Page 76 of My Solemn Vow (The Mafia Arrangement #1)
VALOR
CHRISTMAS
If it weren’t for Kerrianne, I wouldn’t even suggest any Christmas activities.
But when we woke up the next morning after ending Neil, Antonella went to work.
She found a tree lot with twelve-foot trees.
She personally called Royal and demanded he come over to help Kerrianne put the lights on and program them to dance around in special ways.
But then, in a tender way, she let Kerrianne help with the assortment of Christmas cookies she baked.
I knew part of it was to distract herself from the change, from the truth, and from me.
My heart hurts for all of us. For Kerrianne, who doesn’t need to know the darkness we know, for Antonella for the betrayal of her trust and our relationship, and for my own sick grief that didn’t let me see the obvious right in front of me.
Two women in my life called for the truce for my daughter. While I wish Holly’s death wasn’t in vain, I at least feel a little lighter with the unexpected closure.
And as I finish packing up the rest of Antonella’s present, I know it’s the right choice.
Paper is usually reserved for the first year of marriage, but Antonella and I have lived a year in the last thirty days.
It’s not the most luxurious paper in the world, but I’m hoping it’s the thought that counts.
“Daaaaad,” Kerrianne calls, “it’s present time.”
“I’m coming.” I tape the last corner down and carry Antonella’s gift, along with the rest of my stack, out of my office.
After Kerrianne helped Antonella wrap my gifts and I carted the little raptor off to bed, Antonella wrapped the majority of the gifts in the formal dining room last night while I ‘didn’t look,’ but I watched her intently in her element of paper and scissors and tape.
“The youngest goes first,” Kerrianne declares, holding a finger up in the air and pointing at herself.
We decided that the three of us would do gifts on Christmas morning at home before lunch and gifts at my parents’.
“Not this time, Kerrianne.” I hold up the stack of odd-shaped gifts in my arm. “I want Antonella to open these first.”
“Uhm. Where did those come from?” Antonella eyes me suspiciously.
“What, I don’t know how to shop?” I scoff and bring the packages to where she’s curled up on the couch. I set them on the coffee table in front of her.
“Is that what I think it is?” Kerrianne stage-whispers.
The conversation we had while I was tucking her in kept her up way later than it was supposed to one night this week, but it let Antonella and me have sleepy early morning sex that we both desperately needed.
When I nod, Kerrianne puts her hands over her mouth, exaggeratedly stopping herself from spoiling the surprise.
“Okay...” Antonella is hesitant as she picks up probably the worst wrapped present in the entire house.
I should have just stuck a bow on it.
I’m not even breathing as she rips open the paper and looks at the legal documents. I know what it says and the attorney fee I paid to rush the paperwork. I debated forging her signature, but I wanted her to have the choice. Even if I’m pretty sure she’ll sign.
“I need a pen.” Antonella has tears in her eyes. She looks up to me and repeats it. “You can’t take this back. I need a pen.”
Kerrianne darts off to the kitchen, and coming back, she says, “Does this mean I can call you Mom now?”
Antonella signs the paperwork, and I don’t miss that she signs Cavanagh. “You can if you want, but you don’t have to.”
The paperwork barely makes it to the coffee table before Kerrianne attacks Antonella.
They’re hugging, and Antonella is holding her close.
When Antonella opens her eyes, she locks them on me, and I know the feeling.
The feeling of getting to hold your daughter for the first time.
It maybe came seven years apart for both of us, but it doesn’t change the way it feels.
“I promise.” Embarrassingly, my voice cracks, and I wipe a tear off my cheek. “I promise the next one isn’t as urgent.”
At a loss for words, I hand her the cylindrical one.
“Is it a telescope?” Kerrianne asks, taking in the long tube.
“Hmmm.” Antonella raises it up like she’s going to look through it. “Only one way to find out. Wanna help with that end?”
Antonella pretty much lets Kerrianne pull the outside layer off, and it reveals the architect’s case. Then she works the buckles open to reveal the predictable blue paper.
“These were the alternate plans for the first floor and basement,” I explain. “The footprint of the house stays the same, but we can move things around, make it new, and —”
“Wipe away all the spaces that I hurt you in.” I push through the bond.
“Well, as long as it has a bigger kitchen.” Antonella closes the case. “ I’d like that very much. A fresh start with my new family.”
“Is it my turn now?” Kerrianne snuggles in next to Antonella, arms open for a present.
“Yeah, little raptor, I think we can get you a present now.”