Chapter 10 - The Best Christmas
Three weeks later.
The living room of the Tribeca penthouse was unrecognizable. A massive, twelve-foot Douglas fir tree stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, decorated with thousands of white lights, silver ornaments, and at the very top, a large, glittering silver unicorn.
It was Christmas Eve. Outside, a soft, perfect snow was falling over Manhattan, covering the rooftops in a clean blanket of white.
A fire was roaring in the stone hearth, casting a warm, orange glow across the room. Lily and Leo were currently on the floor near the tree, surrounded by a mountain of crumpled wrapping paper, trying to assemble a massive, multi-level Lego castle that Marco had brought them.
"No, Leo, the blue piece goes on the tower!" Lily argued, her face flushed with excitement.
"The tower needs to be gray, Lily! It’s a fortress!" Leo countered, though he handed her the blue piece anyway with a grin.
Vanessa sat on the deep velvet sofa, a glass of red wine in her hand, her legs tucked beneath her. She was wearing a soft, cream-colored sweater, her blonde hair falling loosely around her shoulders. She looked healthy, peaceful, and entirely beautiful in the firelight.
Dante walked over from the kitchen, carrying two plates of fresh gingerbread cookies. He had traded his sharp suits for a simple black sweater and jeans, his rough exterior completely softened by the warmth of the room. He set the plates down and sat next to her, his long leg brushing against hers.
"They've been at that castle for two hours," Dante said, watching the children with a soft expression.
"They're happy, Dante," Vanessa whispered, leaning her head against his broad shoulder. "This is the first Christmas in three years that Lily hasn't asked me if we have to move again."
Dante reached out, his long fingers wrapping around her hand, lacing his fingers through hers. He turned his head and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "You're never moving again, Vanessa. This is your home now. Both of you."
Lily suddenly stood up from the floor, holding a small, silver envelope she had found hidden beneath the branches of the tree. She ran over to the sofa, her gray eyes—so like her mother’s—shining with wonder.
"Mom! Look! There’s one more letter under the tree! It has my name on it!"
Vanessa blinked, looking at Dante, who simply raised his eyebrow in innocent confusion. Vanessa took the envelope from Lily and opened it. Inside was a piece of heavy, gold-embossed paper.
"Read it, Mom!" Lily urged.
Vanessa cleared her throat, her voice soft and rich as she read the words aloud:
Dear Lily, I received your letter at the North Pole. I am glad to report that the bad man has been placed on the permanent naughty list, and he won't be calling your mother ever again. Your mother’s smile is the most valuable thing in New York, Lily. Protect it. I have left a special guard at your house to ensure the rooms stay warm and the bad dreams stay away. Have a wonderful Christmas. Love, Santa.
Lily let out a joyful squeal, throwing her arms around Dante’s neck. "I knew it! I knew Leo’s dad knew Santa!"
May you like
Dante laughed, a deep, booming sound that filled the penthouse with a genuine warmth it hadn't known in years. He caught Lily in a hug, then reached out to pull Vanessa into his side, holding them both against his chest while the fire crackled and the snow fell silently over the city.
The letter had been delivered to the wrong address, but as Vanessa looked into Dante’s gray eyes, she realized that some mistakes were simply the universe’s way of finding the right destination. The storm had finally passed, and inside the house of Moretti, the wishes had all come home.
