by Ellie Hall
They were inches apart.
She shivered and said, “If we do that, we won’t be able to stop.”
“I don’t want to.”
“If we see where this goes... Where being together takes us... There’s one thing you need to know.”
He inclined his head for her to go on.
“I’m scared.”
He balked. “I don’t believe it. Francesca Costa isn’t afraid of anything.”
She shook her head as if that wasn’t true. “I’m scared of everything good slipping right through my fingers. Like with my restaurant. I was on top of the world and then, poof. It all fell apart. That’s why I left after you said you loved me.”
He shook his head that time. “In that case, you have nothing to worry about. It won’t happen.” He lowered onto one knee. His heart hammered in his chest, but it was the beat of truth. Of love. True love. “I was going to wait until tonight, but everyone is here. Will you marry me, Francesca Costa?” He produced a velvet box with the name Carmichaels printed across the top.
She didn’t wait to hear more and tugged him to his feet. Her eyes grew wide. “Yes, yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
The cheers were deafening. The congratulations were a whirlwind as she was spun away from Rocky and from person to person. Some were family, others were familiar faces from around town, including the girls from the market.
One whispered to the other, “I guess the bet is off.”
He cupped his hands around his mouth to make it extra official, and said, “Frankie Costa tamed the mountain man.”
When at last he found his way out of the crowd, he took off the green Santa suit and rushed over to where Frankie stood with her brothers—he still didn’t quite know who was who.
Rocky lifted her in his arms. He never wanted to let her go but trusted that they’d have a lifetime together to enjoy each other’s company. As expected, the moment alone didn’t last long. The rest of their families descended.
Judith, his mother, was talking about the Hawkins hop—a dance they did around the holidays. It was all happening so fast—first the reunion with his brothers and then his mother. It would take a while for them to get to know each other again, but he was already formulating a plan for how to get them all together in one place for a while.
Amusement played on his lips—he’d been the guy who wanted to be alone and now all he could think about was Frankie and his family.
“I cannot wait to see you dance,” Frankie said to him.
“Oh, you’d be surprised given his big frame, but John is the best dancer of the bunch,” Judith said, beaming at her son.
He shrugged, feeling his cheeks heat. He always thought skating helped with his agility and rhythm.
Then Tommy said, “The Costas have a Christmas tradition too.”
“What’s that?” Judith asked.
“We eat.”
Everyone laughed.
Plans were made. Numbers were exchanged. They were preparing for a Christmas-engagement party combo. He wasn’t entirely sure about all of the attention, but after feeling invisible for so long, it wasn’t so bad. It was what he’d wanted, right? One thing was for sure, he did want Frankie.
He walked over to her and caught her chatting with Cece Sparrow who congratulated her on the engagement.
“Boy, they don’t waste time,” Frankie said to Cece as she held her right hand out, showing the pop star the ring sparkling on her finger.
She leaned in. “No, I’ve quickly learned that the Hawkins boys like to go big.”
“So do my brothers. At least when it comes to me,” Frankie responded.
Cece spotted Rocky and said loud enough for him to hear, “I think we’ve created a monster.”
“A monster with,” she paused, counting the Costas, Hawkins brothers, and their wives, “A monster with fourteen heads.”
Both women laughed and Rocky joined in.
“Thank you both for pushing me a bit. I’ll admit, I was upset to see them all waiting for me at Fratelli’s, but I wouldn’t trade anything for this.” He spread his arms wide and smiled with zero trances of grinchiness.
Tripp invited everyone up to the lodge house with plenty of space for the two big families.
“What will we eat?” Sadie asked.
“Everything,” Nico said.
Judith insisted they make the meal.
“But we’ll bring dessert.” Luca eyed Frankie.
Rocky’s mouth was already watering.
“We’ll have pizzelles, biscotti, amaretti, bacis, oh and don’t forget panettone,” she said, naming some of the traditional Italian holiday treats.
“I’ll have one of each.”
“You only get dessert if you eat your dinner,” Judith said to Rocky, shaking her finger.
He wrapped his hand around it and then pulled her into a hug. “I missed you, Mom.”
“I missed you too, son.”
“If you ask me, this is a Christmas Eve miracle,” Brynn said.
“We really have Frankie to thank for bringing you boys back together, but Brynn here broke the ice with your brothers and me. I’m just glad they convinced you to give me the time of day, Rocky.”
He couldn’t help but think about the poem with the man, the dog, and the little boy. Things were working out, even better than he could’ve imagined.
Judith gave him a side hug.
Right then, Frankie’s smile was thin, suggesting that she missed her own parents. It wouldn’t be long before she saw them. The spectacle on the ice and the proposal was but one of the many surprises he had in store. After all, she was his queen.
The next few minutes were a matter of great debate over appetizers, entrees, and sides. Ordinarily, he knew Frankie would’ve jumped in with a ton of ideas, but she stepped back, letting the family take care of the meal. She took his hand in hers, drawing them to the side of the crowd as though sensing he might be overwhelmed after his many years isolated on the mountain. He appreciated the gesture, but for once, he felt okay surrounded by everyone. He’d turned back to God and found his faith restored. Though, he didn’t mind a moment alone with her. Not at all.
