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Her father and mother returned to their seats.
The short silence that followed was broken by Victor s exclaiming,  Oh, my God, this has to be
the best chocolate cake I have ever tasted.
Katrine laughed and chastised him,  Victor, how can you eat a time like this?
Victor shrugged and dug into the cake with his fork again.  I thought we might be going and it
seemed a shame not to at least taste it. He offered the next bite to her.  Try it.
The tall blonde shook her head.  You know I have to watch my diet. It s too easy to put on
weight at our age.
Wiggling his eyebrows at his wife, Victor said,  We could burn it off later at the hotel.
Maddy buried her face in Richard s chest and said,  You can still back out if you want to. This
is my life.
Richard eased her back a bit so he could look into her eyes.  I wouldn t change a thing about you
or them. Did you mean what you said about staying and studying here?
 Yes.
He kissed her lightly on the lips, then looked at her parents.  I don t want to be the reason your
family is apart this year. There are several unused bedrooms in this house and enough hotels nearby if
needed. It would be an honor if your family celebrated Christmas in my home. I ll cook.
Elise hopped with excitement beside her husband.  Christmas in Provence. Let s do it,
Alessandro. He didn t stand a chance against his wife s plea. She looked down at her watch.  It s
almost seven. We have time to charter something big enough to bring them all over.
Maddy asked,  Do you think Stephan will come?
Katrine looked sadly at her husband and said,  He works so much right now, it s hard to say. All
he thinks about is competing with Dominic Corisi. I worry about him.
Maddy appeared to want to say more on the subject. She and her uncle exchanged a meaningful
look, but she kept her thoughts to herself.
Alessandro announced,  I ll bring the family here, but that doesn t mean I m okay with Maddy
living with a man no one knows.
Madison stood and walked around the table to her father.  I can find a place in town. I would
like to take French language classes. I know you re not happy with my decision, but I do want to stay
here.
Alessandro stood and hugged his daughter. Then he cleared his throat and said,  Find two
apartments, because Gino will need a place to stay, too. When Maddy would have said something,
Alessandro addressed Richard instead.  It looks like the Andrades are having a Joyeux Noël this
year. Are you sure you re ready to meet the whole family?
How many could there be? Richard shrugged.  Certainly.
Maddy put her hands on her hips and said,  Dad, you can t invite them all.
Looking far too pleased with himself, Alessandro sat back in his chair and cut himself a slice of
chocolate cake.  You heard your boyfriend. He wants to meet them.
Maddy returned to sit beside Richard.  I hope you like chaos, Richard, because that is what will
be flying over multiple generations of it.
Richard looked around the table and said,  I have had a how do you say an epiphany this
week. In my work, I require order and control. In my home life, I am beginning to see the benefits of a
little crazy.
Quick smiles faded as everyone pondered if his revelation was an insult or a compliment, then
returned as they got his dry sense of humor.
He gave them his most handsome, toothy grin.
Different as they were from him, Richard had found what he d yearned for when he d purchased
his father s house a place to belong. With Maddy and, with any luck, her family.
 How many should I prepare for? Richard asked.
 At least thirty, Maddy said.
Thirty. Holy Hell.  I should start cooking soon then.
Katrine offered,  Would you like us to stay and help?
 Only if you will teach me how to make a good Italian sauce.
Elise raised her hands and face heavenward and said,  You hear that, Nonna? She paused as if
receiving an answer.  I know. I like him, too.
Chapter Six
Sometime on Christmas night, Richard and Maddy snuck out the back door of his house. The
laughter and boisterous voices that filtered outside became fainter the deeper they walked into the
garden. They stopped at a stone bench and sat side by side.
Maddy said,  You did it. You survived an Andrade Christmas.
 Your family is not as bad as you think.
 You can say that even after they dressed you up as Santa and had all the young cousins sit on
your lap and pull your beard?
Richard laughed and hugged Maddy to his side.  Your father is still testing me and that s okay.
He wants only the best for you.
 What does your sister think of my family?
 She s still here, isn t she? Usually she stays for an hour and goes back to her friends in town.
Maybe because your male cousins are flocking around her?
 Tell her to watch out for those Italian men. They re trouble, just like the French. Maddy laid
her head on Richard s shoulder.  Hey, I thought you should know I apologized to her for not being
honest about why I was on the run. I felt like an idiot, but she took it well.
 She doesn t hold grudges, not even when she should. Maddy knew instantly who he was
referencing.
 Did you call your mother? It s Christmas.
 Birthing a child does not make a woman a mother, Richard said coldly.
 You should call her.
 Not everyone has the family you have. I won t push you to tell me what made you run, but I have
to say I can t understand it. I want to understand, though.
Maddy slid a hand beneath Richard s jacket and laid it on his heart.  I am not a good secret
keeper, Richard. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in trying to help people that I share things I
shouldn t. But this is different. I discovered something that could unravel the very fabric of my family.
You want to know why I ran? Because I didn t want to keep a secret I didn t agree with and I couldn t
live with being the one to expose it. I can t tell you what it is. Honestly, I want to forget that I know
it.
 So, what will you do?
 I ll find an apartment in Sablet and study French. She looked at him from beneath her lashes [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]