Page 45 of Silent Night with Massimo

"Are you ok here?" Massimo asks as I tuck the blankets around the sleeping little boy.

"Yes, I am going to stay with him. I don't want him to wake up alone."

He nods. "I want to go and talk to Bella and spend a little time with her before she meets her brother. I know she's really young, but I want to try and explain to her - to be gentle and nice."

"She is the sweetest little girl, Massimo. She will be gentle."

He nods.

I smile. "But go spend time with her. I'll bring him down once he's awake and we've chosen somethingfor him to wear. I see Uncle Marzio found a lot of options for him."

Massimo leans over the bed, holding my face in his hands he kisses my lips. "Vera, I - " he stops, staring at me. My heart stammers in my chest. He clears his throat softly. Shaking his head a smile traces his lips.

"I love you." He says, without any doubt in his voice.

The smile that spreads across my own face is one of pure magic. Pure happiness.

"I love you too, Massimo," I reply.

"I'll bring breakfast up if you aren't down yet by the time it's ready." He grins, then kisses me again before he leaves.

I lie in bed for a long time with Mateo sleeping in my arms. I can see that he is plagued by nightmares, and I talk to him constantly, trying to help him understand, even in his dreams, that he is safe now.

Long after the sun is up and spilling into the room, he blinks his eyes open.

Immediately he is tense with fear.

"Hi, baby," I say gently, unwrapping my arms from him so that he doesn't feel trapped.

He scoots a little away from me.

I wait a moment for him to take in his surroundings because I don't think he was aware of much last night.

When he is sitting on the bed, fully awake, and staring at me, I ask, "Are you hungry? They have the best pancakes here."

"What are pancakes?" he asks quietly, fidgeting with his hands.

My heart breaks but I push the sadness aside. "Well, the only way to find out what pancakes are - and how amazing they are - is to try one." I laugh, trying to ease his tension by showing him that everything is ok.

I climb out of bed, my heart still racing, and glance down at my sweatpants and t-shirt. It's not exactly what I'd want to wear downstairs, but there's no time to worry about appearances. If this is real—if everything is as it seems—then I'll go as I am. Dressed like this or not, I need to know.

Mateo looks down at what he is wearing. A giant t-shirt of Massimo's is swimming on him and looks comical. I giggle.

"We have lots of clothes for you to change into. Come choose something."

Mateo walks over to the clothes spread across the chair. He glances at me and chooses a pair of sweatpants that are the same color as mine. Then he browses through the hoodies and picks up a red one.

He grips the clothes in his little hands, unsure what to do next.

"You can change in the bathroom if you like. Or I can help you."

"Bathroom." He says nervously.

"Go ahead." I gesture towards the bathroom. He goes into it - but doesn't fully close the door.

Just enough for privacy, but not enough to feel trapped or have me out of his sight.

While he is in there Massimo gently opens the bedroom door and steps inside.

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