Authors Note: Thank you to everyone left comments or sent me feedback about the resumption of the story. Thank you again to blunajana who offered to help me with proofreading. Taking her advice I would like to mention that I have made mention of the Poem “My Country” by Dorothea McKellar for anyone interested in this as they read. I have also used a uniquely Australian phase “Doing a Bradbury” which a quick google search will explain. Thank you also to Margaret who also gave it a quick proofread for me. I hope you enjoy this chapter. ~ellie
Josh had run back through the house to the Athenaeum when his father had finally summoned him back. The call he had received to confirm that he knew what the trial would entail had worried him. It was not the question so much as the tone of his father’s voice when the call had ended. Entering the room he looked around and a bad feeling formed in the pit of his stomach.
“Where is she?” he asked trying to keep the wild mix emotions he felt out of his voice.
“Come on in and sit down Joshua,” Joseph said pleasantly.
“Where is she?” Josh demanded.
“You need to think about who you are talking to,” Joseph growled at his son. “Now sit down before I knock you down.”
Josh sat reluctantly and stared at his father becoming angry with his refusal to answer his simple question. “Where is she?” Josh asked through gritted teeth.
“Do you honestly have any doubt about the answer to that question?” he asked his son.
“I was so sure she would understand. It never occurred to me that she might leave. I need to go and find her,” he began to stand. “I need to explain.”
“Sit down Joshua! Or should I start calling you WahWah again?” Joseph was enjoying his son’s reaction. If he had any concerns that the relationship had happened too fast or that it was lust over love they were squashed now. He noticed Josh’s jaw working as he ground his teeth. “If you were so sure she would accept the trial why are you worried now?” he asked reasonably.
“Papa, where is Peri?” Josh said slowly and calmly.
“She has gone with your mother to help with the Christmas baskets,” Joseph said with a shrug, “Perhaps if you had come and sat down as I asked in the first place you could have saved yourself the worry. If you were sure, why would you think she would leave now?”
“There was always a chance she would leave. She hadn’t known what to expect here. I believed she would stay, though,” he said regaining his confidence in the love he had for Peri and, more importantly, she for him.
“I think she had some idea’s, more perhaps than the girl who ran from here and your brother. You prepared her well with the work on these books,” he tapped the leather bound volumes still at his side, “and introducing her to your siblings. She is intelligent and asks questions. It was quite a refreshing change from the women who seek us out for employment.”
“You seemed unhappy with her questions,” Josh frowned at his father.
“Not at all, I believe she will make a good wife who is loyal and seeks to understand not just accept. She will be an asset to you and the family,” Joseph said noting the look of surprise on his son’s face. Joseph gave praise sparingly so when he did compliment someone it was true.
“She has agreed to return and start the contract on the first?” Josh asked with both pleasure and dread. He would miss her terribly and not enjoy the restrictions her contract would place on their relationship.
“I have started her contract as of today,” he smiled and held up his hand as Josh began to protest. “I will not interfere with your time together during the holidays, and she will return home to speak to her mother and prepare some items I would like her to bring with her when she returns. These are concessions I have made in return for her service.”
“You do not make concessions easily,” Josh sat back and considered his father.
“This is not a woman looking for employment, nor is this a woman who has links to the family and knows what is expected. It is reasonable for her to ask for what she needs because she doesn’t know another way. She may love and trust you, she does not, however, know me as a man. She respects me as your father, but she does not yet trust that I have her welfare at heart. The concessions I have made will go a long way to building trust between us and make her time here easier.”
“Thank you, Papa,” Josh said having considered his father’s words and the wisdom of his actions.
“I would like her work on this,” he tapped the books she had given him, “to continue while she is here. I will have your cousin, CJ, prepare a new laptop for our network and have it delivered to you. She will have any reference materials from your brother’s repository that she will need sent here to me. I will be overseeing her trial personally. We have not had an instance of a true outsider joining our family in my memory. It will be important for her to understand the power of my authority and that of the other twelve chairs.”
Josh was surprised. He had assumed that the Masters and Mistresses who oversaw the day to day work of the slaves in the various areas of the farm would also oversee Peri’s trial. He had considered that his oldest brothers could be part of the trial but out of respect for him would mostly be supportive of her. His father’s personal interest in Peri was something he had not expected, and he was unsure of how he felt about it. It was his right under traditional law, and Josh knew that to bring up his hesitation could be detrimental to the goodwill she had obviously gained from him. Still it seemed wrong that his father would use his future wife as a personal slave.
“Peri has agreed to all of this?” Josh asked carefully.
“She has and she has already signed the contract. You may propose to her at any time and announce your intentions to wed to the family over the holidays while they are all assembled if you like,” Joseph said magnanimously. “Your mother would enjoy the celebration. I believe her heart aches with Veronica’s illness.”
“It’s not the same without her,” Josh said sadly. “I am truly sorry that I didn’t see what was happening to her.”
“She shunned tradition unless it suited her not to,” Joseph said thoughtfully. “Each of us bears some guilt, but she was secretive and devious in her choice to turn her back on traditional values. We love her, and that doesn’t change, but now our influence over those choices must change.” His voice had hardened as he spoke.
“I will take the issue up with the twelve chairs before word spreads to them and we are shamed. Perhaps there is a strong man who will enjoy the challenge of a spirited wife,” Joseph spread his hands.
“Where is the meeting this year?” Josh had forgotten about the meeting of the heads of each family that occurred each January and July. He considered putting his plans on hold a while longer so he could come and spend that time here with Peri.
“Adelaide,” Joseph smiled. “I am looking forward to seeing your cousins.” Joseph’s twin sister had married into the South Australian table over fifty years ago, and he looked forward to their reunions. He understood more than most why Josh had allowed Veronica to use him as she had and the guilt he now felt.
“That’s good, it’s been a while since you have been able to make it down there,” Josh nodded understanding his father’s enthusiasm.
“I am pleased that you are setting your future on track. Tell me of this publishing house, you will professionally finish the history no doubt?” Joseph changed the subject abruptly away from their feeling regarding their sisters.
“Yes, they have a small but regular clientele that should keep the income trickling over until a few of my plans and projects take off. It would possibly help if you took those examples to show the chairs and suggest that they might like something similar done for their tables,” Josh suggested slyly.
“I had thought much the same, it is a well thought out idea and allows the reader to find an exact point in time easily within this layout. Most of the previous histories have been bogged down by spurious links and large volumes making the lines of succession hard to follow,” he agreed. “Still she will finish her work with our family before considering taking on any other challenges. I believe she also impresses your brothers with her work at the repository. I imagine each of our homes will need to be catalogued as well to see that important items remain in the right hands.”
“I imagine she could start here during her trial if you are going to enable her to work on the histories,” Josh looked around the Athenaeum. It lived up to its name with its eclectic collection of books and antiques.
Joseph steered the conversation back to Josh’s plans for his future, pleased that his youngest son was finally embracing being a family man in the traditional sense. He had high hopes for Joshua but only time would tell if he was the man his father hoped he would become.
*****
Antonia brought out another box of favours and set it on the table. Small colourful games of either a barrel of monkeys or a jumping frog game were the next small item to be placed in every basket. She watched with a smile as Peri lifted the hem of her dress making a small basket and loaded it to overflowing with the trinkets before walking back to the first table and beginning to distribute them. The girl seemed genuinely happy to be helpful and kept busy here while the rest of her children were all out decorating the tree.
When she had gone to collect Peri from the Athenaeum, her husband had sent the young woman to explore the bays of the room and spoken to her quietly about his impressions of the girl and his approval. He had explained the terms of the contract he had given the girl and his involvement in her trial. Joseph didn’t ask for her approval, but he preferred to know that she approved of any decision that would affect her and the family.
