Chapter 34
Axel
The day we’d been waiting for came a week before Christmas.
As I waited for Luca to walk across the stage to accept his advanced graduate degree, I was brimming with pride and happiness for him.
The kind that settles into the darkest places of your heart and unexpectedly lights you up.
He had made it out of a nearly impossible situation and created a life for himself.
“Luca Vaughn. Master’s of Clinical Social Work,” the dean announced.
The roar from his cheering section startled him as he stood at the edge of the stage for the photo with his professor.
His smile was bright as he found us in the center of the crowd.
He assumed I was the only one attending, but I’d pulled off the surprise of surprises and invited as many people as I could.
When the ceremony ended, he found his way to us. His big brown eyes were full of happiness as he walked into my arms. “I’m so fucking proud of you, love.”
Luca chuckled, but I felt the tears on my neck. “How?”
I knew what he was asking. He was only allotted two tickets. “I gave a little donation to the college in return for some extra tickets.”
“Of course you did,” he mused. “Thank you.”
Edith was next to hug him. “I’m so proud of you, sweets. You did it!”
Pride for him surged as Susanna hugged him, then passed him off to our friends. Each one congratulated him on his accomplishment.
Luca tucked Edith’s arm through his and walked her out to where George and another car were waiting. We settled her in the front seat while we climbed in the back. Decker, Jenna, and Susanna climbed into the other waiting car to be whisked away to the restaurant I’d reserved for lunch.
“How did you pull this off?” he asked, leaning into me.
“You didn’t think I would let your accomplishment go uncelebrated, did you? What kind of boyfriend would I be?”
“Still the best one ever,” he said, kissing me sweetly.
When we pulled up to the restaurant decorated for the holidays, we headed inside to the reserved room I’d booked.
A decorated table with balloons and graduation hats sat waiting to celebrate with champagne.
Luca beamed when he saw it, making my heart soar.
Making him happy and seeing that smile on his face was even better than winning hockey games. Now I knew how Mason and Thomas felt.
With everyone seated, I asked the servers for the champagne. With a glass of bubbly, I stood and clinked my glass to make a toast.
“Thank you for coming to celebrate with us. We’re not only celebrating his accomplishment, but also his perseverance.
It has not been easy, but Luca did it while working two jobs, putting up with me for the last six months, and with the utmost care for those he loves most. To those of you who supported him before we found each other, I offer my sincere thanks for being in his corner.
I will forever be indebted to you.” Then I turned to him and raised my glass.
“To Luca. I’m so proud of you. You deserve the world, and all the happiness with it. ”
“To Luca,” everyone repeated. When I sat, he leaned into me. “Thank you,” he whispered in my ear. “I’ve never had anything like this.”
“You deserve to be celebrated.” The champagne flowed as the table filled with conversation and food.
As I looked over the friends sitting with us, it gave me another glimpse into the future.
It would be the day we married, and we would celebrate with those we loved.
And that was a near future I wanted with him.
The day after graduation, Luca took me to breakfast at our favorite English pub before going out to purchase a live tree.
We tied it to the top of my SUV, then hauled it inside.
The smell alone made it feel like Christmas.
We unpacked the boxes of lights and decorations while eating Christmas cookies as we decorated. I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
“One hundred dollars,” he said, as he hung hockey-themed ornaments on the tree.
“You need money?” I asked, pulling out my wallet.
“No,” he laughed, “that’s the maximum amount you can spend on Christmas gifts.”
I stared at him. “What fun is that?”
“It’s a challenge. It will be fun.” I could never say no to him and reluctantly agreed to his demand. But I couldn’t be trusted, especially when it came to giving him things.
Christmas Eve morning, we headed to a local store, split up, and spent our $100.
It was more frustrating than I thought. I’d never really had to live on a budget, so trying to choose wisely took some time.
I was mildly satisfied with what I’d purchased, but next year we were doing things my way.
He’d have a good salary from the foundation and never have to worry about money again.
In the end, I had the biggest takeaway. It wasn’t about the gifts, but the joy of being together and no longer alone.
Like Luca, I’d spent most of my holidays on my own.
I visited my mother, just like he visited Edith.
The best part was experiencing the love the holidays could bring.
Doing the normal things like waking up with him, making breakfast together, watching his face light up when we opened the silly things we’d purchased, sharing food, and watching holiday movies.
Making love on Christmas morning, knowing he was mine, and I was his.
It was the fastest three days of my life, and the best I’d ever had. There was no way to know that our very existence would be challenged, and I would almost lose him. And it would bring me to my knees.