Page 85 of Born to Make You Smile

“Barely…”

“Girls,” Gavin warned.

I let out a laugh as I grabbed the silver box next.

“That one’s from our dad,” Charlotte said.

Inside the large box filled with tissue sat a smaller box, wrapped in the same paper as the outside.

“Did you wrap this?” I asked Gavin with a smirk, fully knowing the answer.

“Course not.”

“I did!” Charlotte shouted proudly. “Dad didn’t even try.”

I laughed as Gavin leaned back against the couch, crossing his arms over his body. “I know my strengths. And my weaknesses.”

After tearing the wrapping away, a black case was revealed. A jewelry case. My heart stuttered.

I ran my thumb over the soft, velvety surface before opening it. I stiffened when I caught sight of the diamond tennis bracelet inside. There were so many diamonds, it just about blinded me. It was beautiful, no doubt, but an ornate gift like this made me uneasy.

“Wow,” I said through a forced smile, trying not to appear conflicted. “Gavin...this is stunning.”

“Do you like it?” His eyes gleamed.

I nodded, blinking. “Yes. I love it. Thank you.”

“Here, let me put it on you.” My hand was a bit shaky as he undid the clasp and put it on my right wrist.

“Wow, Daddy, that’s so pretty!” Mackenzie exclaimed.

“Yeah, Dad, that’s…nice.” Charlotte glanced at Gavin and me with a flicker of suspicion. “Really nice.”

Tilting my wrist side to side, I admired the glistening diamonds under the light. I wondered how expensive it was. For a second, I was tempted to peek into the case and see if a receipt was hidden in there. It occurred to me that this must be the jewelry from the receipt I’d found in his office. Thinking back to the price, I held back a gasp. Why would he have spent all this on me, not just now, but back then? Did he have these kinds of feelings for me all those months ago? What if he’d originally bought it for Michelle before they broke up, but it was too late to return, so he gave it to me instead? It was definitely more her style than mine, something she would have loved.

My mind was spiraling, as usual. I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, but everything about this gift didn’t sit right with me. The ridiculous cost, the fact that it likely wasn’t picked out for me. As if I was a second choice. A backup plan. So many reasons I wanted to give it back.

“Gavin,” I said with a wince. “While I love the bracelet, I don’t think I can accept it...”

He leaned in, his breath against my ear. “Of course you can, love. Merry Christmas. You deserve to be pampered.”

***

On my first Christmas without my mom, Dorina graciously invited me over to her parents’ house for Christmas Day lunch. I wasn’t the greatest guest that year. I cried. A lot. But Dorina fed me and held me in her arms. And slowly over the years, with her help and love, I came back to life.

From day one, the Marcano family welcomed me and treated me like their own. Dorina’s cousin Marta even started speaking to me in Spanish one year but quickly remembered I didn’t understand a word when she asked me about work, and I answered,no gracias.

The Marcano’s served a feast—ham-olive raisin bread, several types of salads, and a huge pork roast. There was alsohellaca, a tamale-style Venezuelan tradition. Corn dough filled with pork, chicken, olives, capers, and raisins rolled up in a banana leaf wrapped in twine. Akin to a little Christmas gift to unwrap. A delicious mix of sweet and salty. Honestly, the best thing in the world.

Every year, I brought a pasta bake to add to the spread and felt pleased when it was always devoured by the end of the meal.

After dinner, they servedponche de crema, a type of egg and cream drink with way too much brandy, as well as cakes, cookies, flan, and papaya candy.

The house was filled with so many relatives and people I didn’t know. It was chaotic and loud, and I loved every moment of it.

After we finished dessert, Dorina pulled me aside.

“Come upstairs,” she whispered. “I want to give you your gift.”

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