In all honesty, she had not been surprised. The girl was sweet natured, intelligent and despite having a vulnerable air that reeked of insecurity she had a backbone and could stand up to men like her husband and son when she needed to. She was also physically appealing in that curvier pin-up model way which she knew was very much reason for Joseph’s decision to be involved in her trial. He had of course spoken of the histories and her work and the fact that an absolute outsider was a rarity that needed to be monitored closely, but Antonia has noticed that Peri also had perfectly rounded large breasts that had not been ruined by age, pregnancy or children as yet. She had the firmness and pliability of youth that she could not blame her husband for being attracted to.
Her husband rarely bothered with the Kept anymore finding them wholly unattractive as of late but the look in his eyes as he followed Peri’s movements around the room told Antonia that he was feeling his virility return. Over the last few years, she had seen him become older and tire more easily as the pressures of staying on top of such a large extended family became strained by several dreadful incidents the worst of which was Veronica’s descent into wickedness. If Peri could add a spring to his step again, she was happy with his decision.
Her only concern was Josh and the effect sharing the woman he loved with his father, even for such a short time, might have on their relationship. She consoled herself with the fact that Josh would have known that this would be part of her trial and that someone would be training her in the carnal arts. She worried though that it might cause a rift in their usually close relationship. She considered how this could be avoided and sighed heavily thinking of how the rift between Veronica and Josh’s betrothed could be smoothed over as well in time.
“Are you okay?” Peri asked walking toward Antonia for another load of the toys. “I can do this if you need a rest. It’s fun making gift baskets like this. I bet the people receiving them will be surprised. Do you deliver them to a hospital or something?”
“Oh darling girl,” Antonia smiled. “We did the baskets for the hospital last week. These are for the festival. We invite our friends and family who live close enough to come every Christmas Eve, and this is like a goodie bag for coming to our party.”
“Wow,” Peri looked around the room at all the baskets full of treats and trinkets. “You’re expecting a lot of people.”
“We have a big family!” Antonia laughed. “Plus we invite our neighbours and the people of the small town just a bit further north.”
“There is a town? Dante made me think that there was nothing in the shape of a town near here,” she gushed.
“It’s more of an intersection than a town, there is a hotel, a post office and a school that services the general population,” she explained. “You would have to look very hard to find it on any map, but it’s a central place for the people in the area to gather in emergencies. You know droughts and flooding rains,” she laughed again quoting Dorothea McKellar’s famous poem about the outback.
Dante wandered through, on his way to the Athenaeum and stopped seeing the two women chatting as they worked. With the speed at which Josh had left he had assumed the worst and breathed a sigh of relief seeing Peri here.
“So you survived the meeting with the big bad wolf,” Dante grinned walking into the room, “and Mama has put you to work already!”
“Oh stop that,” Antonia scolded him with a look. “Peri offered to help me with this, unlike my selfish children.”
“It’s women’s work,” Dante lowered his voice to groan, “We men are out climbing trees,” then he grinned, “and decorating them in the most divine way for your pleasure, Mama Dearest.” He put on an effeminate voice.
“Make sure you leave enough decorations for Romeo and Jules to do with their children,” Antonia waggled her finger at him despite her laughter.
“Ben said something like that but in my opinion, you snooze you lose,” he laughed. “They’ll be here soon I expect. Lio has stayed behind to play Santa and set up the kids presents at their city homes, so I expect he is hounding them to move faster.”
“He’s such a nice boy, I just don’t know what happened to you,” she patted his cheek with a laugh.
“He stole all the good genes while you were evicting me. It’s entirely your fault for pushing me out first. I was all warm and toasty then wham spanked as soon as I took a breath, no smiles or cuddles from my mama because Lio took all the attention,” he said dramatically. “You set up my future bad attitude with that one foul move. He had it easy. I’d paved the way. He got the smiles and cuddles while I was left traumatised.”
“Don’t you believe a word he says Peri,” Antonia continued to laugh. “They were an hour apart, and he got more love and attention than he deserved demanding to come into the world as early as he did. He was a dreadful boy to his Mama, even then.”
“She doesn’t mean it, she is just trying to hide the fact that I am the favourite child,” he winked and scooted out of his mother’s way as she went to smack him. Peri couldn’t help but laugh. Seeing Josh’s family interact with each other as she had over the last weeks had totally amazed her. They were all just like big kids themselves. She had been surprised there hadn’t been a full on food fight at lunch when Ben flicked his olive across the table at Josh.
“Listen? Do I hear the buzz of cupids wings or could that be the Valentine brothers winging their way home?” Dante cocked his head and put a hand to his ear.
“Oh, wonderful!” Antonia exclaimed. “Come on Peri let’s go welcome them.”
“I can stay and finish this, I don’t mind,” she said not wanting to get in the way of a family reunion.
“Nonsense, come on,” Antonia ordered, and they went out of the front door to watch the plane approach the runway that ran parallel to the road but on the opposite side to the farm. Peri had arrived at the farm house in a rush and hadn’t noticed the huge tree when she arrived, and she looked up seeing Ben and BJ in the basket of the cherry picker getting a bird’s eye view of the plane.
Antonia hurried down the stairs and across the lawn as the plane landed and taxied to a stop opposite the front gate. She was soon surrounded by a gaggle of noisy chirping children all vying for her attention. Carmen and Romey soon joined in, and Peri was surprised that there was no sign of Jules and Bianca as she walked across the forecourt and lawn with Dante.
“Ah the summoning power of grandchildren,” Dante said dryly and nodded toward the side of the house where Josh and Joseph had appeared walking toward the growing crowd near the plane. Josh turned his head spotting her and murmured something to his father and veered off in her direction. After what had happened between Joseph and herself, she was concerned about his reaction and she slowed her pace making Dante look down at her and follow her eyes to Josh.
“I thought you two would be running into each other’s arms right about now,” Dante said confused by her apparent unease and the seriousness of Josh’s face. “You’re staying right?”
“If Josh still wants me to,” she said nervously.
“I don’t think that is ever going to be an issue,” Dante chuckled but realised something must have occurred that cast the doubt in her mind. It was new territory inviting an outsider into the family and while his attempt had failed at the first hurdle he had believed Josh and Peri were absolutely devoted to each other and could overcome whatever stipulations Joseph put on her admission to the family.
“Mine,” Josh said picking her up and kissing her deeply.
“Guess that answers that question,” Dante chuckled and wandered off towards the arriving family members.
“Are you okay?” Josh put her down looking into her face seriously.
“You could’ve warned me,” Peri said quietly. “It’s not a normal part of getting engaged you realise. Normally there’s a ring and maybe a party not being placed into servitude for months.”
“I couldn’t, and it wouldn’t have mattered if Papa hadn’t given us his blessing. So there was no need until then,” Josh tried to explain walking her away from the house and the rest of his family. “I thought he might ask us to wait considering what happened with Nik and other family issues lately.”
“That’s understandable I guess. What would have happened if he had refused?” She dreaded the answer knowing that Dante had not seen his girl since her flight from the farm.
“We would have returned to the city after Christmas and talked about our options. I am glad we don’t have to do that,” he admitted turning to look at the people gathered in front of his family home. “I can’t imagine my life without this place and these people.”
“I know,” Peri said softly. “I would never make you choose between your family and me. I signed the contract.”
“I know, Papa explained his conditions to me,” Josh turned to look at her. “I’m not exactly happy about all of it,” he admitted. “Were it one of the Slave Masters who oversaw your trial I would not have to face them over the dinner table. At least, I know he will treat you well, and you will get to know more about the extended family than you would have otherwise.” He spoke as if convincing himself that it was best this way. “Plus this way it is only three months rather than the expected six.”
“It’s such a short time when we are talking about a lifetime together,” she reminded him of his own words. “You said that to me, and it is how I had the courage to accept and agree to everything your father said. Signing that contract meant I could look forward to a future with you.” He bent and kissed her softly then knowing everything she said was true for him as well.
He hated that the trial was not in his control. He could control every other aspect of his life regardless of his siblings or friends. His father though was the one man who made him feel out of control. Even today when he had arrived expecting to see Peri, his father had exerted his power and made Josh feel like a petulant child.
