December 15th
Catrina barely got the big front doors to the Marcello mansion opened before her kids pushed in front of her to dart inside their grandparents’ home. They almost knocked her right off her feet in their rush. Their laughter lit up the halls and echoed back. Cecelia was likely cooking something sweet because the scent of confection sugar clung heavily in the air.
“Grandpapa!” Michel shouted, heading for the stairs.
“Grandmamma, I’m here!” Catherine called, following a different path than her brother toward the kitchen.
Neither one of the two kids had even thought to take off their jackets, mitts and hat, or their snowy boots. They didn’t even look back at their mother who struggled with a small duffle bag for each of them.
Catrina didn’t really mind, though. She knew the two were excited to spend a few days with their grandparents. Plus, she might have mentioned that a little time away would do their daddy wonders. Not time away from them, per say, just … time.
The two seemed to understand.
Catrina set the duffle bags down on the floor in the great hall with a huff. She didn’t bother to remove her own jacket or boots because she wouldn’t be staying long. She was just here to drop off the kids, and move onto the next thing on her list.
Then, Dante …
Shortly after, Cecelia came out of a connecting hallway with a smile on her face. Catherine was right on her grandmother’s heels.
“Is that everything?” Cecelia asked, gesturing at the bags.
“Enough for a few days.”
“They have proper clothes for the Christmas party, right?”
“I have the prettiest dress, Grandmamma,” Catherine butted in. “It’s red and white, like Ma’s.”
Catrina bent down to stroke her mini-me’s cheek with her palm. “It is just like Ma’s. I love you, reginella. You be good for your grandmother. I don’t want to hear about you fighting with your brother or causing problems. Understand?”
Catherine nodded. “I won’t, Ma.”
She said that, but …
The two siblings fought like cats and dogs sometimes. Cecelia said it was normal. All siblings battled like that. Catrina hoped it was the case, and would wane as her kids got older.
Besides, even if the two did get into some kind of spat, Cecelia wouldn’t say a thing to Catrina or Dante. She would handle it all on her own like she always did with the kids. It was just the woman’s way.
“Come here,” Catrina said, pulling Catherine close. She hugged her daughter, and kissed Catherine’s forehead and little puckered lips. “Love you, my girl.”
“Love you, Ma.”
Standing, Catrina faced her mother-in-law. “Call me if you need something, or if they get to be too much.”
Cecelia scoffed. “Please, Catrina. I raised three boys who were far rowdier than your two. This is nothing.”
Mmhmm.
Catrina had no doubt.
“Everything for the party on your end is taken care of, right?” Cecelia asked.
She could tell her mother-in-law was concerned about the party details, but wasn’t willing to put her hands into the pot. It was her guarantee for that year, after all.
“You don’t need to worry, Cecelia. It is all taken care of. I am going from here to sign off on the final catering details for the last bit of dishes. I talked to Jordyn and Kim. They assured me that they are more than fine with handling the rest of the decorating without me. It’s all going to be fantastic.”
Cecelia smiled. “I have all the faith, Cat.”
Catrina raised a brow. “All the faith?”
“Most of it.”
Yeah.
She thought so.
• • •
Catrina stood on the front steps of Empire Developments. Snow fell down in heavy flakes as she stared up the length of the tall building to the floor where she knew her husband’s office was situated. She had called Dante thirty minutes ago, and was now just about done waiting.
He did not want her going in there to get him.
Guaranteed.
Glancing over her shoulder, Catrina found the car waiting to take her and Dante away for the next few days. The driver—one of her husband’s enforcers—looked as though he really wished he could get back inside the car and warm up.
Catrina turned back to the building only to see Dante finally exiting the front doors. He walked the thirty feet to greet her, and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
“A little early to be leaving work, isn’t it?” he asked.
Catrina nodded. “For you, yes.”
“Then what’s this all about, bella donna?”
Beautiful woman.
Catrina smiled. “It’s time for that break, Dante.”
Her husband cocked an eyebrow. “Pardon?”
“A break. You need one. Someone helped to set this up, and make sure everything you needed covered would be handled for the next few days.”
Dante eyed the waiting car. He had been so incredibly pissed at his wife for going to his parents that their silent feud over it lasted for a couple of days. While he thought the whole thing was over, and his wife forgot about the break thing, clearly she had not.
“How many days, Catrina?”
“Until the twentieth.”
“The Christmas party.”
She nodded.
“Technically,” Catrina added, “that is when we’re going to pick up the kids, and attend the party. However …”
Dante wet his lips with his tongue, and kept a sharp eye on his wife. “Keep going, Cat.”
“You will not be returning to work until after the New Year.”
“You know I can’t do that. I have—”
Catrina waved at the car and interjected with, “Get in the vehicle, Dante.”
“Catrina.”
Again, she waved at the car.
Dante didn’t move.
Neither did she.
“Cat, I can’t just … go off for a while.”
“You can and you will, Dante. This is not the time for arguments. You need a break. You need to stop and enjoy just being for a while. I have made this happen. The car is waiting. We are burning gas for nothing. Your enforcer would greatly like to warm up as you made us wait thirty unnecessary minutes while you probably yelled at someone over the phone up there.”
“I did—”
Catrina’s gaze narrowed.
Dante cleared his throat. “Okay, so maybe I was busy doing something of that nature. But I was working, Catrina. You know, doing my goddamn job.”
“A job that is killing you lately, Dante.”
“It’s more than just this place. It’s Cosa Nostra. It’s missing out on my kids’ Christmas things. It’s not even getting to enjoy the first snowfall of the year.”
“I know. And so we have done something to help with that, if you would only shut your mouth and get in that car.”
Dante eyed the car again. “My apologies, amore.”
“Get in the car, bello.”
He did.
Without further argument.