3. Lucy
3
lucy
If someone asked me ten years ago where I saw myself working, I would never have guessed that I’d become a teacher at an elementary school. Initially, it wasn’t my job of choice; it was more of a necessity born out of chance. After Luke and I broke up, my dreams fell apart; I was left adrift, so I chose something that seemed simple and accessible.
Now, I found it difficult to imagine myself doing anything else. I loved working with kids, especially here in Port-Cartier, where everyone knew everyone and was close with everyone. It created a sense of community like no other, especially with children. I didn’t even mind doing the mundane things and sorting out the paperwork that came with my profession, mostly because I knew I would go home to a wonderful man who loved me.
Tonight, the said man had gone out of his way for our first Christmas in our new home. My mouth gaped open as I pulled up at our driveway, staring at the beautiful sight before me. At first, I couldn’t believe it was our home and that he had done it all for us.
How did he even…
My thoughts faltered as I took in the breathtaking sight: hundreds, if not thousands, of Christmas lights outlining our home. They were arranged with such precision and care that it must have taken hours to complete. As I stepped out of the car, still in awe, the lights twinkled as if on cue.
Through the window, I could see Luke grinning from ear to ear, holding a small remote controlling the lights. Tears welled up in my eyes, but I quickly wiped them away, not wanting him to see me crying. I’d been far too emotional lately, and I wasn’t even sure why—perhaps because every little thing he did made me realize just how real this was. We were back together, and everything was falling into place.
The front door swung open, and Luke stepped out, rushing toward me. He greeted me with a kiss before pulling me into his arms, resting his chin gently on the top of my head. Together, we admired the breathtaking sight he had created.
“So, what do you think, sweetheart? Do you like it?” he asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
“I love it,” I managed to say, struggling to keep my voice from breaking. “How did you even manage to do all this? It must have taken you hours…”
“A gentleman doesn’t kiss and tell, Luce,” he teased, his arms tightening around me. “I did have some lights planned, but after our conversation yesterday, I remembered how your face lit up when we walked through the streets and saw Christmas lights. I realized the amount I had gotten wasn’t nearly enough, so I bought more. I wish I could take all the credit, but I did need Logan’s help.”
I sniffled for a moment, thinking I might be able to avoid full-on crying, but I was mistaken. Before I knew it, tears rolled down my cheeks, and there was no stopping them. Luke spun me around, his expression worried when he spotted the tears.
“Sweetheart?” he questioned, using his thumbs to wipe away the tears. “Did something happen? Did I do something wrong? Did—” Before he could flood me with further questions, I shook my head.
“No. No…it’s nothing like that. It’s just beautiful, and I’m so happy. I can’t believe all of this is happening—that you’re putting so much effort into making all of this so special…” I trailed off. Luke grimaced slightly, catching me off guard. I took a step back. Now, it was me who was worried. “What is it?” I asked. “Did something happen?”
“I just think you should prepare yourself for more crying, apparently. I didn’t expect you to be this touched by all of this, so I have more things planned…”
“Luke!” I scolded him. “I thought we said we were keeping this Christmas simple!”
He flashed a cheeky grin. “We’re keeping it simple, I promise. Come on.”
As we stepped inside, I was enveloped by the comforting warmth of our home. It still felt strange to call it ‘ours’— our home. It had transformed significantly from the days when Luke lived here alone. While he had decent taste, it was still very much a bachelor pad—functional but sparse, with little personality beyond the family photos and memories of our younger selves. Now, the space was filled with blankets and cushions, vases and plants, and, most importantly, enough cutlery and tea towels . It felt like home.
The fire crackled softly in the fireplace as I kicked off my shoes and slipped into my cozy slippers. Luke took my coat, as he always did when I came home, and guided me into the living room. On our coffee table, there was an Advent calendar with twelve bright red slots, each with festive Christmas patterns. The numbers were written in a familiar, chicken handwriting—Luke’s.
I glanced back at him, my eyebrows raising in curiosity as I approached the coffee table. “What’s this?” I asked, even though the answer seemed obvious.
“I wanted to give you something to look forward to every day…aside from me, of course.” He rested his hand on the small of my back, encouraging me to proceed. “Go ahead. Open the first one.”
