Get Married Or Die

Episode 60

Milo, Remi, and Casey found Eliana in the living room. She was trying to decorate the Christmas tree on her own and they quickly jumped in to help.

With three additional people soon the tree was shining with decorations. They added lights, dried oranges, ornaments made from cookies, baubles, and angel’s hair.

They could hear the beep of an oven indicating that the fish was ready.

While Eliana turned off the stove and cursed. Her clothes were covered with flour. How did she do that?

“I will be right back!” She yelled to the kids and ran upstairs to get into her room and have her clothes changed for dinner.

Then she saw Rafael and she couldn’t stop herself from yelling.

“Illegal!” Eliana said and stomped her foot in annoyance. Rafael looked at her as if she just admitted she’s an alien.

“What?” He asked, confused.

“The way you look hot in this tuxedo. It should be illegal. Besides, it’s a family dinner, not a charity banquet, take it off” 5

“Did you just tell me to strip, Mrs. Vincenti?” He asked with amusement.

“What? N-no” she took a step back.

“I think otherwise” he took a step forward taking his freshly tied tie off.

“Are you guys coming or what? Food is getting cold!” Remi yelled loudly from downstairs.

Rafael closed his eyes. “I’m sending them to boarding school when we’re back” he whispered, defeated. 17

Now it was Eliana’s turn to be amused “They’re right though, we should go,” she said as she grabbed his hand.

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When everyone sat at the table for a meal Remi had to ask.

“Eli, what the hell are these dishes?”

“Casey’s mother taught me to make them, it’s Polish cuisine”

“She wasn’t American?” Milo wanted to know.

“She was Polish” Casey explained. 8

“What do you usually eat for Christmas in Italy,” Casey asked curiously. 1

“Antipasti platter, spaghetti with clams, capers salad, veal roast roll, pandoro, biscotti. Now explain what the hell is this” he pointed at the soup in front of him it had purplish-red color. 1

“It’s a beetroot soup, that weirdly shaped dumplings on your plate are called uszka and they taste just like pierogis but they’re only filled with mushrooms. 4

“They look a bit like ravioli” Milo commented looking at the dish with curiosity and then trying it.

“You should try to eat this soup with the hand pies,” Eliana suggested.

“With what?” Remi asked.

Casey said pointing at the sauerkraut and mushroom pastry.

For a drink, there was a compote with dried fruits, on the dessert they were eating apple pie and gingerbread.

“Holy shit that’s delicious,” Remi said, Milo was quiet but he seemed to be eating a bit quicker than usual which meant he liked everything so far.

“It’s snowing” Casey pointed at the huge window that allowed them to clearly see the view on the mountain trail and the city.

Indeed it was snowing.

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Everyone was recovering after the magnificent feast in the living room. Rafael was reading a newspaper on his tablet giving the most dad vibes ever.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

Eliana was sitting on the sofa drinking hot cocoa with a whipped cream sprinkled with a ton of cinnamon. There was a fireplace and Home Alone was playing on a huge cinema-like screen. There were two steaming cups of beverage waiting for Casey and Milo. 4

Lorenzo called several minutes ago to give them well wishes for Christmas. It was really admirable that he decided to stay in the city to make sure business is working as it should be.

“Eva sends us Christmas wishes” Eliana announced after checking her phone. 10

“She should come to dinner after we come back” Rafael suggested. 4

“I agree,” Casey said in excitement.

“Should we open up the presents?” Remi asked eying the huge pile of Christmas boxes.

“Just leave the bigger ones for last” Rafael instructed taking a sip of warm cider Eliana prepared.

Remi got new boxing gloves, Milo got a set of knives, Casey received a fantasy novel; those were the things Eliana and Rafael bought together and self-defense kit (Eliana’s idea). 3

“Guns,” she said in a flat voice. “You bought them guns?” She asked looking at the contents of the twins’ gifts.

“I did” Rafael shrugged.

“When will I get a real gun? Casey pouted.

“Never,” said everyone in unison. 13

“What are those?” Remi asked referring to the knitted sweater, scarf, and gloves.

“They have no company? What brand is this” Milo added, with confusion searching for the tag.

“No brand, I knitted it for you,” Eliana said awkwardly her face red with embarrassment.

Remi, Casey, and Milo received the same gifts. Casey’s color was dark purple, Milo’s forest green, and Remi’s dark blue.

“That’s the most Eliana thing ever,” Casey said seemed to be completely overjoyed she stood up and hugged her sister.

“That must have taken hours,” Milo said looking at the gift as if it was the most expensive type of clothing on earth.

“And you added homemade cookies too” Remi pointed out at another thing in the packaging.

“She was making them yesterday in the middle of the night” Rafael ratted her out.

