Sonia’s picture adorned the label on the cans and packets of hot chocolate manufactured at the Chocolate Barn in Brobak.
Blessed with an engaging wide smile and dimples, many older people who remembered the famous Olympic ice skating champion Sonja Henie, remarked how much Sonia looked like her.
Kristin could see a superficial resemblance. Certainly there was a vivaciousness about her niece that captivated people.
The fact that she was so photogenic and adorable in her grandmother Sonja’s authentic outfit had prompted Mr. and Mrs. Severeid to pick Sonia’s picture from the hundreds that had been sent in from Frijia, Europe and America for the contest.
“Do you think Grandpa Elling will see me on TV?”
“He wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Kristin lowered her head. She felt a pang in her heart at the thought of her grieving father who’d been too sick with a bad flu bug to come on their three day trip to Brobak and the surrounding towns in Frijia.
If Sonia’s parents were still alive, they would have brought her here instead of Kristin. They would have been able to see everything and feel the thrill of being back in the beautiful country of their ancestors.
“Ms. Remmen?” At the sound of Mrs. Severeid’s voice, Kristin turned around. “Could I speak to you for a minute?” she asked in Frijian, a language Kristin spoke fluently and taught for the American-Frijian Cultural Exchange Institute in Chicago.
“Is the Princess here now?” Sonia said excitedly.
“Just a minute, sweetheart, and I’ll find out. Sit on this chair.”
Kristin left her squirming niece long enough to go to the door. “Yes?”
“There’s been a change in plans,” the older woman whispered. “We’ve just been told by someone from the royal palace that Princess Maren’s first child is due any day now and she’s been put on bed rest. Therefore her brother Prince Eric has come in her place.
“This is terribly exciting because he rarely makes public appearances. We’re very honored by his visit. I thought you should know about it to prepare your niece. I’ll signal you when it’s time to walk to the front of the store with her.”
“Thank you,” Kristin murmured, but her heart had dropped to her feet. Her anxious gaze darted to her niece who’d been counting on meeting the Princess ever since she’d heard she’d won the contest.
In truth, it was the only reason Kristin had brought her to Frijia. The precarious situation had to be handled with extreme delicacy.
She walked back and knelt down next to Sonia. “Sweetheart? Guess what I’ve just found out?”
“What?” Sonia asked breathlessly, almost falling off the chair she was so excited.
“Princess Maren is ready to have a baby.”
“A baby—” Sonia’s eyes widened. “You mean right here?”
“No, sweetheart. She’ll have it at the hospital, but for the moment she’s home in bed.”
“Is she sick?”
“No. But the doctor wants her to rest until the baby comes.”
“Are we going to the palace to see her then?”
Kristin hugged her, praying for some inspiration. “I’m afraid not, but she has sent someone else to meet you.”
Sonia’s lower lip started to tremble. Not a good sign.
“I don’t want to meet anybody else!”
“Not even her brother?”
“He’s not a princess—” she blurted in a tear-filled voice that could probably be heard beyond the confines of the back room.
Kristin moaned inwardly. “I know, sweetheart, but her brother is a prince and a very special person. His name is Prince Eric. He’s as famous as his sister.”
Except that infamous was probably more like it.
Over the years Kristin had seen pictures of the handsome royal family on television and in magazines, as well as in the Cultural Exchange’s own newspaper. It was in one of their editions that the Chocolate Barn’s contest had been advertised with the promise of the winner being able to meet Princess Maren.
Her brother, Prince Eric, was even better looking than his elder brother who was now king. The eligible playboy prince appeared more often in the news than the rest of his family. He’d been linked with the great beauties of Europe, and was reputed to have broken many hearts.
“But I want to meet the Princess!” Sonia cried loud enough for everyone in the entire store to hear her.
“I know you do, but this can’t be helped. Remember how Grandpa Elling couldn’t come with us because he’s been sick? Well it’s the same thing with the Princess.”
“But she’s not sick. She just has to rest,” Sonia reasoned in her child’s mind before she broke down sobbing and clung to Kristin. “Please can’t we call the Princess on the phone?” she begged, totally out of control.
“If you tell her how much I want to meet her, she’ll let me come. I know she will.”
Tears streamed down her blotchy cheeks, panicking Kristin who hadn’t seen her niece like this since she’d awakened in the hospital to learn that her parents had gone to heaven.
“I p-promise not to make any n-noise or do a-anything wrong, Aunty Kristin. I’ll be s-so good. T-tell her I’ll be g-good.”
Sonia’s hysteria stemmed from a lot more than disappointment that she wouldn’t be meeting a real live princess. She was still too fragile after losing her mother and father.
Kristin was frantic because a member of the royal family along with television crews and photographers were waiting in the store for the appearance of the lucky little girl who’d won the Chocolate Barn’s contest.
This was turning into a nightmare!
“Maybe I can help,” said a low compelling male voice in English with only the slightest trace of accent.
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