“Can I say something?” Tessa set down her glass without drinking any. “I’m so glad that we can start our life together in the place we love, with the family and friends we love.”
Then, as everyone else drank, she pulled Leo over to the side. “And now I have a little surprise for you.” She took his drink out of his hand and set it on a pop-up table, making sure they moved far enough away so no one could hear.
“Tessa, what is it?” he asked. “Are you unhappy about something? Because you can literally change anything you want—”
She took both his hands in hers and looked into his worried brown eyes. “I couldn’t be happier. But I have to tell you something.” She stood in front of him, making sure she looked him straight in the eyes. “There’s another project underway. It will be ready next summer.”
He frowned. “What are you talking about?”
“It will end our families’ feud forever, because it’s actually a collaborative effort.”
“You’re making me nervous. Also, I have no idea what you’re—” Suddenly, his eyes widened. She saw the exact moment the truth finally dawned.
“You’re not—you’re just tired from exams, right?” he asked. “Because that would be—”
She took one of his hands and placed it on her abdomen. “Our little collaborative project will be ready in about seven months.”
“How—when—”
She grinned widely. “I can explain it to you later if you need me to.”
“Oh wow,” Leo said, stunned. “I’m—” He appeared to lack words, which was the best thing ever.
“Speechless?” she asked.
He laughed and rubbed his neck. “I’m—oh wow, he repeated. “Yeah, speechless is right.” He shot her a look of concern. “Are you all right? You’re exhausted. Why don’t you sit—”
It had only been two minutes and already his protective instincts were kicking in. Which actually wasn’t a bad thing at all. “Couldn’t be better.”
“I—I love you. I love you.” The words were back, and they were beautiful ones. Leo took her in his arms and kissed her soundly.
“I love you, Leo,” she said from inside his embrace, surrounded by his warmth and strength. And her heart was spilling over with happiness.
“Hey, what’s going on over there, you two?” Jack called. “Come on out and have a toast with us.”
“I can’t drink,” Tessa said. “But I’d love for you all to.”
“You can’t drink?” Her mother’s hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my goodness!” she exclaimed, running over to Tessa.
“You know what this means, don’t you?” Marco asked.
“It means we’re all family,” Gram said with a solemn nod.
“No more feud!” Gia announced.
Amid a lot of hugging and kissing, everyone cheered. “They all seem relieved that the feud is over for good,” Tessa said to Leo. “This is a new beginning.”
“For everyone,” he said. “But especially us.”
As Leo kissed her again, Marco turned to Joanna. “By the way, Joanna,” he said, “there’s a Michelin three-star restaurant in Indy. I’d like to invite you to check it out with me. As a research trip, of course. We could leave early on a Saturday and visit a museum or two, have dinner, and then drive back. Just to show we’re friendly with each other.”
“Well, we’re going to share a grandchild,” Tessa’s mother said. “And we do business together. We can keep things friendly and businesslike, right, Marco?”
“I’ve heard that one before,” Tessa whispered to Leo.
“Hey, lovebirds,” Gia said. “I hate to say goodbye, but I have to go.”
“Don’t tell me you’re going to study now,” Leo said.
“Actually,” she said with a smile, “I have a date.”
“Oh no you don’t,” Marco said.
Joanna came up beside them and gently touched his arm. “We French have a saying. Peigner la girafe. ‘Don’t clip the little bird’s wings.’”
“Mom,” Juliet said in a warning voice.
Tessa’s grandmother chuckled.
“What did you really just say?” Marco asked, glancing at everyone’s smiles. “Somehow I get the feeling that that had nothing to do with a bird’s wings.”
Joanna’s mouth turned up. “It means to comb the giraffe.” In response to his puzzled look, she explained, “Think about it, Marco. Why on earth would anyone do that? It’s useless.”
Marco turned to his daughter. “Be home by ten.”
“Eleven,” she said, kissing her father quickly on the cheek. She hugged Tessa. “I’m going to be such a great aunt.”
“Yes, you are,” Tessa said.
As Gia hugged Leo, she said, “I gotta go. After my date, I’ve got some studying to do. Because Aaron’s actually competing for the candle factory scholarship, too, and I want to win.”
Oh no. “Scholarship or no, you’re smart enough to make anything you want work,” he said. “I love you, Gigi.”
“Love you, too.”
“Merry Christmas, everybody,” someone said.
“Happy new year,” Juliet said.
“Look at that full moon!” her grandmother said, glancing out the big window. “The moon brings miracles.”
“I thought you said the moon brings a man,” Juliet said, frowning.
“Does she say that every month?” Leo asked Tessa.
“This month it’s in the House of Castorini,” Lilac said with a chuckle. “That’s a very good sign.”
“Sometimes the moon brings a man; sometimes it brings a woman; sometimes it brings a whole new life,” Gram said. “If you embrace the challenge.”
“I’d rather embrace you,” Leo whispered in Tessa’s ear. “Like, for always. Happy graduation.”
She turned and walked into his warm embrace. “Happy life.”
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Author’s Note
I hope you enjoyed this story about two competitive people humbled by love when they least expected it. And I hope it’s given you a laugh or two. Like Tessa, life throws difficult decisions our way, and we can sometimes get stuck. Like Leo, we can avoid love because it can be dangerous to the heart. And we often dearly love and are loyal to our families even though they can drive us a little…well, let’s just leave it at love.