The Cattaneos' Christmas Miracles

CHAPTER THREE

WITH A SIGH, Noemi settled onto the bed beside her, and Maria smiled gratefully as her sister-in-law wrapped an elegant arm around her shoulder.

‘So, are we finally going to talk about why you left?’ Noemi asked. ‘I mean, apart from the fact that my brother is an idiot.’

Maria felt a stab of guilt. It wasn’t just Sebastian she’d left behind when she’d run—it had been her best friend, her whole family. She’d always felt closer to the Cattaneos than her own parents, and not having any siblings of her own, Noemi and Sebastian had filled that gap.

Yet every time Noemi had tried to talk to her about Sebastian over the last year, Maria had changed the subject. She just hadn’t been ready to admit how stupid she’d been over the whole thing.

Who expected a marriage of convenience to blossom into true love, outside the movies and romance novels, anyway?

‘Why do you think I left?’ Maria stalled, knowing it was cowardly even as she did it.

‘Why do I think you left? Or why does Sebastian think you left?’ Noemi always had been too perceptive for her own good.

‘Both, I guess.’ Maria couldn’t deny a certain curiosity as to Sebastian’s reaction to her departure. And heaven knew he’d never talk to her about it.

When he’d found her packing, the day after that awful argument, he’d asked her to stay. And when she’d refused, told him he’d never understand, he’d stood aside and watched her go. But she knew he’d been thinking she’d come back soon enough and he just had to wait her out.

Well, he’d been wrong, hadn’t he? And then he’d been too proud to ask her to come back. Until now.

Noemi tilted her head to the side as she studied her, then nodded, as if satisfied by what she saw. Maria didn’t dare ask exactly what that was.

‘I think he thought that you were feeling neglected,’ Noemi said. ‘I mean, the moment you came back from your honeymoon he threw himself into the expansion, folding your family’s business into Cattaneo Jewels. Even I noticed that he was working all hours—more than he had before, ever—and that didn’t change when you had Frankie.’

‘No. It didn’t.’ The memory of those lonely days was too close to the surface for her not to feel it all over again. The aching loneliness that came from being with a baby, all day long, with no support. Seb had suggested they hire a nanny, of course, so she’d have some help—it wasn’t as though they couldn’t afford it. But since Seb had stopped involving her in any of his business dealings or conversations the minute she’d fallen pregnant—claiming he didn’t want her suffering any stress at all—she hadn’t seen the point. She loved looking after Frankie, even when it was hard and lonely.

Next, he’d suggested baby groups, which she’d tried but had never really felt she’d fitted in with. Besides, all the other mums and babies in the world had been unable to give her what she’d really wanted. Needed, even.

Sebastian’s support.

Sebastian’s love.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Sebastian was incapable of giving her that.

At least until then he’d made her feel part of his family. They’d sat up talking for hours, about the business, of course, but about so many other things, too. The world around them, places they’d like to travel to, things they’d like to do.

She’d imagined them doing them all together once they were married. But for Sebastian it seemed they were only daydreams.

‘As for me...’ Noemi trailed off, watching Maria with a sad look on her face. ‘I didn’t think you wanted to go at all.’

Far, far too perceptive.

‘I didn’t,’ Maria admitted with a sigh. ‘But at the same time... I knew I had to, and I’m glad now that I did. It was the right decision for me, and for Frankie.’

‘You definitely seem more...certain, if that makes sense,’ Noemi said. ‘Like you know what you want your life to be now.’

‘Maybe I do.’ It was just a shame she couldn’t see any way to make sure she got it. But even if a happy-ever-after with Sebastian was off the table, that didn’t mean she couldn’t have a full and happy life without him. ‘I’ve been learning a lot about myself since I’ve been away. I mean, Seb and I got married when I was so young... I’d never really been alone before. And this time I was alone with Frankie, taking care of him every day, learning what he needed—and what I needed. It’s definitely been...educational.’

And hard and lonely and difficult—but also fulfilling, rewarding and so full of love that some days Maria just cried because of how lucky she was, instead of for everything she’d lost.

But she didn’t tell Noemi that part.

‘Maybe that’s what seems so different about you,’ Noemi said reflectively. ‘You seem grown up. Not that you weren’t before, of course, but it’s different now. Like you’re the adult in the room. The mother, I suppose.’

