“That’s what makes it unique. I love it. It’s just like us.”
“It is?” he asks, placing the last of the ornament boxes to the side.
“Yeah. When we were in Spain, we didn’t have a plan. We hoped for the best and things worked out beautifully. With this tree, the same rules apply. I love that from every angle you look, you see something different. No two ornaments are the same.”
He walks over and kisses me on the cheek. “I love your positivity, Dr. Brown,” he purrs. “How did I get so lucky to have you in my life?”
“You walked into my clinic, that’s how.” I spin around and clap my hands together. “Now that you have a tree, you need some presents.” Walking over to the bag, I pull out the top two boxes. “It’s not much, but these are for you.”
He studies me with wide eyes. “Ava, you shouldn’t have.”
“Yes, I should have. You deserve it. And it’s not like it’s anything too fancy. They’re homemade.” He stares at the green paper decorated with candy canes, running his fingers over it. “You can open them now if you want.”
“I can?”
“Yup. Unless you want to save one for tomorrow. But if I were you, I wouldn’t want to wait.”
“You’re sure?”
I nod. “Go on.”
We sit down on the couch next to Max. Soft holiday music plays in the background as logs crackle in the fireplace. Slowly, Fernando peels back the layers of paper on the first gift to reveal a recipe book I’ve put together for him.
“The Book of Pies,” he reads aloud, then carefully opens it. With each flip of the page, the corners of his lips twitch up wider and wider.
“I went around town and collected the best pie recipes from everyone I knew, including two pies from the Lucky Dog Dinner. Gemma made me promise I wouldn’t tell you which recipes they are, but I bet you can figure it out.”
“Thank you, Ava, it’s one of the most thoughtful gifts I’ve ever received. I can’t wait to try them out.”
He sets the book aside and opens the second gift. It’s a picture of us taken at the Christmas market in Madrid.
“I went through a hundred different photos trying to decide which one to have printed for you before I finally settled on this one. I know it’s the day I face planted, but something else special happened before that.”
He lifts his chin and locks eyes with me. “And that was...?”
“It was the day I realized I’d fallen head over heels for you, Fernando. I knew that even though I’d agreed to a fake relationship, I wanted it to become real.”
“That’s the same day I knew my feelings for you were real too.” Placing the frame down on the table, he reaches over and takes my hands in his. “Thank you so much for these gifts. They’re the best things I’ve ever received. Happy Christmas Eve, Ava.”
He gives me a kiss, and I feel like I’ve been transported to the land of the Sugarplum Fairy inThe Nutcracker. Everything about it is magical.
Later, Fernando disappears into his bedroom and returns with a large box.
“If we’re exchanging gifts, it’s my turn to spoil you.” He sets the package on my lap.
“But I thought you were my gift,” I mumble, my cheeks warming.
“I am.” He puffs his chest out. “But this is something practical we can both enjoy,” he says with a wink.
I hesitate, then rip open the paper. I’ve never had the patience to keep the wrapping paper nice. “Wow, my own skates!” I bound out of my seat, hugging him tightly. “Thank you!”
“These come with lessons from me too.” He grins. “I can’t have my girlfriend getting hurt. I’m going to turn you into a pairs skater.”
“We have a looooooooong way to go until that happens.” I peckhim on the cheek. “But either way, thank you. I can’t wait to try these out. I wish the rink were open now. It’s too bad they’ll be closed until next week. I’m off work and actually have the time.”
Fernando’s eyes twinkle with mirth. “What if I had my own personal rink?” Smugly walking over to the back sliding door, he pulls open the curtain to reveal a flat portable rink that’s about twenty feet by twenty feet. “It may not be the best quality, but ice is ice.”
I smile widely. “I’m game if you are,Coach Fernando.”
