19. Abby

19

ABBY

A bby and Sophie spent the rest of the morning planning two birthday parties. One would be for Sophie and her friends from school, and the other would be with the Hayes family, including Luke’s brothers. Sophie had asked specifically if the whole family could be there to celebrate her turning ten. Abby thought she might crumble into little bits of joy at the idea that the Hayes family could be hers and Sophie’s and Jack’s. Sophie wasn’t the only one who wanted to be part of a big family.

That evening, Luke and Lily arrived to take them all into town for the snowball fight. Afterward, they would attend the Christmas tree lighting in the town square.

The kids were all excited about the snowball fight and chattered all the way into town. By the time they’d found a place to park, a large group had already gathered. Jack had decided to participate, even at risk to his “pretty face.”

Fortunately, he was knocked out in one of the early rounds with no scrapes or bruises. Sophie nor Lily had any interest in having snowballs lobbed at them and were content to sip cocoa and cheer on Jack.

The battle went on for some time. By the end, no one, including Sophie and Jack, could believe who won.

“Lucky,” Jack said. “That sled’s awesome.”

“But we’re happy for the winner, right?” Abby asked gently.

“Yeah, it’s cool.” Jack shrugged. “I mean, I’d rather have it been me.”

After the epic snowball fight, they wandered over to get a place to watch the tree-lighting ceremony. It seemed as if the whole town had converged for the event. No seats were available, but Abby didn’t mind because Luke wrapped his arm around her shoulders. The children waited with a gaggle of friends closer to the tree. Sophie held Jack’s and Lily’s hands, all three huddled close, whispering and fidgeting with excitement.

They weren’t the only ones excited. The crowd, young and old alike, pulsed with energy. Abby had never been to a tree lighting ceremony and felt a little like a kid herself. Children bundled in puffy coats and hats chased one another, shouting and laughing. Couples huddled together, sipping hot chocolate from thermoses as they waited for the countdown to begin.

Abby let her cheek rest against Luke’s shoulder. “This is a great night,” she whispered to him.

“You can’t beat the company.” Luke kissed the top of her head. “Have I told you how pretty you look in that hat?”

She tugged on the brim of her blue knit hat and grinned. “I bought it today. Who knew I’d own so many hats in my new life.”

“Literally and figuratively.”

She laughed. “You’re right.”

Her attention turned toward Lily, Jack, and Sophie, who had managed to wriggle in front and center, their wide eyes fixed on the massive tree.

“Daddy, it’s almost time!” Lily’s voice rang out with delight, her cheeks rosy from the cold.

Abby’s eyes stung, overcome with emotion. How had she ever found her way here? In her wildest dreams she wouldn’t have imagined this was her life or that she would love it so much. The town and the people she’d met had loosened something inside her. Mellowed her a little? Maybe. She didn’t feel that burning ambition to prove herself. Instead, she felt light, despite her responsibilities. She knew it had a lot to do with the man standing beside her with his strong arm holding her tight against his side.

The mayor stepped up to the microphone, his booming voice silencing the excited chatter of the crowd. He thanked everyone for being there and introduced Ruth Ann, who had the honor of turning on the lights.

“All right, everyone! It’s time for the big moment! Let’s start the countdown!”

The whole town joined in, voices ringing together as they counted down from ten.

“Ten… nine… eight…”

Abby watched the kids rather than the mayor or the tree. Jack continued to grip Sophie’s hand tightly, his round face glowing with excitement. Sophie’s eyes reflected the twinkling lights strung around the square. Lily, not wriggling for once, stood frozen in awe, waiting for the big moment.

“…seven… six…”

The sound of the crowd was almost a hum, as though the entire town was holding its breath together. Abby’s chest tightened, the beauty of the moment overwhelming her. It was silly, really. But goodness, it was such a thrilling feeling—being part of a community that spent their Saturday evening waiting for the lightning of a tree as if it were as exciting as a space shuttle launch.

“…five… four…”

She blinked rapidly, the sting of tears building behind her eyes as her gaze moved from the children to the tree.

“…three… two…”

She glanced quickly up at Luke. His eyes locked with hers for a second, and his expression went all soft and dreamy as he drew her even closer to the warmth of his body.

“…ONE!”

The lights blazed to life, white and brilliant against the dark sky, illuminating the massive tree and casting a soft glow over the entire square. The crowd erupted into cheers, clapping and shouting as if the town had just experienced the miracle of the season itself.

Jack cheered, raising his arms above his head. Lily let out a squeal of pure delight, clapping her hands and bouncing on her toes. Even Sophie reacted, tenting her hands under her chin and looking up at the tree with an innocent wonder that tragedy had not been able to steal from her.

Sophie was still a kid. Abby would do whatever it took to protect her from growing up any faster than she already had.

“It’s so beautiful. So perfect. Isn’t it?” Abby looked up at Luke.

“What part?” He smiled softly, pulling her in just a little closer.

“All of it.” She let her head rest on his shoulder. “You. The children. This place. You’ve all grown so special to me. I know, it probably sounds silly.”

“Not to me,” Luke said. “I know exactly what you mean. I’ve lived here my whole life, seen a lot of these tree lightings, but none of them were as beautiful as tonight. Which brings me to only one conclusion. It’s the company we keep that makes the ordinary, extraordinary.”

This is where I’m meant to be. Right here. Right now.

Such unexpected gifts. The three little people and the massive man beside her. The kind of gift one might think of as a Christmas miracle.

She tilted her head back, her cheek still pressed against the fluff of Luke’s jacket, and looked up at the sky. The bank of clouds had parted so that a slice of the purple starry night sky was now visible. Her gaze lingered there for a moment, taking in the spectacular beauty of the stars that not even the town’s Christmas lights could mimic. And then a feeling she could not exactly name came over her. She felt almost swept upward into the night as if her soul flew through the inky sky between sparkling stars that sprinkled magical fairy dust upon her fractured heart.

Her heart stirred with a quiet sense of peace. Goose bumps traveled up her limbs.

An image played before her eyes. A long-ago forgotten memory of her and Ramona. They were out in the yard on a warm August night, spread out on top of a quilt. Their gaze fixated on the sky. Watching and waiting, hoping to see a shooting star. It had been Ramona’s mother who had sent them outside to witness what she’d described as pure magic. “In August, the stars dance across the sky to remind us of all the people who have physically left the earth but who are still here, watching over us. They shine brightly so that we might never forget them. And to let us know we’re never really without them.”

Her mother. Her aunt. And Ramona. All gone from this physical life but yet still part of her. For the first time, she understood fully, absorbing this insight into the core of who she was. They were still with them—all of them. The stars told their stories. Tonight, the clouds had actually parted just so she would know that they were all there, watching out for them.

Proud of me.

Yes, they were proud of her. They recognized it hadn’t been easy to give up her plans to be here. But she’d done it. With grace even. She let in their love and pride into a place so deep inside that she’d not known it existed until now. Until God had sent her here to love these motherless children, she had not known her true worth. Perhaps she would never have become her best self if she had not been needed in this specific way.

It was the essence of pure love she felt. From her mother and Ramona, their spirits were woven into the night.

And this man, as sweet as the maple syrup he cared so deeply for—standing with his arm around her, not caring who saw him. Caring only that he kept her close.

A soft breeze rustled through the square. Abby closed her eyes, hearing Ramona’s voice.

I knew you were the one. It was always you. Only you.

When she opened her eyes, the scene before her remained the same. Yet she was changed. Guilt for being the one here lifted from her soul, and she was free. Free to love and be loved and to live with purpose.

“Should we get pizza?” Luke asked.

His simple question made her laugh, throwing her head back so that the stars might see her joy.