“Come for a ride with me,” he said as they neared the stable.
“Josh before today I had never even seen a horse let alone ridden one,” she laughed. “I can’t but you need to clear your head and think about things as much as I do. Go for a ride and clear your head, you can teach me to ride another day when I can concentrate better.”
He turned stroking her cheek and searching her eyes.
“It’s just a lot to take in you know. I don’t regret my choice but I need some time to process it all,” she said honestly. “The same way you do. Nothing about today went the way either of us thought it would.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I love you and your family, I’m happy,” she reassured him quickly. “But I am an only child and used to being able to have some space and time to myself. It’s part of who I am, and I could use some time to think right now.”
“You can’t just wander about by yourself,” Josh said with concern.
“I’ll stay within sight of the house so I can find my way back easily,” she said, “I won’t go far I promise.”
“I’ll compromise,” Josh offered, “Come to the stable with me then I will take you somewhere safe to be alone while I go for a ride.” He took her hand and led her into the timber barn. She jumped and squealed as the first horse they passed snorted making Josh laugh.
She watched and patted the placid horse as Josh saddled him before leading them both out into the daylight again. He helped her up into the saddle, and they rode slowly toward a small stand of trees some distance away.
Helping her from the horse Josh showed Peri to a ladder that led up to a wonderful tree house. “Ang and Ben helped me build this one year as an escape from Nik,” he cleared his throat and pushed a pile of Hustler magazines behind an empty crate. “Nik didn’t quite understand my need to be alone as we went through puberty.” He grinned. “We weren’t made aware of the Kept until we finished school.”
“This is awesome,” Peri looked around at the large space. It was exactly what she would expect from Josh, neat stacks of books and magazines. Comfortable looking vinyl beanbags to lounge in and pen and paper in neat stacks on shelves with more books. “The view of the house is magnificent!” she went to a window and looked out.
“Yeah I could see anyone coming to find me and get away before they did,” he chuckled. “I’ll come back and get you on my way back from the ride, an hour or so?” He checked with her, and she looked at her watch. Kissing her softly he stroked her cheek, “I love you, never doubt that.”
“I love you too,” she smiled and watched him disappear down the ladder before flopping into a beanbag facing the view to watch him ride away.
“How on earth did I wind up here,” she asked the empty room. She let her mind wander back to when she had first met Josh and the events that had led her to this day and the bizarre contract she had just signed. She had known Josh would not be happy which was why she had asked to hear him say that he knew what she was being asked to do, and although she wasn’t about to mention it herself, she wondered if Joseph had told his son about their moment of intimacy. It didn’t matter how she tried to make sense of the situation it always came down to one thing, she wanted a future with Josh, and she clung to that thought.
She was still lost in thought when Josh returned pushing through the trap door in the centre of the floor. She smiled as he approached her and flopped onto a beanbag beside hers reaching out and taking her hand as they lay side by side.
“I am sorry,” he said quietly. “It was selfish of me to ride off like that considering only how I was feeling about Papa overseeing your trial when I should have been here with you, helping you with all you have had to deal with today.”
“I am not going to pretend I understand any of this. It’s your world here and your family. What I do understand is what I have to do to become part of this world with you. So I will have no regrets about signing the contract, as long you promise to love me no matter what happens in the next few months. When the trial is over, we pick up our lives and plan our future family together, without any recriminations.”
“I am not going to pretend I am happy about my father’s interest in your trial. Honestly, I would rather pretend he is just there to watch over you and ensure you’re treated with respect despite your trial. If anything happens beyond that I don’t want to know, that will be between you and him, or anyone else that happens to become involved,” Josh said revealing how upset he was at the prospect of her being intimate with his father.
“It’s not a normal situation,” Peri sighed and rolled over to face Josh. “I don’t think we are supposed to be happy about it. I think that this is one of those things that if it doesn’t kill us will only make us stronger. Maybe instead of worrying about what is happening during my trial you can think about how crazy in love with you I must be to agree to it.” Josh chuckled and rolled to face her lifting her hand to kiss it.
“I’m a lucky guy,” he murmured pulling her closer.
“Yes, you are,” she laughed.
“I always wanted to get a real girl up here when I was younger,” he reached out and ran a finger down her neck into her cleavage.
“You had fake girls up here?” Peri laughed as the tension between them eased.
“Sisters aren’t real girls, duh,” Josh rolled his eyes exaggeratedly at her as his hand ran over the thin material of her dress, down to her hip.
“I thought this was a boy only treehouse, given the reading material you have stashed up here.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Have you seen the effect of us telling Nik she can’t do something?” Josh chuckled. “What was mine was hers, and what was hers was hers. Basically, I had nothing of my own, until you came along to turn my life into the crazy mess it is now.”
“Ah I see,” Peri said without thinking but stopping herself before finishing her thought that she now understood why he was so reticent to have his father involved in her trial. “I am yours, and you are mine,” she said with feeling. “You may have to share my company and attention for a little while, but you will never have to share my heart with anyone.” She leaned forward to kiss him.
It was what Josh needed to hear at that moment, and he rolled over her pinning her hands above her head and kissing her deeply. “Time for those teenage fantasies to come true,” he growled.
“Teenage fantasies? Well, this will be the most interesting two minutes of my life,” she teased. “Let me guess a blowjob and a quick missionary position fuck?”
“You forget I have seven older brothers and plenty of reading material to inspire my fantasies,” he murmured darkly into her ear making her shiver. “As you have decided to be so cheeky, though,” he sat up and rolled her onto her belly lifting her dress and smacking her ass hard. “I will show you how I like my girl’s cheeks.” He smacked her again.
He’d moved so fast Peri barely had time to acknowledge the new position she was in before letting out a squeak of pain and surprise. She knew how he liked her cheeks and when the second smack fell on her ass she was prepared. She whimpered softly as he spanked her squirming in the beanbag making it difficult for him to aim precise smacks as she sank deeper into it. He growled and stood to lift her to her feet and pull her against him gripping the red cheeks of her ass tightly as he ground his hard cock into her belly.
His hands ran up under her dress, and he slowly removed her panties, pushing them down over her thighs, until they fell to her feet. He picked her up then and pushed her against the wall feeling the treehouse shake with the force of the jolt and his need.
“Perhaps not,” he grinned and stepped back dropping his pants and jocks while she stood looking at him appreciatively. He raised an eyebrow, and she lifted her dress over her head and dropped it to the floor. She had purposefully worn a sexy bra that she knew he would approve of rather than the more supportive garments she preferred, and she enjoyed his expression as he surveyed her.
“Nice,” murmured grabbing her arm and pulling her back toward the beanbags. Kicking the bags into a position he considered useful he sat reclining back into the fuller ends and pulled her down to straddle his lap.
“This is much better,” she leaned forward to kiss him rocking her hips to grind over his hard cock.
“Mmhmm,” he groaned and bucked his hips reaching out to wrap his hands around her waist and raise her up and position her properly over his cock. Moving his hands to her breasts, he groaned as she slowly sank onto him purring softly and staring into his eyes. Pulling her breasts over the demi cups which barely held them in check her played with her hard nipples as she began to fuck him, sliding up and down his cock in slow and graceful movements.
“Fuck,” Josh groaned as if in pain and Peri immediately stopped looking down at him in panic. He put his finger to his lips and she finally heard the horse trotting beneath them.
“Josh, your horse is here so I am assuming you let a girl into our tree house,” Carlo’s voice boomed ringing with humour. “Wrap it up Mama wants you, I’ll do a twenty-minute ride, and you better be down here by then,” he chuckled, and the horse galloped off.
“I see what you mean about no privacy in big families,” Peri giggled.
“I’m surprised he didn’t come up to tell me that,” Josh laughed and pulled her down to kiss her deeply. “We still have twenty minutes, he grinned and rolled her to her back curling her legs back over her body and entering her roughly.
