Page 20 of Hope & Harmony

“He’s a big teddy bear, though. He looks tough on the exterior, but he’s a cinnamon roll on the inside.”

“To everyone?” she asks.

“To those he loves.”

“And to the others?”

“Depends on who they are and how they treat him.” And then I remember she has a sister. “Why don’t you go to your sister’s house on the holidays?”

She shrugs, dragging her drink closer to herself across the bar. “She typically goes to her in-laws’ house and sometimes to my parents. I’m fine with it.”

“Not the next holiday. Christmas is with the Brunos.”

“We’ll see. I don’t want to impose.”

I pull my phone between us and tap the screen, dialing my mother’s cell. She’s a night owl, and I know she’s up doing whatever she does in the late hours of the night.

“What are you doing? It’s late. Don’t bother your mother,” Maddy says, her voice laced with panic.

“She’s up.”

“Lucca, are you okay?” my mother asks as Maddy drops her head onto her arm, practically throwing her upper body onto the bar.

“I’m fine, Ma. I had a question.”

“Shoot, honey, you about gave me a heart attack. What’s up?”

“Kill me now,” Maddy whispers into the polished wood.

“I have a friend who doesn’t have any family in town. I was wondering if they could come home with me for Christmas and spend some time with us.”

Ma gasps before letting out a little squeal. “You’re so sweet, Lucca. Of course. The more, the merrier. Does this friend happen to have boobs?”

“Jesus, Ma,” I mutter.

“Oh my goodness. You’re bringing a girl home for Christmas, aren’t you?”

“This is so embarrassing,” Maddy mumbles as she raises her head to glare at me.

I give her a wink, ignoring the look of death on her face. “A woman, Ma, and yes. She’s my friend, and I don’t want her to be alone, eating takeout.”

“No. No. No one should be alone at Christmas.”

“That’s all, Ma. Go back to whatever you were doing. I was just sitting here with her working on a song, and I wanted to make sure it was okay with you before I invited her.”

“I was just working on a Christmas present. I’ve become very crafty lately.”

“Just don’t chop off a finger or anything else.”

“No promises, baby,” she says with a light chuckle. “Night.”

“Night, Ma. I love you.”

“Love you too,” she says before she disconnects the call.

“Man, you hit the jackpot in all aspects of life, didn’t you?” Maddy shakes her head. “Great job, even better family. I’m way beyond jealous at this point.”

“Don’t be jealous until you meet them. They may be a little much at times.”

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