A Corisi Christmas (Legacy Collection #7) by Ruth Cardello Read Free Book Online Page B

of humor, it’s almost Christmas.” When Dominic didn’t respond, Abby chided, “They’re married, and your sister is pregnant. How do you think that happened?”
    He made a face. “It’s my little sister.”
    “Who is a grown woman with a husband she loves. Be happy for her.”
    Dominic sighed. “You’re right.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Where’s Judy?”
    “She’s pretending not to be peeking at the pile of gifts we left in the hall. It was a good idea to bring them. I know we’ll see my family and the Andrades for Christmas, but it helps Judy understand what this is about, too. It’s a lot of celebrating for one holiday.”
    “We have a big family.”
    Abby smiled and rested her head on Dominic’s shoulder. “We do. We certainly do.” Abby sent a text to Stephan. “Get dressed we’re coming over.” If it weren’t for Judy, Abby would have let the lovebirds have their time together, but they’d told Judy their plans for the evening, and she wasn’t about to try to explain to her why they couldn’t go over to see her aunt and uncle.
    Judy came rushing in. “Is it time yet? Can we go?”
    Abby laughed. “Patience, Judy. Yes, we can head over.”
    “Do I get to open all of my presents now?”
    “What do you think, Dom?” Abby asked.
    “My mother comes tomorrow morning, and she’ll bring presents. Your sister will have something when we go there. The Andrades will have more. I say yes.”
    “Don’t forget Santa,” Judy added.
    “And Santa,” Dominic agreed.
    Like a puppy excited to go outside, Judy ran circles around them as they gathered up their coats and packages. “This is going to be awesome.”
    With each of them carrying several packages, Dominic, Abby, and Judy crossed the lawn between the home Dominic had built years before and the new home Stephan had built to replace it. When Nicole opened the door her face was beautifully flushed, and she was smiling.
    “Sorry about the delay,” Nicole said, trying to sound contrite, but her smile didn’t waver.
    Dominic gave Stephan a narrow-eyed look that his brother-in-law merely shrugged off. “Time just got away from us,” Stephan said.
    Dominic handed Stephan some packages with more force than the action called for. “Mind holding these for me?”
    “Not at all,” Stephan answered without looking the least bit upset.
    They walked together into a room displaying an elegantly decorated Christmas tree and a crackling fire in the fireplace. Judy handed her boxes to Nicole and sprinted over to the tree. “There’s one for me and there’s one for you, Dad.” She went back to hold her mother’s hand. “Don’t worry, Mom, I have one for you.”
    Abby gave her daughter a quick hug. “I have everything I need, but thank you.”
    Nicole deposited the boxes Judy had given her beside the tree and blushed. “Abby, the gift for Dominic is really for both of you.”
    Abby waved a hand and took a seat. “With all of you here, I have everything I need. When your little one arrives you’ll see that the best gifts are the ones you watch your child open.”
    Dominic sat beside Abby. “I agree.”
    Judy climbed onto Dominic’s lap. “Me, too.”
    Everyone laughed at that.
    Nicole retrieved an envelope from beneath the tree and handed it to her brother. “This is from Stephan and me. It’s something that was yours, and we want you to have it again.”
    Dominic opened the envelope and read the paper inside twice before handing it to Abby. It was the deed to the house he’d built on the island. A huge smile spread across his face. “Abby, I told you it was too beautiful to knock down. I’m glad someone else agreed with me.”
    Stephan looked as if he were trying not to laugh. “That’s what it was, the beauty of it.”
    Nicole chuckled and gave Stephan a nudge. “This is a family island and you’re family. Your house belongs here.”
    Dominic cleared his throat and pulled an envelope out of his coat pocket. “I have