Page 85 of Stuck with the Hero Next Door

“I love them too,” I managed, my voice slightly thick with emotion.

“That’s what makes a good teacher,” Dot observed. “And a good life. Love that goes both ways.”

By the time we finished decorating, the tree looked as though Christmas had exploded on it in the most wonderful way possible. Every inch was covered with ornaments that represented someone’s story, including me, in their celebration of the season.

The ladies began gathering their things as evening settled over the town, but Janet made me promise to call if I needed anything, and Kathy extracted a commitment to attend the Christmas Eve service at the church.

“It’s simple,” she warned, “but it’s ours.”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” I assured her.

After they left, Levi and I stood in my living room, surveying the transformation they’d helped create. Every surface glowed with warm light, every corner held some evidence of holiday cheer, and the tree dominated the space, wearing too much jewelry.

“So,” he said, wrapping his arms around me from behind, “how does it feel to have been properly Christmas-attacked by the Everwood ladies’ auxiliary?”

“It feels perfect,” I said, leaning back against his chest, listening to him breathe.

“Good,” he murmured into my hair. “Because I have something for you.”

He disappeared into my bedroom and returned with a small-wrapped box that he placed in my hands.

“Levi,” I started, “we said we weren’t doing gifts this year.”

“It’s small,” he said, though his expression suggested it might not be. “Open it.”

Inside the box, nestled in tissue paper, was a locket. Something simple and elegant and clearly chosen with care. The silver was warm against my fingers, and when I opened it, I found two tiny initials engraved inside: C.G. and E.G.

“Cassie Grant and Ellen Grant,” he explained quietly. “I thought...I thought you might want to carry a piece of her with you. As a reminder that she’s part of you.”

I stared down at the locket; he’d managed to honor my mother’s memory while capturing me as well.

“Levi,” I whispered, my voice unsteady.

“Too much?”

“Perfect,” I managed. “It’s absolutely perfect.”

He fastened the locket around my neck with gentle fingers, and I could feel the weight of it settle against my skin. Present. A reminder that carrying someone’s memory meant carrying their love.

“I have something for you too,” I said, retrieving the package I’d been hiding in my closet for weeks.

“I thought you said no gifts,” he teased sarcastically.

“Yeah, well, apparently we both need to work on following rules.” I handed him the gift, then sat on the couch and fidgeted with the hem of the blanket from the back of it.

He opened the first gift with excitement, tearing the paper with rapt enthusiasm. His eyes widened when he saw what it was, revealing the first-edition copy of Once a Warrior: How One Veteran Found a New Mission Closer to Home by Jake Wood, which I’d found in a rare book shop in another town and drove ninety miles to purchase.

“Cassie,” he breathed, running his fingers over the cover with something close to reverence. “This must have cost⁠—”

“What it costs doesn’t matter,” I interrupted. “What matters is that you mentioned it was your favorite book, and you said you’d always wanted another copy after yours was lost in the military. I wanted to give you something special.”

He looked up at me with an expression that suggested I’d given him something far more valuable than a book, no matter how rare.

“I love you,” he said simply.

“I love you too.”

We stood there in the glow of Christmas lights for a moment before my excitement for the next gift took over. “Okay, gift two.”