As I settled onto the couch, I carefully slid open the small slot on the Advent calendar, revealing something wrapped in festive Christmas paper. I was clueless about what it may be…until I started unwrapping it, and I got a better feel of the shape. It was a globe, and it wasn’t long before I unwrapped it entirely, and everything set in my head.
Years ago, when we were kids, Luke’s mom used to make the most beautiful Christmas ornaments. I remembered raving about them, completely amazed by how beautiful they were.
Linda had promised me one for the following Christmas, but life had other plans. Luke and I broke up before that promise could be fulfilled.
Now, I recognized the patterns I had admired all those years ago: a blue ornament adorned with tiny white deer scattered in all directions. In the center, written in Luke’s familiar messy handwriting, was a message, ‘Our First Christmas, Of Many.’
I blinked rapidly, my gaze shifting between him and the ornament before I pulled him into my arms. I clung to him so desperately that he had to gently pat my back, his arms wrapping around me in a comforting embrace.
“If only I had known that an ornament would earn me this kind of hug, I would have done it a long time ago…” Luke said with a teasing smile, making me sniffle even more.
What was happening to me?
“Actually…” he continued, his voice taking on a more mischievous tone, “now that I think about it, I hope it will earn me something else, too…” Before I could fully process his words, Luke picked me up and tossed me over his shoulder. My sniffles turned into a small squeal as I carefully set the ornament down on a nearby table. Laughing, I wiggled slightly as he carried me into our bedroom. This day couldn’t get any more perfect.
When my eyes fluttered open the next morning, I found Luke already awake and sitting by the side of the bed. He held the familiar little red box that marked day two of my Advent calendar. I rubbed my eyes, sitting up slowly, but for a moment, the Advent calendar was the last thing on my mind. All I could think about was how incredibly lucky I was to have Luke by my side.
In the past, I had never been one to connect or commit easily, or so I’d believed over the past decade. But now, reconnecting with a man who knew how to love me so deeply had changed everything. It seemed all it took was finding the right person to unlock a love that felt both familiar and new.
“Seems like you’re even more impatient than I am,” I said softly, reaching for the box. He responded with a smile, settling down beside me as he watched me open the slot.
To my surprise, the box felt unusually light, almost as if it were empty. But as I peeled back the wrapping and opened it, I discovered there was indeed something inside.
My gaze landed on two tickets for a sleigh ride. I gasped. This, too, was one of the reasons why I loved wintertime so much. It was one of the two occasions when they organized sleigh rides down Main Street, which I thought was magical. The sleigh rides were also one of our earliest dates and one of the more memorable ones.
“I can’t believe this…” I trailed off, shaking my head in disbelief. “Seriously, how did you come up with all of this?”
“Sweetheart, things like these come naturally when you’re with the woman you love,” Luke said, his tone soft. “I’ve got plenty more where that came from, so try not to get too emotional today.” He nudged me playfully, and I took that as my cue to leap onto the bed, straddling him with a grin.
“I don’t think I like your tone, Luke…” I teased, my eyes sparkling with mischief.
A boyish grin spread across his face as he smirked at me. “Oh, yeah? What are you going to do about it?”
“I have an idea or two…”
As six p.m. rolled around, we headed down the long road leading to the inn that hosted the sleigh rides. This event only happens once a year during the holiday season. Dozens of cars were parked in the parking lot as people milled about on the covered porch. Everyone was bundled up, as Port-Cartier was chilly at this time of year.
And Luke came prepared.
“You just need to sit back and let me handle everything,” he said when I offered to help. True to his word, he had come well-equipped: blankets, cushions, and a small basket of snacks for us to enjoy. Although technically, it wasn’t allowed to bring outside food, he insisted the quality of the hot chocolate there had seriously declined.
I glanced at the basket in the back seat, a smile tugging at my lips, before meeting Luke’s gaze again.
“I’m seeing more and more of your bad boy side,” I joked, “and I have to admit…I’m quite intrigued. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
As Luke parked in a spot, he rolled his eyes playfully but quickly leaned in to steal a kiss. I met his lips with a smile, brushing mine gently against his before leaning in for another, deeper kiss.
His grin widened as he pulled back slightly. “Luce, please. Control yourself. I’m just trying to reach the basket and the blanket,” he teased me.
Despite the piercing chill outside, I felt nothing but warmth—nothing but love. I didn’t even know it was possible to be this happy, but with Luke, I learned something new every day.