9. Caroline
I wake up on Christmas Eve with Boone's arms wrapped around me.
My back is pressed against his bare chest, feeling every beat of his heart. Still facing the window, I can see the world outside with renewed wonder.
The rising sun glistens on crystals of fallen snow. Fit Mountain rises above the decorated houses, framed by a halo of silver clouds. Snow cakes the edges of the window like a natural curtain sealing us inside the house. Trapping the two of us together. Like the world wants to give us privacy.
Boone nuzzles the top of my head, and I realize that he's awake, too.
"Good morning," I say, putting my hand on his.
His heart beats harder against me. "Morning, gorgeous."
Rolling over, I push my head into the small cave between his chin and his shoulder. Smothering myself in him.
Boone plants a kiss in my hair.
"How'd you sleep?" he asks in a drowsy voice.
I smile. "Better than I have in years."
For the first time in a long while, I actually slept through the night. No tossing, no turning. No nightmares.
Finally, I've found a sense of peace.
And it's because of him.
"You were wonderful," I tell him, feeling my cheeks warm a little at the admission. But I don't cower away or apologize.
He kisses my head again, right behind my ear. "You were, too. You're perfect in every way. Better than I deserve."
And for a moment, I feel the sting of tears in my eyes.
For the first time in years, it's not because of sadness. Or even self-pity.
It's from pure, unhindered joy.
"I feel the same way about you," I say into his neck.
This is what I've been missing. This man in my life. One who adores me so utterly and completely. So unabashedly.
How on earth did I survive these seven long years without it?
There is no power quite like knowing a sexy man thinks you're sexy, too.
Last night opened my eyes. As Boone held me in the darkened bedroom, the snow piling up outside the window and closing us in together, I realized how much I needed him.
His gentleness, his caring, and his devotion. But also his passion.
The way his body could move mine, awaken it with the simplest touch. I'd forgotten the power of physical love.
I never want to forget it again.
For the first time, the thought of moving on isn't a painful one. This new love, I feel, is not a betrayal of what I once had. Not at all.
It's me being allowed to finally live my life again.
For the first time in seven years, I am finally focused on the present.
And I couldn't be happier.
That afternoon, I have a video call planned with Lucy.
In preparation for it, Boone helps me move the sofa in front of the Christmas tree in the living room so that when I answer her call, it'll be framed perfectly behind me.
I'm not going to tell her about Boone just yet.
It's not that I don't want to tell her or that I'm afraid she won't like him. I just don't want to put that kind of pressure on either of them on Christmas.
What I have with Boone is still fresh. I want to keep him to myself as long as I can. If I can't bring myself to even tell my brothers, I can't tell Lucy yet.
She'll find out soon, once she gets back home. But for now, he's my little secret.
Boone sits next to me on the sofa and lays a hand lovingly on my thigh. I grasp his hand and smile at him. My new boyfriend.
Even the simple phrase makes me giddy all over again. I have a boyfriend.
"What's so funny?" he asks me, noticing the look on my face.
"Nothing," I say. "It's just… I'm excited."
"To talk to Lucy?"
"Of course." I stroke the back of his hand, and he flips it over, entwining his fingers with mine. "But I'm excited about this, too."
He returns my smile. Leaning forward, he kisses me on the lips again. Like he's done so, so many times in the last few days that I've lost count. But every time he does, it feels like the first time all over again.
"Me too," he says, squeezing my hand. "Can I get you something to drink before—?"
But before he can even finish the question, my phone starts to ring.
I answer it quickly, making sure that Boone is out of the frame of the camera. After a moment, Lucy's face appears on the screen.
"Hey, Lulu," I say sweetly.
"Hi, Mom," she says, grinning. She looks beautiful in the Christmas dress I bought for her. "Merry Christmas," she says.
"How's the family?" I ask. "How do you like Boston?"
As she tells me all about her adventures across the country, I listen closely, hanging onto every word. Even with my newest distraction, I've missed her so much. Even just hearing her voice is an incredible feeling.
As Lucy tells me about her adventures in downtown Boston earlier in the week, I risk a quick glance at Boone. And what I see on his face warms my heart so instantly and so fiercely, I almost feel like it could burst.
Boone is listening to her, too. To every word she says.
His face is patient and curious. Wanting to learn more about my daughter.
He notices me looking and brings his eyes to mine. He smiles, making my heart threaten to burst again.
There is so much love in his eyes already for this little girl that he's never met. Already, he adores her.
