CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
The air was filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts and peppermint as Ava, Aussie, and Christian strolled through Santa Land. The town festival was a wonderland of twinkling lights, glittering garlands, and Christmas cheer. Snow had started to fall as they walked, coating the cobblestone streets in a light powder and adding a magical touch to an already enchanting evening.
Ava clutched Aussie's hand tightly, her cheeks flushed from the cold and the warmth of being so close to him. On her other side, Christian walked with wide-eyed wonder, occasionally darting ahead to check out the vendor booths.
“I still can’t believe this place,” Ava said, her voice soft and amazed.
Aussie glanced down at her, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “It’s pretty awesome. When we were kids, my mom made sure we never missed it, no matter how busy life got. Santa Land was her way of making Christmas unforgettable.”
“The place does have a magical feel to it,” Ava said.
They passed a vendor selling hot chocolate, and Aussie stopped to grab three cups. He handed one to Ava and another to Christian when he came bounding back.
“Thanks,” Christian said, his smile bright. “This is so cool. There’s, like, everything here. Did you see the guy carving ice sculptures over there?”
“Not yet,” Ava said, laughing at his enthusiasm. “Lead the way.”
Christian nodded and darted off, sticking close enough to keep them in sight. Ava watched him go, her heart swelling. He looked so happy and carefree, and it was moments like these that reminded her just how far they had come.
“I think he’s having the time of his life,” Ava said, her gaze following Christian.
Aussie chuckled, slipping his arm around her waist. “Good. That’s what tonight is about—having fun and making memories.”
As they walked, the soft notes of Christmas carolers floated through the air. A group dressed in old-fashioned Victorian costumes stood near the center of the festival, harmonizing to Silent Night . Ava paused, taking it all in. The little shops and vendor booths were decked out with wreaths and twinkling lights, their windows displaying handcrafted ornaments, cozy scarves, and homemade pies.
“Have you ever seen anything like this before?” Aussie asked, pulling her a little closer.
Ava shook her head, her eyes glistening. “Never. It’s beautiful. I feel like I’ve stepped into the North Pole.”
“Good,” he said, his voice low and warm. “You deserve this kind of magic, Ava. You and Christian both.”
Her heart swelled at his words, and she leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder. “Thank you for sharing this with us,” she whispered.
They continued strolling, eventually making their way to the center square where a grand Santa’s workshop had been set up. A line of kids waited eagerly to meet Santa, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Christian had rejoined them by then, tugging Ava’s sleeve.
“Do you think I’m too old for a picture with Santa?” he asked, a mix of hope and embarrassment in his tone.
Ava smiled, brushing a hand over his hair. “You’re never too old for Santa. Go for it.”
Christian grinned and turned to Aussie. “You coming with me?”
Aussie chuckled, nudging him forward. “Not this time, kid. This one’s all you.”
They watched as Christian joined the line, talking animatedly to a boy around his age. Ava’s gaze softened as she turned back to Aussie. “He’s really fitting in, isn’t he?”
“He is,” Aussie said, his voice full of pride. “He’s got a good heart. You’ve done an amazing job with him, Ava.”
She blinked, surprised by the sudden emotion welling up inside her. “It’s not just me. He’s come so far because of people like you and your mom and dad. He can see what a real family is like and that it really does exist.”
Aussie stopped walking, turning to face her. Snow dusted her hair, and her cheeks were pink from the cold. He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing along her jawline. “You’re my family now,” he said softly. “Both of you.”
Ava’s breath hitched, and she felt the sting of happy tears in her eyes. Before she could respond, Christian’s voice called out.
“Hey! I’m next!”
They both turned, laughing as they watched Christian sit on Santa’s chair, grinning for the camera. Ava felt a warmth settle over her, one she hadn’t felt in years. This was more than a magical night. It was a new beginning.
Aussie reached for her hand again, interlacing their fingers. “Let’s make this our tradition,” he said.
