“Always.”
After a handshake and a hug, we walked into the house side by side. Once inside, we were met by smiles from Sal, his wife, Peter, his partner, Michelle, Anthony, and Bella.
“Where’s Terra and the kids?”
“They’re all at the tree,” Anthony said. “Kids. They like the tree.”
“I don’t think it’s the tree they like,” I said. “C’mon, Cap.”
I walked through the group, hugged Sal and his wife, and then stepped into the front room with Cap at my side.
Tony was handing Terra gifts, while little Michael pulled against the leg of her pants.
“Michael,” Cap shouted. “Stop tuggin’ on Aunt Terra’s trousers. You’ll pull ’em off, and then what’ll we have?”
“Uncle Cap!” Tony shouted.
“Leave them alone, Cap,” Terra said. “They’re just excited.”
Cap picked Tony up as soon as he was within arm’s reach. “Anything under that tree for ol’ Cap?”
Terra grinned. “Maybe.”
He motioned toward the tree. “It’s bigger than last year.”
I looked the tree up and down, and then focused on the star that was perched at the very top. “Needed an eight-foot ladder to put the star on it, if that tells you anything.”
For a little boy that never had a Christmas to speak of, I was sure making up for it now. No expenses were spared, and we always gave thanks on the eve of Christmas with a huge meal, friends and family included.
Our traditions were our own, and I enjoyed them.
“Michael eats dirt,” Cap said. “Can’t get him to stop.”
“Tony did it, too. Might be a boy thing.”
“Does Bella?” he asked.
“Nope.”
While Terra and the kids carefully placed the gifts under the tree, Cap and I mingled with the rest of the family. We shared stories of the year that had passed, another record year for the family’s business.
We talked of change, of acceptance, and of gratitude. And then, as the sun melted into the sea, we ate.
“You know the tradition,” I said. “Guests first. We’ll start with Cap.”
“You always start with me.”
“We’re ready to eat,” Terra said with a laugh. “Hurry up.”
“This year I’m grateful for my family’s health, for my life’s successes, and for all of you.”
“I’m grateful it snowed before we left. I love seeing the snow on Christmas,” Michelle said.
“I’m grateful the rib roast is done,” Sal said. “And for family. More than anything. For the family.”
“I’m just grateful for being able to come here every year,” Sal’s wife said. “I love it here.”
“You say that every year,” Terra’s mother, Bella, said.
“It’s true.”
“I’m grateful for James, for my loving family, and that I didn’t get sick on the plane,” Peter said.
“I’m grateful for everything,” James said. “Life is a gift.”
“Papa!” Terra shouted. “You’re holding us up. Everyone’s hungry.”
“Oh? It’s me?” Anthony asked. “I’m grateful for another Christmas eve with the family, for the health of my rose garden, and for the health of my family.”
He leaned to the side, kissed Bella, and then grinned.
She cleared her throat. “I’m grateful for something that I can’t say I’m grateful for.” She covered her mouth. “Maybe I can say what it is later. For now, I’ll pass.”
“This year,” I said, “I’m grateful that the island is now cleared of everything that was once here. My daily walks are more peaceful, more pleasant, and far more enjoyable now. I’m grateful for family, for good health, and most of all, for the ability to spend another holiday with the people that are most important to me.”
Terra let out a sigh, looked at her mother, and began. “I’m grateful everyone made it safely, and on time. I’m also grateful Mom learned how to drive the boat.” She looked at me and smiled. “But most of all. I’m grateful we went to the big island today.”
I scrunched my nose. “Why’s that?”
“Because if I hadn’t, I couldn’t be grateful for the last thing.”
“Which is?”
She raised her hands in the air. “I’m pregnant. Again!”
I jumped from my seat. “Maybe it’ll be another girl. Or, it could be a boy. What if it’s twins? It could be twins. If it was twins, it might be a boy and a—”
“Michael!” Terra shouted. “Take a breath. You’re going to have a heart attack. You’d think by now—”
“It doesn’t matter how many times it happens,” I said. “This’ll probably happen every time.”
I took a deep breath, looked around the table, and smiled. Everything I’d ever wished for had happened. Everything that was void from my life as a child was now present. I needed nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
I exhaled, leaned over, kissed the woman of my dreams, and then picked up my glass of wine.
“To traditions, good health, another holiday together, and prosperity. But, most of all...” I raised my glass. “To family.”
Nine glasses joined me.
And nine people agreed.
“To family!” they said. “Salute!”
* * * * *
Acknowledgments
Lauren Plude and Penny Barber more than earned a nod of my head (pun intended). Thank you for forcing me to become better at my craft.
Also available from Scott Hildreth and Carina Press
The Gun Runner
The Game Changer
About the Author
Scott Hildreth was born into this world early and plans on leaving late. Between his arrival and departure, he has written forty novels and has every intention of writing many more.
Despite falling in love with his wife, Jessica, late in life, Scott professes to be an authority on the subject of love, and his writing is a reflection of this belief.
His preferred careers of being a biker, military hero, mafia boss, boxer, vigilante, and tattoo artist will always be favorites, but as writing has become a full-time gig, he must live vicariously through the characters in his books who share his admiration for these professions.
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ISBN-13: 9781460396926
The Good Boss
Copyright © 2017 by Scott Hildreth
All rights reserved. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of publisher, Harlequin Enterprises Limited, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.
All characters in this book have no existence outside the imagination of the author and have no relation whatsoever to anyone bearing the same name or names. They are not even distantly inspired by any individual known or unknown to the author, and all incidents are pure invention.
This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
® and ™ are trademarks of the publisher. Trademarks indicated with ® are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property
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