23. Lucas
LUCAS
L ucas was on his way to The Garden Café.
Finn had messaged him earlier in the day and asked to meet him that evening at seven.
Lucas had been a bit perplexed because it was, after all, Christmas Eve, and people tended to have plans.
He’d been planning on spending the evening with his father in front of the TV and so he’d made them dinner then told his father he had to pop out for an hour.
His father had seemed fine about him heading out but had told him to wrap up warm as there was a blizzard forecast for later.
It was absolutely freezing outside. The streets were already dusted with snow that sparkled like powdered sugar under the glow from the moon that peeked through the clouds at intervals like it was playing a festive game.
Lucas pulled his scarf higher as he walked and thrust his hands deeper into his pockets.
The wind blowing in off the sea was harsh and his eyes and the tip of his nose stung.
And yet despite the chill, he was nurturing a warm glow inside because he hoped that this had something to do with Thora.
Why else would Finn want to meet him on Christmas Eve?
Had Thora had a change of heart, and did she want to find a way through things now?
Had she decided to see their challenges as opportunities and not obstacles?
Not that he hadn’t been broken the previous evening when she’d told him it could never work between them, but he had also found it hard to accept that she didn’t want him.
They had kissed, hugged and made love and it had been incredible, so how could she really want to throw it all away?
When she’d walked away from him at the harbour, he’d yearned to follow her but he’d also been afraid.
He’d hoped that she simply needed some space to process things and if he put extra pressure on her he could ruin it forever.
Lucas didn’t have as much at stake as Thora, she’d been right about that, and he wanted to be considerate of her feelings in a way he hadn’t been all those years ago.
It was so hard to get things right when it came to matters of the heart.
When he was younger he had reacted to being hurt by lashing out too, but now he hoped his calmer reaction would help them to find a way forwards.
When he reached the café, he went through the gate and paused.
The windows glowed with golden light that spilled out over the fallen snow.
Lucas spotted Finn at the counter speaking to Pearl and the sight of them both having a normal every day conversation was comforting.
It reminded him of simpler times and of how warm and friendly a place Porthpenny was to live.
Imagine if he came back to live there permanently. How different life could be.
He pushed open the door and was greeted by aromas of gingerbread, vanilla and pine and he breathed deeply, keen to savour the scents of Christmas at the café.
Whatever the evening had in store for him, he could handle it.
Christmas had a way of weaving magic through everything, and he had a feeling that this evening would unfold in a way that had that magic woven into its snowy fabric.
But then, the door to the kitchen opened and his breath caught in his throat.
Because there she was.
The woman of his dreams and the one person who had the power to completely and utterly break his heart.