Ava smiled up at him, her heart full. “I’d like that.”
As they strolled past a booth filled with trinkets and holiday ornaments, Christian suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a silver charm bracelet displayed under twinkling fairy lights. The delicate bracelet featured a small snowflake charm that sparkled under the glow.
“What caught your eye?” Ava asked, stepping beside him.
Christian hesitated, his cheeks pink from the cold or maybe embarrassment. “Katy mentioned once that she wanted a charm bracelet,” he admitted softly.
Ava’s heart melted at his thoughtfulness. She liked Katy and thought it was sweet that Christian was thinking of her. “How about I get it for you to give to her when we’re back home?” she offered with a warm smile.
Christian’s face lit up. “Really? You’d do that?”
“Of course,” Ava said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder.
Without warning, Christian threw his arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Thank you, Ava. You’re the best.”
Ava’s heart swelled, and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Moments like these made her wish more than anything that she could keep Christian for good. She couldn’t imagine her life without him anymore.
The night continued with everyone laughing, sipping cocoa, and enjoying the festival’s magic. Ava was admiring an intricate ice sculpture of a reindeer when Aussie’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and sighed.
“It’s Derek. I need to take this,” he said, his tone apologetic.
“Go ahead,” Ava assured him. “We’ll walk around a bit more.”
Aussie gave her hand a squeeze before stepping away, leaving her and Christian alone. They wandered toward the edge of the square, where the snow was falling more heavily. As they stood near a tree wrapped in golden lights, Christian’s expression grew serious.
“Ava?” he began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper.
“What’s on your mind, kiddo?” she asked, giving him her full attention.
He hesitated, shuffling his feet in the snow. “Would you ever think about trying to adopt me? I mean, I love living with you, and you actually care about me. You pay attention, you know? No one’s ever really done that before.”
Ava felt her throat tighten, emotion welling up inside her. His words were so raw, so honest, that they hit her like a wave. Tears pricked her eyes, but she smiled through them.
“Christian,” she said, her voice thick with emotion, “you mean the world to me. I promise you that I’ll do everything in my power to keep you with me. You’re already my family in my heart.”
Christian’s eyes glistened as he hugged her again, and she held him close, her resolve to fight for him stronger than ever.
When Aussie returned, his expression was unreadable, but Ava could sense something wasn’t right. She handed Christian some money. “Why don’t you go find some of that white chocolate cocoa we saw earlier?” she suggested gently.
“Okay,” Christian said, bounding off with a smile.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Ava turned to Aussie. “What’s wrong?” she asked softly.
Aussie exhaled, running a hand through his hair. “It’s what I’ve talked about before—my job. I’m always on call, and sometimes that means leaving at a moment’s notice.”
Her heart sank, but she nodded, understanding the weight of his words. “When do you need to leave?”
“Not until the day after Christmas,” he said. “We’re not deploying for sure, but we need to be ready just in case.”
Reality hit her like a cold gust of wind. She would soon have to return to her real life in Virginia Beach, and Aussie would head off on a mission. The thought of being apart from him weighed heavily on her, but she forced herself to stay strong. The last thing she wanted was to add to his stress.
Aussie must have sensed her unease because he pulled her into a hug, his arms wrapping around her securely. The embrace was warm and comforting, grounding her in the moment.
“Listen,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Until then, we’re going to focus on Christmas. We’re going to enjoy this time together and make it amazing for Christian. Deal?”
Ava nodded against his chest, his words soothing some of her anxiety. “Deal,” she whispered.
He tilted her chin up and kissed her, slow and sweet. The moment felt like a promise, a reassurance that they would face whatever came their way together.
But as they stood there under the falling snow, Ava couldn’t shake the nervous feeling creeping in. Going back home meant returning to uncertainties. She pushed the thoughts aside, determined to enjoy the time they had left. For now, that was all she could do. She would just live in the moment.