Page 37 of Four Stepbrothers for Christmas

Isaac, nonchalant as always, replied, "Hey, I might not be Italian, but I make a mean carbonara."

Portland's coastal charm always had a way of bringing nostalgia, especially during the Christmas season. As our car rounded the corner, I caught the first glimpses of the house. It stood tall and grand, a beautiful blend of Maine's historic architecture with touches of modernity. The stonework was elegant, exuding an old-world charm, and complemented by rich wooden panels.

Christmas had thoroughly kissed every inch of the place. Twinkling fairy lights traced the outline of the large windows, turning them into portals of golden warmth. The grand entrance was framed by two towering fir trees, their branches weighed down with glistening ornaments and soft snow. Crimson ribbons were tied neatly around the white pillars, and on the porch, lanterns illuminated with soft candlelight flickered in the evening breeze. A massive wreath hung on the door, filled with pinecones, red berries, and delicate snowflakes, radiating holiday spirit.

Vinnie's voice broke my trance. "Looks like Dad’s new woman went all out, huh?" His eyes sparkled with anticipation. “Nice house, she’s got here.”

As I gazed at the house, the front door opened with a burst of warmth, revealing our father. His familiar, broad smile stretched across his face, his eyes alight with happiness. Behind him was a woman who could only be the one he’d told us about, her presence a gentle contrast to Dad's exuberance.

"Figli miei!" Dad exclaimed, using the affectionate Italian term for my sons. His arms were spread wide, inviting us into an embrace.

In a flurry of motion, we converged on him. The joy of reunion, the tightening of his grip around each of us, was a testament to the bond we shared. There was nothing quite like a father's embrace; it felt like home, safety, and unconditional love.

Pulling back, he clapped each of us on the back. "Look at you all! Handsome men," he said, beaming with pride. After a few moments, Dad stepped back and gestured to the woman beside him. "Boys, meet Mary."

"It's wonderful to finally meet all of you," Mary said, her voice warm and inviting. "Sal has spoken so much about each one of you."

Luke took Mary's hand and gently kissed it. "The pleasure is all ours. Any woman who can put up with our old man deserves a medal," he joked.

Mary laughed, a melodious sound. "Well, I must say he's been quite the gentleman."

"Only because he's found someone as wonderful as you," Vinnie quipped, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

Isaac, leaning in, whispered audibly enough for all of us to hear, "Watch out for these two, they’re clearly trouble. Welcome to the family."

Everyone laughed, the sound echoing with the joy of reunion.

I stepped forward, offering a genuine smile. "Mary, it's really great to meet you. I think I've seen you somewhere before, though. Do you perhaps work in New York?"

She raised an eyebrow playfully, "Well, maybe you've seen some of my work. I do some photography, mostly freelance."

I nodded. “There it is. No doubt we’ve seen some of your work.”

Still, I couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the familiarity, as strange as the feeling was.

Chapter 24

Becca

"They’re here!" Mom’s voice rang through the house with an unmistakable note of joy.

My initial response was one of curiosity and a tiny bit of anxiety. When I tiptoed over to the window for a sneaky peek, my heart thudded wildly, all nerves vanishing as raw shock took over.

Oh. My. God!

The world seemed to tilt on its axis as I stared at the scene outside. It wasn't just any family reunion – it was the Gallo brothers, along with Isaac, all embracing the man I’d come to know as Sal. The very same men who’d turned my world upside down and inside out in the most delicious ways.

A jumble of emotions crashed over me like a tidal wave: panic, disbelief, dread, and even a smidge of excitement. The rational part of my brain kept repeating:This can't be happening. But there they were. I suddenly realized why Sal had seemed so familiar. Vinnie, Luke, and Archer didn’t look exactly like him, but each of the men carried aspects of their father’s countenance.

"Hey, Becca," Mikey's voice interrupted my internal meltdown. "Why're you looking all deer-in-headlights?"

I barely heard him, lost in my own whirlwind of thoughts. He came to my side and took a closer look out the window and whistled.

"You kidding me? Four dudes? God, I hate meeting new people.” Without waiting for me to respond, he gave a half-smirk, half-sigh and ambled toward the front door. “Might as well get this meet and greet out of the way. Come on.”

As I watched Mikey go, my mind raced a mile a minute. What was I supposed to do? All our secrets were now at risk of being discovered. The layers of complexity to our situation just skyrocketed.

Gathering all the courage I could muster, I decided I’d rather face the situation head-on than cower behind a closed door. Taking one last look in the mirror, I braced myself, put on what I hoped was a neutral, friendly face, and stepped out of the room and down the stairs. My stomach tied into knots as I reached the ground floor.

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