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“He asked me to give it to you,” Grams said. “He said you’d take good care of it. He also mentioned how he wished he could’ve seen your work shine.”
Damian’s eyes filled with emotion as he held something from the father he was never able to meet. He cleared his throat and tried to pull himself together. “Thank you, Maple.”
“It was his favorite,” I told him. He took his greatest works of art with that camera.
“I’ll treasure it,” he said, trying to shake off his nerves.
“Okay, while I’d love to get emotional with you both, Stella’s gift for you is waiting on the front porch, and it shouldn’t be out there for too long. So, I’m going to head home and allow you two to exchange gifts.” Grams stood from the table and gave me a hug along with ocean kisses, then she embraced Damian. After their hug, she placed her hands against his cheeks. “You are good.”
That made my eyes glass over.
After she left, I took a deep breath and clapped my hands. “Are you ready?”
“I think so.”
“Okay, follow me to the front porch.”
Before we stepped outside, I stopped in front of the door. “I feel like I should preface this by saying I think you deserve the world, Damian. You’re an amazing human being, and it breaks my heart to know that the world has hurt you. So, I thought I’d get you something that was taken from you. Even though it’s not the same, I hope you feel the love.” I sighed, feeling my nerves skyrocketing, overthinking the gift.
“Whatever it is, it’ll be more than enough.”
I sure hoped so.
Stepping to the side, I let him walk onto the porch. I followed closely behind him, feeling knots in my stomach with nerves.
When his eyes met the gift, it was clear what it had been. A cage sat on the porch with a huge bow sitting on top. Inside the cage was a golden retriever puppy, the same kind Damian had for a short period of time when he was a child.
I couldn’t read his reaction. He stepped toward it with his back to me, and he didn’t say a word. He then walked toward the balcony and looked out into the distance, not going to the puppy. My heart dropped as I watched his hands grip the railing. He stayed quiet for a few moments too long, making my nerves skyrocket throughout my system.
“I’m sorry,” I shot out, feeling as if I’d made the worst mistake. “I just remembered you telling me the story about the Christmas puppy when you were a kid and how you lost it after you moved into another home. And I thought…oh gosh. This was an awful idea, and I’m so sorry if—”
“Stella,” he whispered, his back still toward me. My heart sat in my throat as he paused. He slowly turned toward me, and tears were streaming down his cheeks. I’d seen Damian on the verge of tears before, merely moments ago when Grams gave him his gift from Kevin, but I’d never actually seen him release said emotions.
He cleared his throat and crossed his arms, sniffling as he grew overwhelmed. “He’s mine?” he asked, his voice low and trembling.
“Forever,” I told him. “If you’ll have him.”
He glanced toward the cage and then back at me. “Can I?” he asked.
I laughed. “Based on how he’s wagging his tail, I think he’d like that.”
Damian walked over to the dog and opened the door.
“His name is Milo,” I told him. “He’s two years old and grew up in not the best environment. His owners were abusive, and he’d been moved around from house to house many times because they said he couldn’t be trained, but I didn’t believe that. They were considering putting him down, actually, but when I saw him, I felt it in my soul that he was yours.”
“And I am his,” he quietly stated.
Damian’s tears kept falling as the nervous dog began walking out of the cage toward him. He rubbed up against Damian’s leg and then allowed Damian to pick him up. Milo rested his head against Damian’s shoulder and cuddled into him as if they were always meant to be together.
“Thank you, Stella,” Damian said, looking my way. “For believing he deserved another chance. For believing I did, too.”
I moved over to him and wiped his tears away. “Merry Christmas, Damian.”
“I’m falling for you,” he replied, the words somersaulting off his tongue. “Sorry.” He grimaced. Then he paused and shook his head. “Wait, no. I’m not sorry. I’m happy to know you, and I’m lucky to be around you. You’re ridiculous and kind, and I am falling for you. You’re beautiful and funny, and I am falling for you. You’re my first thought in the morning and the last one at night, and I am falling for you. Stella…” He held Milo in one arm and gently caressed my cheek with his other hand. “I am falling for you.”
“I—”
“Wait.” He cleared his throat. “You don’t have to say anything back, just because I said it to you. You can wait. I know you got out of a relationship not that long ago, and I never want to pressure anyone to say any type of words to me and—”
