Page 140 of Till Death Do Us Part

“Well, I wanna be. Alina brought this new spiked eggnog. Gino’s brother’s friend makes it. He’s just starting to sell it. It’s delish.”

The kitchen was packed. People were everywhere. Alina and Talia were on each side of Isabella, backs against the counter. She wore reindeer antlers on a headband with a retro, lacy striped apron tied in a big bow around her waist. Her nose was red. She was sloshed.

“Y!” She waved her cup. “You have to try this!”

I picked up the bottle off the counter.Agog about Eggnogwas the brand name, written in green, white, and red script, lights weaving around it. A woman was next to the name, holding a glass up in a cheers motion, her humongous boobs on display.

The model was the woman who had called me out on Halloween at Felice’s house when I’d showed up. The same woman who was there when Tommaso set up the fake scene and Felice was arrested.

“Hahahahaha,” I mimicked her laugh.

Lo snatched the bottle from me and poured herself a glass. “Are you sure you’re not drunk, Y?”

She went to pour me a glass, but I shook my head.

“Why not?” Alina topped hers off. “It’s sooogood.”

“You have to try it, Y.” Talia held her cup out for more. “It makes you feel all warm and tingly inside.”

Isabella grabbed Talia and Alina, squeezing their arms. “I don’t think Y needs it to feel all warm and tingly inside,” she said, her eyes on mine.

“Why not?” Lo looked between us. “You can’t feel warm and tingly during the holidays without alcohol.”

I nodded at Isabella, answering her silent question.

Isabella screeched and wrapped me in her arms, hugging me. My sisters all got in on the hug.

When we pulled apart, Lo asked, “Are we hugging because of the eggnog? It is that good.”

“Be right back.” I ran out to the hallway and grabbed four boxes out of our bags. I handed them to my sisters when I got back. “I was going to wait until tomorrow morning, but…” I shrugged.

Lo tore into hers. She held up the light green sweater with cartoon baby dinosaurs on it. “Umm…”

“Read the card, Lo!” Talia threw a date at her.

The fruit hit her in the forehead. She didn’t even flinch as she read the card. “I’m going to be a dino-mite aunt?” she asked, squeezing the sweater.

I nodded. “Or a Gucci one.”

Lo screamed, wrapping me in a bear hug. We rocked back and forth until Corrina and Nonna Silvia walked in.

We greeted them, and it seemed like the hours melted after that. It was a night to remember, and I needed a minute to reflect. Or maybe to decompress a bit. After everyone left and Felice went to take a shower, I padded down the steps in my warm pajamas and into the sunroom. The ceiling was topped with snow, but outside, it fell soundlessly, collecting on the ground.

A sweet smell floated through the air. It was like a quick breeze. There and then gone. It smelled like Mamma’s perfume.

“I’m happy for me too,” I whispered.

A more manly scent drifted in, but this time, a figure materialized. My husband. He’d showered and dressed for bed, but the long sleeves of his thermal were pushed up his arms. He didn’t feel the cold. I wondered if he’d always been in love.

“Here,” I said. “Here is where I planned to tell you about the baby. At midnight.”

We stared at each other for a second before he reached out and barely touched my face.

He sighed as he took a seat next to me, wrapping me in his arms. I rested my head on his shoulder, curling up even closer to him. We watched the snow fall, both of us quiet. Then his eyes fell to the glass bottle someone left on the table. The one with the woman from Halloween past’s tatas.

“Hahahahaha,” I whispered.

He grinned. “You remember her.”

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