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“As well as biscotti?” Mia asked hopefully.
“Definitely your biscotti. Hot cocoa and coffee. Idon’t know what’s different about your coffee, but it’s absolutely delicious.”
“It’s a secret, I’m afraid.”
“Then we open presents,” Toni interrupted. “Don’t forget about the presents.”
“Christmas Eve the kids open one present each.”
Toni made a face. “They’re pajamas.”
“Matching pajamas,” Brand explained. “Then on Christmas morning we all come back to Dom’s wearing our pajamas to have breakfast. Dom is in charge of that. Finally, after everyone has eaten, we open presents.”
Mia patted the shopping bags at her feet. “At least I have that covered. And Toni and I can start working on cookies. We’ll freeze most of them and take them out as needed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.”
“Chocolate chips and bis-soti,” Toni announced firmly.
“Chocolate chips and biscotti,” Mia agreed with a laugh.
“With sprinkles.”
“With sprinkles.”
Brand leaned in his wife’s direction. “And kisses.”
“Chocolate kisses, Daddy?”
He chuckled. “Chocolate kisses it is.”
The lunch passed slowly, laughter a constant, teasing hints about Christmas purchases making the rounds. To his concern, Mia seemed to flag halfway through themeal.
“Don’t pay any attention to me,” she reassured. “I’m just tired.”
He fought to conceal his concern, even more concerned when she elected to take a nap as soon as they returned home. “I don’t need a nap,” Toni announced. “Why does Mia?”
“She’s not sleeping well at night. She just needs some extra rest.”
At least, he hoped it was justthat.
“Sit down, my dear.”
Mia glanced around the dream kitchen, surprised to see the sun setting, throwing deep shadows onto the scarred table and chairs.
“I didn’t expect to see you again, Anna.” She took a seat. To her surprise, the tidy kitchen didn’t show any evidence of baking. “Am I still getting the coffee and biscotti wrong? Is that why I’m here?”
“No, love. You’re getting everything just right. In fact, Ithink it’s wonderful you’re planning to bring biscotti to Christmas Eve dinner at Dom’s.”
Startled, Mia stared at Anna, who’d assumed a form she’d never seen before, that of an old woman. “How do you know what I’m planning to bring?”
“I know because you know. Part of me is a manifestation of your thoughts and fears and hopes.” She waved aside the topic. “But let’s talk about something more important,ragazza dolce.Are you happy?”
Mia couldn’t stop the wide smile from spreading across her face. “Very happy. Brand is…” She shook her head. “He’s an amazing man.”
“Different from Corey?”
“One hundred and eighty degrees different,” she said with a shudder.
“No worries or concerns?”
