Page 3 of Christmas Treasures (Sugarville Grove #6)

“I agree.” Laney glanced at the clock that hung above the doorway. “Ack, I’ve gotta run. Nolan and I are going shopping for nursery furniture.”

“I’ll bring it all over in the morning,” Max said. “And I can help you put everything together for your charcuterie board.”

“You’re the best brother-in-law ever.”

Laney headed out with another jingle of the bell, leaving Max alone with his prized cheese.

He would make sure to set aside a nice chunk for Laney’s party, because this would be sold out before he knew it.

Just as he had it in his display case, the phone rang.

He answered absently, still admiring his inventory.

“Holly and Hearth Country Store, Max speaking.”

“Signor Hayes? It is Camilla. Camilla Ferraro.”

The familiar Italian accent made him freeze in place. Camilla was Rosella Bellandi’s best friend and next-door neighbor in a village about an hour from Florence. Rosella—Lucia’s mother-in-law, had taken Bianca to live there after Lucia’s death.

Dread pilled in his stomach. Something had happened to Rosella.

“Camilla, is everything all right?” His heart pounded against his rib cage. She would not be calling if it were good news.

There was a pause. Camilla’s voice softened. “It’s Rosella. She passed yesterday morning. Very sudden.”

Max sank onto a stool, heart hammering. “What happened?”

“She caught a virus and it became pneumonia. It happened so fast.”

“Bianca—is she okay?”

“Yes, she’s all right,” Camilla said. “But the loss is deep. First her mother and now her grandmother. It’s too much for one little girl.”

“Yes, of course it is.” His mind spun and spun. As it does when one’s life is about to drastically change. “I’m supposed to take her.”

“Yes, yes. It’s all very clear in the legal document,” Camilla said. “It would be best for her.”

“Do you think so, really? To come to a strange place with a man she probably doesn’t even remember?”

“There’s no one else,” Camilla said. “I am too old and have my own family to worry about. If you don’t take her, I don’t know what will happen to her.”

“Yes, yes. I promised Lucia.” She’d begged him, just days before her death. If anything happened to Rosella, he would take her.

“I can come to bring her home,” Max said. “As soon as possible.”

“No need. I’ll bring Bianca myself. Rosella anticipated this, and she left funds for me to fly with Bianca to America. She made me promise to see Bianca safely into your care.”

Max’s breath caught. “When?”

“It will take a few days. We have to bury Rosella first. But I checked and there’s a flight we could take in three days’ time.

Three days. Good Lord.

He sank onto the stool they kept behind the counter.

“Yes, that will be fine.”

“Max, Bianca…she hardly remembers you. She was so young when you left. Her English is very limited. This will be difficult for her.”

He rubbed his forehead, chest tightening. “Of course. I understand.”

“Rosella believed it important that I stay for a few days during the transition,” Camilla added gently. “If it’s not an imposition.”

“Stay as long as you wish.”

“I’ll have to be back for Christmas, or my family will be upset,” Camilla said.

“Yes, of course. I have an extra bedroom where the two of you can stay.” Right now it was more of a storage area. Three days to clean it out and get furniture? This might be a job for his mother.

“Thank you, Max. Bianca will be relieved. I’ll send you the flight information. We will fly from Florence to Boston and then to Burlington. I have never been on a plane, but I will be brave.”

“You’ll be fine. Thank you, Camilla. Truly.”

“It is my pleasure.”

“What’s Bianca like?” She would be eight now. The last time he’d seen her, she had just turned five.

“She’s quiet but sweet. She loves school and her friends. I’m sorry to say, she will be homesick at first. ”

He nodded, rubbing a temple with his free hand.

“But Rosella wanted her with you in America,” Camilla said. “So it is what we will do, yes?”

“Yes, it makes sense. I can provide much more for her here.”

They spoke for a few more minutes about logistics.

After the line went quiet, Max slowly set the phone down, the cheese and everything else forgotten.

Bianca and Camilla would arrive in less than a week.

Lucia’s daughter would soon be his responsibility.

He would be her father, essentially. Could he really do this?

Could he provide a stable home and the love Bianca would need?

The idea of her struggling here—isolated, afraid—made him sick to his stomach.

He would ask his big, messy family to wrap their arms around the little girl, to welcome her as if she were one of their own. She would be.

He lifted his gaze as the bell jingled to see Charlie Keene storming in, her dark eyes blazing.

“Max Hayes.” Her voice sounded like the snap that accompanied a broken guitar string. She planted her hands on her hips. “You bought all my cheese!”

He stared blankly, still reeling from the phone call. “What?”

“You took every wheel of Bramblewood Ash.” Her fury was palpable. “That cheese is the centerpiece of my winter pizza special. You know what a limited supply they have. When I called to find out where the rest of my order was, they told me they’d sold it all to you. On accident. Or so they say.”

He rubbed a hand over his face. “I didn’t realize I had taken it all.”

“It’s right there.” She pointed at the case where he had the rounds displayed .

He placed a hand on the counter, afraid he might pass out. Cheese was the least of his problems. “Take it.”

The bluster went right out of her. “Did you say take it?

“Yeah, it’s fine. You can pay me what I paid for it.”

She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. “What’s your angle?”

“Angle?”

“No one just gives in like that. Not in business, anyway.”

“I don’t know what kind of business you were in, but in Vermont, we don’t cut each other’s throats over a chunk of cheese.

As excited as I was to share it with my customers, if it was promised to you, I won’t stand in your way.

I understand what it’s like to promise something to your customers and find out you can’t give it to them. ”

“I had the menus printed up,” she said under her breath.

“It’s a great pizza. I thoroughly enjoyed it earlier, if you remember?”

She stared at him blankly. Maybe she didn’t recall their earlier interaction?

He opened the deli case, took out the four wheels, and set them back into the package they came in.

“What do I owe you for them?”

He gave her the invoice.

She cursed softly. “That snake. He’s charging you way less than he did me.”

“Oh? Weird.”

“Just when I thought the locals were really starting to accept me.”

He mumbled sympathetically, but his mind was halfway around the world.

“What’s wrong with you?” Charlie asked, tilting her head. “Are you ill?”

He brushed his hands through his hair. “I’ve just had a bit of a shock. Right before you came in. ”

She let out a whoosh of air. “I’m sorry. Is it something bad? Did you lose someone?”

“Kind of, yeah.” And gained someone. He hesitated, rubbing his face, unsure of what to even say. “It’s…complicated. Family stuff. Unexpected news.”

Charlie’s brow softened. “I’m sorry.” Her voice lost its edge, replaced by genuine warmth, hesitant but seemingly real.

“I didn’t mean to pile on to whatever you’re going through.

If there’s…anything I can do, just let me know.

” She broke off awkwardly, shrugging one shoulder. “I feel stupid about the cheese now.”

Despite his angst, that made him smile. “Don’t be. But it does put things into perspective.”

She paused, seeming to debate with herself about whether to say more. Then she reached out, briefly brushing his forearm with her fingertips. “I hope everything turns out okay.”

Touched, he nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate it.” He gestured toward the box of cheese. “Do you need help getting it out of the car?”

“No, I’ve got it. Take care of yourself.” She slid the box off the counter and into her arms.

Max didn’t see her leave. He was too busy thinking about what in the world to do next.