Chapter 12 - THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TOGETHER
Their first Christmas together was awkward.
Beautiful.
And imperfect.
Griffin insisted on cooking.
Salvatore insisted on helping.
Roman insisted neither of them knew what they were doing.
The kitchen filled with laughter.
At one point, Salvatore burned the garlic bread.
Griffin stared.
“Did you seriously burn bread?”
He looked offended.
“I was distracted.”
“By what?”
“Your mother.”
Roman laughed.
Griffin groaned.
“Please don't flirt while I'm trying to make dinner.”
Salvatore smiled.
“Your mother started it.”
Roman threw a dish towel at him.
For a moment, Griffin stood still.
She watched them.
Her mother laughing.
Salvatore smiling.
The kitchen warm.
The table set for three.
She had spent twenty-two years imagining what it might feel like to have a father.
Now she knew.
It wasn't grand gestures.
It wasn't expensive gifts.
It was burnt bread.
Bad jokes.
And someone asking whether she'd eaten enough.
Later, Griffin found a small box beneath the tree.
Inside was a silver bracelet.
On its clasp was a tiny engraved crescent.
She looked at Salvatore.
He smiled.
“Your mother helped me choose it.”
Griffin's eyes filled.
She turned the bracelet over.
On the back were four words.
ALWAYS MY LITTLE GIRL.
Griffin began crying.
Salvatore stood.
She threw her arms around him.
And whispered the word he'd waited twenty-two years to hear.
“Dad.”
May you like
Salvatore closed his eyes.
Then held her tighter.
