearing red jackets. My parents have red jackets and my mom always makes my dad wear a matching red hat just like she does, whether it’s Christmas or not. It’s a standing joke in our family. So, this one is perfect. I can’t believe it.”
Carl’s eyes twinkled as he nodded. “I always say the perfect snow globe will find you, you just have to know how to look with an open heart.”
Kaylie, delighted, shook the snow globe and watched the snowflakes land on the skater’s red jackets, turning them white. “They will love this.” She looked hopeful as she turned to Carl. “My sister is in the Army. She’s stationed in Germany and she always says what she misses most about the family Christmases we used to have is how we’d all make snowmen together. You don’t, by chance, have a snow globe with snowmen?”
Carl grinned back at her. “Well, as a matter of fact, I do. It’s just right over here.”
Kaylie felt like she’d just won the jackpot for finding the most perfect presents ever and she wanted to capture this moment.
“Would you mind if I take a few pictures?” Kaylie asked.
“Be my guest,” Carl replied. “There are so many wonderful Christmas things to take pictures of around Tolvania.”
Kaylie grinned as she snapped some shots. “I’m starting to see that. Are you sure this isn’t really a Christmas village? Because I’ve never seen anyplace with this much Christmas everywhere.”
Carl chuckled. “Wait until you see the Christmas tree lighting tonight. It’s like nothing you have ever seen before.”
Kaylie’s eyes lit up. “I can’t wait.”
A few minutes later, she was happily humming the Christmas song “Jingle Bells” as she walked out of the shop after having bought snow globes for her parents, Rachel, and her sister.
When she looked at her cell phone, she panicked, realizing the quick ten minutes she’d promised the prince had turned into a half-hour. “He is going to kill me,” she said as she looked around for him and saw him across the street inside a jewelry store.
The shop was called Be Jeweled, and the window display was a giant Santa with a sign that said Add Some Sparkle to Your Christmas. She was relieved to see the prince was still shopping until she saw that he was talking to a striking woman about her age, wearing a chic fur coat. They were laughing and looking quite cozy together. Kaylie frowned when the woman gave the prince a hug and she saw how happy the prince looked.
Kaylie walked up closer to the jewelry store window. Her jaw dropped open when she saw the prince hold up a bracelet that sparkled with diamonds and then put it on the woman’s wrist.
“What…” As she leaned in to get a closer look, she accidentally smashed her nose against the window. “Ouch,” she yelped, rubbing her sore nose just as the prince looked her way. She jumped back from the window, hoping he hadn’t seen her spying on him.
Moments later, he stepped out of the front door. “Kaylie? Is everything okay?”
Kaylie, embarrassed, quickly held up her shopping bags. “Everything’s great. I’ve been…shopping.”
The prince nodded. “I can see that. Are you ready to go?”
“Sure,” Kaylie said. “If you’re done in there? I don’t want to take you away from anything or…anyone important.” She glanced at the window and saw the woman the prince had been talking to was watching them.
The prince followed her gaze. “That’s Madeline. Remember the winemaker I told you about? Apparently, she’s just won another award. She’s amazing.”
“Uh huh,” Kaylie said and thought this Madeline was both talented and beautiful, and wondered what exactly she was to the prince and why the prince had been putting a diamond bracelet on her wrist.
“Did you find what you were looking for in there?” Kaylie asked. She knew it wasn’t any of her business, but she couldn’t help herself from asking.
The prince smiled back at her. “I did, a Christmas present.”
When the prince didn’t elaborate, she didn’t push, even though her curiosity was killing her. When he started walking, Kaylie joined him.
Kaylie fought to keep smiling and bit her tongue so she didn’t ask him who the Christmas gift was for and if it was for the gorgeous woman he’d just been talking and laughing with. As she wondered if that was his girlfriend, she realized that she really knew very little about the prince’s personal life, and figured that’s exactly the way he wanted to keep it.
She had so many questions but knew she’d never ask them. The fact that she was a reporter meant the prince would always be on high alert with her. She knew she couldn’t chance asking him any personal questions that weren’t relevant to her fairy tale assignment and get his guard up again.
“We’re here,” the prince said, stopping in front of a quaint chocolate shop called Très Bon Chocolates, where the outside was decorated with a row of small Christmas trees that were all lit up with white twinkle lights.
As soon as the prince opened the shop door for her, Kaylie could smell the rich, mouthwatering scent of chocolate. As she stepped inside, she was charmed by all the festive holiday decorations and the fabulous Christmas-themed chocolates in the display case.
Along one wall, there was a row of giant three-foot candy canes, and strung across the ceiling were red and white Christmas lights. In the corner by the window, there was a Christmas tree that had a baking theme so there were tiny wooden spoons and measuring cups, mixing bowls, and chocolate molds of stars, angels, and wreaths. Kaylie especially appreciated the Christmas tree topper that was an exquisitely carved white chocolate angel. She had never seen anything like that before, but then she’d never been in a chocolate shop with a prince either.
Another thing she had never done before was meet a chocolatier who looked like the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, with his thick, wavy long hair and sapphire blue eyes that held the promise of mischief as he took her hand and kissed it. “Bonjour, ma belle. I’m Jean Pierre. Welcome to my shop, Très Bon Chocolates.”
Kaylie didn’t know what was more delicious: the chocolatier standing in front of her or the chocolates she saw behind him, but she knew she couldn’t wait to find out.