“Buon Natale,” he replied.
“After we eat, we can open gifts, then watch a couple of Christmas movies before we go to Avian and Marco’s,” Eri suggested. They’d been watching Christmas movies since yesterday.
“That’s fine, baby. Did you hear from your dad?”
“I got a text from him when I woke up. He won’t be able to get a flight home until tonight. That’s when they’re expecting the snow to have stopped and the planes can get off the ground. So we’ll have to go see him tomorrow.”
Elias nodded. He was fine with that. Originally, Tony was set to celebrate Christmas with the rest of them at his cousin’s house. But he’d been out of town for work the day before Christmas Eve, and a snowstorm had blown through the area, grounding the planes.
When they finished breakfast, Elias sent her into the living room while he washed the dishes. Once he finished, he joined her, and Eri pulled him over to the tree they’d put up and decorated two weeks ago. They sat in front of it, and she pulled a wrapped gift from under it, handing it to him. Elias removed the wrapping paper and smiled at the picture on the box.
“I thought it would be perfect for your shop,” Eri said.
“It is. I can put it in the main area. It’ll fill the space better than playing music from my phone. Thank you, Amate.” He leaned over and kissed her before putting the motorcycle-shapedBluetooth speaker aside. He grabbed one of her gifts and handed it to her.
She opened it eagerly and released an excited squeal as she pulled the plush blanket from the box. Elias couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It’s so soft, and it hasThe PowerPuffGirlson it!” she exclaimed, bringing the top of the blanket to her chest and doing a little happy shimmy.
“I thought you’d like it.”
“I do, baby. Thank you.” She kissed him, set the box aside, and handed him a smaller one.
Elias opened it and found a platinum Cuban chain necklace. The clasp on his other one had broken, and he hadn’t taken it to get fixed yet. She’d gotten him another one. Platinum as opposed to the silver that his other one was. He kissed her in thanks before giving her last gift to her.
Eri opened it, pulling out the bracelet with four different colored gems from it. She stared at it for a moment, and her eyes filled with tears.
“Amate, why are you crying?” Elias asked, stroking her cheek.
“I…I’m just happy. It’s the perfect gift,” she responded, turning her head to kiss his palm.
He was sure she’d like it, but he hadn’t expected her to cry. He wanted to get her something sentimental, something that would make her happy and that she could keep close to her heart. It was easy to decide what he wanted to get her. The bracelet housed the birthstones of her, Tony, her mother, and her little brother. Elias brushed a single tear from her cheek.
“Will you put it on for me?” she asked.
“Of course, baby.”
He took the bracelet from her and secured it on her wrist before placing a kiss on it. He cupped her face, kissing her slowly.
“Ti amo, Amate,” he spoke against her lips.
“I love you, baby,” she responded.
“Grab your blanket, and we’ll watch those movies.”
Elias gathered the wrapping paper and boxes, threw them away, and took his gifts into her bedroom. When he returned, he joined her on the couch, and she moved into his side, draped her blanket over them, and started the movie.
Elias raised his brow at Eri as she stole another bite of his cake. The same cake she’d told him she didn’t want any of, but he’d known better. Which was why he’d cut a larger slice than he normally would have.
“For someone who didn’t want any, you sure are devouring my piece,” he teased.
“There’s something about food being yours that always makes it taste better.”
“I think you’re just looking for an excuse to eat what’s mine.”
“And if she is, you’d better let her,” his mother said from where she’d been sitting talking to his aunt.
“She’s stealing my food, and I’m getting scolded. Geez, Mamma. I love how you play favorites,” Elias quipped.