*****
After reconnecting with Josh and feeling more confident in her decisions, Peri spent the following twenty-four hours helping the family prepare for the festival on Christmas Eve. Lio, Jules and Bianca arrived early the following afternoon and with the last of the tree decorations in place Joseph and Antonia rode the cherry picker up to place the star on the top of the enormous tree to great cheers from their children and grandchildren.
“Time to have a shower and get ready for the festival,” Josh said leading her back toward the house ahead of his family. “There’s only so much hot water to go around and with so many of us here, I say we get a head start,” he laughed encouraging her to walk quickly.
“Yes, please, I need a shower,” Peri said following him into the house and upstairs to her room. “Wait what do I wear is it formal or casual tonight,” she asked as he turned to leave her and go to shower in his room.
“Cocktail party type stuff I guess, I’m not wearing a jacket if that helps,” he shrugged.
“Not much,” she laughed.
“Wear something nice, it’ll be a fun night. I’ll come and pick you up to go down to the party, just like a proper date,” he kissed her then and turned to hurry away.
Unsure of what to expect here, Peri had brought several formal dresses. With Josh not being in the city she had been able to meet her mother after work and let her help to find suitable outfits to impress a traditional Italian family. With all her new contacts in her personal shopper business, Andie had been fabulous at finding just what she had needed. The change in her mother’s attitude to her daughters looks was still startling to Peri, and as she surveyed the three gowns, she pulled out a short cocktail length dress and smiled. It was pretty and sparkly, and she could imagine it lighting up with the Christmas tree.
She quickly showered and took her time doing her makeup and hair before finally stepping into the dress. The low heels she chose to wear knowing she would be walking on the grass made the dress less cocktail party and more casual party orientated. In the end, she was happy with her choice. The white material hugged her torso and fell into a full skirt that ended just above her knees. The intricate red beading was heavy over the bodice and became lighter as it progressed downward. Like sparkling red snowflakes falling on a white landscape.
She opened her door looking down the corridor and not hearing any footsteps frowned. She had expected that Josh would have been here nagging her to hurry. She didn’t know if she should try to find him now or just wait, so she sat down on the end of her bed and sent him a text, “Did you forget our date?”
“Never, be there in few,” came the reply. Peri looked at herself in the mirror and began second guessing her choice of lipstick and the way she had swept her hair up off her neck. She wished she had a nicer necklace. She shook her head at the thought. Andi had offered to loan her some pearls for the trip, but she had said no. She wished she had them now.
“If you had wings you would look like a Christmas angel,” Josh said standing in her doorway. “Shall we go?”
“Yes please,” Peri said smiling widely. “You’re sure I look okay?”
“You are perfect,” he bent to kiss her cheek not wanting to mess up her makeup just yet.
“Is Lucia or Maryanne here yet?” Peri asked as they descended the stairs.
“Lucy spends the holidays with her husband’s family, and Maryanne is spending the holidays with our Uncle in Melbourne,” Josh said as if it was normal not to have his sister’s home for the holidays.
“Do Ben and Emily ever take the children to her parents for the holidays?” She asked realising that at least part of Nik’s feminist rant about her family was true.
“No why would they?” He asked not sure why she was concerned about where the girls spent the holidays.
“She must miss her parents over the holidays, even Andie and I have a few traditions,” she smiled.
“Starting tonight you will be part of my family’s traditions,” he took her hand and led her down into the gathering crowd. “Andie will make new traditions with Charles,” he added seeing her frown.
“Joshua,” a deep voice boomed, and a large bald man moved through the crowd toward them.
“Hide,” Josh whispered and moved to step in front of Peri essentially blocking her view of the man. “Ang, if you think I am letting you anywhere near my girl think again,” Josh said with a laugh.
“You wound me, I am a gentleman and a scholar. It is not my fault I am irresistible to the fairer sex,” he said sadly as if it was a great burden to bear.
“There you are Peri,” Antonia’s voice cut through the crowd. “I’ve been looking for you. Come with me, I need you to do me a favour.” She linked her arm through Peri’s and started to walk her away from the boys.
“It was nice to meet you, Angelo,” she called over her shoulder as she walked away making Josh laugh loudly.
“Hello dear, I’m Rosanna,” a middle-aged woman took her other arm as she walked with Antonia. “I’m married to that loud-mouth back there.”
“Hi,” Peri said starting to become anxious as the women guided her to a small tent where the baskets were stored for when the guests began to leave.
“If anyone asks we had a basket mishap and needed help putting them back together again,” Antonia smiled as they stepped inside out of sight. “I know it’s been crazy around here today, but I want you to know I am very glad you are here with us for the holidays. You make my son very happy.” She hugged Peri and kissed her on both cheeks. “Don’t be too long,” she said to Rosanna, “Josh tends to come looking for her if she disappears.”
“Then give him a job, there’s plenty to do,” Rosanna laughed. “Just don’t let on we are in here, or I really will have to tip over a stack of baskets.” Antonia hurried off without another word.
“We don’t have much time so let’s just agree that I’m good, your good, it’s a wonderful night and all that jazz,” Rosanna said in a brisk, no-nonsense way. “Can you sing? Do you like Karaoke?”
“Umm yeah, I guess, though I am not very good,” Peri said confused by why she was here with this woman.
“Well that’s a start, here’s the thing. You have never been to the Christmas festival before and if I know the boys they haven’t told you anything about it, so here is the condensed version. When the sun sets, there will be the official lighting of the tree and a small round of fireworks for the small children. That is followed by a children’s concert where they all get up on stage and sing the songs they have learned at school in groups usually because there are a lot of them,” she seemed to stop and think but went on quickly.
“Then at about seven-thirty there is a big countdown to Santa leaving the North Pole to start his journey around the world. We put it up on the big screen, and the kids love it!” she said enthusiastically and seemed to be talking even faster. “There is a small break for food and for nannies and the locals to settle the children in for the night or head home before the adult concert starts. Everyone in the family is expected to perform. Josh has a great voice did you know that? It doesn’t matter you will find out later anyway. The whole thing is hosted by my husband, Angelo. Are you with me so far?”
“I think so,” Peri nodded feeling better about having an idea of what was going to happen at this festival.
“Here’s the thing, and I don’t want you to get offended or upset because I am about to be very blunt. No one expected you to be still here. Ben did, but he’s a romantic, and we don’t trust his opinion on things like this. He won a lot of money from his brothers betting that you would stay after talking with Joseph.” She stopped to check Peri’s reaction.
“I know girl’s like me aren’t likely to stay, it’s a bit bizarre to tell you the truth, but I love Josh. I love him enough to accept the bizarreness of the whole situation,” Peri said honestly.
“Well that makes this easier then,” Rosanna said with a smile. “Normally no one would expect you to perform but you my dear are a rare creature, and they intend to test your commitment to being part of the family. So when Nik’s song comes up on the playlist, they intend to cajole you into either performing by saying it is expected of anyone wanting to be part of the family or they will make it hard for you to say no.”
“Oh gosh no, I can’t, not Nik’s song you have to help me.” Peri’s eyes widened in panic.
“I am helping you, sweetheart. I am giving you some warning and preparation time. No one can stop it happening, and if you tell Josh, there will be hell to pay for ruining their fun, especially for Antonia and me. The best we can do is give you the words to look over and let you listen to it on your phone quickly,” she took a deep breath. “Please understand, it’s a different world here, and women do as they are told.”
“Yeah I am becoming more aware of that all the time,” Peri gave a half-hearted laugh and looked at the words Rosanna had handed her on a small sheet of paper. It was one of Andie’s favourites, so she didn’t need to look it up. “If it’s like Karaoke will I have words for the performance?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” she said sadly. “Listen no one knows except Angelo and Carlo, so act very surprised when they call you up. The best thing you could do is embrace it, sing your heart out and make their joke backfire on them.”
