* * *
The rest of the party arrived promptly at seven.
“Welcome!” said May. “Come in and warm up. I’ll take your coats.”
Abigail was first. Rachel ushered her in before the others. “Age before beauty,” said Abigail, squeezing close to Rachel. “It takes us older women a little longer to thaw.”
Wilson and Tommy entered next, both rosy and exuberant.
Tommy gestured grandly to his brother. “Beauty—” he said, “—has arrived.”
Wilson stepped through, regally, with a playful pout.
“How much did you pay Tommy to say that, Wilson?” George asked from behind the bar. He and Mikey were pouring wine.
Wilson extended his arms up, then let them fall open grandly, his inner-diva blossoming. “Beauty is where you find it, George. Not just where you bump and gr—”
“Beauty is righthere,” said Demarco, coming up behind Wilson. He motioned to a small girl of Asian descent held by a smiling man that George didn’t recognize. She was wearing a green satin dress with a red sash and matching bow. “Everyone meet Ella.”
“Oh, my God. She’s gorgeous!” said May, immediately snatching her from the man. She glanced back over her shoulder. “I’m May, by the way.”
“Hi, May.” The man chuckled. “I’m Alec.”
She may have heard, but her attention was zeroed-in on the child. “Hello there, little Ella. You’re so very pretty. How old are you?”
The girl held up four fingers.
“Four... my, and what a beautiful dress you’re wearing...”
“Yes, we have arrived,” said Demarco. “The United Colors of Benetton.” He and Alec were removing their coats—May now completely distracted with the little girl.
George observed the group enter, chuckling at Demarco’s jest of the former retail company known for their ads of diverse ethnicity. Walking in were men, women, old, young, black, white, and Asian.
And now, Jack was entering with a tall man in a cowboy hat.
George smiled. He had always longed for big Christmas celebrations like this. His family had been small—David’s too. This was a big, beautiful, festive gathering, and he was grateful for having suggested it.
He looked to Mikey. “Would you ever want a family that big?”
“I never thought Icouldhave it. But with you, I see all kinds of possibilities.”
Jack and the cowboy had been conversing, but now turned their attention toward the crowd inside. The man was carrying a guitar case with him. Ginger stepped up to them. “May I,” she said, signaling to take the guitar. “I’ll put it somewhere safe. I’m Ginger.”
“Hey there, Ginger,” the man said in a rich baritone. “I’m Tyler. My other half, Alec, is over there, with Demarco. We’re from Montana.”
“I can tell,” said Ginger, a little taken with the man’s rugged good looks. “Please come in. Make yourself at home.”
She took the guitar over to the corner where Gianni usually played accordion, tucking it away carefully.
Zac turned from the bar with a tray. “I have wine here, everyone, red, white, and rosé.”
Abigail had already made it to the same table where she’d sat at Thanksgiving. Rachel snagged them both a glass of rosé and joined her.
Before Mikey and George could get out from behind the bar, Demarco and Jack ushered their guests in that direction.
“Hey, you two,” said Demarco. “I want you to meet our friends that are visiting.”
“Visiting?” said Alec. “I still have a house here.”
