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As Thanksgiving approached, both Marla and Micah were busy with extra work shifts. Marla covered for Doc Paine while he and Millie took a much-needed ten-day vacation. Micah had picked up extra shifts at the fire station so Lewis and Lisa could go visit his parents. Marla and Micah spent as much time together as they could, which usually involved late evening dinners.
On Thanksgiving Day, Marla and Micah both made it to Ben and Delaney’s house for dinner, but only for a short time. They had both picked up a shift that evening. During dinner, they sat next to each other and held hands during dessert conversation. When it was time to go, they had a hard time separating from each other. They had started to feel like two ships passing in the night.
Marla awoke at five o’clock the day after Thanksgiving. Her shift the night before had been especially busy. She threw on her robe over her pajamas and walked out to the kitchen. The house was dark, and she was still trying to get used to the sun going down so early. She flipped on the kitchen light and started to brew a pot of coffee. As she glanced down at her cell phone, she saw a text from Micah. He asked, “How are you? How was your shift?”
Marla smiled to see his text. She missed him. Ever since their first date, the two of them had hardly had enough time together. She texted back, “Long, busy shift. I just woke up. How was your shift at the firehouse?”
Micah wrote back, “It was quiet. I’m well-rested. Jealous?”
Marla snickered and texted back, “Hey, buster, don’t rub it in!” Then she added an emoji smiling face.
Micah texted, “You are late in getting your Christmas tree up. You told me you usually have it up and decorated the day after Halloween.”
She replied, “Yes, don’t remind me. The work shifts have made me too tired. I have a break this week, so I’m going to do it this week.”
Micah wrote back, “Can I help?”
Marla smiled as she texted, “I would love that, but remember that I want to get a real tree this year. Are you up for that?”
Micah texted, “I think I can help you with that.”
Marla smiled. She started to text back when she heard a knock at the back door. She furrowed her brow, wondering who could be at her house on a Sunday evening—and at the back door. Walking to the door, she peered through the blinds. After switching on the back-deck light, she could see that it was Micah. She opened the door to find him wearing a huge smile and holding up a freshly cut Christmas tree.
“I brought you a tree. You are really behind, and you need to get this thing decorated as soon as possible,” he said.
Marla shook her head while smiling. “I can’t believe you.”
“What?” He retorted. “You are starting to make me think you’re a grinch.”
Marla opened the door and motioned for him to come in. “Get in here,” she said, laughing.
Micah stepped inside with the tree, and Marla closed the door.
Micah stood in the kitchen holding the tree up. He reached for Marla, hugging her and then he kissed her. “I’ve missed you,” he said.
“I’ve missed you, too. I wish you would have told me you were coming over. I must look like a mess. I just woke up.”
Micah said, “You are beautiful, as always. I love seeing you in your pajamas.”
Marla shook her head at him and said, “You are full of surprises.”
Micah replied, “Just keeping you on your toes. Where do you want this tree?”
Marla surveyed the living room. She pointed to the corner by the fireplace and said, “I want to put it over there.”
Micah carried the tree to the corner and carefully leaned it against the wall. He said, “I brought a tree stand. Let me run out to my truck, and I’ll be right back.”
“Okay. Want me to fix you a cup of coffee?” Marla asked.
“That sounds great. It will help warm me up. I can’t believe how cold it is tonight.”
Micah disappeared outside. Marla poured him a cup of coffee and then quickly wandered back to her room. After a glance in the mirror, she knew she had to improve her current look. She changed into jeans and a sweater, and then brushed her hair and put it back into a ponytail. After washing her face and brushing her teeth, she dabbed on a little make-up. Happy with her improved look, she made her way back to the living room. When she arrived there, Micah had already put up the tree in the corner, and he was sitting on the couch sipping his coffee.
“I was wondering if you were coming back. I was getting lonely,” he said, smiling at her.
She walked over to the couch and sat down beside him. He pulled her close to him, and she nestled against his neck and chest.
“I’ve really missed you,” he said. “I’m glad we both have a lighter schedule this week. We have some catching up to do.”
Marla stared up at him. “I’ve been lonely without you. I’m glad you came over tonight. The tree was so thoughtful. Thank you. I’ve been wanting to get my tree up and decorated because I love this time of year. I’ve been feeling a little down without a decorated tree.”
He replied jokingly, “You mean you’ve been feeling down because you’ve missed me?”
She laughed and said, “Well, yes, of course, but I’ve also been down because I haven’t had time to start celebrating the Christmas season the way I like to.”
He nodded. “I know. I’m halfway kidding. That’s why I brought the tree over tonight. I knew you could use some Christmas cheer.”
She stared at him with longing in her eyes. “You seem to know just what I need when I need it.”
Micah leaned in and kissed her gently, then he looked at her. “I hope I always do.” Then he kissed her again.
After a moment, Marla pulled away gently. She could feel her core heating, and she was starting to sweat. She said, “Well, I guess we had better get started on decorating the tree. That is what you came over for, right?” She side-eyed him and smirked as she arose from the couch to put her shoes and coat on.
“Hey, where are you going? I thought the Christmas cheer had already gotten started just fine, right here on the couch,” he teased back.
She smiled and arched her eyebrows. She pointed toward the tree and said, “The tree. Remember?”
He grinned back at her and said, “Hey, I just brought the tree over. I didn’t say anything about decorating it. I prefer the couch time we were having together.”
Marla laughed. “Okay, Romeo, we have some work to do. We’ve got to go to the garage and look for my grandma’s Christmas decorations.”
Micah exhaled as if he were giving up the fight to stay on the couch. “Okay,” he said at last. He arose from the couch and walked over to Marla. He wrapped his arms around her and started to kiss her again.
