Page 89 of Flake It Til You Make It

“Icouldn’t,” Rocco said simply.

“I can see that now,” Luca said approvingly, patting him on the shoulder. “This is the right place for you to be. Just know, we’ll miss you terribly. Wedomiss you terribly.”

“Which is why you all ended up here for nearly two weeks at Christmas,” Rocco retorted lightly. “But I know, I miss you too. And still, I know with a family this size, I’ll never be lonely.”

“Never,” Luca said, his smile knowing.

“Plus there’s that guy over there,” Rocco said, glancing over at where Taylor was talking to Joel. “He doesn’t have the kind of family we do.”

“He does now,” Luca said firmly.

“He sure does,” Rocco agreed.

Rocco had a feeling that just him would have been enough for Taylor, but then the Morettis were an extra bonus, too.

Along with one other surprise Rocco had up his sleeve, for Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve

“It’s called the Feast of the Seven Fishes,” Rocco explained to Taylor as Rocco’s aunts set the two long tables they’d created in Jolly Java with mismatched dishes and silverware. “Fish because traditionally Catholics were discouraged or even forbidden from eating meat on the eve of a feast day, like Christmas.”

“You Morettis don’t do things small, do you?” Taylor knew that was true. But it was another to see it in action. The many dishes that would be set out, full of delicious food, and the sheer number of seats at the table.

All the Morettis would be here, of course, but not surprisingly they had invited a few other members of the community to celebrate with them.

Rocco laughed and shook his head.

“No, we don’t,” he agreed. “Hey, I’d better go help Luca and the rest with getting dinner on. Are you okay out here?”

“I’ll just help the aunties and your mom,” Taylor said, gesturing to where Nicoletta Moretti, Luca and Gabe’s mom, and Giana, Enzo’s mom, and Rocco’s mom, Bea, were setting the tables. “I’m sure they can find something for me to do.”

“Just don’t let them kidnap you forever. They might. They love you,” Rocco said. Leaned in, brushed a kiss across Taylor’s mouth. “And I love you, too.”

Taylor took one last kiss, making it a good one, before he finally let Rocco go and reported for duty.

Nicoletta asked him to grab the wine from the walk-in, and he was on his way in when the Jolly Java door opened.

He nearly called out that they were currently closed, so sorry, when his words died in his throat.

Because they weren’t some random Christmas Falls resident or even a tourist, unaware of what the coffee shop hours were.

It was a very familiar face, wearing an uncertain expression. Like he wasn’t sure he’d be welcomed.

Taylor was lucky he didn’t drop the wine.

Instead, he set it on the counter and rushed over to where his dad was hovering in the doorway.

“Dad!” he exclaimed. “You’re here!”

Taylor didn’t hesitate, just threw his arms around him. Not realizing, just like Rocco had said, only a week before, how much he hadn’t realized he’d missed his family until they were right here in front of him.

“Taylor.” His dad smelled the same as he always did, of peppermint and books. He’d been an adjunct professor of literature at the University of Chicago before retiring two years ago.

“I’m so glad you’re here.” Taylor realized, to his surprise, that his throat was actually tight with emotion.

“Really?” Walter looked surprised and that hit him harder than Taylor had imagined it would. “I wasn’t sure . . .but your new guy sent me an email and said, maybe I’d want to join in with the family celebration. I guess he’s from a big family?”

“A huge family,” Taylor agreed. “And of course I’m thrilled you’re here. I just thought . . .I thought you were busy. I didn’t invite you, even when I wanted to, because I always thought you’d be too busy—”

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