Prologue

December 2002.

It is the time for presents - Christmas Eve. I am in Paris with family and friends. The kitchen’s buzzing with people, cooking. The family room is decorated with brightly colored lights. The gifts were over flowing under the lit Christmas tree. My favorite part of the house during Christmas time is the dining room where we sit down beside each other and enjoy the food with high spirits.

"Hey Anna. Could you pass the gravy boat please?" Stanley asks. He's my French cousin. He barely talks to me on ordinary days, but on Christmas Eve he's like Santa's little helper, always around to help with the preparations.

"Of course. Here you go, my dear little Stanley," smiling as I hand him the gravy boat. "And by dear, I mean deer, just like the ones on Santa's sled." I tease him, everyone laughed.

"Ha ha ha! Very funny, Anna Banana," Stanley sounded furious, but no one paid attention to him. "By the way, Anna, what's in your pocket?"

Everyone stayed quiet. As if waiting for something big to happen. We all knew that Stanley is a hardcore prankster. He will not stop at anything just to know everyone's weakness. I looked worriedly on my pocket. I started to reach my pocket when...

"BOO!" Stanley shouted. Everyone's startled, including myself.

Thinking that the prank was over, I reached into my pocket just to check. "Good thing there's nothing here Stanley or else I'll make you pay for it," I threatened him.

Stanley laughed. "How about your other pocket?" he asked sarcastically.

I reached in my other pocket and felt something soft and gummy. "A left-over gummy bear. Look." I took my hand out of my pocket and showed everybody.

"Ah, Anna? Are you sure it’s a gummy bear?" Aunt Rowena asked.

"Look again Anna." Stanley laughed.

"Yes. I'm sure of it. Look at it. Its sugary and gummy." I gave it a little pinch. "OH MY GOD!" I took my first glance and it was a baby lizard. I shook it off my hand and on to the floor. "You got me good Stanley." Everyone laughed at me. I'm a little embarrassed but that's not going to ruin my mood for Christmas.

Then my phone started to ring.

"Excuse me. I have to take this," I said while making my way out of the dining room. "Hello. This is Anna. How can I help you?"

"Jolly, little Anna. How are you?" Joshua, her fiancée, said on the other line.

"Hi, honey. I'm fine. How are you? Merry Christmas."

"I'm doing great. Merry Christmas, darling. I have a surprise for you."

"Really? What? What is it?" I asked. "Tell me. Tell me." I feel like a kid losing patience to see a Christmas present.

"Couldn't you wait any longer? It's supposed to be a surprise." He laughed. "Well, okay. Guess where I am."

"Well, I guess you're in New York, right?"

"Wrong!" He giggled.

"So, where are you?" I'm starting to get pissed off and I'm sure that he could tell just by my voice.

"I'm in a private plane."

"What? I thought you have a business meeting? Where are you going?" I know I sounded little angry.

"I'm going to see you. I'm going to spend a Farench Christmas with the woman I love."

"Wow! Really?"

"Yes. I feel so lonely when you're so far away. I miss you, honey."

"I miss you too. Arrive safely. I love you. Call me when you land. Okay?" I just felt the sudden urge to tell him to be safe.

"I love you too. See you soon." he answered.