Peri took a deep breath and considered the woman standing in front of her. “You’re right. I have done a lot of things in the last few months I never thought possible why not this,” she said in a voice that was anything but confident. “I won’t say a word or let on that you told me anything. Thank you, Rosanna, this could have gone very badly for me, I’m still not sure it won’t, but at least, I know what’s coming.”
“Good Luck,” Rosanna hugged her. “Now let’s go and meld into the crowd.”
“There she is,” a child’s voice rang out as soon as the two women had walked a few steps from the tent. Peri watched as a herd of children began to run towards her.
“Stop!” Rosanna roared and held up her hand. The children came to a halt a few feet away. “What’s this about? We don’t treat our new friends like this.” She surveyed the faces.
“Papa said whoever found Zio Josh’s Christmas angel would get a prize, and I saw her first,” a young boy of about ten stepped forward.
“Who called out that they saw her? I know it wasn’t you, Christo,” Rosanna frowned at her son. “It doesn’t matter anyway because I found her first anyway.”
“Fine, it was Vinnie,” Christo said grudgingly pushing his younger brother forward.
“Good choice,” she smiled. “Where is your Papa?”
“Checking fireworks with Zio because Nana was worried someone touched them,” Christo said as the other children began to melt back into the crowd of people eating small plates of food from various booths.
“The food smells so good, do you think you can show me where the best food is?” Peri had crouched down to ask the smaller child, Vinnie.
“I guess,” he agreed.
“We can see if we can find your Papa before Mama so you can get your prize,” she whispered with a smile. He smiled back and took her hand leading her into the makeshift food court. Peri wandered about holding the little boys hand and sampling some of the finger foods available. They ran into Dante, who frowned at Vinnie.
“Got yourself a date I see,” Dante said seriously. “Your gonna have to give back your boys only club key if you’ve got a girlfriend.” He pulled a face at the little boy and looked up at Peri.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” he quickly dropped Peri’s hand.
“Angelo sent him to find me,” Peri said coming to the boy’s defence. “You haven’t seen him, or Josh have you?”
“They’ll be over at the tree, we’re about to light it up,” Dante informed them. “Do you want me to look after Peri now?”
“Papa said I could have a prize if I found her,” Vinnie seemed torn between wanting to go and see the lights and taking Peri to his father.
“Well we better go and find him then,” Dante picked up Vinnie and took Peri’s hand walking toward the tree.
“Ah hail the champion,” Angelo roared as they got close enough for Vinnie to call out to him that he had found the Christmas angel. He strode towards them and bent his head kissing Peri soundly. “Now for the prize, you, my son get to turn on the lights!”
Stunned, Peri watched as the big man took his child without saying a word to her and walked back to his position beside the tree. She barely noticed that she hadn’t let go of Dante’s hand.
“Sorry about Ang,” Josh said as he approached her. “You can let go of her hand now. I can take it from here,” He said dryly to Dante.
“You sure about that?” Dante grinned teasing his brother. He had taken the time to seek out Josh and find out what Peri had meant by her mysterious comment the day before about Josh still wanting her to be here after his talk with their father. He could understand the concerns Josh raised but not why he would ever consider letting it make a difference to how he felt about Peri.
“She’s got two hands just hold the other one,” he chuckled tightening his grip on Peri’s hand which had loosened as if to let go of his. Josh bent and swept Peri into his arm making Dante stretch before finally letting go of her hand.
“He never shared his toys when he was younger either,” Dante shook his head sadly.
Josh and Peri watched the tree light up and the fireworks that went off across the road near the landing strip. They then found some space on one of the many picnic blankets that covered the lawn and settled in to watch the children’s concert cheering loudly and whistling after each act.
Peri was enjoying the whole evening immensely and counted down with all of the children as the screen showed Santa sitting in his sleigh ready for take-off.
“Food time,” Josh said pulling her to her feet and walking back towards the forecourt where tables had been set up amongst stalls offering a variety of food and wine. It was tradition she found, that dishes served on Christmas Eve were all seafood, and she found an exquisite pasta dish with scallops and prawns in a spicy sauce. Josh’s brothers all seemed to have the same idea and gathered there as well eating and joking with each other.
“Where are the girls?” Peri whispered unsure if she should be doing something other than sitting there with Josh.
“Settling the children or helping Mama with the baskets,” Josh shrugged.
“Oh, Josh you should have told me,” Peri took a gulp of her wine and stood up. “I’ll help with the baskets.” She went to hurry off, but he caught her hand and pulled her back into his lap.
“You don’t have to do that,” he kissed her.
“I want to, I mean if the other women are helping I should too,” Peri tried to wriggle free of his arms.
“Let her go,” Ang said in his low rumble. “She’s practically family she should be joining in family traditions.” He chuckled. Josh kissed her again and let her go watching her walk across to the small kiosk where his parents stood to help them hand out the baskets.
The crowd thinned out considerably as all the families with children made their way home leaving middle-aged neighbours and friends who stayed to enjoy the food and wine provided by the family. Joseph and Antonia were the perfect gracious hosts and as the leaving families dwindled they left the small kiosk to mingle once again with the crowd.
Peri took the opportunity to look at the song lyrics again. She dreaded standing in front of these people and singing badly but as Rosanna had said there was nothing for it except to go with it and try not to embarrass herself or Josh. Lost in thought, she wandered back toward the food court the lines of the song running through her head again. She wasn’t sure if she just didn’t see Rosanna or if she purposely came out of nowhere to spill a plate of pasta over her dress, crying in dismay and apologising as she tried to help to clean it up.
“Hey Josh, Rosanna is trying you use your pickup line,” Ben shouted with a loud laugh, pointing at the horrified Peri and apologetic Rosanna.
“I’m fine it wasn’t hot,” Peri held up her hand as both Pete and Josh rose to their feet. “I’ll just go change and be right back. It’s okay no harm done. It didn’t have any sauce on it.”
“I’ll come and rinse that out straight away, it would be a shame to ruin such a beautiful dress,” Rosanna said in a matronly way. “Just agree with me,” she whispered, and Peri nodded dumbly.
The women walked inside together and up to Peri’s room. “It was just pasta and water, it won’t harm your dress,” Rosanna said as they entered the room. “I thought you might like to change into something sexy and practice that song.”
“You have no idea how much we all would like to see one of Ang’s mean jokes backfire on him,” Bianca said walking into Peri’s room after them.
“You did this on purpose?” Peri asked wide eyed.
“I promise the dress is only wet it will be fine,” Rosanna tried to placate her.
“I am not like Nik, I don’t have a whole wardrobe full of beautiful dresses,” Peri despaired and slipped her dress off wrapping a robe around her as she went to her closet pulling out the other two formal dress she had brought with her and holding them up.
“That one,” they both pointed to a toga style red dress though it was Bianca who spoke. “I have just the right accessories,” she held up a finger to her and picked up her phone. “Go and change, chop chop.”
“Carmen, don’t worry about the cloak, bring my CZ necklace and earrings,” She paused and listened to whoever was on the other end of the phone. “Yeah those are the ones, hurry over.” She closed her phone. “Carmen will be here in a minute or two.”
Peri pulled on the dress and looked at herself in the mirror. This family was too crazy, how on earth was she in this situation. She should just refuse and tell them all to go to hell including Joseph. She could go back to the city and forget it ever happened. The idea of what that would mean for her and Josh stopped her thoughts, and she tried to keep him pictured in her mind as she drew a deep breath and walked back into the bedroom.
“I am starting to understand why girls run away from here crying,” she said quietly as they inspected her. “Are you always this crazy?”
“Mostly,” Carmen said entering the room. “It’s nice being home and doing day to day things, but here it’s like a big game all the time. Ang loves having everyone home for the holidays and torments them all non-stop. We’re used to it, whereas this is your first holiday here and we don’t want you to run away crying.”
