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“It’s not ours anymore,” Jennifer said.
“It’s still yours,” Ava said, reaching over her shoulder to pat anyone she could reach. “I can’t wait to get inside and see what Leon did! I’m sure that’s who is responsible for this.”
Waiting for the gate to open, she saw that they’d decorated the backyard and the casita. She pulled the car into the garage, her body vibrating with excitement. As soon as the garage door closed, the door to the house opened, and Leon came rushing out, holding Violet.
“Is Leon your boyfriend?”
“He is. You’ll like him,” she said. Then she whispered, “He’s a fireman.”
“A fireman? How’d you meet him?”
“I babysit his little girl. Here they are.”
He grabbed the door handle and opened it for her. “Are you okay with it?” he asked eagerly, the concern that he might have overstepped his boundaries apparent as soon as she looked at his face.
“Leon, it’s just wonderful! Meet Alex and Chelsea’s daughters, Samantha and Jennifer. Girls, this is Leon and Violet.”
The chaos of guests arriving ensued for the next half hour as they took the Christmas light tour, first the breathtaking exterior, then the amazing interior with trees in every room, including one in each of the girls’ old bedrooms. They were delighted to discover that Ava had left much of the artwork and mementoes in their rooms.
“I’m so glad to be home!” Samantha cried. “I just love this room!” She twirled around with her arms outstretched. “I hope we can visit her all the time.”
Ava and Leon exchanged glances. Time would tell.
***
The week leading up to Christmas morning had morphed into a wild, chaotic time for the family. That was what they were now, a true family, with Ava and Leon and Violet, and frequent visits from Samantha and Jennifer.
Chelsea’s recovery had been slow and agonizing, but she didn’t have to worry about her girls’ well-being because of Ava, who had always been like a second mother to them. So when Christmas rolled around, it was only natural for Chelsea to ask Ava if the girls could spend the holiday with her and Leon and baby Violet, whom they loved and referred to as their baby sister.
As soon as school was out for Christmas vacation, Ava drove to Indio to get the girls. The ride back down to San Diego was always riotous, with loud music and singing and stops for fast food at inappropriate drive-thru places that they’d promise never to divulge to Leon, who would be jealous they didn’t bring him anything to eat, and to his mother, Granny Roberta, who would be appalled.
On Christmas Day, they begrudgingly left the comfort of Ava’s house to join the entire family at Roberta and Big Mike’s house. After dinner, they sat in the living room next to each other, chatting with those around them near the lights of the biggest tree Ava had ever seen. She watched the brothers and their wives, and the few that had children were already talking with Alex’s girls. The adults held Violet, passing her around lovingly.
“The girls fit right in here,” she whispered, tugging on Leon’s sleeve to get his attention.
Turning to see what she was referring to, he saw Big Mike by the tree doing a silly magic trick that they’d grown up with, captivating the girls.
“Yeah, my pop is a piece of work. He has a fresh audience, so he’ll be at it for a while.”
Ava’s heart sped up a bit, watching how joyful the girls were in this new environment.
“Is that offer still available?” she whispered, tugging Leon’s sleeve again.
“Which one? You want eggnog now?”
“No, Leon,” she answered, laughing. “The offer to marry me.”
“You mean get engaged?” His heart had sped up, too, and he hoped she meant what she was asking of him because he was so ready. This was the woman with whom he wanted to spend his life.
“Yes, that too, but to get married, too. You know,to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health…”
“For as long as we both shall live?”
“Yes, for as long as we both shall live. What do you say?”
He stood up and pulled her up with him. “Everyone, attention, please!”
Roberta stood nearby, laughing at Big Mike’s antics with the two little girls Leon and Ava had brought along when her son called out his request. With her heart speeding up, as well, she had a feeling something was about to go down in her family that two months earlier she’d have forbidden, or at least discouraged.
