She's A Part Of The Family Now

"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 Changying soundly. "Now for the prize, you, my son get to turn on the lights!"

Stunned, Changying 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," Wang 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 Wang and find out what Changying had meant by her mysterious comment the day before about Wang still wanting her to be here after his talk with their father. He could understand the concerns Wang raised but not why he would ever consider letting it make a difference to how he felt about Changying.

"She's got two hands just hold the other one," he chuckled tightening his grip on Changying's hand which had loosened as if to let go of his. Wang bent and swept Changying 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.

Wang and Changying 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.

Changying 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," Wang 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. Wang's brothers all seemed to have the same idea and gathered there as well eating and joking with each other.

"Where are the girls?" Changying whispered unsure if she should be doing something other than sitting there with Wang.

"Settling the children or helping Mama with the baskets," Wang shrugged.

"Oh, Wang you should have told me," Changying 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," Changying 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. Wang 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.

Changying 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 Wang. 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.