19. Woodley

NINETEEN

Woodley

Silent night, holy night / All is calm, all is bright.

Reagan National Airport

Washington, D.C.

1:15 pm

The baggage claim area is humming with holiday travelers and the air is filled with the sound of rolling suitcases and excited chatter.

Thorne and I make our way through the crowd, and I spot her before he does—his mom. He looks exactly like his mom, which is how I knew it had to be her. She's standing near the carousel, her face lighting up the second she sees him.

"There she is," Thorne says, a wide grin spreading across his face as he picks up the pace. His mom waves, her smile warm and bright, and before I know it, she's wrapping him in a hug so tight, it's like she's never letting go.

"Oh, my baby," she says, her voice full of emotion. "I was so worried about you. All that snow, the bomb at the airport. I'm so glad to finally have you back home."

Thorne laughs softly, hugging her back just as tightly. "I'm fine, Mom. We made it."

She pulls back, holding him at arm's length to look him over. "I can't believe you've been through all of that in just a few days. And you still managed to get here in time for Christmas."

Thorne's smile softens, and for the first time, I see just how much it means to him to be home. There's something about the way he looks at his mom—like she's the anchor that keeps him grounded. And suddenly, I understand why he was so intent on making it back.

I stand there quietly, watching the exchange, feeling a strange pang in my chest. It's not jealousy—more like melancholy. Sadness for something I've never had. My family never hugged like that, never worried or showed that kind of warmth. It was all business, all formality. No real connection.

Thorne finally turns to me, gesturing for me to come closer. "Mom, this is Woodley."

His mom's eyes light up as she turns to me, extending her hand before pulling me into a gentle hug. "It's so nice to meet you, Woodley. Thank you for taking care of my son through all of this."

I blink, caught off guard by her kindness. "It's really nice to meet you too, Mrs. Chilton."

"Oh, call me Anne," she says with a smile, looping her arm through mine as if we've known each other forever. "Now let's get you two home. I can't wait to hear everything."

We grab our bags and follow her to the car. On the drive home, Anne chats easily with us, asking about the trip and all the calamities we met along the way.

Thorne fills her in on the snowstorm, the flight cancellations, and how we were stuck in Boston, while I sit in the back, listening quietly. Every now and then, she glances back at me, her expression full of warmth and curiosity, making me feel included in their little circle.

"Sounds like quite the adventure," Anne says with a chuckle as we pull onto the highway. "And you two made it through all that chaos together."

Thorne smiles, glancing over at me. "Yeah, we did. It wasn't easy, but we managed."

I catch his eye and smile back, feeling a warmth settle in my chest. For the first time, I don't feel like a holiday outsider. I feel... welcome.

When we're almost home, Thorne shifts in his seat, turning to his mom. "Mom, after we get settled in, I was thinking I'd take Woodley to see Georgetown. Show her how amazing it is at Christmas."

"Oh, that sounds perfect!" Anne exclaims, glancing at me in the rearview mirror. "You'll love Georgetown. It's so beautiful this time of year—lights everywhere, little shops all decorated for the holidays. It's like a Christmas postcard come to life."

I smile, feeling a bit more at ease. "It sounds wonderful. I've never been."

"Well," Anne says, turning onto their street, "you two enjoy yourselves, and when you get back, I'll have a nice home-cooked meal waiting for you."

Thorne grins, turning to me with a wink. "See? You're already being spoiled."

I laugh softly, glancing out the window at the snow-covered neighborhood, my heart swelling with warmth. Maybe this Christmas will be a little different than I imagined.

Saturday, December 23

M Street NW, Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

4:32 pm

The streets of Georgetown are aglow with twinkling lights, every shop window decked out for the holidays. It feels like a scene from a Christmas movie—the kind you don't quite believe in until you're standing right in the middle of it. The air is crisp, but not biting, and the snow from the recent snowfall still dusts the edges of the cobblestone streets.

Thorne's hand is warm in mine as we walk together, the weight of everything that's happened over the past few days melting away. The chaos, the stress, the obstacles—none of it matters now. We've made it through. And somehow, we've come out on the other side... together.

We've spent the last couple of hours picking out a few outfits to get me through the next couple of days. I still can't quite believe I'm here, that I'm about to spend Christmas with his family. I never could have imagined I would ever do this even a few days ago.

Walking through Georgetown with him, everything just feels right. Like, I am supposed to be here, with him.

We stop in front of a massive Christmas tree in the center of a small square, its lights glittering in the early evening dusk. The tree stands tall and proud, surrounded by families and couples, all marveling at its beauty.

I glance up at the tree, taking in the scene, and then look over at Thorne. His eyes are soft, reflecting the lights from the tree, and a wave of warmth washes over me.

"Hard to believe where we were a week ago," I say quietly, breaking the silence between us. "Everything that's happened in a week's time that has brought us to this place, together."

Thorne nods, his gaze still on the tree. "Yeah, it feels like a lifetime." He turns to me, his hand squeezing mine. "But honestly? It was messy perfection. I'm so glad we are standing here together and proud of what we've done together. I wouldn't change a thing."

I smile, my heart swelling at his words. "Not even the bombing?"

He laughs, a sound that sends my entire body into a tizzy. "Okay, maybe that part. Although a flight interruption was the catalyst for everything, so, I can't say I totally hate it. As you do so well, I can see the silver lining."

I look into his eyes, agreeing. As hard as it all was, starting at the airport, it is hard to wish any of it away, because we may not have ended up here without it.

"This," he says softly, stepping closer to me, "this feels right, doesn't it?"

I nod, my breath catching in my throat. "Yeah," I whisper, "it really does."

Without another word, he leans down and kisses me, soft and sweet at first, and then deeper, as if he's trying to capture everything we've been through in that one kiss. The world around us fades away—the people, the lights, the snow. It's just us, standing here in the glow of the Christmas tree, in this perfect moment.

When we finally pull back, the warmth in his eyes is all I need to know we're in this together.

"So," Thorne says, his voice light, "how about we go grab that drink I promised you? There's a café just down the street. Warm drinks, cozy seats, and amazing people-watching. What do you say?"

I grin. He could offer to drive through a blizzard to stay in a dump and I would be excited. "I'd say that sounds perfect."

He takes my hand again, and we walk down the street toward the café. I feel a sense of peace inside and out. Christmas finally feels magical again.