He gives me a look I haven’t seen before, part smile, part smirk. “We’ve missed you, too.”

And for the first time since all of this started, I’m really glad I’m here.

Tuesday, December 22nd

Blind Date #3: Charlie’s Pick

I can’t get to the board in the kitchen fast enough. No matter how hard I begged Charlie yesterday, he wouldn’t give me the slightest hint as to who I was going out with or where we were going.

“You’re going to have so much fun at that party,” Nonna says. She’s pulling a tray of cinnamon rolls out of the oven. The room smells delicious. And I laugh when I read the words on her apron: I put the Pro in Prosecco!

“You know where we’re going?” I ask, then pull out a knife so I can help her put on the icing.

“Yes, it’s at the Browns’ just around the corner. Their first party was about five years ago and now it’s a tradition in this neighborhood. Amy gives prizes for the ugliest sweater and there are lots of other games. Her sons, Alex and Brandon, go to the same high school as your cousins, so there’ll be plenty of kids there your age.”

Nonna moves the iced rolls to a platter, and just like clockwork, family starts pouring in from the back door.

“I know some of the family usually drops in for breakfast, but are there always this many?” I whisper to Nonna.