Page 47 of Silent Night with Massimo

"A make a tree. It's all the colors. A make pessints. All the pessints. Then also a cake. And sing. And Santi Claws he bings a pessints." She holds her hand out towards him. "Come." She demands.

He looks nervously over at me.

"Only if you want to, Mateo. You only have to do things you want to do." I reassure him.

"Where are we going?" he asks Bella.

"See a tree." She nods seriously.

"A Christmas tree?" he asks, unsure.

"Yes, silly." She sighs, leaning forward and grabbing his hand. He climbs to his feet.

"I still want the pancakes."

"Take them with you." I laugh. He grabs the plate and lets his sister lead him out of the room.

I look at Massimo, smiling widely. "It really is going to be ok."

He wraps his hand around my jaw and kisses me. "I know."

Chapter 20

Massimo

It's Christmas morning and the entire house is in chaos. Children are running everywhere, hyped up on biscuits and sugar and waking up all of the adults about an hour too early.

I'm lucky I'm a morning person, Vera - on the other hand - is not. She groans, dragging herself out of bed as Mateo and Bella run downstairs to see what Santa Claus brought them during the night while they were sleeping.

I hand Vera a cup of coffee.

"When in the world did you make this?" She asks, shocked.

"I've been up for about an hour already." I chuckle.

"How is your leg? Shouldn't you be resting?"

"No, it really was just a graze. It was more blood than it was worth. The stitches aren't going anywhere."

She sips the coffee and sighs contently.

"I'm so happy Bella is crazy about Mateo. She is really helping to bring him out of his shell." She smiles, looking toward the doorway where they both disappeared through.

"And she has been getting him to feel more comfortable around the cousins too. But I think he will have time to properly process everything and get to know us when we get back home - to the city. For now - he can just enjoy the family and the Christmas holidays."

"I can't believe it's already Christmas morning." She grins.

I take her coffee from her hand and set it on the bedside table. "I want to know what treats I am getting for Christmas." I chuckle, pushing her back onto the bed and pinning her down, kissing her neck and spreading her legs with my hips.

She laughs and wiggles in my grip, then gives in and wraps her legs around me.

I press my lips against hers. The kiss is beginning to heat up when we hear running footsteps rushing into the room. We quickly roll away from each other, laughing, as the kids leap onto the bed.

"Santi Claws did come." Bella squeals in delight.

"There was a present with my name on it." Mateo says in disbelief.

"Of course, there was buddy. Santa Claus knows you are with your family now. He always wanted to bring you presents he just didn't know where you were. But now - you'll get presents every year." I chuckle, rufflinghis long, messy hair.

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