I'm wishing all of you and yours the Merriest of Chritmases and Happiest of Holidays. I hope that everyone who reads this update is safe, happy and healthy.
I was dragging my ass back to the consulate. The climate summit had finally come to a close with some great ideas in place for implementation after the first of the year. We would be able to fly back home knowing that we’d made a positive difference in our world.
I was, however, pissed off that we had to move our family to the Gevalian consulate. The tenant above our condo had flooded their bathroom and the bathtub fell through the ceiling into our master bath. It sounded like an explosion and woke Bella, Charlotte and me out of a dead sleep after we’d returned from Austin. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Hell, Felix did have a heart attack.
Granted, it was mild, but the damage to our condo had scared him half to death.
So, Alec and Demetri flew out to take over for our security and Felix flew home to recuperate. We moved into the consulate, displacing the ambassador and his family. They willingly gave up their private residence when we were forced out of the condo. The Gevalian government were paying for their extended stay at The Peninsula New York until we left for home.
Trudging up the stairs to the ambassadorial apartment, I unlocked the door. The entire apartment smelled like vanilla, cinnamon and chocolate. I walked into the kitchen, laughing when I saw Bella and Charlotte dancing to some Christmas music. Charlie was sitting on a stool, snickering at his daughter and granddaughter’s antics. “It smells like the bakery in here,” I said.
“We’ve been making a lot of traditional Gevalian favorites,” Bella said, smiling at me brightly. “Getting ready for our Christmas celebration.”
“What’s your favorite treat, Charlotte?” Charlie asked.
“I have to pick one?” she grumped.
“One for your daddy to try,” Charlie smirked.
“Why can’t you try all of them, Daddy?” Charlotte asked, cocking her head adorably and looking so much like her mother.
“Because, we need to have treats for our family, ma petite fille,” I said, wiping some flour off her nose.
“You can have the chocolate éclairs,” Bella said, giving me a shitty grin.
Ugh, chocolate éclairs … no, thank you.
At the Annual Gevalian Chocolate Festival last year, Bella and I had a case of food poisoning because we had some bad éclairs. The custard had gone sour, causing anyone who ate them to spend three days worshipping the porcelain god. I thought I was going to die from vomit.
“I’m good with that, cherie,” I deadpanned, picking up a snickerdoodle. “How can you even make those?”
“I made them,” Charlie said. “Bella looked at the custard and turned green. So, I took over. However, they are a favorite of Linda’s and she begged for us to have them for Christmas.” His cell phone chirruped from his pocket. Shakily, he pulled it out. “Oh, Mike picked up Alice and Jasper from the airport. They’re settling in at his apartment.”
“We’re going to have a full house for Christmas,” Bella said. “Thank goodness this place is ginormous or else we wouldn’t be able to fit everyone.” She looked around and sighed. “We need to get the ambassador a huge thank you gift for giving up his home on Christmas. I cannot believe that …”
“I know, cherie,” I smiled, sliding my arm around her waist. “The family is staying in the presidential suite at the Peninsula and getting a hefty stipend for his displacement.”
“I thought it was cool to see that bath tub in your bathroom,” Charlotte giggled.
“It was something,” Bella grumbled.
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