‘Not the only one for long,’ Maria said, with a soft smile. ‘Did I tell you how incredibly happy I am for you? And for Max, of course.’

Noemi’s face lit up at the mention of her fiancé and their babies. ‘You did. But I’m always happy to hear it again!’

Impulsively, Maria threw her arms around her sister-in-law’s shoulders and held her tight. ‘I’m so happy for you. You give me hope.’

‘Hope?’ Noemi asked, frowning as she pulled away. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, if everything can work out so perfectly for you, maybe I can still find that sort of happiness one day.’

‘Just not with Sebastian?’ Noemi said sadly. ‘Maria... I know he’s a pig-headed idiot a lot of the time, but Sebastian... He means well, I think. And this last year, without you...he’s just been so sad. And annoying and irritable, of course, but mostly sad.’

Maria looked down at her hands. Annoyed or angry, she’d expected. She hadn’t expected sad. In fact, she’d imagined he’d have been frustrated for a few days and crash around the place in a black mood, then he’d get distracted by some work crisis or another and forget he’d ever had a wife or child until it was all over.

That was what he’d done when she’d been there, after all.

‘Yeah, well. I was sad when I was with him, but he didn’t notice that. He didn’t notice anything, really. It was as if...the moment we were married I became invisible to him. Another item ticked off his “must do before thirty” list, or something. Even Frankie... I know he loves him, but sometimes I think he sees him more as an heir than a son.’

She knew why, of course, as well as Noemi did. That was how Salvo had always treated Seb—the same way Maria’s father had always treated her, as an asset, to marry off as he saw best, to further his own business endeavours. That was one of the things they’d had in common as teenagers—the knowledge that their function was more important than who they were as a person.

The only difference was that Seb’s parents had adored and loved him—even as they’d pushed him to greater heights and bigger achievements. For Maria’s father, marrying Seb was the best she could ever hope for—her entire self-worth wrapped up in someone else’s abilities.

‘Maria...you know what it was like for Seb growing up. Our parents were wonderful, loving people—especially to me. But for Seb...our father was different with him. Seb was in training from the moment he could see over the counter in Cattaneo Jewels HQ. He had so much to learn, you see, and it was so important to Papà that Seb know everything he needed to take over the business one day—’

‘And then they left the controlling share to the son they’d not seen since the day he was born,’ Maria finished, surprised at the anger she felt on Seb’s behalf.

It seemed however hard she tried to leave her marriage behind, the emotions it brought up in her still remained.

Noemi pulled a face. ‘Yeah, that’s all...messy. But I’m hoping we can find a way to work it all out. I mean, we’re a family, right?’ The look she gave Maria made it very clear that she was including her sister-in-law in that statement.

A messed-up, separated, bizarre family with history and baggage. But a family.

‘Yes, we are,’ Maria agreed with a sigh. The Cattaneos had been her family long before she’d married Seb. They’d given her a place that had felt like home when her own had felt cold and empty, when her parents had gone away on trips without her, or been too busy with the business to pay her any attention. Despite Salvo’s focus on training Seb, he’d always made sure they’d had time as a family, too. It was just a shame that seemed to be the one thing he hadn’t taught his son.

Salvo and Nicole might be gone, but their children remained—and from the look in Noemi’s eye, Maria knew her friend wouldn’t let them all drift apart without their parents there. And because of Frankie, Maria would always be tied to them, whatever happened between her and her husband.

Noemi beamed, her radiant glow almost too bright to look at. ‘I’m sorry. I just want everyone I love to be as happy as I am.’

‘Trust me, I want that, too,’ Maria replied. ‘But right now I’d settle for just getting through this Christmas without having my heart broken.’ Again.

Taking her arm, Noemi pulled Maria up from the bed. ‘Come on. We’re going to go downstairs and find your gorgeous little boy, pour you a glass of wine, and just enjoy all being together for Christmas. Okay?’

‘Okay.’ Resigned to making the most of her visit, Maria smiled and followed her sister-in-law back down the stairs.

And really, when Noemi put it like that, Christmas at the chalet sounded pretty good. She could enjoy this Christmas. Frankie could get to know his papà again, and maybe they could find middle ground between the past year and the one before it. One that gave them all what they needed to feel content at least, if not the incandescent happiness Noemi had found.

