Page 76 of Sweet Home

Dulcie took in the high, beamed ceilings as they wereled to a table with a red-checkered cloth beside a roaring fire.

As West listened to Remi speak a little about the restaurant itself, Dulcie found herself lost in the black and white photographs of Italian scenes from long ago. There was something special about this place, so hidden away, and so new and old at the same time.

When Remi excused himself, West looked over at Dulcie, who was gazing at a photo of a man riding a bicycle down the quaint street of a village.

“It’s beautiful here,” she said softly.

A striking, dark-haired woman entered and smiled warmly at the two of them.

“Welcome,” she said. “I’m Mia.”

“You’re the Christmas Star,” Dulcie realized out loud, recognizing the woman who had been honored for her contributions to Sugarville Grove at the tree lighting ceremony.

“I didn’t think that would make me a real celebrity,” Mia said, chuckling. “But it was very kind of the mayor to make such a fuss, and hopefully it drew more attention to the food drive.”

“Thank you so much for having us tonight,” West said.

“It’s my pleasure,” she told him. “I’ve prepared something special for the two of you. In Italian families, we like to open our homes on Christmas Eve to friends and family, to celebrate the feast of the seven fishes. Tonight, the two of you will share a version of the feast, in miniature.”

“Incredible,” West said, shakinghis head.

“Remi will be out in a moment with bacon-wrapped scallops to begin,” she said with a smile.

Mia was beautiful and sophisticated, but Dulcie couldn’t help noticing that there was a hint of sadness in her smile. Maybe there was something to Tripp’s gossip. Or maybe she was just lonesome. It must be strange for a New York chef to find herself so far out in the woods, even if it was by choice.

“Do you like seafood?” West asked Dulcie, his brow furrowed.

“I love it,” she told him right away. “Sorry, I was just lost in thought.”

He nodded.

“It’s a luxury,” she realized out loud. “Having the time to lose yourself in your thoughts.”

So much of it had to do with the feeling of safety she had with West, knowing she could relax and let him lead if she wanted, because he would never let her down.

“I’m glad you have a little time to think,” he told her. “Have you decided what you want to do next?”

“What do you mean?” she asked.

“Well, you’ve spent most of your life worrying about your sister,” he said. “Now she’s safe, and you know you can keep her that way. So, what are you hoping for?”

“Well, she’ll start school in the New Year,” Dulcie said. “I’m hoping that she makes friends and that she can keep up, though I’m not sure how much school she missed back home.”

“I’m sure she’ll make friends,” West said with a fond smile. “That kid lights up a room. And wherever she is with school, it’s just a starting point. Olivia will help herout, and Zane’s wife Becca is a teacher. We’ll have her at the top of the class in no time.”

“Your family is incredible,” Dulcie said, shaking her head in wonder.

“They are,” he agreed. “But what I was really asking, Dulcie, is what do you want for yourself? What doyouwant to do next?”

“I… I’m not sure,” she admitted.

Maybe West was putting it kindly, but he wasn’t wrong—she had really never taken her eye off the ball when it came to Delphine. And it meant that she was probably pretty far behind when it came to her own life.

“There’s no rush,” he said gently, as if he had read her mind. “You have all the time in the world to decide. Although my family will hit you up for everything under the sun if they think you aren’t busy.”

She smiled at that. After just a few weeks with the Lawrence family, she could easily see them keeping her occupied for the rest of her life. There were so many of them, and they all kept so active.

“I wouldn’t mind that,” she told him, meaning it.

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