Page 46 of Christmas Treasures

Next, Charlie looped ribbon around the branches. When she was done, they all agreed the tree was properly trimmed.

Not the perfect tree by any stretch, but he loved it anyway. Bianca had been right to choose this one. The tree was like the three of them. A little battered. Some broken parts. But here just the same, fighting for a new life.

Bianca stood back, hands on her hips in a posture so like her mother that it made his chest constrict. Then she stepped closer again and gently adjusted the angel, speaking in Italian to Charlie.

“She says now it’s ready,” Charlie said. “And that she would like to set up the Nativity scene.”

Max nodded, looking around the room for the perfect location. “Here, we’ll put it on this shelf. I’ll take out the books.” He cleared a spot on a low shelf so that Bianca could arrange the biblical scene herself. “There. All set.”

Bianca knelt in front of the low bookshelf, her small hands carefully unwrapping each figure from tissue paper. She placed them one by one, a smile tugging at her lips. She held the last angel the longest, her thumb tracing the curve of its wire halo before setting it just behind the stable roof. When she finally placed the tiny cradle in the center, her fingers lingered on the smooth wood. She looked up at Max and said in English, “Home now.”

Tears pricked his eyes, but he managed to keep it together, even when Bianca got to her feet and slipped her hand into his. Charlie took his other hand, and the three ofthem gazed down at the Nativity scene. This was the true meaning of Christmas. Family. Faith. Hope. And peace.

“Tomorrow is my mom’s annual cookie decorating party,” Max said to Charlie. “Will you come with us?”

Charlie met his gaze, and for a second he thought she would decline. Instead, she nodded. “I’m this far into Christmas. I might as well go all the way.”

“That’s the spirit,” Max said.

On his parents’porch, Max shifted the cookie tins in his arms as he held his parents’ front door open for Bianca and Charlie to step inside.

Grace’s voice called out from the kitchen, clear and commanding. “Max, is that you? We’re in the kitchen.”

“Their whereabouts aren’t exactly a mystery,” Max said. Charlie looked slightly pale. “Don’t worry. My family won’t bite.”

“I’m nervous for some silly reason,” Charlie whispered.

“No need to be nervous. It’s chaos in there,” Max said, helping Bianca out of her puffy red coat. “You’ll be lucky to get a word in.”

“Yes, it does seem loud,” Charlie said as Bianca moved closer to her.

“It often is when the Hayes family is involved.” Max hung their jackets in the closet and gestured toward the kitchen. “You two ready for this?”

Bianca nodded, looking anxious but excited at the same time. Charlie simply looked anxious.

He led them through the overly decorated front room past the towering twelve-foot tree, its branches weighed down with decades of ornaments, each with its own story.His mother didn’t understand the concept of restraint when it came to decorating for the holidays.

“Let’s do this, ladies.” Max held his breath as he entered the kitchen, quickly followed by Charlie and Bianca.

“Uncle Max!” Lily shrieked from a wooden stool near the granite counter, a cookie in each hand. Her ponytail was coming loose, honey-blond wisps framing her face.

“Hi, Lily.” Max planted a kiss on the top of her head. “Did you save any for us?”

She nodded proudly and held out a half-decorated snowman. “Do you want to eat him?” The cookie’s gumdrop buttons were slightly askew, giving it a drunken appearance.

Max laughed. “Maybe later.”

Bianca clung to his leg, her small fingers gripping the fabric of his jeans. He crouched beside her, bringing himself to her eye level. “It’s okay. I’m going to introduce you to your new cousins.”

Bianca nodded, her eyes big. “Okay.”

Max stood, taking Bianca’s hand. “Everyone, this is Bianca.”

Lily launched herself off her stool and ran toward them with open arms, wrapping herself around Bianca in a full-body hug.

Bianca froze for a second, searching Max’s face for answers. He nodded, which seemed to give her permission to hug Lily back.

Charlie jumped in to translate as the children introduced themselves.

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