Chapter 72

DIANA

The air was filled with the scent of cinnamon and mulled wine. Festive music echoed through the streets. Everywhere we looked, there were twinkling lights and an assortment of Christmas decorations. It legit looked like Christmas threw up.

But I loved it.

I loved Christmas. I couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and excitement. It was like stepping into a winter wonderland, a world filled with magic and possibility. Exploring all this with Hudson made it even more special.

This was the infamous Christkindlesmarkt in Nuremberg, Germany. I never imagined I would be here in person. It was a dream, but not one I ever expected to actually come true.

"I am in absolute awe," I whispered.

"It's pretty," Hudson agreed.

I was immediately enveloped in a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and scents. I caught the scent of roasted chestnuts and freshly baked gingerbread.

"I want to eat it all," I sighed. "Seriously, it smells so good."

"I agree." He nodded.

We started with a bag of roasted chestnuts before we started the process of exploring the market.

The place was alive with activity, crowded with locals and tourists alike, all eager to partake in the holiday festivities. Children darted around, their laughter rang out as they admired the wooden toys and whimsical decorations on display. Musicians played traditional Christmas carols. I couldn't understand a word they sang, but the carols were pretty universal.

My head felt like it was on a swivel as I turned left and right, trying to take it all in. Delicate glass ornaments and wooden figurines made me feel like I was in the actual Santa workshop. I couldn't resist stopping at each stall, admiring the craftsmanship and artistry of the local artisans.

"Look at these," I whispered.

Everywhere I looked there were Christmas ornaments for sale. Each one was more beautiful than the last.

"We should get some for our tree," Hudson suggested.

"I'm going to get one for everyone back home," I said.

We spent nearly thirty minutes browsing the ornaments. They were all so beautiful. I wanted every one of them.

Hudson picked out a delicate glass ornament for me. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to me. It was sweet and thoughtful.

"I want to pick one for you," I said.

We left with a dozen ornaments and walked away. Hudson stopped me. "Wait," he said. "I want to get something for my nephew."

Hudson's eyes lit up with childlike delight when we came across a booth with hand-crafted toys. He ended up buying a small wooden train set, a nostalgic reminder of his own childhood.

We were trying to pace ourselves with the many, many food offerings, even though I wanted all of it.

We sipped on steaming mugs of hot chocolate and sampled delicious treats. The bratwurst were so juicy and good.

"Good." He nodded.

We spent almost the entire day at the market. "I'm exhausted," I sighed.

"Me too. But in a good way."

I laughed. "In the best way. That was an amazing day."

We sauntered toward the massive Christmas tree and took a moment to admire the beauty.

"I love you, Diana," he said softly, his voice filled with emotion. "More than anything in this world."

"I love you too, Hudson," I whispered, my heart overflowing with happiness. "This trip, you, everything, it's so perfect."

I felt a sense of peace and contentment settle over me like a warm blanket. This was our moment, our time to savor the magic of the season and the beauty of our love. Nothing else mattered.

We walked back to our hotel room, each of us carrying several bags. While I went to change into my pajamas, Hudson ordered room service. Not that we needed more food, but we had been nibbling all day and were both in the mood for something a little more solid.

I stepped out of the bathroom and found Hudson holding up an ornament to the light. "What's that?" I asked.

"This one is for our tree. I can't stop looking at it. I think we should make this a tradition."

"What do you mean?"

"We will find a Christmas market every year from here on out and buy a special ornament to mark the year," he said. "It can't be any ornament. It needs to be one-of-a-kind and special to us. I want to be able to tell our kids the story behind each ornament."

My heart was overflowing with love for this man who had become my everything. I nodded, unable to find the words to express the depth of my feelings. "Okay," I murmured.

"You know, I can't wait for the day when we can come back here with our own kids."

"Me too," I said, leaning into his embrace. "But for now, let's just enjoy this moment."

Room service was delivered. We sat down at the small table near the window overlooking the snowy city below.

"I'm so grateful for this time with you," he said, his eyes locked on mine.

"Me too," I replied softly, smiling back at him. "This has been a perfect day."

"Can you believe how far we've come?" he said, his voice filled with wonder.

I shook my head. "No, I can't," I admitted. "But I wouldn't change a single moment of it. When you left, I was prepared to go into the convent."

He chuckled. "I'm sorry. Your body is too hot for any convent. You were made for loving."

I blushed at his words, feeling a rush of warmth spread through me. "And you were made for making me blush," I teased, reaching across the table to gently touch his hand.

Hudson's eyes softened as he gazed at me, his thumb stroking the back of my hand. "I never would have imagined that a Christmas market trip could turn into something so special," he said, his voice tinged with affection.