“It’s all in good fun,” Rosanna explained. “It’s how they are. He who has the last laugh laughs hardest. This year with Josh taking the family name and wanting to get married, Ang has targeted him and, in turn, you. This would have been his opening shot and the rest of the holidays would have been one prank after another as they tried to one-up each other.”
“He took my son one year,” Carmen said with a hint of anger colouring her voice. “Held him for ransom,” she shook her head.
“If he is so clever how did you find out about tonight? Maybe it was like a red herring, and he didn’t plan to do anything like this,” Peri said.
“I trust my source, but just for arguments sake, if it’s a red herring, there’s no harm done, and you look spectacular. If it’s true though isn’t it better to get one up on him?” Rosanna said slyly. “I heard what happened when you met Carlo. He’s not used to quick-wit like that. I think he is still stinging from the jibe,” she laughed with genuine humour.
“The point is you aren’t typical of the girls who come here, you’re smart and sassy and infinitely braver than most, and you hide it behind this quiet, demure exterior. They won’t be expecting you to take up the challenge, and they think Josh will get mad and declare war and the pranks can begin. He has a bad temper you know,” Carmen looked at her seriously.
“He calms down quickly if you reason with him,” Peri defended Josh immediately.
“The point is that if he can’t start it, then there will be no war,” Bianca said.
“It will also be the first time anyone has managed to foil one of his big plans,” Rosanna said happily. “He’s impossible to live with when he’s gloating. Now do you know your song?”
“I think so, but I am not a good singer,” She said quietly. “I don’t think this is going to go as well as you think.”
Voices sounded in the corridor and looking alarmed, Rosanna took Peri’s hand and pulled her out into the corridor as if they were returning to the festival.
“Told you they were fine, she looks even better than before if you ask me,” Dante said as he and Josh saw the two women approaching.
“You’re not hurt?” Josh asked seeking reassurance.
“Oh I’m fine it wasn’t hot at all just messy, it took me longer than I thought to get it all out of my bra,” she laughed easily.
“See I told you I should have come sooner, you ruined all my fun helping her with that,” Josh accused his brother.
“If I had known that was a problem I would have come and helped her earlier myself,” Dante laughed and grunted as Josh elbowed him and stepped forward to pull her into a hug.
“Ang wants to start,” he said to Rosanna “can you find Bianca and Carmen?”
“Sure, D. can help it will be faster,” she replied. “Carmen is probably just fussing with the kids, she still hasn’t forgiven Ang for the kidnapping of her oldest when he was a baby,” she rolled her eyes.
“Yeah he’s a bastard around the holidays, any idea what he is planning this year?” Josh asked.
“As if he tells me,” she laughed louder and began to walk down the corridor to the other wing of the house. “Tell him we will be there in ten minutes max.”
“You do look spectacular,” Josh murmured in Peri’s ear as they descended the stairs to the first floor.
“You don’t think it’s too much, I didn’t bring many formal dresses with me, and I thought it might be a bit much for the festival,” she said seriously.
“You look perfect,” he stopped her on the porch before descending the stairs down into the festival again and kissed her deeply. “I love you, and you could wear a paper bag, and I would be happy, but you look spectacular tonight.”
“I love you too,” she whispered realising he had drunk quite a bit of wine and while not drunk was more relaxed than his usual in control self.
They walked back down through the food court which had been emptied of the tables and chairs which now sat in small clusters in front of the stage. A special table was set up for Joseph and Antonia, and as the other women followed them from the house with Dante and Angelo stepped onto the stage everyone took a seat, including the neighbours who had stayed for the family entertainment.
“Good evening,” Angelo began his patter as the last few people took their seats. “Mama and Papa, I know no gift could ever compare to that of your first born child,” he placed a hand on his chest and bent his head in mock humility as his brothers jeered. “However as has become our special tradition, our gift to you is a concert like no other, with all your favourite stars.”
Peri had constantly been surprised by the night as the brothers, and their wives sang a range of both traditional and modern carols. Josh, as it turned out, had a wonderful voice that was full and rich as he sang The Prayer for his parents as well as two other songs with his brothers. She had sipped at her wine struggling to keep the lyrics of the song Rosanna had told her she would have to sing in her head as the rest of the carols played.
“Isn’t she beautiful,” Angelo announced as Rosanna left the stage. “It is a wonderful thing that in the absence of our sisters we have such wonderful women who have joined not only our family but our traditions as well,” he grinned and turned toward Josh and Peri. “I’m sure you will join with me in encouraging Peri to take up the challenge and sing one of my favorites…”
Peri’s eyes widened, and she shook her head mouthing the word no and moving closer to Josh as if to hide under his arm.
“You don’t have to do this,” Josh reassured her, scowling at his brother. “Unless you want to,” he added not wanting to get into a battle of wills with Angelo but knowing how she hated the spotlight.
“Come on city chick,” Carlo said as he approached her. “You’re about to become part of this family you might as well get used to our traditions.” He went to pick her up out of her seat, but Josh stood blocking his access to her.
“It’s okay Josh,” Peri said in a shaky voice she didn’t have to fake. She placed a hand on his arm feeling his muscles bunched beneath his shirt. “I will probably embarrass you terribly,” she said quietly “but it’s nice to be included in your family.” She forced a smile to her face, “I’m okay. I’ll just sing jingle bells or something silly like that.”
“You don’t have to do this,” he repeated.
“I know, it’s okay,” she kissed his cheek and allowed Carlo to lead her to the stage. Climbing the stairs Angelo spoke to her in a quiet murmur asking her if she knew the song that was cued up or if she would like the words to help her. Gratefully she took the word sheet from him and approached the microphone looking out at the people gathered before the stage. She knew some better than others. Dante and Emilio whistled and cheered and the word sheet fluttered in her hands as she trembled with nerves. She smiled at Josh, who hadn’t taken his eyes from her and the music began.
She took a deep breath and began to sing in a cute childish way trying to imitate the version of Santa Baby her mother played on repeat almost every Christmas.
“Santa baby, just slip a Sable under the tree for me;
Been an awful good girl, Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight.”
She looked at Josh and sang just to him channelling all her mother’s slinky dance moves knowing she must look ridiculous but carrying on despite the heat that flooded her face.
“Think of all the fun I’ve missed;
Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed;
Next year I could be just as good… if you check off my Christmas list.”
Her knuckles had begun to turn white as she gripped the microphone stand tightly and shimmied against it, doing her best just to get through the song before fainting from the sheer terror of what she was doing, not daring to look at anyone else in the small crowd she kept her eyes on Josh alone.
“Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing… A ring…
I don’t mean on the phone; Santa baby,
So hurry down the chimney tonight.”
She finished the song and quickly turned from the microphone covering her face with both hands and hurrying towards the side of the stage and the speechless Angelo. She went to navigate the stairs alone in her rush to get off the stage, but Angelo called her back.
“Wait we need an encore after that,” his voice boomed loudly behind her. And his hand wrapped around her arm pulling her back toward the centre of the stage.
“Thank you for letting me be part of your traditions when I am not a family member yet, but I think one song is enough for my first time here,” she gave a nervous laugh into the microphone.
‘Hah, yet! If he doesn’t cough up a ring, I’ll marry ya city chick,” Carlo called out in a loud guffaw.
“Wow, umm thank you for that but umm, we already had a moment yesterday remember, and it didn’t work out that well,” she wrinkled her nose in distaste at Carlo who continued to laugh.
“Give my girl back,” Josh approached the stage and lifted his arms to help her down. “That was amazing,” he murmured and kissed her. “I didn’t know you could sing.”
“I can’t,” she laughed.
“Could have fooled me,” he laughed with her. “The show’s almost over, sit down and relax.” He steered her over to where Romey sat with Carmen. “Time to swap, are you ready?” Josh held out his hand to Carmen.
“Oh yes, it’s getting so late now, and the kids will be up so early,” Carmen took his hand and stood. “You were lovely up there Peri, thank you,” She said softly before walking to the stage with Josh.
“Wine?” Romey offered.
