CHAPTER 12

Jeremy is a God-fearing person. He is familiar with the celebration of faith, Holy Eucharist. He imbibed them from his parents and grandparents. The Principality of Monaco is Roman Catholic dominant. It's not surprising that he, the future Prince, has a great fear of the Lord. Saddening though, Jeremy has not entered the church since the death of his parents. It's not like he questioned God. It is not a leap of faith to leap from faith. He still believes and trusts in God. It's just that pain still lingers in his heart whenever he sees a church. Memories of the funeral occupy his state of mind. For months, this was his condition. Pain, memories and death explode from his mind, his heart and his entire being.

This time though, with the woman he wanted by his side, he was comfortable going to Christmas vigil mass. It was about eleven in the evening, an hour to go before the clock strikes at Christmas midnight. The Reed Family and Jeremy have just arrived from the church. It was his first time to visit the place and as expected, people recognized him. Many young and old made a commotion trying to see him and take a picture of him before the mass. Fortunately, a maid of the Reed family reserved a place for them within the first pew near the altar.

As they were waiting for midnight at the great room, Mrs. Reed asked Jeremy, "How can you be so composed when you were being flocked by people?"

"Ma, that's normal. He's a celebrity. Wherever he is, people flocked to him. Thousands of fans gather, even the bystanders, are attracted to his charisma. Am I right?" Emily said.

"Maybe. I guess so. I wasn't at first but as I travel from one place to another, I got used to it."

"Is this something you always experience wherever you go?" Mrs. Reed asked.

"Ma, of course. He's famous! There is not a single place where people don't recognize him. Planned or not whenever they hear that he is in one place, people tend to gather especially now with the advancement of technology." Emily emphasized.

"Not really. There was an instance, a beautiful young woman." He glanced at Kate, "didn't know that I was a celebrity." They knew immediately whom he was referring to. They looked at Kate and waited for her reaction.

"Hey…!" Kate reacted.

"Well, without saying the name of the woman, we know who you're talking about." Mrs. Reed remarked. All of them laughed except for Kate who seems to be guilty by their remarks.

"Yeah… Yeah…" Kate said.

"Are we going to start the celebration or what?" Mr. Reed interrupted. It's quarter before midnight. It was time for the Christmas feast where many Filipinos undoubtedly celebrate no matter what their status in life is.

"I think the table is set." Mrs. Reed informed.

The dining room was not less than the previous rooms. The consistent theme of the house continues with the dining room. It was time-honored style merged with Classic European. The dining table was constructed from solid beech wood and white ash burl. Its classical Italian style appearance reassembles that of antique and hand carvings covered in gold foils and floral inlays show off true Italian craftsmanship. Completing the set with matching beech are white ash wood chairs that are finished with gold foil and custom imported fabrics. Above the table and chairs is a 4-karat Gold chandelier that compliments and shows the beauty of the high sealing.

At the corner left is a solid beach wood buffet, with oversized gold feet and hand carved patterns along the crown. The mirror is treated to an elegant gold foil top and sides. The rest of the furniture like the bar corner have the same antique Italian feature.

The table is filled with wonderful dishes. There is a platter of oyster with burnt butter, Posh roasted pork, a platter of salmon devilled eggs, a platter of bologna spaghetti, and roast duck with spicy Christmas rub and Marsala gravy. While for the dessert, they have various choices from Gluten-free Christmas cake, Christmas ice cream sundae, mud pie and pudding. Such dishes are also prepared at the dining hall of the maids near their quarters. Usually during such event, the maids join the Reed Family but since they have a visitor, it was decided that they would have it in their own hall.

As they began their annual Christmas dinner, Mr. Reed, out of the blue, asked Jeremy, "Are you courting our daughter?"

They were stunned by the question. Kate almost choked up while Jeremy was frozen. It seems that it should not be asked for it was already an obvious question. Yet, Mr. Reed wanted to make a point.

"Dad…" Kate complained.

"What? I'm just asking."

"It's Christmas… Can you not ask him on other days?" Kate suggested.

"It's just a question and… your mom and I noticed the way you looked at each other is much sweeter than this cake." Mr. Reed got a slice of the Christmas cake.

Jeremy looked at Kate and then said, "I like her sir."

Mr. Reed nodded and said, "That's good that you're honest."

"You are a good man, Jeremy. As parents, we will not hinder any relationship you will have with our daughter. We just want to make sure that her studies will not be affected unlike her previous." Mrs. Reed clarified referring to the long agony of Kate from her previous relationship with Francis.

"Yes, Mrs. Reed." Jeremy knew their point. He understood it well.

"Can we move on now? Just eat!" Kate shrugged.

"Don't be shy, Jeremy, Okay?" Mrs. Reed said, "Have some more pasta." She handed him the platter.

"Thank you ma'am!"

"By the way, what degree did you graduate with?" Mr. Reed asked.

"Ahh! That's easy. He had Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and continued with Master of Arts in Political Management. Just an excursus regarding his degree, he had his Master of Arts degree while already a performing artist. Is that something or what!" Emily said.

