Read Holiday Affair for Free Online Page B

on him.”
    “Yes, you’ve gotten him away from his desk and his numbers,” interjected the young man as he put his mobile phone in his pocket.
    “Alex, don’t be rude!”
    “Yes, Mama.” He grinned widely at Tom and Melissa.
    “Hello, Melissa, do you know you’re too beautiful for my ugly old brother? Run away with me instead.” Lissy giggled and took Tessa’s outstretched hands. “It was very kind of you to invite me tonight, since I know it’s a special family dinner. I feel welcome already.” Tessa broke into a wide smile. “Tonight, my firstborn, Dominic will be home from his work in the Cook Islands, and we are all together for the first time in three years. It is a special night. Now, Tomas, take Melissa into the living room. Your sisters are in there.”
    Tom ushered her into a beautiful room that seemed to be full of children and was as noisy as the kitchen. Lissy felt overwhelmed by the noise and the number of adults and children sprawled on lounges and on the floor in front of the crackling open fire. Tom spread his arms in a wide gesture and said proudly, “ la mia famiglia –my family.” Lissy experienced a surge of true affection for Tom.
    He was so obviously a part of this boisterous and loving family. Tom in his family setting was very different from the polite and shy accountant she dined with on Friday nights. She hadn’t even been aware of his Italian heritage.
    She laughed with delight as Alex came into the room.
    “Come on you old stuffed shirt, you don’t have to impress anyone here,” he said as he undid Tom’s tie and flung it on the table.
    “Enough, enough! Your manners, Alessandro.” Tessa picked up the tie and handed it back to Tom. “Take the children outside and run off some of your energy, so we can introduce Melissa in peace.”
    “Yes, Mama,” said Alex, with a twinkle in his eye.
    “Come on kids, a quick game of cricket before Uncle Dom arrives. First one outside gets to bat.” He winked at Lissy as he ran out to the veranda followed by half a dozen children of various ages and sizes.
    Even after Alex led the children outside through the French doors, the room stayed noisy. Lissy was fascinated and looked around the elegant but welcoming room.
    A cricket game was blaring from the huge television on the far wall as three men loudly criticized the failure of a fieldsman to take a catch. Two beautiful babies with big blue eyes were yelling as they climbed over their respective mothers’ legs.
    “Quiet, please. Girls, this is Melissa.” Tom had to raise his voice over the din in the room. “My three little sisters, Sophie, Allie, and Lucy.”
    Lissy greeted them as Tom moved on to introduce their assorted husbands and the two babies still in the room, and Alex’s fiancée, Emily. In the middle of the introductions, a large golden retriever came bounding through the room chased by two small boys, almost knocking Lissy from her feet. She fell into the chair behind her as Sophie, Tom’s oldest sister, chastised the boys.
    “Be careful!” She turned to Lissy and laughed.
    “Welcome to our madhouse!”
    “Thanks,” said Lissy, settling into the chair and following the different conversations with interest. She was immediately included as though she was a part of the family, and felt welcome and comfortable even though she was in a room full of strangers. She recalled Gramps’s comments. Maybe I have found my destiny. Maybe Tom was under my nose the whole time and I didn’t appreciate him . She looked across at Tom watching the cricket game with his brother-in-law, trying to imagine herself in an embrace with him. As hard as she tried, Nick kept pushing into her thoughts and she shook herself in annoyance.
    “Is everything all right?” Tom leaned toward her, a look of concern on his face.
    “I’m sorry?” She realized she had spoken her thoughts aloud and Tom was sitting next to her on the lounge. She felt her cheeks grow rosy and reached for her glass of