Maria could get back to the new life she’d forged for herself, and even if it never felt totally complete without Seb, perhaps he could still be enough a part of their lives to satisfy him and give Frankie the father he deserved.

It wouldn’t be everything. But maybe it would be enough.

It would have to be.

* * *

Seb felt an icy chill that had nothing to do with the Mont Coeur snow sneak up his spine at his brother’s words. ‘The business?’ he echoed.

This was it. This was when Leo told him that he wanted more than just a controlling share of Cattaneo Jewels—this was where his big brother took it over completely. Pushed him out and made the company his own.

And then what would he have left?

It made sense, in a way. Leo was the hotshot businessman—and he’d made it by himself. All his successes, wealth, everything were down to Leo. He hadn’t had Salvo Cattaneo guiding his every move, telling him when he was about to screw up and helping him fix it. Leo hadn’t had anyone. Not their parents, not his useless-sounding adoptive family. All he’d been able to rely on—and put his success down to—was his own hard work and natural talent.

Sebastian, on the other hand... His father had spent years drilling him in exactly what was expected from the heir to the family business, and Seb had worked like hell to prove himself. But it hadn’t been enough, had it? Salvo had still left the controlling share of the business to Leo, not Seb.

No wonder Leo wanted to shake things up. He’d have his own ways of doing things, new ideas and exciting possibilities.

And, sure, Seb had kept things afloat in the meantime, kept the profits ticking over nicely, thank you. But he had just been building on what was already there, not creating anything new. Even Noemi, as the face of Cattaneo Jewels, had had more influence on the shape of the company, from the outside, anyway. She’d been pushing for more, too, and as much as Seb had known she was capable of it, he’d been holding back on letting her in.

This was his responsibility, Salvo had always told him. It was up to Seb to make the company a success, to look after his sister and his mother if anything happened to him.

How badly must he have failed for things to have come to this?

But then Leo spoke again, and Seb’s understanding of the world shifted once more.

‘I want to sign my shares in the family business over to you.’

Seb turned to stare at his brother in astonishment. ‘You’re walking away? After everything, you’re turning your back on your family?’

How? Leo had admitted he’d spent his whole life without a family. How could he walk away just when he’d found them? Just when Sebastian had thought they might be finding some common ground...

But Leo was smiling. Indulgently, even.

Wait. What was he missing?

Apart from the opportunity to get back what he’d always wanted—control of Cattaneo Jewels. How was it possible that he’d missed the implications of that, even for a moment? He’d been too concerned with the idea of losing his brother when he’d only just found him.

Huh. That was a surprise.

‘I’m not walking away from our family, Seb,’ Leo said. ‘I’m just putting the responsibility for the business back where it belongs.’

‘With...me?’

Leo nodded. ‘You’re the one who has worked so hard to build the business up, to keep it flourishing even when you were grieving for our parents. You’re the one who deserves it.’

‘But our parents... This was their dying wish.’ And as much as Seb wanted to reach out and grab what Leo was offering, now he knew it didn’t mean his brother leaving, and as great as it would be to take back control of his life in some small way, he knew he couldn’t deny his parents’ desires like that.

‘I don’t think it was,’ Leo said, shaking his head. He sat forward, angling his body towards Seb as he spoke, and for a moment Seb could imagine that they were young boys together, plotting an adventure behind their parents’ backs.

‘It was in the will,’ Seb said stubbornly.

‘A will that was written years ago,’ Leo pointed out. ‘Before they ever knew if they would find me. I’ve been thinking about this a lot—hell, I’ve been thinking about a lot of things lately.’

‘Ever since you met Anissa,’ Seb guessed.

Leo laughed. ‘Yeah, perhaps. Anyway, the point is, that will...it was a way to bring our family together if our parents weren’t there to do it themselves. And it’s done that, right? We’re all here, at Mont Coeur, in time for Christmas.’

‘I...guess so.’

‘So it’s done its job. I don’t need those shares to remind me I’m your brother, or that Noemi is my sister. And I hope I don’t need them to earn my place in this family.’

‘Of course not!’ However badly he might have reacted to the discovery of a secret brother, now that Leo was there, Seb would fight anyone who said he wasn’t a Cattaneo or didn’t belong with them.

Leo grinned. ‘Then why keep them? I’ve got my own businesses to run and, to be honest, you know more about the jewellery industry than I ever will. Or even want to. Jewellery isn’t my thing.’

