He took it, giving me a firm shake that belied his age. “Merry Christmas, Heath.”
Catalina watched us, her eyes a little wet like that simple handshake was all she wanted for Christmas. She lived for her father’s approval, dreamed of having us all together—the people she loved.
I moved to Damien next, not bothering with Anna until I figured out what his response would be. He clearly didn’t like having me near his fiancée, not after what I’d done. I extended my hand to shake his, wordlessly greeting him.
He struggled with it, struggled with it just as much as he’d struggled to congratulate his sister. We’d never shaken hands before, and that was the final nail in the coffin for his acceptance. A part of him hoped I would just go away, that I would change my mind about stepping down and I would disappear from his sister’s life. But now he knew I was in this forever—that I wasn’t going anywhere. So, he reciprocated, placing his hand in mine, giving a firm shake with eye contact. “Be good to her.”
I spoke before I released his hand. “I’d die for her.” That was what a man wanted to hear, complete dedication and loyalty. I would always be faithful to her, always protect her, always provide for her. That didn’t even need to be said.
He nodded.
I turned to Anna but didn’t touch her. “Merry Christmas.”
She glanced at Damien, liked she was waiting for permission to come near me.
Damien slid his hands into his pocket and looked at the floor as he nodded.
She walked up to me with her hand extended. “Welcome to the family.”
I smiled slightly. “You too.”
“Alright,” Richard said. “Food’s getting cold, so let’s eat.” He moved to the table and took a seat.
I turned to Catalina, who stared at me with a look she’d never given me before. It was a mixture of love, gratitude, and a million other things I couldn’t identify. I watched her come closer to me, watched her wrap her arms around my waist and kiss me on the mouth, showing affection like there was no one there at all. “I love you…”
My arm circled her waist, and I rested my lips against her forehead. “I love you too.”The large fireplace against the back wall was lit with high flames, and we gathered around the tree in armchairs, exchanging gifts while we enjoyed slices of pie and coffee. Catalina handed a gift to Damien.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” he said as he tugged on the bow.
“You always get me something,” she argued.
“But you’re my little sister,” he said. “I’m supposed to.” He continued to rip through the wrapping.
I sat next to her father but didn’t try to make small talk with him. He didn’t strike me as the kind of guy that needed to fill the silence with words because he was uncomfortable. I watched Damien open his gift, a watch to add to his collection.
“Do you have family?” Richard asked, seeming to understand there was a good chance I didn’t.
“Yes. My brother and his wife are coming over to my house tonight for dinner.”
He nodded. “How do they like Catalina?”
I almost scoffed. “They love her.”
“No surprise there,” he said with pride.
“My brother is my twin, actually. A few months ago, Catalina spotted the two of them having dinner. She didn’t know I had a twin, so she assumed I was two-timing her. She chased down my brother on the sidewalk, told him off, and punched him in the face.”
Richard smiled, like he found the story as funny as I did.
“And that was how they met.”
He chuckled. “And they still like her?”
“It made my brother like her more, actually. That’s how we are.”
“Catalina is a lot like her mother, certainly in appearance. But I don’t think she realizes she gets more of her feistiness from me.”
“Yeah…I noticed.”
“I’m very proud of the woman she’s become. I never raised her to choose the right man to take care of her. I raised her to take care of herself. So, when she chooses a man, she doesn’t do it because she needs him, it’s because she wants him.”
I stared at the side of his face, seeing a young man in his still-bright eyes. “It took me a while to convince her to give me a chance.”
“She’s stubborn,” he said immediately. “She also gets that from me.”
“You aren’t stubborn at all,” I said honestly. “Damien is, though.”
He chuckled at my joke. “Yeah, he is.”
Catalina handed a gift to Anna. “This is for you.”
“What did you get her for Christmas?” he asked me, continuing our quiet conversation.
“Ballet slippers…in pink.”
He turned his head more toward me, giving me his entire attention. His eyes shifted back and forth as he looked into mine, like he needed further explanation.
“Ever since she got hurt, she’s been afraid she’ll never dance again. But I know she will…it’s just a reminder.”