Authors Note: Thank you to everyone left comments or sent me feedback about previous chapters of this story. Thank you again to Margaret who proofread for me. ~ellie
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Pei felt bad that she had hardly spent any time with Josh since his arrival that morning and had been relieved that he had gone riding that morning with Dante and Dino. He had then had been pressed into helping with the preparations including trimming the huge Christmas tree that sat as always in the middle of the front yard. He had taken over his possession of BJ again who laughed and wriggled in his arms as they went up in the cherry picker.
She'd helped Antonia and Rosanna finish off the gift baskets for their guests last night and again this morning after breakfast. She'd also spent quite a bit of time with both Angelo, Rosanna and their brood of children preparing for the concert tonight. She hated being the centre of attention or being on any stage, but she knew now was the time to step up and begin showing herself capable of being a matriarch. Or at least put her best foot forward to support both Josh and Dante. She tried not to dwell on being in the spotlight and prepared for the evening ahead as best she could.
It was late in the afternoon as the local families and others started arriving that the first of the two planes carrying the current and future table members arrived taking most of the family by surprise. Peri had returned with three small bottles of breast milk for her babies when the first plane touched down and watched for a few minutes from the blanket where her babies sat in rockers beside their nannies.
"Watch Romey and Carmen tonight," Dante murmured moving up close behind her. Peri looked around and saw Carmen hurrying toward Romey. They spoke quietly for a few minutes and then she walked towards where the newcomers were being greeted. "Now it's our turn, just remember that you have knowledge that she doesn't have. These are people you've met and talked to, greet them like old friends."
"Dante," she turned to look at him and smiled. "I know you're trying to help, but trust me, please. I have it all under control," she kissed his cheek and moved away through the crowd without him.
"I see living with them has only made you even more of a lovesick puppy," Lucia said peevishly from beside him.
"Yep," he said turning to smile at his sister. "I love her, and there isn't much I can do about it."
"It can't be healthy for you D." She said worriedly. "I know without Lio you're feeling lost, but this can't be the answer."
"Lucy look at me. I mean really look at me. Do I seem lost or upset or unhappy in any way?" he asked softly. "I miss Lio every single day but my life is good now, and I want you to understand that I am exactly where I want and need to be."
"Okay." She said sceptically.
"You're not stupid, Lucy," Dante said in frustration. "Your husband has brought you here on a night when the Donati table and the seconds are coming together for the first time in our lifetime outside of the gathering. Just think about that for a moment and you'll understand. Then if you truly love me as your most favourite brother, you'll stop trying to interfere with things beyond anyone's control at this point. It also wouldn't hurt you to try and be a better friend to Peri than you have been lately." Dante walked away then and headed in the direction of his arriving relatives leaving her staring after him in disbelief.
Lucia turned to look at the triplets as their nannies prepared to feed them. It couldn't be true, she told herself, but now the seed had been planted she liked the idea far more than the alternative scenario's she had conjured in her mind. She just hoped he wasn't setting himself up for another broken heart. He may not recover next time, and he was her favourite though she would never admit it out loud.
Peri had greeted the men with kisses on their cheeks. Manuel and his wife had arrived with Vincenzo's family. She had greeted Dominic's wife Finola as an old friend embracing her and bending down to meet her three children who ranged in age from six to ten.
"Did you know there is going to be a concert tonight before the big countdown?" Peri whispered.
"What countdown?" the oldest child asked.
"We have a spy cam up at the north pole to see when Santa leaves," her eyes went wide as she said it. The little one bounced up and down with excitement as the adults listened in to their conversation. "It takes a lot of singing to make it work though so do you think you could help us with the concert?"
"Can we, Papa?" Again it was the oldest who look up at his parents and asked.
"Please?" the middle child added.
"It would be bad manners not to help I think," Dominic said seriously. "Look after your brother and sister, and do what Peri asks," he tussled the oldest boy's hair.
"Hi Dom," Rosanna came forward from where she had let Peri ask them and was quietly impressed with how she handled the children. "Why don't you come with them Fin, just 'til they get to know us a bit better. It'll give us a chance to catch up."
"Great, and then I just have to see those triplets I heard so much about," she said happily feeling immediately welcome in the large family. She'd met Rosanna and Emily with their husbands several times, but they had seen the size of this little Christmas gathering from the air, and she had worried about finding people she knew.
"This is your Zia Rosanna and this," Peri said having seen her target in the small gathering. "Is your Zia Carmen, they're gonna find you some great costumes and teach you the song, okay?" The children all nodded smiling. "It's gonna be so much fun; I can't wait!" Peri shook with excitement making them all giggle. She stood and smiled at the men sweetly and turned to walk away with the women and children.
She had listened to everyone's advice and rather than just accepting it and doing what they asked she had formulated a plan of her own. Her plan had started by getting Rosanna and Angelo on side by helping to make the children's concert more of showcase. They had brought in the small band earlier, and Peri offered to be one of the backup singers for the night, including the first number which would be a re-enactment of the big number from the movie, Love Actually. They had enough children in this family and with all of the extra's arriving it would be great. She had also talked Carlo into rigging up some extra lighting and manning a spotlight during the event.
So while Carmen had focused her attention on the adult concert as she usually did, Peri had quietly endeared herself to most of the children and in turn their mothers. She had never been as busy as she had been today only taking the time to express milk for her babies rather than spending the time with them that she normally did.
CJ and Pete arrived with Charles, Constantine, and Andie on the last plane. Peri once again gathered the women and children into her merry little band of performers. With so much to do she was able to keep Carmen busy and her thoughts strictly on the concert and each performance. She went to her for help and advice on the most trivial of things letting her be the expert despite being the one who had organised the entire thing with Rosanna and Angelo.
With much pomp and ceremony people were asked to take their seats and two of the older grandchildren escorted Joseph and Antonia to thrones in the centre of the open space where people sat on blankets and deck chairs.
With just over twenty-fours to pull this off and spending a good deal of that time falling in love with Dante, Peri was proud of her efforts as the kid's concert went off without a hitch and had everyone smiling, clapping and singing along with the children. As the final number ended, she turned and hugged Rosanna relieved that she could relax and enjoy the remainder of the evening.
"All right settle down everyone," Angelo's voice boomed through the microphone and the spotlight lit his immense form on the stage. "Let's congratulate the kids. I believe that was more than enough music to power up our Santa cam!" A huge roar went up from the audience startling sleeping babies that were held by parents and nannies alike. The screen behind him lit up with a snowy landscape and a timer ticking down. "Seems we have a few minutes to wait so I would like to take this opportunity to let my beautiful daughter Arianna say a few words," he said with a smile.