Marla wriggled free, laughing. She bolted for the back door, opened it, and called, “Catch me if you can!” She ran out the door into the night toward the garage.
Micah tilted his head playfully and ran after her.
In the garage, Marla located the boxes of lights and ornaments. She couldn’t wait to go through them. Although her visits to her grandparents at Christmas had mostly been in Louisville, she remembered spending the one Christmas with them at the lake house. It had been a magical Christmas because her mother had still been alive then. She remembered decorating the tree with her mom that year. Tonight, she would get to relive those memories.
Marla located several boxes in the corner that were marked “Christmas Decorations.” She and Micah methodically opened each one and peered in to see what items each box held. “These boxes can go inside,” she said, pointing to four boxes in the corner.
Micah bent down and piled two of the boxes on one. He then lifted them effortlessly. Marla picked up the fourth box and then held the garage door open for Micah, as they headed back to the house. Inside the house, Marla carefully pulled the items from the boxes. There were strings of lights, a multitude of tissue-wrapped ornaments, strings of garland, and a tree skirt.
Micah tested the light strands to be sure they worked, and then they both strung the lights through the tree branches. As Micah finished the lights near the top of the tree, Marla started adding the garland from the bottom up.
“Your grandma has a lot of stuff for the tree,” Micah said, sounding a little weary from sorting through and wrapping the light strings.
“Yeah, she loved Christmas. The more lights, the better. That was her philosophy,” she said.
“I wonder where you get your Christmas spirit,” he said, smiling and winking at her.
“I think we can start putting the ornaments on now,” she said. Marla held up two ornaments in the shape of a snowman and a star. “See these?”
Micah nodded.
“My mom and grandma and I made these the one year I was here for Christmas. We made them out of modeling clay and then painted them. I had so much fun that year,” she said, looking lost in thought.
“I know you must miss them so much,” he said, with understanding in his eyes.
“I lost Allie during the summer, but Christmas time is still so hard for me, too,” he added.
She looked over at him and pursed her lips.
“We both have our good memories that make us sad, don’t we?” She asked.
He nodded.
Marla stared at Micah pensively. “Can I ask you something about Allie?”
“Sure,” he replied.
“I guess I’m just wondering if you two had ever talked about having kids. Is it something you want?” She chose her words carefully.
Micah exhaled deeply and stared into the fire. For a few moments, he said nothing.
Marla observed that his eyes appeared to glisten as if he were tearing up.
She said, “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked that. Forgive me.”
Micah shook his head. “No, it’s okay. I want to tell you.” He hung the sleigh ornament he was holding on a tree branch. Then he walked over to the couch and sat down.
Marla followed him to the couch and sat down beside him.
His eyes were still fixed on the fire. They sat in silence for a few minutes, listening to the crackling of the fire. Finally, Micah looked over at her. “We wanted children.” He paused and then said, “I’ve never told anyone this, but I want to tell you.” He sat silently for a few seconds as if he was unsure how to start. Then he continued, “The day Allie died, the doctor told me that he had run a number of tests. One of those tests was a pregnancy test.” Micah looked over at Marla. “He told me it was positive, and that Allie had been pregnant early in the first trimester. I don’t know if she even knew.”
Marla’s heart sank into her stomach. The heaviness of her heart caused her breath to catch in her throat, and she felt an ache in her gut. She cupped her hand over her mouth, “I’m so sorry,” she said.
Micah’s eyes were wet as a tear escaped and ran down his cheek. He looked toward the fire. “It’s so hard to think about it. I’ve never been able to tell anyone.” He looked over at her. “I lost two loves that day.”
Marla frowned. “I wish I knew the right words to say.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s forever in my past, and I’m doing better the more distant the memory becomes. It’s so hard sometimes, though.”
Marla nodded empathetically.
Micah pulled his sweater up and showed her his chest.
Marla furrowed her brows with confusion until she understood what he was doing.
“See these hearts?” He pointed to the tattoo of the three small hearts on his chest.
Marla nodded and reached out to touch them gently.
“These first two were the original tattoo. Remember how I told you that Allie and I got matching tattoos when we first got married, as a symbol of our love for each other?
Marla nodded.
“We chose hearts because they symbolize love but also because of Allie’s heart condition. After she passed away, and I found out about the baby, I added this third heart. These hearts serve as a reminder of the loves I lost.”
Marla shook her head back-and-forth, unable to hold back tears.
“My heart aches for you, Micah. I wish I could take away your pain,” she said, reaching for his hand.
He half-smiled through his tears. “That’s the thing. For the first time since I lost them, I feel hope. I feel hope because of you.”
Marla reached for him, and they embraced for a long time, just listening to the crackles of the fire and feeling its warmth.
Micah kissed her gently. He said, “Now, you know the whole story. Somehow I feel better after telling you.”
“Thanks for sharing that with me.” She stared at him intensely as if she wanted to dive into his dark eyes. Then she whispered, “I think I just fell in love with you.”
Micah smiled and whispered back, “Really? Am I so lucky?”
She leaned into him, and he kissed her tenderly. Then he looked at her and said, “I fell in love with you the night I met you here in this living room. Somehow, I just knew God had sent you here for me.”
They kissed again. He pulled his head back to look at her and said, “I hope you never have to leave me, Marla Devereaux.”
She shook her head. “You’re stuck with me.”
They lay on the couch for a while with Marla’s head resting on Micah’s chest. After a few minutes, Marla looked up at the decorated tree. She frowned. “Something is missing.” She looked a few more minutes and said, “The star for the top is missing.”
She stood up from the couch, and Micah groaned, “Don’t go anywhere.”
“I’ll be right back. The star has to be somewhere in the garage. I won’t be long.”
Micah reached for her playfully, but she pulled away.
“I’ll be right back,” she laughed.