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She chuckled and glanced around the room. “How do you keep up with everyone?”
“It’s kind of easy. Most of the women are named Maria. Or somehow they have that in their name somewhere.”
Kilyn walked up and sat down on the other side of Kate.
“How’s it going, ladies? Hiding from the family?”
Kate let out a nervous chuckle.
“Kind of. More like staying out of the way,” I said with a wink. “Where’s the baby?”
Kilyn rolled her eyes. “Katerina has him. I swear the woman has taken my son’s penis out six times to show everyone he’s a boy.”
Kate choked on her drink. “W-what?”
I leaned over. “Don’t ask.”
She nodded then whispered, “I’m starting to see why you didn’t want a reception, Gabi.”
Nic walked in with Antonio and declared to my mother we were leaving. Katerina handed Alec back to Kilyn who promptly took off like a bolt of lightning. I’m sure to hide somewhere.
“What? Why are you leaving?” Katerina asked.
My mother walked up and said, “We need to still do the Feast of Seven Fishes.”
Katerina frowned. “Oh right, the Italian Christmas Eve thing.”
Nic kissed his mother on the cheek. “Bye, Mama.” Turning to his father, he shook his hand and hugged him. “Bye, Dad. Enjoy the rest of Christmas Eve.”
Dimitris smiled. “We will, son.” He then shook my father and Antonio’s hand before giving my mother, me, and Kate all a kiss on the cheek.
Katerina hugged me good-bye and held onto me a little tighter than normal. When she pulled back, she had tears in her eyes.
“Katerina, are you okay?” Her hand came to my face and I couldn’t help but lean into the gentle touch. I smiled and she smiled back. I placed my hand over hers and silently let her know she was right. Covering her mouth, she turned and walked back into the kitchen.
“What was that all about?” Nic asked.
Shrugging, I replied, “Beats me. Maybe her way of silently thanking me for not kicking her ass at desserts tonight?”
Nic laughed as he placed his hand on the small of my back. About ten family members walked us out, each one having to kiss someone goodbye at least three times. By the time we got to my car, my parents were whipping out their antibacterial wipes and passing them around to us.
The rest of Christmas Eve was spent with my small family in our cozy little blue house that I gave up and Nic bought. After spending so many years apart, it felt amazing to be with my family again, especially with Nic by my side.
“How is the wine bar addition going?” Antonio asked with a smile.
Grinning, my father replied, “They’re thinking by this spring it will be ready to open.”
The look of pure happiness on my father’s face was like a dream come true. When I told him about the wine bar, he immediately took over with the plans. I was happy to let him take on the project.
“That’s awesome. I’m glad to see you have something to do you’re enjoying, Papá.”
My mother laughed. “So am I.”
Antonio stood. “I’m exhausted, sis. I think Kate and I are calling it a night.”
Standing, I kissed him on the cheek.
“It’s all set up. You’re lucky it’s warm here right now,” he whispered.
I squeezed his arm and smiled. “I know! Thank you.”
“Mom, Dad? Are you bugging out as well?”
They both stood. “Yes. I think so, darling. It’s been such an amazing Christmas. All those years I wished I could see your beautiful face and now . . . well now . . .”
She started to cry. Wrapping her in my arms, I held her tight. “I know, Mama. I know.”
Once everyone was gone, I turned to Nic. “Are you tired?”
He laughed. “A little, but I’m thinking we should probably not be doing the nasty with your family in the house.”
Hitting him on the chest, I shook my head. “No. I have a gift for you. But we have to go outside.”
Nic pinched his eyebrows together. “Okay.”
As we headed outside, I walked backward to face him. “Do you remember back in September when I got stuck on the roof?”
He laughed. “Yeah.”
“Well, the whole reason I went up there was because Charity said it would be a romantic place to tell you that I no longer had to testify against Dante. But things kind of got ruined, and I ended up telling you that night before we left for Reno.”
“Why tell me on the roof?” Nic asked.
I took his hand in mine and lead him over to the ladder Antonio had put out.
“If I go first, you’ll make sure I don’t fall, right?”
Nic laughed. “Gabi, what in the hell is going on? You want to go on the roof and what? Wait for Santa Clause?”
My teeth sunk down into my lip. “Maybe,” I softly said. The excitement was building more and more as the seconds ticked by.
