EPILOGUE
After less than a week of staying at the Miller house, my parents were standing at the door, holding boxes and bags full of all my things. When they were there, I was handed the letter.
Much like the kiss this letter changed everything.
They had spoken to my teachers and I'm not even sure who else because as I had read what it said with Bailey, I honestly stopped listening.
“ Dear Miss Banks, I am delighted to inform you that you have been accepted into the class of…” I was accepted into a medical school, here in Pennsylvania, at a really good school too.
I was accepted to go to a college less than two hours away from Lucas and not far from Bailey's school.
All I remember from that moment on was me hugging my parents and then moving my things into my apartment two weeks later. I had to move into an apartment by campus as all the dorms were full. I also have the sweetest two roommates.
I now know the full story of how it was all arranged.
After three weeks of being in Pennsylvania, Bailey mentioned to my parents how much I loved being here and how close there was a medical school to Lake Sylva, so she convinced them to send in an application late.
She also mentioned that being with my friend and potential (not so potential anymore) boyfriend, wasn't the reason I wanted to be here. She told them that I seem passionate about medical school but not where it was. She also may have mentioned it is easier to succeed in medicine here in the states rather than in the UK. My parents said that the sixth form I went to in London gave me an outstanding recommendation as well as my impeccable record so far it meant that I was granted an acceptance, even in June. They were given a copy of the application I had made to the other universities. So now I am a university student, in Pennsylvania, with the most amazing best friend and boyfriend. The bonus is Bailey is planning on coming to the same university next year and Lucas’ dorm is just over an hour away from mine, so I see the people that matter as often as possible.
Elizabeth had offered to stay with them because they didn’t live far away so I didn't have to pay for accommodation, but I wanted to have a fresh start. I wanted to have my own space, but I often go to see them because I miss Bailey and her family a lot. Teddy did end up staying with them as Lucas had suspected. He doesn’t mind though, he won’t admit it, but he loves that dog more than his entire being.
He says he only ever comes down to see me but we both know he comes back to see that adorable puppy as well.
Being a nursing student is probably one of the hardest areas of education I have ever been in.
I am currently in my hardest year of school that I have ever experienced but it is also my most enjoyable.
While I am studying nursing overall, my studies are focused upon paediatric care.
Over the past four months I have learnt that this is my favourite part of my studies.
Every now and then we do field work, looking after and learning to care for children who attend a nearby nursery, run by the same university.
Lucas tries to stay with me once every one to two weeks or me at his.
I have never felt so close to him. Every single time he sees me, he brings a new bouquet of flowers for the apartment.
He calls me before bed but once he knows I am off the phone with Bailey because he knows that I am still apart from her.
I tell him I love him every day, like I promised.
I have met a few new friends at university but none of them compare to Bailey.
I see her once every month or two weeks which would have been a dream seven months ago.
It was the anniversary of their father’s death a few weeks ago.
We all went back to their house and sat together, watching the videos he used to take of their family growing up.
Daisy loves learning about him and so do I.
He seemed kind and he loved his family more than anything.
I could never imagine losing someone like that.
My parents came down a couple days ago to stay over for Christmas.
They are staying in Bailey’s room, who is with her mom and I’m with Lucas.
I stayed with Bailey before my parents came around and we had a girls night with Daisy and Miss Miller.
Lucas has taught me the bliss that comes with staying in bed longer in the mornings as it gets colder.
I don't take as many runs to calm me down, I'm in a comfortable enough place anyways.
The first few nights with him, I'd forget where I was when I woke up and I'd turn over to see his face.
I was so thankful it made me remember every morning how lucky I am to have all of these people in my life every day.
“Sunshine,” someone whispers in my ear, waking me up.
“Ivy,” the voice continues, the hand around my waist tightening.
“I know you're awake,” he says, his hand brushing up to my waist, digging in lightly to the area I'm most ticklish.
A smile starts to lift onto my face, but I keep my eyes closed, pretending to stay asleep.
“It's Christmas, sunshine. I want to give you a present.” He starts tickling me and my eyes fly open.
“Lucas!” I yell, covering my mouth to stop the laughter.
There is light pouring through the window as we forgot to shut the blind last night.
The fields outside are covered in snow and it has been this way the past week and a half.
I have never experienced snow like this.
In London, all the snow would fall within a day and then it would turn to dangerous ice.
“That's your fault, darling,” Lucas says, spinning me round to face him. I love his hair in the morning. It is a mess on top of his head. He is wearing pyjamas which he has worn every day since he was four years old and the smile on his face is irreplaceable. God, I love this man.
“I love you,” I say, leaning forward to peck him on the lips. He holds me closer against his chest and his warmth surrounds me.
“I love you too,” he says. “Happy Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas.” He makes a scrunched up face at me as soon as I say it. We had this debate earlier this on if it's weird to say happy Christmas instead of merry Christmas. I say it is but now he does it just to annoy me.
“What time is it?” I ask as I sit up, looking around his room.
Three of his walls are white but one is dark blue which he and his dad painted when he was six years old.
His room isn't messy but usually cluttered.
His school books are laying around with many pairs of trainers.
He has a small speaker on his dresser, along with photos of him and his family.
He has a few posters that I didn't recognise when I first came in here, but now, he's explained them all to me.
If they are from movies we have watched them.
