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The onlookers clapped and cheered Macy on to the stage. Duke opened his arm and Macy stood against him. “Macy, I just wanted to say thank you. And I can’t wait to see what happens between us when the New Year rolls around.” What more he wanted to say was pushed aside when he looked over and saw Kristina and their boss from DC, Oscar, climbing out of a carriage, followed by his wife, Allegra, who walked off in a different direction once her feet hit the ground.
No doubt MET had shared Duke’s news with the DC station. Oscar didn’t look too happy. He was middle-aged, balding and burned out from his job as a station manager. He looked even balder since the last time he’d seen him. “Thanks, everyone, for coming, and enjoy your evening,” Duke said.
Everyone clapped for Duke and Santa. They all began to disperse either into the house or around the lawn. Some came up to the table and shook his hand, thanking Duke for making his apology. When they had a break, Duke took hold of Macy’s hand and they walked down the steps.
“What’s wrong?” Macy asked as they walked through the crowd.
“I’m about to clear the air right now,” Duke replied. While more people eagerly stuck their hands out at Duke, he tried to make his way to the other side of the yard. He waited patiently and tried to greet as many people as possible, all the while keeping an eye on the folks in the back. As he approached, Mario came out of nowhere and began shaking Oscar’s hand obnoxiously up and down.
Mario looked up and grinned at the sight of Duke and Macy. “Oh, great! You two made up!”
“Hi, Mario, where are the kids?” Macy said, leaning over and hugging him. Duke didn’t miss the glare Macy and Kristina shot each other.
“In the house, eating.” Mario pointed his beefy arm toward the home. “I have been talking a lot with my cousin, Allegra. I just came to have a word with my cousin-in-law, Oscar. Duke, you must know Oscar Orsini, right?”
“I do,” Duke answered slowly. “Did you say cousin-in-law?”
“Yeah, remember when you asked if I had any Polizzi family in DC?”
“Yea?”
“Turns out in this case, I really do. My cousin Allegra.”
Kristina choked on air.
“Yeah, she’s married to Oscar.”
Duke noticed Kristina’s eyes widen. He had to laugh at the situation. Kristina, who devoured having the attention thrown on herself, cringed at the thought of Oscar’s wife finding out about her. “Really?”
“Yeah, actually she’s in the kitchen, so why don’t you guys wait right here and I’ll get her?”
“You know,” Kristina said nervously, “I don’t think I’m feeling very well. You guys wouldn’t mind if I left early?”
“Oh, but your entourage hasn’t even arrived,” Macy spoke up.
Kristina offered Macy a nonapologetic smile. “Well, you know how pregnancy can be.”
“Mmm, yes, I do.”
“Excuse me.” Gia interjected herself into the adult conversation with her phone aimed between Kristina and Duke. “This is Gia, reporting live on Snapchat from what seems like the North Pole.” She focused the camera back on herself for a moment to take a selfie against the snow-covered ground before focusing back on Kristina.
Duke raised a brow at the teenager.
“Kristina,” Gia continued, “congratulations on your pregnancy. For the inquisitive kids out there watching, Duke, are you the father of Kristina’s baby?”
“Absolutely not.”
A few of the folks eavesdropping gasped, Macy included. She covered her mouth with one hand while trying to corral her daughter with the other. Gia stepped out of her mother’s reach and followed Kristina as she tried to disappear into the crowd. “Kristina, wait, the viewers want to know who the father of your child is.”
“Have you lost your mind down here?” Oscar asked, gritting his teeth. “Or has this been your plan all along, to punish me for what happened between me and Kristina?”
“Oscar, was there some reason you came tonight?” Duke asked his former boss once Kristina had left.
Clearing his throat, Oscar nodded. “There was. I wanted to talk to you about your contract. You know I can sue you.”
“For what? My contract is with MET, who set me up at your station. Might I remind you that you were the one who signed off on my leave of absence? Go ahead, Oscar.”
“I don’t think he’s going to sue you.” Mario draped his arm over the shorter man’s shoulder. “Are you, cugino? I think we ought to go into the kitchen. I know Allegra doesn’t like to be kept waiting.” As he walked by Duke and Macy, he winked at them.