Snow started falling softly.
Rocky had on his usual uniform of heavy work pants and a green jacket. His beard had filled into a nice layer of stubble and he rubbed his cheek. The scar was a reminder of where he’d come from and that even the worst kinds of things could heal.
“I want you to know that I’m sorry I rushed off after you told me everything about your past. I got scared, but not of you,” she said as snow dusted her hair, her lashes, and her cheeks.
“I know.”
He stroked her wrist with his thumb.
“I was afraid of working hard at something, at us, and then have it taken from me.”
“But there’s a difference. No one has the lease on my heart except you. It’s all yours. No one can take it from you.”
Her smile filled in as she laced her hands around his neck. “Do you know why I gave you such a hard time about being so grouchy at the beginning? Because I was afraid. I feared I was turning into the Grinch myself. I was barely keeping my head above the snow.” Her smile faltered. “But in a backward kind of way you gave me hope. Something to latch onto. A project. But it became so much more.”
“I’m glad you took a chance on me,” he said.
“I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”
“I’d never.”
She beamed and lifted onto her toes, kissing him on the lips. “I’d marry you tomorrow without all of this if you’d prefer,” she said.
“I think letting our families be involved makes them happy. It makes you happy.”
She shrugged. “True, but you do too.”
“That’s not something I ever thought I’d hear.” He let out a low chuckle.
“Neither was, ‘Will you marry me?’” She cocked an eyebrow.
“Those are the best words I’ve ever spoken.”
They
talked about marriage and the wedding for a few minutes as they wandered away from the group, hand in hand.
“Ti amo, Francesca.”
“You love me, in Italian.”
“I asked your brother how to say it—all of that. But I love you in English too. And every other language.” He was taking an online crash course in the language because he figured he’d soon be spending time in the country.
“I love you too.”
Hearing her say those words filled his heart. “Thank you for reaching out to my brothers.”
“I’m not sorry that I meddled.”
The falling snow wrapped them in a cocoon. “I like that you’re stubborn,” he said.
“I prefer to think of it as determined,” she corrected.
“I realized how very important family is. And we both have big ones.”
“The more the merrier.”
“Merry Christmas,” he said.
“Buon Natale,” she repeated in Italian.
Chapter 13
Frankie
It had been nearly thirty days since Frankie arrived in the quaint mountain town of Hawk Ridge Hollow, seeking an escape.
Less than a week had passed since Rocky, her reclusive neighbor, decades-old family feud enemy, and love of her life proposed marriage.
Only thirty minutes elapsed since she’d received a cryptic message from Rocky telling her to pack for warm and cold weather, including a bathing suit and ice skates. He’d also added that he’d like her to clear her schedule for the next few days, including New Year’s.
The fact that he had a cell phone was a very new thing. In fact, he’d only given her his number a couple of days before when he’d had to take a sudden trip out of town. She assumed it had to do with Hawkins Enterprises now that the brothers were fulfilling the stipulations of their father’s will. Owen had investigated and confirmed that Ken Welk had been embezzling money—the same Ken Welk who’d swindled her out of her restaurant space.
She no longer regretted what had happened with Mangia Bella because it led to Rocky, but she wouldn’t object to seeing the slimeball pay for his questionable and illegal business practices.
Frankie wasn’t sure what prompted the change from a guy who swore off technology to one who’d just texted—not to mention the guy she’d hated to the one she’d loved—, but questioning the mysteries wouldn’t change that she and Rocky had fallen in love, he’d proposed on Christmas Eve, and he’d hinted about a New Year’s trip. More than anything, she wanted to be with him so if that meant traveling, so be it.
Where are we going? she texted.
That’s a surprise, he replied.
How long are we going? she asked.
Also a surprise, Rocky answered.
What are we doing? Joyful jitters worked their way under her skin. Just what was he up to?
No reply.
She’d sort of orchestrated the big Christmas party, reuniting his estranged family which had seemed like a brilliant idea at the time, had been a major fail, but then somehow morphed into the best thing that had ever happened to either of them. With New Year’s Eve around the corner, he had something up his sleeve.
The text dots blinked, indicating he was replying. She almost laughed, imagining his large fingers pressing the wrong letters and coming up with some ridiculous autocorrects.
Frankie had numerous screenshots of messages between her and her brothers that never failed to make her laugh, especially the one when Gio tried to write that he was finishing up his exercise then the autocorrect changed to his text saying he was finishing up his exorcism. Then the time Paulo asked her how to make a recipe for minestrone soup and it changed to money soup.
Finally, her phone beeped with another message from Rocky. Want to get married?
A smile spread wide on Frankie’s lips, reaching her eyes. I already said yes.
Want to get married the day after tomorrow?
Hopefully, that wasn’t an autocorrect.
A jolt of excitement and disbelief surged through Frankie as she replied. She wanted to throw her arms around Rocky, to kiss him, to show him how much she meant yes.
