Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter
Thirty-Three
Jacob
Tonight was the big night for the play and gala in Ridgeland.
After the successful meeting with Ridgeland’s recovery and revitalization committee, the mayor invited Amariah and me to the city to assess where we could assist. We decided to take the thirty-minute drive to get a glimpse of the area and determine which materials and resources we needed to order to ensure we had enough inventory for both cities, especially with the expectation of a second winter storm after Christmas.
For the past two days, we had been there, witnessing how the city rallied to ensure its annual event took place.
This was also where I truly saw Amariah shine.
Although her tweaks to Luke’s had drastically improved foot traffic and sales, I hadn’t witnessed the full scope of her talents until now.
Residents could attend the event for free by showing their license and picking up tickets before the day of the event, but visitors and residents who didn’t meet the free ticket deadline had to pay an entry fee.
With uncertainty about whether the event would even happen, advertising suffered. Cue Amariah Luke.
She prepared a quick marketing plan that generated an incredible amount of buzz.
The work she put in exceeded all of our wildest expectations, yet she made it look effortless, as if it were something she could do in her sleep.
The mayor and commission board could do nothing but sing her praises, and I agreed wholeheartedly.
My heart beamed with pride, and I finally understood why she was so great at her career and how she carved out her place in D.C.
Not only did she handle the advertising, but she also took the reins to ensure Skye Ridge fully supported Ridgeland.
She had our entire city showing up—volunteering, purchasing tickets, and lending support in every way she could imagine. That was my Big City Amariah.
All things had come together. Mr. Adam was stable and resting peacefully at home.
Luke’s Hardware’s financial crisis had been averted.
Koby’s job was secure. Ridgeland’s Christmas event had been saved, and as Mayor Nordham reminded us again, so was his re-election.
The stars had aligned in every way except one: my hopes for a future with Amariah.
Our lives had been running parallel to each other as we tackled one emergency after another, never quite intersecting in the way that mattered most to me.
The urgency that had once knocked softly was now pounding like the little drummer boy, especially with Christmas coming to a close and, along with it, Amariah’s time in Skye Ridge.
But just for tonight, I wouldn’t dwell on it.
I would live in the moment—bask in what we’d accomplished.
Celebrate what we’d overcome. At the end of the day, Amariah Luke had always been my person, my very best friend.
Though we’d lost our way for a time, fate had brought us back together just when we needed each other the most. Perhaps that’s what mattered above all else. For that, I’d be grateful.
If I could get my heart to sign on to that logic, I’d be better off.
As soon as I stepped inside the Family Life Center for The Emmanuel Gala, I was awed by the transformation.
What had once been a simple banquet hall had been turned into an evening of elegance.
Soft white candlelight glimmered throughout the venue, creating an intimate ambiance.
Evergreen trees lined the perimeter of the room, each lavishly dressed in gold ribbon, pearl garland, and shiny ornaments.
Round tables were draped in ivory and cranberry-colored linens, layered with wintergreen satin runners.
Tall glass candle holders rimmed in gold stood at the center of each table, surrounded by mini pinecones and winter berries.
Gold place settings with neatly folded napkins, each topped with miniature bells wrapped in velvet ribbon, rested in front of each black cloth-covered chair.
Off to the left side of the stage, the local band dressed in tuxedos played soft holiday music.
The grand stage wall was framed with cascading greenery and fairy twinkle lights, showcasing a live-action nativity scene set up for the play.
The woodsy scent of pine and evergreen, mixed with the rich aroma of soul food, as servers whisked gracefully through the room, offering holiday mocktails to attendees.
Yet, even with all that grandeur, it paled in comparison to the moment I saw Amariah.
This year’s theme was When Love Was Born, and it couldn’t have been more fitting for Baby Jesus and me.
From the way my heart nearly stopped beating, if I hadn’t already known that I was deeply and irrevocably in love with Amariah Luke, I knew it at that exact moment.
She was a vision. Every hope, dream, and desire I’d ever carried stood before me in a silver-sequined dress with a thigh-high slit that accentuated her long legs and hugged the curve of her hips perfectly.
Sky-high stilettos adorned her dainty feet, and from the crown of her head to the tips of her heels, she was absolutely radiant.
