I nodded. “It is. When my parents first got married they lived in the house Wes and Jules are currently in. Once they decided to start a family, they moved in here and haven’t left.”
“I don’t blame them. I’d likely spend all day out here with this view, especially if this fire is involved.”
“I feel the same way. I love it. I enjoy living downtown, and it works perfectly to be above the café, but I’d love to get a house that’s a little more tucked away one day and have a view of my own.”
When the conversation stilled, we sat in the comfortable silence, listening to the deep, echoing calls from an owl and the soft rustling of the tree branches.
Gabe peeled back one side of his coat, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a red envelope withLilywritten on it. “Merry Christmas, Lily. Thank you for making this a day I’ll never forget.”
My chest squeezed from his simple words, and a quiet pride stirred inside me, because that was exactly what I’d set out to do. I took the envelope from him and opened it, pulling a card out. It was a watercolor drawing of three cats sitting on the snow, and above them in cursive it readHave a Meowvelous Christmas. I let out a laugh, holding the card up to him. “This is absolutely adorable.”
“I had a feeling you’d like it.”
As amusing as the outside of the card was, the message written inside was what captured my attention.
Lily,
As I’ve mentioned to you, the holidays haven’t been anything special to me. I expected this year to be the same.
I should’ve known from the moment I saw the fire in your eyes that I’d be wrong. You are constantly putting those around you first, and I’m grateful for all you’ve done for me during my time in Golden Falls.
But it’s time you do something for yourself.
Merry Christmas, Sunshine.
- Gabe
There was a folded up piece of paper in the card, but I couldn’t look at it yet. There was one part of his message that I was stuck on:during my time in Golden Falls. It sounded like he was leaving. Which, yes, I knew he would eventually, but was he leaving soon? We hadn’t heard the fate of the building or completed the list…he couldn’t leave yet.
I looked up at him, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Are—are you leaving? The list…we haven’t…” I stopped myself, not wanting him to hear the ache in my voice.
Gabe watched me carefully. He took a moment to respond, but when he did, he said, “Eventually, I am. But we haven’t finished our list yet, and we still need to hear Hal’s decision. That’s…that was the plan all along, right?”
I nodded slowly. I knew Gabe was right. We had both agreed to try to complete the list as quickly as possible. But…so much had changed since then. We’d opened up to each other. We’d formed a genuine connection, one I hadn’t ever felt before with someone.
“But not, like, soon, right?” I at least had to clarify that.
“No, I don’t have a date in mind. I haven’t heard anything from Hal, either. I bet eventually he’ll want his house back to himself.” He tipped his chin toward the folded paper in the card. “Go ahead and open it. I expected you to be more curious.”
I let out a shaky laugh, trying to hold in the emotion that was clawing at my throat and behind my eyes. I didn’t expect to get so choked up, and I still wasn’t quite surewhyseeing those words written out had such an impact on me.
I set the card on my lap and unfolded the paper, a gasp leaving me. “Gabe.” I looked at him with wide eyes. “I can’t accept this.”
“And why not?”
“Because…because,” I stammered, looking down at the paper again. It was a gift certificate for a full year of the virtual baking classes I’d been eying, with the opportunity to drive down and participate in the classes in-person, too. Once I signed up for these classes, it would be another item checked off my list, leaving the visit to Milwaukee and seeing a shooting star left.
“Because?” Gabe asked. He reached over, gently tipping my chin up to meet his eyes. “You deserve this, Lily. You’ve been wanting to do this, and I know you would’ve gotten around to it on your own, but this way, you can jump in without having to worry when to start.”
My chest squeezed again at how much care and thought he’d put into this. And money. Because I knew how much these classes cost, and when I’d been considering signing up, I wasonly going to do a month or two. Gabe had purchased me awhole year.
Yes, this was an item on my list, but it was so much more than that coming from Gabe.
While I’d been shocked initially, excitement started to course through me at the possibilities—what I’d learn to make, the feedback I’d get, how this would improve Purrfect Blend’s offerings. How this could potentially lead to me opening another location. All of this seemed much more within reach—thanks to Gabe’s support.
“I can’t thank you enough, Gabe. This…this means the world to me.” Tears stung my eyes, and I knew they’d fall if I looked at him too long, so I leaned over, wrapping my arms around him in an embrace and nuzzling my face into his neck. “Thank you.”
He wrapped his arms around me in return and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “It’s my pleasure, Sunshine.”
