“Well, they will all have one of the best tour guides around,” Roman said, leaning over to kiss my cheek.

“Well, that is true.” I laughed.

“Did Cara tell you she got a raise?” Roman said proudly as everyone was passing food from one person to the next.

“It’s not a raise really,” I said, slightly embarrassed.

“It is so. Is your check larger each week?”

I nodded.

“Well, that sounds like a raise to me.”

I shook my head, lifting my napkin to my lips. “As curator, it’s part of my job to bring in money for the museum. I knew that when I took the job, but I guess I didn’t realize it would be such a large part. Luckily, I happen to be good at it.”

“Really good,” Roman added. “She brought in so much this year that the board gave her a pay increase.”

“That’s marvelous!” Mrs. Cavenaugh exclaimed.

Everyone clapped, making my cheeks flame.

Happy, content conversation continued around the table while everyone ate.

Cavenaugh Investments was thriving, thanks to the hard work of the brothers. The West Coast division was growing rapidly, and because of the major improvements Roman had made to employee compensation, they were now one of the most sought-after companies to work for.

And Roman was loved.

Not only for the changes he’d made for the employees, but also for the man he was.

And all he’d had to do was simply be himself.

Following the Cavenaugh family tradition, after Christmas Eve dinner, everyone gathered around the Christmas tree and exchanged gifts.

“Why Christmas Eve?” Lailah asked. “I’ve always wondered why we don’t wait until the morning.”

Mrs. Cavenaugh smiled, looking at her grown boys. “I had a very smart boy who came to me one year and argued that it was unfair that Santa got all the attention Christmas morning while the family gifts were sometimes forgotten about. When I tried to tell him that Christmas wasn’t about presents, he fired back and said, ‘I know, Mommy. It’s about family, which is why I want to spend as much time with you as possible.’

“So, I agreed that we could open a few presents the night before. After a year or two, it was a bit more, and by the time his younger brother caught on, it was all of them.”

Turning toward Roman, she smiled. “You always were innovative.”

“I just like getting what I want.” He laughed as his green eyes found mine.

Everyone watched as Meara opened her pile of gifts from the family, oohing and aahing over the building blocks and cute clothes. Lailah joked that they’d have to build a second house just to fit all of Meara’s stuff.

As the adults began opening gifts, my heart did a flip-flop in my chest.