Our eyes locked, and her expression morphed from shock and surprise to elation and exuberance as she excused herself from the group surrounding her and nearly broke out into a sprint to meet me.
“Jacob,” she said, her tone puzzled.
“Amariah, you look…breathtaking. Wow.”
A blush crept across her cheeks. “Thank you,” she said before squinting in confusion. “Wait. What are you doing here? I thought you told me that you didn’t feel well, so you wouldn’t be able to come.”
“About that…”
I stepped aside just as Bryce, Janelle, Koby, Alicia, and her mother, Mrs. Luke, appeared behind me.
It was my gift to Amariah. Preparing for tonight had stifled my countdown, so this was my make-up moment.
Amariah loved family and friends gatherings when we were teens, what better occasion to gather our loved ones than for this gala?
She gasped, covering her mouth. “Oh my goodness. What? What are you all doing here? Mama?” She was so stunned that the questions rolled out all at once.
“I apologize for telling a little white lie,” I admitted, “but I wanted to surprise you. Everyone deserved to see your hard work and dedication in real time.”
Her gaze shifted from me to everyone around us, gratitude shining in her eyes from one person to the next. Her mother stepped forward, pulling her into a tight embrace.
“Jacob arranged for us to be here,” Mrs. Luke explained. “Your father wished he could’ve been here, of course, but I’m representing for both of us.”
“Who’s watching—”
“My mother,” I intervened, anticipating the burning question. My mother willingly agreed to assist with Mr. Luke’s caretaking to give Mrs. Luke a break and to support Amariah.
Amariah pressed her hand to her chest in gratitude. “Please give her my thanks,” she said and glanced at everyone. “You guys did not have to travel all this way for me.”
“Uh, yeah, we did,” Bryce chimed in. “Otherwise, Jacob would’ve canceled Christmas for all of us.”
Laughter followed as Janelle swatted her husband playfully.
“Ignore him. You know he was dropped on his head as a baby,” she joked, and Bryce waved her off.
“Anyway, we wanted to be here to support Ridgeland and to see you in action. It’s not every day a big-time marketing maven from D.C. graces the streets of Skye Ridge.”
Amariah went to protest, but Koby intercepted. “No, she’s right. Alicia and I couldn’t thank you and Jacob enough for everything you’ve done for us. The least we can do is celebrate with you.”
“Yes, because of you, our Christmas is brighter,” Alicia added as she and Koby exchanged hugs with Amariah and me.
“And we certainly are glad to have you all here,” Mrs. Lovett said, walking up behind Amariah, causing everyone to look up toward her. Accompanying her was also Mayor Nordham. “Amariah has been an absolute godsend.”
“And a re-election saver,” Mayor Nordham added, extending his hand to me. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person.”
“Likewise, sir.”
“And this must be your lovely mother,” Mayor Nordham said.
Amariah nodded. “Yes, this is my mom, Melinda Luke, the co-owner of Luke’s Hardware.”
Mrs. Lovett and Mayor Nordham greeted the rest of our party and sang nothing but praises about Amariah to everyone.
Once the introductions were over, we went to our reserved table, which I’d arranged with Mrs. Lovett, so we all could sit together during the gala.
I took my seat beside Amariah as the lights dimmed and the play began.
It was a grand production about the birth of Jesus that earned a standing ovation afterward.
When they raised the lights, Mrs. Lovett took the stage, introducing herself and her role for the event.
She went on to explain the history and thanked everyone involved, from the residents of Ridgeland to the residents of Skye Ridge.
I felt my pulse quicken because I knew we were nearing the part that I had been waiting for.
When I’d secured seating for everyone in our party who was in attendance with Mrs. Lovett, she told me about the award for Amariah and swore me to secrecy.
Knowing she was receiving this award for her hard work made everyone’s presence even sweeter.
Mayor Nordham took the stage beside Mrs. Lovett, holding a plaque.
“This year, we were unsure if we would be able to continue with our traditional event because of the winter storm that created havoc in our city, the likes of which we are still recovering from. But we remain Ridgeland Strong,” Mrs. Lovett said to the cheers of everyone in the crowd.
“But I would be remiss if I did not say that it did not come without the help of our neighboring friends in the city of Skye Ridge.” More cheers went up before everyone settled down.