26. Lydia

26

LYDIA

Christmas Eve

T en days.

That was how long it'd been since I told Jake I loved him. It was also how long it took for my world to do a complete turnaround . . . in an extraordinary and amazing way. Jake and I had been inseparable, almost as if we'd never been apart. Our lives together were just beginning.

"Merry Christmas Eve," Regina exclaimed as I walked up to the receptionist's desk at Willow Creek Village. She had on her jingle bell earrings like she always did on Christmas Eve. She pointed at the bakery box in my hands. "What you got there?"

My stomach growled. "Blueberry muffins for my nana. I'm going to steal one when I get to her room."

Regina grinned. "Your nana is something else. You should see her and John walking around here together. It's got some of the other residents wanting to find love, too."

"I don't blame them. It feels good to have that someone to wake up to every day."

She snickered. "I bet. Your nana says you're seeing Jake now. He's such a cutie."

"That he is," I agreed. "I hate that he couldn't come with me today."

"Who knows," she said with a wink. "Maybe there will be wedding bells in your future."

I could only hope so.

"We will see," I said. "You take care, Regina. And have a wonderful Christmas."

"You too, darlin'."

I walked past the desk to the hallway that led to my grandmother's apartment. Seeing her decorated door always made me smile, especially the Santa hanging on her doorknob that John gave her.

"Knock, knock," I called out, tapping my knuckles on the door.

A few seconds later, the door opened, and my nana's smile was as radiant as ever. "Liddy Bug, you're here." She looked behind me and frowned. "Where's your other half?"

"He said he was expecting something to be delivered at the house and he needed to be there." I walked inside and set the box of muffins on her kitchen table so I could hug her. "But he says he's sorry and he'll make it up to you."

She let me go and waved a hand in the air. "It's okay. I'll see him tomorrow at your parents' house for Christmas."

"Yes, you will. We're coming to pick you up at noon, okay? And then we'll bring you back in plenty of time. I know you and John are going to eat dinner together and watch a Christmas movie tomorrow night."

Her face brightened. "We are." We sat down at the table, and she snatched a muffin out of the box; I did the same and took a bite, relishing the fact they were full of blueberry flavor. "You're not wearing an ugly Christmas sweater this morning," she said, glancing down at my red-and-black plaid shirt and jeans.

"No, I'm not. I'll be wearing it tomorrow. Violet wanted to add Ben and Jake to our tradition, so we all made ugly sweaters together last night. We're going to wear them on Christmas day from now on."

My grandmother smiled. "New traditions. That's how it goes when the families get larger. And who knows? They might get even larger soon if you and Jake get married."

My stomach fluttered with excitement just thinking about it. I would love to marry Jake and start a family.

"That's what I plan on, Nana," I replied.

We finished our muffins, and she cleared her throat. "So, I saw Max this morning," she informed me. "He told me everything that happened."

"Is he okay?" I asked.

She got up and poured us both a glass of orange juice. "I believe so. I knew deep down you weren't supposed to be with him. Jake has always been the one for you."

I winked at her. "I've always known, too."

She set our glasses on the table and placed a hand over mine, her eyes misty. "He's your epic love, Liddy Bug. Hold onto him and don't let go."

"I won't. I can promise you that."