They all laughed since they knew that Emily is a fan of Jeremy. She knows more of him than Kate does. When she noticed that she went overboard with her answer, she said sorry and remained quiet the rest of the meal. Mr. and Mrs. Reed continued to ask Jeremy about his work and studies and he joyously answered them while Kate attentively listened to try to adsorb more information about him as much as she can.

When they were done eating, it was time for their exchange of gifts. It is an annual activity of the Reed family that each member gives something, which are not necessarily expensive things. Considering that Jeremy is a guest, they didn't expect him to participate but they had prepared something for him. Mr. and Mrs. Reed gave him a hat while Emily gave him running shoes since she knows his size and knows that he is into athletics. However, Kate was hesitant to give her gift to him. She thought that they might tease her all the more. She just planned to give it to him before sleeping when everyone else is at his or her respective bedroom.

Towards the end of the exchange gift, Jeremy received a call. He then asked to be excused to take the call. He went out not only away from the great room, as far as the front door. Not long enough, he entered with his gifts to them. They were perplexed on where did he store them. They didn't know that it was delivered just now.

"Mr. and Mrs. Reed, Emily and Kate, thank you for your warm welcome to me in your beautiful home. Please accept my simple gifts for you this Christmas. They can't replace the benevolence you have shown me today. But please accept them. Merry Christmas!" Jeremy handed them his gifts. His gifts were exactly what Kate wanted for them. A 1985 Richebourg Grand Cru, from the Côtes de Nuit for Mr. and Mrs. Reed. It is one of the rare Burgundy wines in the world. Kate had tried to acquire one for a yearlong search but was not successful. Luckily, the embassy has some of the collections since Jeremy's father loved wine. He believed that gifting one of it to Kate's parents would make his father smile in heaven. Furthermore, he thought that maybe if his father was still alive, he would gleefully suggest to him to give one to them.

His gift to Emily was much harder to find though. It was a two sold out VIP tickets for a concert of David Foster and Friends. Emily asked Kate to buy a two front seat ticket but it was too late. When she inquired, it was already sold out. Jeremy, providentially, found out that the concert organizers were also from the Monte Carlo casino in Monaco. He then instructed Sophie to call up the organizers and ask them to make an exception just for such case. When they heard that it was a request from a Grimaldi, they contentedly obliged. They even gave a pass to meet and greet the performing artists.

They were quiet the moment that they saw the gifts of Jeremy except for Emily who was shouting for joy. Kate recalled the moment that she said her wish list gifts for her family to Jeremy. She was surprised that he found ways to acquire them. As for Jeremy's gift to her, he kept it secret first and planned to give it to her later on. It was something small that he kept it concealed in his pocket.

"Oh… Where is your gift to each other?" Mr. Reed noticed.

"Honey, just let them be. They want to do it later." Mrs. Reed interceded while Emily teased them.

After all the singing, laughing and story telling, they started going to bed. Jeremy and Kate were left alone at the great room, waiting for the courage to give each other their gifts. Finally, Kate stood up. Before she could say anything, Jeremy presented his gift to her and said, "Merry Christmas Kate!" It was in a small box just wrapped with a ribbon. He smiled and continued, "I don't know what you want, and so I just hope you will like it."

Kate received it and asked for permission, "Can I open it?"

"Of course."

When she opened it, she smiled. It was a white gold necklace with a diamond puffed heart pendant. At the back of the pendant engraved the Monaco's coat of arm. It was actually a gift of his father to his mother. Months before the death of his parents, his mother gave it to him and instructed him that he would only give it to the woman whom he really wanted to share his life with. It was one of the treasures of the royal family passed down to generation. It was safe kept at the Monaco embassy until such time, Jeremy would ask for it. He pulled it and placed it around her neck.

"Thank you. It's too much but thank you." Kate said.

"Welcome. I hope you like it."

"I love it. Ah… and also here's your gift. It's not much but I hope you will like it. Merry Christmas!" She handed her gift to him. He opened it and it was a frame filled with designs and their pictures during the university night and Boracay adventure.

"It's wonderful. I love it. It's the best gift that I have received. Did you make it?"

"Yeah. I hope you really like it."

"I love it."

Silence followed them for several minutes until, "I think it's already late," she said.

"You're right." He agreed.

She walked him to his room since he wasn't allowed to walk her into her room. When they finally reached the door, he said, "Good night! Merry Christmas! Thanks for inviting me here." Then he opened the door. However, when he was about to enter, she said, "Ahh… Jeremy?"

"Yes…"

"Good night! Merry Christmas!" She suddenly hugged him. He was shocked. He didn't know what to do. Will he hug her as well? "I love you!" she whispered. He wasn't so sure if he heard it correctly. But when she said it again. He threw his arm around her and said, "I love you too!"

Then all of a sudden, they heard someone said, "Kate?" They released their arms, instantly. Kate kissed him on the lips and walked back to her room until she saw Emily calling for her.

Jeremy couldn't sleep. His adrenaline was still up. He was just seated on his bed. Wondering if it was a dream? Was he dreaming? He pinched himself and felt the pain. This is not a dream. He's not sure that it's a reality. He smiled knowing that he received the best gift for Christmas. His wish was granted. It was truly a Merry Christmas for him.