If they are music posters, I've listened to the artist. On his bedside table there is an arrangement of flowers in the pot by a photo frame.
This photo frame had a picture of us at the fair in New York back in October.
We are standing in front of a big wheel that is glowing with neon lights, he is staring at me while I look directly at the camera.
There are photo booth photos from a few weeks later pinned onto a cork board to the left of his door.
This has photos of us, the animals from the farm, his family and many of him and his dad.
He didn't add those photos until recently.
He had felt as though he shouldn't be avoiding missing him.
He should celebrate the time they had together.
Their whole family has started putting more photos up and telling stories about him. He looks exactly like Lucas, and I feel as though I am getting to know the man who shaped the love of my life.
“Its eight thirty,” he says, and I squeal as he starts pulling me down back to the bed.
“So, it’s too early,” I say.
“It's not too early. It's Christmas,” he says again in a hushed voice as if it's a secret. I laugh, snuggling back into bed before I hear loud knocking on the door followed by Daisy’s voice.
“It's Christmas! Wake up! Wake up! Mom said we can open presents if you're awake!” She repeats until Lucas opens his door.
As soon as he does, Teddy darts through the door followed by Twig who tries and fails to hop up into the bed as the dog does.
Teddy has another new collar as he's growing by the second.
He is now almost a full sized golden retriever and loves to sit on you as if you're a sofa.
He still chases Twig as if he's the same small puppy which is starting to scare Twig.
They do love each other though. I lift Twig from the floor, cuddling him into my lap.
Mrs Miller is thinking about getting ducks or chickens before spring.
Daisy runs past Lucas toward me on the bed and jumps into the starfish bed onto it. “Merry Christmas Ivy!” She's also wearing pyjamas but hers are pink and have unicorns on them. Her hair is braided but they are definitely slept in, looking static.
“Merry Christmas,” I say, smiling.
“Um, I am right here!” Lucas yells, picking up his sister off the bed, holding her upside down for a moment, then plopping her back onto it.
“I saw you. I just wanted to say hi to Ivy.” She giggles, sitting upright.
Lucas ruffles his sister's hair and says, “C’mon, let’s go open presents.” We all hop off the bed and rush into the living room where everyone else is waiting.
“Can I eat some of the batter?” Daisy hops up onto one of the stools in front of the kitchen island as me and Bailey roll the cookie dough into circles and place them onto a baking tray.
Since we have been spending more time together, we have learnt one of our favourite things to do is bake.
After presents we all ate cinnamon swirls, we had made together the night before and our cookie recipe is unmatched.
We have made them so often now that we have the recipe committed to memory.
“Of course you can't. It has raw egg in it, sweetie.” My mum walks round the counter to sit down next to Daisy.
I have missed my parents so much. I like getting to spend the holidays with them now, but I have learnt a lot about myself with my time away from London.
I think my mum misses being around me when I was young as she and Daisy have become quite good friends over the past few days.
Dad has mostly been going around educating people on random things they have not asked about. It's honestly quite funny.
We all spent the morning together, making snowmen, opening presents, and getting ready for Christmas.
We are eating dinner later today and I'm honestly starving.
For Christmas, Lucas brought me loads of things but my favourite two is a bracelet with his initials and stars on it.
The other is a sunshine plush that he had said he wanted to get but saw it back in New York and thought it was perfect.
I think the best thing I got him was his watch, but he says it is something else.
He says it was the message I wrote on the card.
I had just thanked him for the entire summer and every month after.
His birthday is in March, so I have not had the opportunity to buy him anything or write him a card before.
I wanted to make the first one the best. I got Bailey an outfit she had wanted last time we went out for dinner and some little things for us to do together.
She brought us tickets to a concert for next summer and she is refusing to let me pay for my own ticket.
“Wait what? I've been sneaking around eating the dough every time we have made it. I thought the raw egg wouldn't matter if it was in the cookies,” Bailey says, panicked.
Lucas walks up to us, closely followed by Teddy, who is looking up at him happily. He wraps his arm around my waist, pressing a kiss to my cheek. My face grows warmer when he does. “How are you getting better grades than I did?” He says and everyone laughs.
“Seriously! What is my chance of dying!” she yells, and her mum followed by my dad walking from the sofa toward the kitchen counters.
“I've told you this from when you were little Bailey. You'll be fine.” Mrs Miller rolls her eyes.
“Does that mean I can try some?” Daisy tries to reach over to the bowl, but Bailey swipes it away before she can.
“No.” She crosses her arms. “You can wait fifteen minutes for them to bake.” I smile, looking around me and watching my family argue over cookies and how safe it is to eat raw eggs.
This is something I’ve what my whole life.
I feel fulfilled. I feel as though I am finally in a place where everything is right.
“What are you thinking, my love?” Lucas whispers in my ear for only us to hear. He's watching me observe everything unfold in front of me. I look up at him and then back to everyone else. They are now laughing at something Daisy has said as she munches on chocolate chips, but I had missed it.
“I am thinking,” I say, in the same hushed tone, “that this is just perfect. I am so happy.” I peck his lips while no one's attention is on us. Bailey moves the first set of cookies into the oven, and I continue to shape the one I am making. I am almost overwhelmed by all the love around me.
He pulls away. “Our twist in fate has led us right where we are meant to be. I love you, sunshine.”
“I love you more.”