Page 56 of Christmas Treasures

He opened the door.

She sat on her bed, knees drawn to her chest, still wearing her coat and hat. Max perched on the edge of the bed.

“I’m sorry about what happened with the tree. I thought she’d like it.”

Bianca shook her head, tearing her hat from her head and letting it fall to the floor. “Non è colpa tua.”It’s not your fault.

He sat fully on the end of the bed and opened his arms. She crawled into his lap and buried her face in his chest. He held her, stroking her hair and letting her cry.

A memory came to him.

He was ten years old, sitting in the loft of the old barn, jeans scuffed, heart cracked. His best friend, Ethan, had told him that morning—in front of everyone—that he was annoying.You always try too hard, Max. No one thinks you're funny. Stop acting like an idiot. You’re embarrassing yourself.

Max laughed as though it was nothing. He laughed too loud, as always. He rode the bus home with his brothers, walking down their long driveway toward home. If any of them noticed how quiet he was, they didn’t comment, just joked and played around as they always did. Instead offollowing the other boys inside, he headed to the barn and climbed into the loft and stayed there. Alone.

His dad found him sometime later, knees tucked up, crying.

Dad didn’t ask questions. He didn’t push. But he sat beside him and waited for Max to tell him what was wrong.

Max wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his flannel shirt and told him what Ethan had said to him.

His father nodded, a flicker of anger in his eyes before he masked it. “Sounds to me like this boy isn’t your friend. Friends lift each other up, not tear each other down.”

“Am I annoying?” Max asked in a small voice.

“You? Annoying? I don’t think that’s possible. You’re a good boy. A kind one. And you know that sometimes laughing is the only thing you can do when things are bad. Don’t lose that, buddy. Life’s hard sometimes. People can be cruel. But a pure, generous heart can fight for what’s right despite it all.”

“I just want people to like me. I’m not smart like my brothers, so I have to try to make people laugh.”

“Listen to me now. You’re very smart. Creative and charismatic. And you know, good senses of humor, which you have in abundance, are a sign of intelligence.”

“They are?”

“For sure. Your brain works a little differently than the other boys’, but that doesn’t mean you’re stupid. Your mom and I know you. Better than anyone. Even yourself at this point in your life. And someday you’re going to look back and understand why God made you the way you are. He does everything with a purpose. To him, and to your mother and me, you’re exactly as you should be. As far as what other people say to us—this Ethan, for example—we can’t let that change us. You know who you are, deep down. You keeplifting your head high, proud of who you are and where you came from.”

“Okay, Dad. I will.” Even though he’d felt too old to do so, he’d crawled into his father’s strong arms and let him hold him as though he were still a baby. And in that loving embrace, his tears had dried up and his sore heart returned to normal. His dad and mom and brothers and the Lord above loved him, and that was enough.

Now, Max bent his head to rest against Bianca’s and whispered, “It’s all right, piccolina. I love you. I’m your family.”

Her crying became only sniffles and soft hiccups. “Ma tutti vanno via.” Her voice cracked. “Anche tu andrai via.”But everyone leaves. Even you will leave.

Max took her face in his hands and looked straight into her eyes. “Tu sei la mia famiglia adesso. Non ti lascerò mai. Siamo legati per sempre.”You’re my family now. I’ll never leave you. We’re bonded forever.

Her lip trembled. “E se ti deludo?”And if I disappoint you?

“Impossible.” He brushed her curls back. “There’s nothing you could ever do that would change my mind. I will always love you.”

She leaned her head against his chest again. They sat like that for a long time.

Finally, in a voice small but certain, she said, “Charlie è rotta. Come me.”Charlie’s broken. Like me.

Max closed his eyes, heart aching.

“Ma non puoi rimetterla insieme.”But you cannot put her back together.

“I know,” he said quietly. “I just wanted to try.”

Bianca’s breath slowed. She wrapped her arms tighter around him and whispered, “Stammi vicino. E io starò vicino a te.”

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