“You know what Rafael?” Remi started and Rafael actually lifted his eyes from the tablet to give his brother his undivided attention.”I was sure were going to have some cold-hearted bitch for a stepmother” Remi said using the ongoing joke in the family that Rafael and Eliana were mom and dad, they kinda were their guardians more than their siblings now. 3

“Right like who would’ve thought he of all people will find a nice girl for himself” Milo agreed.

“Right? Unbelievable. And how can she stand his cold ass?” Remi was glad that someone was seeing his point.

“I’m going to pretend you never started speaking,” Rafael said.

Then he proceeded to open his gift to see the bottle of 50 years old whiskey.

“Strathilsa 1965, how curious I could swear the exact bottle was stolen from my collection,” he said smoothly. 12

“Someone stole your alcohol?” Eliana asked, dreading the answer. Rafael’s mansion was impossible to penetrate, right? Confused, she watched her sister sigh.

“Listen. I know that you know so can we stop playing this game? Just ground me and let’s get over it” Casey responded. 4

“Casey, what are you talking about?” Eliana asked.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW

“Well, I stole his whiskey and got drunk I’m sorry ok?” She asked, annoyed but also looking apologetic.

“I waited until it’s punishment enough to say I’m disappointed in your choices” Rafael explained.

Casey looked down and looked as if she was to cry. 1

“But I’m also very proud of your progress, thank you for telling me and buying it back” Rafael added.

“Did Rafael just say thank you and smile? Holy shit it’s really a night of miracles” Remi said bluntly.

“Open the present from us three” Milo prompted.

“A 3 day trip to Prague?” Eliana asked, surprised.

“Yeah, you deserve to have more time together, without us I mean”

“Cmon guys you’re not that bad. Right, Rafael?” Eliana said, smiling.

“Speak for yourself, Eli”. 16

Groans erupted in the room after Rafael shared his brutally honest view

“Time to open the last presents” Rafael announced to the kids. Right, big boxes.

“What the fuck?” Remi asked pretty disappointedly when he discovered what’s in his package. “Are you serious?” A bunch of coal. A symbol of what “bad” children are getting for Christmas. 4

“You must think you’re hilarious” Milo deadpanned.”Admittedly it wasn’t my idea, Lorenzo did the packaging. I wouldn’t bother”

“Yeah whatever” Remi started getting up offended.

“Dig in” Rafael instructed. Remi wordlessly did.

“A key? Oh shit Ferrari” This made Milo start searching in his package more briskly “Oh shit”

“They both sprung out of the house in light speed. On the other hand, Casey didn’t even start to dig in.”Casey?”

“You shouldn’t buy me gifts I was a shitty person to you,” she said giving the package back.

“Casey, I’m not an easy person to communicate with. It takes two to tango as they say. Just enjoy your gift and I’m sorry for the packaging Lorenzo is an idiot”

“No, it’s okay. It’s nice”

Nice to be treated like Remi and Milo. That way she felt like she was a part of the family. 5

She wiped a tear from her cheek and both Eliana and Rafael pretended not to notice knowing how allergic Casey was to let her emotions spill out.

Casey picked up a car key and with disbelief painted on her face, she walked out of the house. In the meantime Eliana was sitting next to Rafael she asked in shock.

“You bought three cars for Christmas?”

“Four, I got one for myself as well. I’d get you one too if I knew you won’t get a heart attack” 6

“Was there a sale 2 + 2 or something?!” 12

“Car salon is not a grocery store, Eli” he responded, and he was clearly trying not to laugh.

“Oh my God,” she said weakly and Rafael chuckled at how adorable she was.

While the kids were out admiring their gifts Rafael took a small package from his pocket and handed it to Eliana.

“I thought you said no gift for Christmas this year, as a punishment” she responded.

“It’s not for Christmas that’s why you won’t find it under the Christmas tree. Can’t a man buy his woman a necklace for their honeymoon?”

“Let me guess. I gave you a stupid knitted hat what did you get for me a star with my name? An island?” Eliana wanted to know suddenly feeling anxious.

“You’d hate that” he stated simply. Ok so maybe he knew her a little bit.

She opened it up to see a simple golden necklace. It was a key. It had a small ruby on its bow

“Key is used to shield things we want to protect and keep private so when given to someone it’s a sign of highest trust. I wanted you to have as a reminder that I trust you and you should trust me” he explained.

Eliana for the moment turned off out of the conversation to look at people surrounding her.

With all that Eliana lost, and everything she gained she had so much to look forward to.

But this moment now felt like the happy ending. Because she was no longer running away from her uncle, from Rafael, from herself. She stopped running away and it felt good. 1

She wanted to stay here, in this moment. Forever.