Growing up with six brothers made her an even split between being a tomboy and being a girlie girl. A tomboy because she had to work to keep up with them and a girlie girl because being surrounded by all that testosterone sometimes made her want to rebel and dive into a vat of pink paint.
Of course, she’d imagined getting married someday and having a family, but because of that split in her personality, she hadn’t planned it in her mind, envisioned her dress, or even picked a dream honeymoon location. Being in such a big family forced her to learn to go with the flow. But just then her feet wouldn’t move.
Good. See you then. Rocky wrote.
She stood dumbfounded in the bedroom of the cabin, suddenly unsure what to do as her thoughts rushed with questions.
Escaping New York to the distant family property up north, she hadn’t packed any warm weather clothing. The temperatures in the ski resort town were frigid and she’d barely survived the storm when the power went out. Thankfully, Rocky hadn’t turned her away—even though at the time he was easier to hate than to love.
No, that wasn’t true, if there was such a thing as love at first sight, she’d been struck the moment he’d crashed through the woods on his four-wheeler and scared off the bear who’d made itself at home on her dearly departed grandfather’s porch. However, she was slow to realize it was love because he was resistant and tried to turn her away at every opportunity. The guy was stubborn as all get out, but apparently also romantic.
Somehow, she found her way to his heart through his stomach, breaking down his walls, and helping to bring his family back together. It was like a challenging recipe, she wasn’t the kind of woman to give up until she achieved the perfect balance of flavors, textures, and depth.
They’d found their way to each other and more. She still couldn’t believe the glittering ring on her finger. It was a white and rose gold petal filigree double halo setting. The rock was huge. No way would she be able to wear it while working, but she couldn’t imagine taking it off. Rocky had gotten her brothers’ approval to ask for her hand—all six of them since her parents were back in Italy for the holiday season.
A light bulb went off in her mind. Italy. She was packing for Italy. Considering it was New Year’s Eve-Eve, meaning New Year’s Day was in three days’ time, she imagined Italy was the cool weather destination. During the month of January, not even the southern part of the country would welcome a bathing suit. Anyway, her parents were in the northern region.
Like the Hawkins family, Frankie’s mother was from a mountainous alpine area. Frankie traveled a lot with her family when she was growing up—not an easy feat considering she was the youngest of seven, which meant her parents somehow wrangled the six boys and her. They’d spent summers there when she was young, visiting the old country.
She’d also spent a year traveling all over Europe and beyond after she graduated high school, eating her way across Italia to start and perfecting her recipes to later open her own restaurant. Her heart still sank at the thought of it, but not as much. She had a new relationship and was working on the cookbook.
Nonetheless, Frankie was at a crossroads in her life. Engaged and jobless. About to get on a plane for an unknown destination. The prospect filled her with equal amounts of excitement and trepidation.
A sleek, black SUV crunched through the snowy driveway outside, presumably waiting to take her to the airport.
She hadn’t brought much to the cabin since she wasn’t expecting to stay so long and made quick work of tossing everything she could into her suitcases.
Just as she was about to step out the door, her phone beeped with another message. It was from her father. Be sure to lock up the cabin and leave the heat on until I can send Dave Wilson over there to close up for the season.
Her father was originally from Naples and had the exact fiery disposit
ion you’d expect from a guy who grew up in a tough neighborhood and had made and eaten pizzas since the day he’d learned how to walk. He must’ve been in on whatever plan Rocky concocted if he knew she was leaving. She wondered if they’d get along. Her dad and Rocky were the exact same amount of gruff on the outside but were lovable softies on the inside.
She did as told, checking to make sure everything was locked up before she stepped into the cold winter morning.
The driver opened the door to the SUV, helped her in, and then stowed her luggage. Before she had a chance to make small talk, her phone beeped with another message.
That time it was from her mother. Don’t forget to bring plenty of snacks for the flight. In a second bubble, she’d typed the words and hydrate. I hope you’ve been taking care of your skin. In a third bubble, she added, Be sure to get plenty of rest too. You’re going to need it.
Frankie wasn’t sure what to make of that. Whatever Rocky was planning, her parents were definitely involved. As far as she knew they were in Italy for the holidays, suggesting her hunch that’s where she was headed was correct. But it was three days before New Year’s Eve and from where she was, any location in Italy was at least a thirteen-hour flight. Yes, she’d get all the rest she could.
Just as the airport came into view, her phone beeped again. It was her oldest brother, Tommy, with the flight information.
Huh. He was in on it too?
She was excited to see her family but longed to be with Rocky. They’d practically been inseparable during the weeks she’d been in Hawk Ridge Hollow. Being apart after they’d professed their love was almost unbearable.
The international terminal was bustling with activity and Frankie stood there, reading the message and then following the signs for the airline departures. After checking her bags, another message came through. Be sure to keep your phone charged. See you on the other side ;-) That one was from her second oldest brother, Bruno. He’d added a winky face. Who was this person Bryan and what had he done with her brother? The sign next to her flight number indicated she was headed for New York City. She scratched her chin, wondering if it was a connecting flight or her final destination.
