Page 86 of Milkshakes and Mistletoe

Grady came and wrapped his arm around Hannah’s shoulders. “We’ll figure something out.”

Chapter Twenty

Grady sank into one of the chairs in Molly’s office and blew out a big sigh. It had been a crazy day, a crazy week for that matter, but it was almost at an end. The weekend was looming, and he couldn’t wait. Molly was closing the restaurant down tomorrow afternoon and they weren’t opening again until the New Year.

She’d surprised him with that; they’d stayed open through the holidays in previous years. But this was baby Luca’s first Christmas, and Marcos’ parents were here from Sicily, so he could understand why she didn’t want to be at work – or even have to worry about the place. And he sure as hell wasn’t complaining. It meant that he’d get ten whole days off. That might be the longest break he’d ever taken from work – since his surfing days.

He balanced his plate on his knee and dug into the pasta. It was mid-afternoon, but this was the first chance he’d had to stop and eat since he arrived this morning.

Molly came in and plonked herself down in the other armchair, grabbing a cushion and balancing her plate on top of that. “This time tomorrow, it’ll be almost over for the year.”

He grinned. “I know, I was just thinking that. You’re awesome, Molly Moo.”

She shrugged. “We’ve earned it. And this is a special Christmas. It’s special for Marcos and me because it’s Luca’s first one. And it’s special for you because it’s your first one with Ava and with Hannah.”

He nodded happily. “I’ve never been big on Christmas before. I mean, I like it, but I haven’t had reason to make a big deal out of it.”

“I know. And now we do. What are you guys doing?” Molly’s smile faded. “You’re not going up to the big house, are you?”

He had to laugh. “Nope! No way. And to his credit, Jacob didn’t even suggest it. We’re going to have our Christmas morning as a family, with Ava’s presents. We’re just going to chill and hang out. And …” he laughed again, “and since cooking isn’t exactly Hannah’s favorite thing to do and she didn’t want me to spend the day slaving over a hot stove, Jacob and Xander are going to come over later – and bring Christmas dinner with them. The cook at the house was going to do it for them anyway. They suggested she should do it the day before, so that she can have Christmas day off and they can just reheat it. And since they’re doing that, they’re going to bring it to the cottage. That way, everyone wins.”

“Oh, I love that! I always used to feel sorry for Hannah at Christmas when we were kids.”

Grady frowned. “You did? Why?”

“Because it was like she wasn’t allowed to enjoy it – any of them. I don’t think Jacob and Xander cared so much, but Hannah did. She never got to bake Christmas cookies – the cook was in charge of those, like everything else. Her mom used to have an interior designer come in to do the Christmas decorations, and they weren’t allowed to touch them – let alone help put them up. My dad started getting a second little tree for our house and saving it for when she came over – that way she at least got to have a little bit of Christmas.”

“Damn.”

Molly laughed. “Don’t go feeling sorry for her. She wouldn’t appreciate that. But sometimes I think you make the wrong assumptions about her. Just because a family is loaded the way they are, it doesn’t mean that they’re happy – or that they have anything figured out. Hannah was a lot like Ava when we were kids. She wasn’t very sure of herself. She was looking for approval – and for love.” She smiled. “You’ve got yourself two of a kind there. And I’d say that you’re good for both of them.”

“Thanks, Molly.” Grady stared into his pasta as he carried on eating. She’d given him a lot to think about.

“Hey. Did I say something wrong?”

“No. I was just …” He set his fork down. “I think Hannah tried to tell me the same thing, maybe not in so many words. But when we talked about the differences between us. You know how she’s … like you said, loaded. And I’m anything but. Don’t take this the wrong way, but when I think about you growing up here with all of them, I … I think of you as …” He gave her a rueful smile. “You’re the only one of them who wasn’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth. I mean, The Hamiltons, The DiGiovannis, The Jacobs, The DuPonts. All your friends come from some of the wealthiest families there are – and I don’t just mean in Napa.”

Molly grinned. “What, and you think I was the charity case? The little tag along?”

“No.” He shrugged. “Well, if I’m honest, maybe. I’ve always been proud of you because you made good, you know? But hearing you say that you felt sorry for Hannah, it puts it all in a different perspective.”

Molly nodded emphatically. “And you need some perspective, buddy. I know you and Hannah are in deep and I hope that things are going to get serious between you. But for God’s sake, don’t go into it feeling like you’re the underdog or that there’s some kind of imbalance between you because of her money. If you do, I can tell you now that it won’t last. It can’t work that way. You need to understand that just like there are many kinds of intelligence, there are also many kinds of wealth. The Jacobs and the rest of them might be wealthy in monetary terms, but I never felt inferior. I always knew that I was richer than them in other ways. I was richer in love and family.” She chuckled. “In common sense. We’re alike, you and me. We have a different kind of worth, of value. Don’t go underestimating that. It’s priceless. Money could never buy the happiness that comes from love and family. And don’t kid yourself, they all know it. They’re all searching for it. For someone like Hannah, finding what she’s found with you and Ava is like someone who’s always been broke, winning the lottery.” She grinned at him. “It really is.”

Grady grinned back at her. “Thanks, Molly.”

She nodded. “Are they coming in this afternoon?”

“Yeah. Hannah’s picking Ava up from school and I promised them a milkshake.”

“Milkshakes? What is it with those things? They always have them. I would have thought they’d want hot chocolate but no, sugar-free milkshake every time – for both of them.”

Grady smiled. “Tradition, I guess.”

“Okay. So, that smile says that’s a story you’re not going to tell me.” Molly set her plate down. “I hope you guys make it, you know. You’re just so right for each other – all three of you.”

Grady ran his finger over the box in his pocket. He’d already spoken to Jacob and Xander. Jacob had told him before that he didn’t need to ask, but he’d wanted to, and he was glad that Xander was here so that he could ask both of them. He was grateful that they’d given him their blessing. But he still wasn’t sure if he should wait. Hannah had told him that she’d dived right into relationships in the past, believing that they were good, only to find herself alone and disappointed not too long afterwards.

Molly raised an eyebrow. “Tell me what that look on your face means. You’re worrying me.”

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