‘That’s true.’ Seb could feel his spirits rising for the first time since he’d seen Maria standing on the doorstep and Frankie hiding his face against her coat.

‘I’ll speak to the lawyer tomorrow.’ Getting to his feet, Leo clapped a hand on Sebastian’s shoulder. ‘Make it all legal as soon as the terms of the will allow me to.’

‘Thanks.’ Seb stared up at Leo, hoping his brother could see the sincerity in his eyes in the fading light. ‘I mean it, Leo. Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’ Leo started to move away towards the door of the chalet but then stopped and looked back. ‘And you know, Seb, I may not have been your big brother for the last thirty-odd years. But if you need one, I’ll take up the job any time you ask.’

He turned and walked away into the chalet before Seb had to come up with a response to that. Which was probably for the best, as he definitely didn’t have one.

He hadn’t known what to expect, meeting Leo. All he’d been told to start with was that he had a brother he’d never known existed. Then the particulars had trickled in—hotshot, self-made New York businessman. It wasn’t until he’d met Leo that he’d understood some of the other aspects of his life without his family. And not until his parents’ will had been read that he’d understood what Leo had meant to them.

When his parents had died, Seb had felt like he’d lost everything. After Maria leaving, and then later with the will...everything had seemed so changed and beyond his control.

But maybe he needed to start focusing on what he had left. Counting his blessings, so to speak. A sister, who was truly blissfully happy for the first time in who knew how long, and a new brother-in-law and twin nieces or nephews to go with it. A big brother, who knew when to talk and when to walk away, who wanted to be part of the family even though he had no ties to them. A business that he could take to new heights, he knew, now he had the chance.

A son he adored with every inch of his being, even if he didn’t always show it. And a chance to build the father-son relationship he’d always wanted. One that kept the best aspects of Salvo’s parenting but without all the pressure, perhaps.

And Maria. The only woman he’d ever imagined marrying, spending his life with. And still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

Theirs may not have been a love story—no romantic nights out, falling in love—but it was their story, and Seb wasn’t ready for it to end. Maria was his wife, and he didn’t want that to change.

So maybe he didn’t have her, not any more. But he did have a second chance to win her back. If he could figure out how.

As Sebastian opened the front door to the chalet and stood, watching his blessings as they gathered around the huge Christmas tree, he knew he couldn’t squander that chance.

Maybe his marriage had been one of convenience to start with, but did that mean he couldn’t make it something more? Add a little romance, find out what Maria needed from him to be happy? If he could give it, he would, to keep one small aspect of his life in order. To stop one thing spiralling beyond his control.

But most of all to give him his son back.

Maria lifted Frankie to touch one of his parents’ favourite tree ornaments, his little face lit up with a joy that was reflected in Maria’s smile, and Seb felt his heart contract.

Maria seemed so much more confident, and even more content than she had before she’d left. He knew that proving to her—and maybe even to himself—that they could find that same happiness together wouldn’t be easy.

But he had to try.

It was what his parents would have wanted. It was what he wanted, if he was honest with himself. Leo was right. He’d spent too long waiting for Maria to realise that she wanted to come home. It was time to show her why she should. To prove to her that they could be happy again.

They’d been happy once, right? He smiled as he thought about their honeymoon. There had been romance then, at least, after their vows had been made—romantic walks on the beach, candlelit dinners and conversation, and long, lazy lovemaking at night.

That was what they needed again. What he needed to find here at Mont Coeur to remind her how they could be. Okay, maybe the beach was out—but snowy walks at Christmas in the Alps? What could be more romantic?

He could do it, he was sure. He just had to convince Maria to let him try.

‘What are you doing, lurking in doorways?’ Noemi asked, as she came up behind him. ‘Shouldn’t you be in there with your wife and son?’

Sebastian favoured her with a smile, realising that Noemi was someone else he needed to make more of an effort with. She’d be leaving with Max soon, after all. If he wanted to repair their sibling relationship, it had to be now—and when better than Christmas, anyway?

But first Maria and Frankie.

‘I’m going to win her back, Noemi,’ he murmured, excitement jangling through his veins at the idea. ‘We’re going to be happy again.’

Noemi beamed, and placed a kiss against his cheek. ‘Well, it’s about time,’ she whispered in his ear.

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