Page 60 of Four Stepbrothers for Christmas

We settled in, and the gentle hum of conversations, the clink of ice against glass, and the subtle background of Sinatra's crooning -Sal’s pick, of course- filled our expansive living room. I sat, relishing the full-bodied taste of the bourbon in my glass, Sal and my brothers, Vinnie, Luke, and Archer, deep in discussion about the latest in marketing trends. Becca and Mary caught up on all the family goings on before moving on to discussing plans for decorating the rest of the huge house. The warmth of the room, aided by the crackling fireplace and towering tree, made me appreciate how far we'd all come, how tightly knit our bond had grown.

And it wasn’t long before my thoughts drifted to the other most important girl in my life.

Our little Madeline, just three months old, had quickly become the heart and soul of our home. Maddie, as we fondly called her, had Becca's bright hazel eyes and a sprinkle of auburn hair atop her head that gleamed in sunlight, suggesting it might deepen to match my own. Each day seemed to bring a new development, a new expression, or a fresh sound from her. She was a perfect blend of her mother and all of us, and I found myself often marveling at the wonder of life, and how something so small and delicate could wield such power over four grown men.

As if on cue, the soft chiming of the baby monitor stirred me from my thoughts. Madeline's coos and gurgles indicated she was awake from her nap. Without missing a beat, Luke, Archer, Vinnie, and I converged on her room. Becca got there first, lifting Maddie from her crib. As those little arms reached out, her small fingers wrapping around Becca's thumb, we all gathered around, a protective and adoring circle.

Vinnie made silly faces, earning a bubbly giggle from Maddie. Archer softly hummed a tune, while Luke gently stroked her cheek. I leaned in, planting a soft kiss on her forehead, absorbing the warmth and innocent love radiating from her. This was family, a bond unbreakable, built on love and commitment. This was our forever.

After a quick diaper change, Maddie came down with us, and it wasn’t long before Grandma Mary and Nonno Sal were doting on her like crazy, the little girl enjoying the attention with a big smile on her face.

Lost in my thoughts, I was drawn back to reality by the soft shuffle of footsteps. Vinnie walked into the kitchen, where the soft murmur of Becca's voice indicated she was on a call. He paused briefly at the threshold, his brows furrowing as he observed her. The usual vibrant lilt in her voice was missing, replaced with a somber tone that immediately set off alarm bells in my mind.

"What's wrong?" Vinnie mouthed, trying to gauge the situation.

Becca held up a finger, signaling him to wait. Trusting Vinnie to handle things in the kitchen, I focused my attention on Sal, who was in the middle of playing peek-a-boo with Maddie.

But soon, the narrative faded into the background as Luke, Archer, and I noticed Vinnie carefully assembling the charcuterie board Becca had left half-finished. Her silence and his actions told us all we needed to know—something was amiss.

The three of us ventured into the kitchen, our steps in sync, a protective circle forming instinctively around the woman who held the center of our universe. Becca finished her call and for a long moment simply stared into the distance, her thoughts clearly miles away.

The weight of silence bore down on all of us until she finally looked up, her gaze capturing each of ours. A soft, sad smile played on her lips, instantly telling us that whatever news she had wasn't all bad. "That was Mikey," she began, her voice breaking slightly.

I felt Vinnie's tension. But all of us stayed silent, giving her the space to continue.

"He... he apologized for everything." She paused, gathering herself. We all remembered the tumultuous few months that followed that fateful Christmas Eve. Mikey had put us all through the wringer with his substance issues, his actions nearly fracturing the tight bond our family shared. "He’s been clean eight months now.”

A collective sigh of relief passed between us, the cloud of worry lifting ever so slightly. Her next words, however, captured our attention.

"He wants to come for Christmas, to meet Madeline."

The room's atmosphere shifted. A myriad of emotions swept over us—hesitation, uncertainty, hope. Mikey, for all his faults, was still family. And Madeline, our beautiful daughter, was the symbol of the love, resilience, and unity our family stood for.

My brothers and I exchanged glances. We had a decision to make. And as we did with every major choice in our life, we would make it together.

I smiled. “We can send the plane tomorrow. He can come in and be here by Christmas Eve dinner.”

Becca's eyes, glossy with tears of joy, shone brightly as they danced from one of us to the next. The raw emotion, the sheer depth of feeling in the room, was palpable. We all felt it—the completeness, the sense of belonging, the realization that we had each other, always.

"This is wonderful news, Becca," I said, feeling a surge of pride and love for her. She had been our rock, the glue that held us together, and it felt fitting that she'd be the one to bring Mikey back into the fold. We all knew how much she’d struggled with his absence.

"I've never been happier," she whispered, wiping away a tear that had escaped.

Vinnie shot me a knowing glance, his eyes twinkling with mischief. I couldn't help but smirk in return, our shared secret burning between us. But our silent exchange didn't go unnoticed.

"What's going on?" Luke inquired, looking between the two of us with raised eyebrows. “Are you guys thinking…”

“Is now a good time?" Archer chimed in, already aware of what we had planned.

Becca's gaze flitted between us all, confusion evident in her features. "What are you guys up to?"

Before she could inquire further, Vinnie reached into his pocket, producing a slim, shimmering band. "Becca," he began, his voice laden with emotion, "From the moment I met you, I knew you were the missing piece in my life. I love you more than words can express." He slid the band onto her finger.

I stepped forward next, another identical band in hand. Looking deep into her eyes, I whispered, "For every sunrise we've watched together, and for every sunset we've yet to see, my love for you grows. This is my promise to cherish and love you forever." I slid my band next to Vinnie's, the two fitting together seamlessly.

Luke was next, his tone soft yet unwavering. "Every moment, every laugh, every tear we've shared... I cherish them all. I want a lifetime more with you." His band fit snugly next to mine.

Finally, Archer stepped up, his band gleaming in his hand. "Becca, you've brought light, love, and laughter into my life. I promise to give you the same for all our days to come." And he slid his band onto her finger, completing the quartet.

"The bands," Luke began, seeing the wonder in Becca's eyes, "were crafted specially for you. They fit together, just like we do. While we can't marry you in the conventional sense, this is our way of committing to you. Forever."

Becca looked down at her hand, the bands shimmering in the soft light, each one a testament to the love of the man who had given it to her. Tears flowed anew, but this time, they were tears of pure, unadulterated joy.

"I love you all," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "More than you'll ever know."

One by one, we took her in our arms, sealing our promises with soft, lingering kisses. The world outside faded away, leaving just the five of us in our shared cocoon of love and happiness.

And as we stood there, wrapped up in each other, the future stretched out before us—full of promise, full of love, and full of the magic that came from finding your true place in the world.

The End

---