“Yes please I think I am still shaking,” she said quietly watching Carmen and Josh climb onto the stage.
“You didn’t look that nervous,” he smiled. “I think you did that song better than Nik herself. Wait until you hear this one, though, they make us all look like amateurs,” he passed her the glass of wine, “We are amateurs, of course, but that’s beside the point.”
Peri laughed accepting the wine and settled back into her chair. A hand touched her shoulder lightly, and Peri turned to find Dante leaning forward in his chair.
“You can sing, who knew?” he chuckled. “You looked good up there.”
“Thanks,” she whispered and turned back towards the stage as the music started again. She sat mesmerised by a version of Peace on Earth that made her fall even more in love with Josh. She loved that Carol.
What an amazing way to spend Christmas Eve, she thought as Josh left the stage to hug his mother. It was most fun she could remember having including the few occasions she had gone out with her friends.
With a small farewell the neighbours who had stayed until the last and whispered goodnights for each of their children, Joseph and Antonia retired for the night.
“I’m going to turn in too,” Carmen leaned down to kiss her husband. “Don’t let them keep you up all night like last year,” she said smiling indulgently. “Thank you, Peri, you did very well tonight, you should have seen the look on Ang’s face when you started to sing,” she laughed softly and headed toward the house.
“Want to let me in on what that was about?” Romey turned a suspicious eye on Peri.
“I think it’s one of those cases where what you don’t know can’t hurt you,” she considered her words then added, “Or what you don’t know you can’t divulge.” Then she shook her head. “let’s just agree not to talk about it.”
“Yeah, I am not sure that’s going to work for me,” he chuckled. “I like to know when my wife is involved in any of the Christmas shenanigans.”
“Maybe you should catch up to her and ask her,” Peri felt like she had entered a new minefield. “I thought she was just lovely because I was so nervous.”
“No need I’ve got the next best thing just over there,” he pointed to Bianca and Jules. “Juliette,” he called loudly only to have his twin turn and scowl at him. “Give me your wife for a few minutes.”
“You’ve never asked before,” he narrowed his eyes at his brother.
“Yeah but I’m too lazy to get up and fetch her myself right now, send her over would ya?” Romey chuckled.
“I was just heading to bed, some of us have children who will be up at first light,” Bianca rolled her eyes at them both and wandered over to where Romey and Peri sat closely followed by Josh.
“Josh you were amazing,” Peri said standing up to hug him. “I never knew you could sing like that.”
“I could say the say the same about you,” he chuckled.
“It seems Carmen was very grateful that Peri had sung,” Romey looked at Bianca with a cocked eyebrow. “Any idea why that would be before I call shenanigans and let my brothers in on my suspicions.”
“I might know something,” Bianca said guardedly looking at Peri worriedly. “What did she say exactly.
“She might have mention that Ang didn’t look happy with Peri’s performance,” Romey said quietly, and Josh took a seat leaning into the conversation pulling Peri down onto the seat beside him.
“Okay, in a nutshell, we found out about Ang’s plan to ask Peri up on stage, he didn’t think she would agree because she always seems so quiet and shy. He thought if he teased her Josh might get mad enough to declare war and then it would be a prank battle all holidays as usual. So we helped Peri out and told her how much it would mean to us if that didn’t happen,” Bianca whispered. “He always singles one of you out, this year it’s your turn,” she patted Josh’s shoulder.
“So you and Carmen did this,” Romey was not finished with his interrogation. “Just the two of you?” When Bianca nodded slowly pursing her lips. “I see, I have just one more question then, how did you find out what he planned to do?”
“It’s bad enough being married to a lawyer but having to deal with you as well is just painful,” she groaned. “I’m not on trial here am I?”
“Tell me, Peri, would you have gotten up and sung if the girl’s hadn’t come to you with their story and asked you to help them thwart a terrible scheme?” Romey asked still talking quietly and seeing Bianca balk at being questioned further turned his attention to Peri.
“I don’t know, I probably wouldn’t have gone up there so easily,” she admitted, “But Josh was getting ready to argue for me, so probably.”
“Rosanna,” Josh began to laugh. “Always mothering people and making things run smoothly. You all thought Peri was too shy to go up just because you asked. So Rosanna fed all of you a story to make it happen. Ang wouldn’t target one of you, girls, to get at us.”
“Especially after he took my son and Carmen was so distraught we thought she was having a breakdown,” Romey said seriously. “You got played Bianca, and Ang got what he wanted all along.” He chuckled then transforming his serious face into one of happy laughter.
“All Hail, Rosanna,” Romey called loudly and lifted his glass in her direction.
“Don’t tell Carmen,” Bianca groaned. “She was so happy to be getting her payback I think she could almost forgive Angelo this Christmas.”
“So you worked it out huh?” Angelo said as he and Rosanna came to sit with them. “You lose points for that you know,” he told his wife.
“Totally worth it, did you see her up there?” Rosanna laughed. “All of you men had your tongues hanging out.”
“They’re arguing over who has dibs on your girl when you fail to produce a ring,” Angelo teased Josh. “I think Pete has the edge at the moment because he met her before anyone else but Dante’s playing the sad story card so its close. Carlo is just waiting to see who wins that argument before taking on the winner. If you ask me I think Lio is the dark horse he hasn’t said anything yet but you know how he hates conflict, so he will probably just do a Bradbury and be the last man standing.”
“She already said yes,” Josh said as if that ended the whole debate.
“If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it,” Angelo held up his hand waving it in a poor imitation of Beyonce.
“I’ll do it when I’m ready,” Josh said with an enigmatic smile reaching out to take Peri’s hand. “She knows how I feel. She doesn’t need the ring to prove it.”
*****
Christmas Day saw the family all wake early, or in the case of some of the men, just shower and change early after staying up all night, and gathered for a big breakfast in the room that had housed all of the gift baskets for the festival. It seemed to Peri that the household staff had multiplied as the family’s every wish was seen to. Then to the merriment of the children they were allowed outside to the tree where over fifty stockings hung around the base of the big tree.
The stockings were gifts from Joseph and Antonia and held all manner of things from tickets for holidays, jewellery or technology for the adults to the reins of a new pony or keys to a motorised toy car among other things for the children. Peri smiled as she found a stocking beside Josh’s with her name embroidered carefully on it.
“I didn’t expect to be treated so much as part of the family,” she whispered to Josh.
“The moment you agreed to come here you became part of the family, it just your choice whether to stay or not,” he kissed her. “I am so very glad you are here for all of this. It’s the best part of having a big family at Christmas,” he smiled and looked around at his siblings and parents who all laughed and played together. “Being here with you just makes it even more fantastic,” he took a small box from his pocket and got down on one knee. “Peri, will you marry me and be part of this craziness every year?” He flipped open the lip of the box to display a stunning teardrop diamond solitaire.
“You had me at craziness,” she laughed and nodded. “I want nothing more than to marry you.” He slipped the ring on her finger before standing again and taking her in his arms.
“Shit I owe Ben another twenty,” Carlo said from nearby. “I can’t believe you went for cheesy.” He shook his head in disgust at his little brother. “Alright round two city chick,” he pulled her from Josh’s arms and dipped her back kissing her passionately. Letting her up he winked and chuckled, “See I did teach him everything he knows.” With that, he sauntered off toward Ben and his family.
Peri stood stunned, and chuckling Josh took her hand and led her to where his parents stood to watch the chaos of their family unfold. Antonia wept and hugged them both tightly while Joseph in a rare display of warmth kissed her on both cheeks and congratulated his son on his fine choice of a wife with a manly embrace patting him on the back.
Once everyone had congratulated them and people started moving away from the tree, Peri and Josh stole away to her room together to find some quiet time and rest. Exhausted they fell onto the bed and snuggled together despite the heat of the day. While Peri had come inside to snatch some sleep at about three that morning, Josh had stayed up all night with his brothers and fell asleep almost instantly as they lay entwined together.