"Neither did I," I admitted with a smile. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I've never actually been to a market before you," he said. "It's kind of cool."

I grinned at his confession. "Well, I'm glad I got to be your first."

He chuckled. "Always making everything sound naughty, aren't you?"

"Who, me?" I said innocently and we both burst into laughter. The sound echoed in the room, filling it with warmth.

As Hudson finished his meal, he leaned back in his chair and looked over at me thoughtfully. "Diana," he said softly, drawing my attention.

"Yes?"

"I have something else to give you."

"Oh?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. It was wrapped in the most beautiful silver festive paper, topped with a shiny red bow. My heart started to race as I watched him unravel the bow and slide the lid off the box.

He took out a delicate paperweight, its interior encased an intricate snowflake, exquisitely captured in crystal-clear glass.

"It's beautiful," I breathed, my eyes wide with awe. I took it from him, holding it up to the soft light from the room's lamps. The snowflake sparkled and threw prisms of light around us.

"I know how much you love snowflakes," he said softly. "And I wanted to give you something that would remind you of this special moment."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked at him. "Hudson," I whispered, so overwhelmed by emotion, I could barely speak. "This is the most thoughtful gift I've ever received."

"You deserve the world, Diana," he said, his voice heavy with sincerity. "And I intend to give it to you. I'm going to give you everything you want and a lot of stuff you don't want."

"You spoil me," I said.

"Good. That's what I want. I want to pamper you."

"You've already done that," I said.

We moved to the couch in the room, curling up together. "I'm excited to show you Christmas," I said.

He laughed. "I've seen Christmas. My mom loved Christmas."

"Are you sure you don't want to spend it with your family?" I asked again.

"Like I mentioned before, my family is huge. It would take nothing short of a miracle to get us all in the same place at once. That's why we break it up. And honestly, I'm not sure I'm up for a big family thing. Alcohol is a pretty common thing at our gatherings. I'm not going to ask them to not drink because I've got a problem. Maybe next year I'll be in a better position to go to a party with alcohol."

"I understand." I nodded.

"But if you don't want to go home, we could go to Switzerland or Sweden or anywhere else," he offered.

I chuckled lightly, snuggling deeper into his arms. "Oh, anywhere else, you say? That's a tempting offer," I teased him.

He nudged me gently, grinning at me. "I'm serious, Diana. We could pick a place on the globe and just go."

The thought of it was so wildly extravagant that I burst into laughter. "Hudson," I said softly, turning to face him. "As exciting and romantic as jetting off to some far-flung corner of the world sounds, you know what I want?"

"What?" he asked, his gaze intense.

"I want to spend Christmas with our families," I said. "I think it's good for you. You need to spend time with your father, and I don't know if I could be away from my family on Christmas. Not yet, anyway."

He smiled and pulled me closer. "That sounds like the best plan," he agreed. "We can make new traditions when we start our family."

"Like waking up late and cooking breakfast in our pajamas," I suggested, already marveling at the thought of spending Christmas morning with Hudson, just the two of us.

"And watching old movies under a warm blanket," he chimed in.

"When we do have a family, we're going to have to divide our time between our families while carving out time for our new family."

He laughed. "I can't believe we're talking about our kids."

"Did you change your mind?" I asked.

"No. Not even a little. I can't wait to see you with swollen ankles and a big ol' baby belly. I want my son kicking you while we're lying in bed. I want a big house with lots of kids."

"And a dog, maybe?" I added, grinning at him.

"A dog?" He looked at me, an eyebrow raised in a teasing manner. "Are you sure our rugrats won't be enough work?"

"Maybe," I conceded, laughing. "But it could teach them responsibility. And besides, every family portrait looks better with a fluffy companion."

"Alright," he agreed easily, a warm smile lighting up his face. "A dog it is, then. Retriever?"

"Dalmatian."

We fell into comfortable silence after that, my mind drifting to images of a future filled with love, warmth and the chaos of children and pets running around our home.

"Won't it be wonderful?" I murmured against his chest, my heart swelling with a warmth that had nothing to do with the physical heat emanating from him.

"It already is," he replied, his fingers tracing idle patterns on my arm. "Because I have you."

This was more than I'd ever dared to dream of—a life filled with love, family, and Hudson beside me every step of the way.

"Let's take it one day at a time," I said, snuggling closer to him, seeking the comfort that only his presence could bring. "We've got plenty of Christmases to plan for."

His arm tightened around me, pulling me closer. "One day at a time," he echoed in agreement, his voice a warm rumble against my ear. "Kind of a motto I'm very familiar with."

I laughed. "Good point. But I want to take one day at a time with you."