“Shit works if we make it work. To be with you, I’m willing to put in the damn overtime. Because for me you’re worth it. The way you make me feel, the dreams you inspire. I love you, Belen. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”
Mayday, mayday I’m going down. My knees became unreliable, turning to mush. “How do we make it work?” I whispered.
Kris faced me, sensing a ray of hope. “We trust each other. I think we are stronger than a few thousand miles.”
Even now with the fear of losing him, I trusted Kris with my life. I knew without a doubt he had my back and would do anything in his power to keep me and Celeste safe and protected. “Worse case scenario?”
“Worst case? We try and it doesn’t work. Worst case. We get past the year together and build memories and purchase a couch and then it all falls apart. Worse case, we get married have a few kids, create a life and then time, experience, conflict impacts us in ways we can’t imagine and so we divorce. Worst case scenario. We live happily ever after until one of us dies and are left alone to grieve the life that was lost or celebrate the life that was lived.”
Tears were streaming down my face. I wanted to be loved by this man for as long as God would allow. Whether that time be long or short, it was an investment I was willing to make. Even if that meant I left the relationship years from now emotionally wrecked from fighting for us and our love. “Strangely enough I would take every single one of those scenarios.”
“I’ll be honest, before meeting you, Minneapolis was just a place where I kept my stuff. I was always looking for the next best thing. The next big payday, the next great adventure. But that was because I didn’t have anything special to come home to … but now I do. You make me want to plant roots. Roots so deeply interwoven into the soil it would take an act of God to uproot them.”
“Kris, I don’t want you to settle for me. Or live small when you are meant to live big. That isn’t fair to either of us.”
He cupped my face in his hands, his thumb running back and forth over my cheek. “I’m not settling, I’m making a choice. Instead of choosing me, I’m choosing us, because us … makes me happy.”
An infusion of warmth surged through my body. I sucked in my lower lip to keep it from trembling.
“California is temporary, and I have it all figured out. I can fly in and out each week … be home in time for dinner with you and Celeste on Friday nights. I’ll fly back to Cali early Monday morning. Some weekends you and Celeste can come see me. It’s not going to be easy, but it is workable. We could video chatevery night. Shit I’ll write you love letters if you want, just don’t dump me.”
“One year?” I searched his face, hoping his optimism was infectious.
“Before you know it, we’ll be back in Canada celebrating Christmas again.” His eyes told me all I needed to know. That same look was present the first time he kissed me. His brown clear eyes bore unwavering confidence, like he’d never been more sure of anything in his whole life.
“Celeste shouldn’t have called you. But I’m glad she did.” Resting on my tiptoes, I threw my arms around his neck. My ordinary little life had been turned on its head. I’d gone from Bah Humbug to Merry Christmas to you and yours in a matter of weeks. I finally felt ready to heal from the wounds of Christmas’s past. I’d lost my parents, but I didn’t lose the memories, the laughter, or their unwavering love.
Kris’s strong arms hugged me back, letting me know that we were going to be okay.
“Wordbop of the day,” I said. “Eight letters, three words. Hint, it’s a romantic affirmation.” I kissed his lips. “I…” Pulling away, I whispered the next word over his mouth. “Love.”
Kris dipped me at the waist like a couple from one of those old timey movies finishing my sentence. “You.”
One yearlater
I think the sugar pine was the largest Christmas tree I’d ever seen in a residential home. Kris let Celeste pick the tree and she selected this massive, frosted tree that now stood in Kris’s penthouse apartment. Correction, our penthouse apartment. It was days before Christmas and I was busy wrapping gifts to add to the already stuffed tree. In a few days, Kris’s family would be coming to town. Somehow, he’d convinced me to host Christmas.
Being an event planner, I was kind of excited to put together an event for family and friends and not strangers. But I was also a perfectionist, so now that it was crunch time, I was second guessing all of my hosting choices.
The elevator door opened and Kris and Celeste swept in. “It’s snowing again,” Celeste said, stomping her boots on the entry rug.
“I can see that. Was the grocery store packed?”
“Yes, but we managed.” Kris unbuttoned his coat. “I did have a brief tug of war with an older fella over cranberries, but I made it out unscathed.”
“I hope you’re joking.” Jumping up, I helped unpack the bags.
“He’s not.” Celeste grabbed a juice from the fridge. “See you later.”
“Hold on. I thought you were going to help me make cookies.”
“Yes, I will but first I need to warm up my feet.” Celeste headed toward her wing of the apartment. The hole in the wall had been converted. Creating two additional rooms in the main apartment and then a separate area all for Celeste with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bath and laundry room that she was allowed to decorate as she saw fit. She had her own private entry, or she could come visit us through a shared door connecting both spaces.
When Kris showed me the plans for the renovation, I was floored. I was convinced I would have to lose my sister to give her the independence she was seeking, but Kris made it possible for Celeste to have her own space with grown-up responsibilities while still remaining close in case anything went wrong. I don’t know if this was a permanent solution, but right now Celeste was happy, and that’s all that mattered.
“You have one hour, then I expect you back here with an apron and a can-do attitude.”
She threw a thumbs up before leaving the room. “Why are there three different types of marshmallows?”