Despite having called her mother earlier that morning, she was bursting to tell someone about her engagement and slipped from the bed and Josh’s arms. She sat by the large window willing a breeze to come through and took a photo of her hand with the ring sparkling in the sunlight. Then she texted Andie, “Guess what I got for Christmas?”
Disappointed not to get an immediate response she put her phone on silent and moved back to the bed and her future husband. Laying back down beside him, she was surprised when he wrapped an arm around her and gathered her into his body. “She’s probably just busy unwrapping presents herself,” he murmured his voice heavy with sleep.
It was a few hours later she woke hearing Josh speaking on his phone. She was surprised she had slept so long and she sat up to look at him.
“Yeah, we’ll just get dressed and come down,” Josh said his voice heavy with sleep. He threw the phone back toward the bed and ran his hand through his hair. “Come on lazy bones,” Josh pulled her from the bed and wrapped his arms around her picking her up and carrying her to the shower.
“No taking advantage of me,” he warned as he stripped off his boxers making her laugh as she too removed her underwear. “Or we could end up with Carlo in here proving he taught me everything I know about women again.”
“That was some kiss this morning,” she teased. “maybe I chose the wrong brother.”
He growled and smacked her bare ass cheeks pushing her gently into the shower ahead of him. They kissed while soaping each other all over trying not to get carried away until Josh growled, “Fuck it,” and pinned her to the shower wall lifting her leg over his hip. Bending his knees, he entered her thrusting up without any further foreplay.
Peri clung to him as she balanced on the toes of one foot, rising to the need of not being able to share the harsh passionate encounters she had come to expect and revel in. She longed for the feel of his power when he bound her and teased with a controlled balance of pain and pleasure. She rocked her hips to each of his thrusts wanting more, wanting the pleasure she knew he could give her.
She felt his hand wrap around her throat as he kissed her and groaned, not holding back his climax and willing her to come with him in his urgency. While none of their trysts here on the farm had brought her to heights of what he did for her at home in the city, she quivered as the small ripples of her climax washed over her.
“I warned you about taking advantage of me,” he said breathlessly leaning into her and allowing her to lower her leg. “Now we have to hurry,” he gave a crooked smile as he spoke.
“Maybe we’d be faster if I didn’t pin you to the wall like this,” she laughed.
“But not nearly as much fun,” he murmured pressing up against her even more. He kissed her before moving to finish washing and leaving her to rinse off as he dried himself and dressed.
Peri chose a skirt and top combination unsure of what to expect during the afternoon and early Christmas dinner. It wasn’t until they were leaving the room that she checked her phone again and realised that she had several Missed calls and messages from Andie.
“Call her back,” Josh said with a smile, “I’ll meet you downstairs.” He kissed her and left the room.
“Thank you, I won’t be long,” Peri promised with a smile. She needed to tell someone and squeal with excitement. This morning it was a slight anticlimax because everyone knew that they had already discussed their engagement, and it was only the appearance of the ring that made it different to them. They had already accepted her as part of the family which was fabulous but robbed her of the gushing congratulation and a million questions about how it all happened she got from Andie.
By the time she hung up she was beyond excited about planning a wedding and shopping with Andie. Even to her own mind, she knew that was an odd thought. As little as three months ago the last thing she ever wanted to do was go shopping with Andie and get her advice on anything fashion related. She went downstairs grinning like a Cheshire cat and admiring the shining diamond on her finger.
She wandered about the house not sure where she was going until she found a young woman who showed her to a large glass-roofed conservatory. The air conditioning kept it cool while the glass ceiling allowed the bright summer sun to filter into the room.
“Sit with me,” Antonia called to her as she entered the room and looked around for Josh. “The boys are all out playing, so it will give us a chance to talk.”
“Sure,” Peri said with one last quick glance around at who else was in the room. Emily and Carmen sat on chaises reading magazines and talking quietly nearby. Rosanna and Bianca appeared to be dozing on comfortable couches enjoying the quiet reprieve from their husbands and children. None of the men were present, and she could see a few in the distance with several children through the large windows of the conservatory.
“It will be nice to have a new daughter, even better that you are not linked to any other table. I fear we are all becoming a little too close in our relationships,” she laughed softly. “Joseph showed me your work on the family history. He’s very impressed by you. In fact, you have made an impression on my whole family.”
“Not always a good impression, I am afraid,” Peri admitted quietly thinking of Nik and her absence from the family Christmas celebrations. “You must miss your daughter’s when they can’t be here for Christmas.”
“From the time they were born I knew they would have to leave and be with their husband’s family,” Antonia smiled sadly. “I have spoken to them today, and they will come home for our big family celebration in April. It is Izabella I miss the most because she is so far from home, but I have eight sons and four new daughters, five now that Josh has brought you home.” She said with genuine pleasure. “Who knows the other boys may one day find a girl to put up with them but I’m not going to hold my breath.” This time, she let out a full throaty laugh.
“Dante may surprise you,” Bianca murmured not bothering to open her eyes. Peri looked up noticing the other women had been listening to the conversation. “I think he is seeing one of your friends isn’t he Peri?” Her voice was sleepy.
“I’m not sure it’s very serious,” Peri said thinking about her friend Louisa. “Louisa hasn’t said anything to me about him. You never know though I have been a bit wrapped up in my life recently to notice much else.”
“He’s been in a better mood this holidays,” Emily smiled. “Maybe he’s finally getting over Cherry or whatever her name was and finding someone new to obsess over.”
“Perhaps,” Antonia mused but seemed to dismiss the mention of Louisa, not probing for more information. “My boys come from a long line of men who want only the best in life. Some are lucky to find it early, others will search and never find what they seek. Our history shows that,” she smiled and picked up the book Peri had created on the founding table of this family. I would love to see one created for the Farnese table. I am sure Pierre Luigi was the most colourful and flamboyant of the original men.”
“He was the illegitimate son of a Pope, wasn’t he?” Peri asked remembering that she had been tempted to look into his life further when she had come across that snippet of information.
“Yes, so you have looked at that table?” Antonia seemed happy that Peri knew who the man was.
“Only enough to create the very first table, I haven’t looked into his life much yet, but I imagine that each of the original men will deserve their own book as Giambattista did,” She explained.
“My thoughts exactly,” Antonia enthused. “I’m a bit of a history buff myself perhaps I could help, particularly with that table.”
“I would like that,” Peri agreed happily.
A woman came to the door and quietly waited before Antonia acknowledged her. She announced the time with a curtsy and left. The women all got up and started to move towards the door, as a siren sounded loudly through the house and out into the surrounding grounds. Peri followed the women through the house to the front yard where the Christmas tree stood proudly, the debris of the morning having been cleared away and the nannies stood to wait for their charges amongst a lavish picnic of childhood favourites.
Peri laughed as the competitive men raced with the children and each other for the picnic tables. She was surprised to see Joseph with the noisy group of men and children and smiled seeing how the children all gathered around him before letting him leave to walk up the stairs to where they all stood.
“I will be down shortly, make sure the boys clean-up for dinner,” he kissed his wife’s cheek and moved into the house. One by one they followed their fathers lead and left their children to enter the house, and the women moved down to where the children still laughed and called out to each other. Peri hadn’t got to know any of the children aside of BJ, so she stood back and watched as the mothers all chatted with their children quietly and kissed them all before returning to the house full of smiles and Christmas cheer.
The Christmas dinner was very traditional, and the family seemed to be quieter and more respectful in the formal dining room. The chatter was polite and quiet as they ate a six-course meal ending with strong coffee which Peri could see was sorely needed as the men began to wind down from having little to no sleep the night before.
The adults barely stayed an hour after dinner before beginning to turn in for the night promising to be up early for boxing day. Having eaten way too much and having drunk too much of the wine served with each course Peri herself was starting to fade despite the sleep she had managed to get both the night before and the afternoon. Once again she and Josh fell into bed and curled around each other finding sleep quickly.
*****