It's more than I could have ever wished for.
"So, how have you been, Mom?" Lucy asks, pulling my attention back to her.
"Great," I say. "I've been wonderful." I squeeze Boone's hand again.
Lucy smiles, too. "Good. You haven't been lonely?"
I have to hold back my laugh. "Not really. The uncles have been busy on the mountain, but… I've made some new friends in the meantime."
"Oh, cool. Are they nice?"
"Definitely."
"Can I meet them when I get back?" she asks.
"Of course, baby," I say, picturing the two of them together. Boone carrying her suitcase into the house. Cracking dad jokes and making her laugh.
A world of possibilities pours into me. This will be the first time since she was three years old that Lucy will have a father figure in her life. And after seeing that look in his eyes, I can picture exactly what kind of father figure Boone could be.
I can't wait to see it.
Later on, I hear Boone's car pull up in the driveway. I set down what I'm working on and head to the front door to greet him.
For a moment, I think I can hear him talking to someone. Though I can't make out what either of them is saying.
Carefully, I open the door. I see Boone standing at the bottom of the front steps, waving to someone out on the street. As I follow his eyes, I see a tow truck pulling away from the house. There's no one else within sight.
Before I can think about it any further, Boone turns around and spots me in the doorway.
"There's my girl," he says, making me blush again. "Get your coat and boots on. I have a surprise for you outside."
"What? Why?" I ask him, putting a hand firmly on my hip.
But instead of answering me, he just smiles and repeats himself. "Come on, Caroline. I have a surprise for you."
With amused annoyance, I do as he says. Once I have my boots on and my coat zipped up, he nods in approval and holds the door open for me to follow him outside.
As he gets to the stairs, he holds his hand out behind him for me to take. "The stairs are a little slippery today," he says. "Come on—I've got you."
Instinctually, I reach for his hand and grasp it tightly.
For a moment, I feel that old familiar self-consciousness twist around inside me. But I grit my teeth and swallow it down. Whatever Boone has brought me out here to see is my only priority.
As we step off the stairs and walk around the garage, I see it.
It's… it's the car. My car.
Whatever Boone has done to it, it's fantastic. He didn't just fix whatever was wrong with the engine. He completely restored it. Headlight to tail. Like a completely new car.
I step closer to it, still gripping his hand tightly. Looking at every inch of the car that I can see.
"Sorry that I couldn't get it back to you sooner," Boone says. "I paid extra for the parts to get here faster, but there were still some delays with shipping."
"Boone…." My voice is so weak that it's almost a whisper. I clear my throat. "I… I didn't know you were planning to redo the whole thing."
"Is that okay? I thought doing a full restoration would be better than just an engine check. I know this car is… very sentimental to you. I thought you'd want it back the way you remembered it."
He's right. It looks exactly the way it did when I bought it with James. Every inch of rust, every dent—just like magic, it's all been erased.
Tears begin to fall from my eyes, and without a single care in the world, I throw my arms around Boone's neck and embrace him.
"It's amazing, Boone. I don't know what else to say," I say into his shoulder. "Thank you so, so much."
"That's not all," he says slyly.
He lifts me off my feet for a moment and turns me around so I can see it. The other gift he's brought me.
Oh my….
It's a baby blue pickup truck.
It's glamorous-looking too, with glossy paint and a deep bed. He's even put a big red bow on top, just like in the movies.
"So you don't have to drive the Buick around anymore," Boone explains. "The truck will be able to handle all the wear and tear of Cooper Hills. The Buick can just stay here. Where it's nice and safe."
Before he can get out another word, I hop up on my tiptoes and kiss him full on the mouth. It's the only way I can express the way I feel. The gratitude, the love, and the adoration. They're all too much for normal words.
I don't care if anyone sees us right now. I don't care if anyone knows. I love this man with all my heart.
He's not jealous of James. He doesn't want me to forget my past. He's here to help me heal it.
Snow flutters around us on the chilly winter breeze, but his arms keep me warm. Lights twinkle through my closed eyelids, and somewhere in the distance, I can almost hear sleigh bells.
It's the most magical Christmas I've ever had. And it's all because of him.
I don't know what brought Boone to me. If it was God or just plain fate. But whatever it was, I am forever in its debt.
Boone is a gift that can never be repaid.
I don't deserve him. And yet here he is. Always at my side. Adoring me. Admiring me endlessly.
He's my Christmas miracle. My gift.
And I will never let him go.
The End