December 17
The smell of baked ham, wood smoke, pine, and cinnamon filled the house Luke had grown up in as Luke, Christie, and Ethan stepped inside. Voices nearly drowned out Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime,” which wafted from the speakers in the invitingly festive living room. The large Christmas tree glowed in the corner, and a fire crackled happily in the fireplace, throwing warm light against the red-and-white plaid wallpaper. Halfway down the wall, it met the white wainscoting Luke had installed for his parents a few years ago.
Matt was bickering with their father about the most recent Colorado Avalanche trade as Matt chopped vegetables, while Ethan excitedly told his Grandpa all about an upcoming class snowshoeing trip to Curt Gowdy State Park at the same time. Somehow their father managed to hold both conversations at once. Probably from the years of practice he’d gotten corralling twin boys who’d had an abundance of energy. Glancing down, he noticed that Christie had a deer-in-the-headlights look, a stiff smile frozen on her face. He slipped his arm around her waist, and she relaxed into him.
Smiling warmly, his mother approached, oven mitts tucked under her arm. “You must be Christie. I’ve heard so much about you, and I’m so happy you were able to come. I’m Ellen, and that’s my husband Mark.” Mark waved without taking his attention off of Ethan’s animated story while waving a “bah, you don’t know what you’re talking about hand” at Matt.
Christie shook her hand, returning the warm smile. “Thank y’all so much for inviting me. It’s very kind of you, and it’s so nice to meet you. You have a lovely home.”
Luke smiled, loving the way her accent became more pronounced when she was nervous. He didn’t miss the approving smile his mom shot him as she waved them to follow her farther into the kitchen. Hot pride clutched at him, and he clenched his jaw against the urge to grab Christie and plant a kiss on her right there, in front of everyone. But she was already nervous enough, and he didn’t want to do anything to make her uncomfortable. His mom turned away to check something on the stove.
“Hey, nice to finally meet you,” said Matt, walking over with his hand extended. “I’m Matt.”
Christie’s eyes widened as she shook his hand. “Luke told me he had a twin, but for some reason I didn’t realize y’all were identical.” She cut her eyes back and forth between Luke and Matt, and they both laughed.
“He might be older, but I’m smarter and stronger,” said Matt.
Luke hit him in the arm. “Easy there.”
Matt laughed again, and Luke felt Christie relax a little bit more. His mom came back over, and while his family was friendly and welcoming, he didn’t want to overwhelm her.
“How long until dinner?” he asked. “Ethan and I are going to take Christie out back for a skate.”
His mom glanced at the stove. “Oh, about an hour.”
“Ethan,” called Luke, “Why don’t you take Christie outside and show her the skating rink?”
Ethan scampered up, grabbed Christie’s hand, and began tugging her toward the mudroom.
Luke waited until she was out of earshot before speaking, smiling at his mom and his brother to soften his words. “I know you guys are excited, and I appreciate that, but a little space would be nice, okay? Don’t freak her out.”
His mom squeezed his arm. “We’ll give you as much space as you need. I’m just so glad you’re . . .” She swallowed and blinked, her eyes suddenly bright. “I like seeing you happy.” She took both his hand and Matt’s. “You boys have both been through so much over the years, and all I want is for you to be happy.” She slid her gaze to Matt. “Even if it means moving a thousand miles away. I just want you both to be happy. It’s all any parent wants for their child.”
Luke thought of Ethan, and he knew that was true. As long as Ethan was happy, all was right in the world. He thought of the way Ethan had shrieked with laughter playing with Christie in the snow, and he felt suddenly restless. “We’ll be back in for supper.”
* * *
The homemade ice rink in Luke’s parents’ backyard was surrounded with evergreens, snow dripping from them like frosting. A weak, late-afternoon sun shone down on them, sparkling faintly against the impressively smooth ice.
Christie glanced around apprehensively. “I’m not so sure this is a great idea. I feel like I’m gonna break my ankle.” She looked down at Luke as he laced up an old pair of his mother’s skates for her, the blade clutched between his denim-covered knees.
“Hang on to me. I won’t let you fall.”
“Christie, do you have your skates on yet?” Ethan called from the center of the ice, skating over to them on his black-and-silver hockey skates. Snow sprayed up from the blades as he stopped, his cheeks pink.
“Ready?” Luke smiled at her, his blue eyes crinkling warmly, and it hit her that she was at least halfway in love with him.
Whoa. Holy shit. She was in love with Luke. The thought settled over her, stealing her breath and sending her heart racing. It didn’t matter if she’d intended to fall or not, because she had, and it was too late to go back. Too late to do anything except keep falling, harder and faster.
She nodded and pulled in a shaky breath, and then Luke hauled her to her wobbly feet. Like a penguin, she waddled toward the ice. He stepped backward onto the ice and held out his hands. A current of nerves shot through her, and she pressed her fingers into his wide palms.
Over Luke’s shoulder, she watched Ethan skate in a circle, a hockey stick clutched in his hands. His blades cut smoothly across the ice as he crossed one foot over the other. He made it look easy.
Well. If an eight-year-old can do it, it can’t be that hard.
Her confidence bolstered by Ethan’s skating ability, she stepped firmly onto the ice. Immediately, the world titled and her stomach sloshed into her throat as her feet slipped out from under her. She braced herself for the impact, but Luke’s arms shot out, gripping her around her waist and saving her from falling on her ass. Slowly, her skates sliding beneath her, he righted her, holding her against him.
“I’m having second thoughts, seeing as I’m so clumsy I could trip over a cordless phone. If I can’t stay upright on solid ground, I’m not sure adding ice to the mix is a good idea.” She shook her head, laughing at herself.
He looked down at her, his gorgeous blue eyes sparkling. “You’ll be okay. Ethan and I will show you what to do.”
As the sun dipped behind the horizon, casting pink and orange beams across the snow and ice, her skating lesson progressed, and after an hour, she was breathless from laughing at Ethan and Luke hamming it up for her benefit. She’d also managed to stay mostly upright, holding tight to Luke’s hand as she slowly gained her balance and confidence with each small stride. Truly, it was more fun watching Luke chase Ethan across the rink, his blades slicing into the ice with long, powerful strokes. She smiled so wide she felt as though her face was going to crack in two as Luke caught Ethan, who squealed with laughter as Luke hoisted him up with ease, holding him upside down over his shoulder until Ethan could barely breathe, he was laughing so hard.
Everything around her sparkled: the ice, the snow, the trees, the lights from the house, and she pulled in a long, deep breath. This, right here, right now, was what joy felt like.
* * *
A steaming plate of food in front of him, Luke sat back and surveyed his family and the house he’d grown up in, trying to see it through Christie’s eyes. His chest felt tight, his heart swelling and taking up too much space as he realized how well she fit with his family. She was already teasing Matt, and she laughed readily at his dad’s cheesy jokes and talked easily with Ethan, treating everyone with the same warmth and kindness she showed him. A hot, almost burning sensation washed over him, and suddenly he felt too big for his skin, like he was going to vibrate out of it with happiness.
In that moment, he knew he was in love with her. The realization crashed into him, nearly taking his breath away. It was crazy. He’d only known her for a couple of weeks. And yet now he didn’t want to imagine his life without her in it. Couldn’t imagine it.
He snuck a hand under the table and gave her thigh an affectionate squeeze. Immediately, her hand was on top of his, squeezing back. She was glowing, radiant almost, as she told a funny story about some of the more bizarre patients she’d seen in the ER.
This was going to be the best Christmas in years. Maybe ever.