Page 79 of Crossed Lines

I finish up the pancakes and make some scrambled eggs before we get dressed to head out for tree shopping. We spend an exorbitant amount of time looking at every single tree, trying to make sure it’s the right one. Jade has specific criteria for what she wants, but she won’t tell me what it is, so I can’t even help her narrow down the options. She’s becoming more and more independent every day. I love it, but I also hate it. She’s growing up too fast.

Finally, after at least an hour and a half, she stops and says, “This is it.”

The tree in front of us is big and fluffy on the front, but the back looks a little worse for wear. Which is probably why it’s in the very back of the lot.

“You’re sure?” I ask. “The back…”

“I’m sure. No one else is gonna pick it because the back looks empty. But its front is still beautiful, so it should have the chance to be decorated. I don’t want it to be sad that it didn’t get picked.”

I chuckle to myself. Of course, my girl is worried about the feelings of a tree. “Alright then. I guess this is our tree.”

I tell the person working which one we want, and we get it wrapped up and into the truck. On the way home, we stop at the store for a box of hot chocolate and some marshmallows because, according to Jade, we can’t possibly decorate for Christmas without a mug of hot chocolate. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell her it’s not even that cold outside, but I already know she doesn’t care one bit about the temperature.

The sounds of some Christmas song bellow out of the truck speakers as we drive onto Moonlight Ranch property and down toward my house. I put the truck in park, but as I reach for the door handle, I see movement from my front porch.

My first thought is to protect Jade. Blue Haven has a pretty low crime rate, but it’s not non-existent.

“Jade, stay here.”

“What? Why?” she asks, looking around.

I don’t answer her as I get out of the truck and start walking toward the house. I’m ready to confront whoever or whatever is waiting on my front porch.

Then I see her.

Willow takes a step away from one of the posts, giving me a clear view of her. For a second, I wonder if I’m seeing things. It’s been so long since I’ve seen her in person. Our calls and video chats have been getting me through the last five months, but I’ve been dying to see her.

But then she says, “Hey,” and I know I’m not imagining her. I pick up my pace until I’m basically jogging to her.

She meets me halfway, jumping into my outstretched arms and wrapping her legs around my waist. Our lips connect without a second thought.

I’m kissing Willow again.

She’s here.

She’s home.

She’s mine.

I don’t pull my mouth away from hers until I hear Jade’s voice yell, “Willow!”

She apparently did not listen to my instructions to stay in the truck, but I guess I can’t blame her. She missed Willow too.

Reluctantly, I let Willow down, and she opens her arms up to Jade, who is running at full speed toward her.

“Jadey! I missed you!”

The two of them hug it out while I smile like a goofball watching my two favorite people.

“What are you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming back until next week?” I ask. We had it all planned. I was going to drive to Atlanta to pick her up from the airport and everything. I hadn’t mentioned it to Jade yet though. I didn’t want her to get her hopes up in case… well, in case Willow changed her mind. But luckily, she didn’t, and she’s here.

“That was the plan, but one of my last exams got moved up so I changed my flight to come home earlier. I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, consider me surprised.”

“You’re just in time, Willow. We’re going to decorate our tree today!” Jade tells her.

Willow smiles but she looks at me like she wants to make sure it’s ok if she joins. As if I would tell her no. Everything is better with Willow.