“Let’s play,” I said. Then, I turned to my grandmother. “I’m not letting you beat me this time.”
She winked. “We’ll see about that.”
Max and I played cards with our grandparents for a few hours and watched several movies with them, one being a romance where two elderly people fellin love after meeting in a retirement home. It was pretty interesting, especially considering it reflected what was actually happening with my nana and John.
It was closing in on five o’clock and I was starving, so Max and I decided to grab dinner at one of the local taverns that had the best burgers in town. There was never a moment where one of us didn’t have anything to say. Our conversations flowed so easily. It felt like I’d known him for years.
After finishing off the last of my fries, I sat back against the booth. Neither Max nor I had anything left on our plates.
“Do we want dessert?” he asked.
Laughing, I clutched my full stomach. “There is no way. Besides, I think I ate my sweet limit for the month at the cookie festival the other day.”
Max nodded in agreement. “Can’t argue with you there.” His attention turned to the windows overlooking Main Street. “Do you want to walk around for a bit? It’s a nice night and I’m not ready for this date to end yet.”
He was such a sweet guy. How could I not fall for someone like him?
“I’d like that,” I replied. “A walk sounds amazing. Besides, I can never get enough of seeing the twinkling lights everywhere.”
Max chuckled. “If you could keep Christmas decorations up all year, would you do it?”
“In a heartbeat,” I claimed wholeheartedly. The waitress came by with our check and I quickly snatched it from Max, giggling as I gave the waitress my card. “You paid for our food the other night. It’s my turn now.”
He pursed his lips and huffed playfully. “Fine. I’ll get dinner next time.”
When the waitress returned with my card, we put on our jackets and left. The wind was brisk, but the stars were bright in the sky, adding to the allure of the small Christmas town ofBlowing Rock. As I looked around at all the lights, it was as if I could feel magic around me. That was how Christmas was to me. Sometimes, I wished it could be Christmas every day. I knew for a fact I’d never get tired of it.
“What are you thinking about?” Max asked, reaching for my hand.
I smiled and waved a hand at all the decorated trees in the park. “Christmas. I wish the town would keep up the decorations all year long. I feel a sense of joy during this time of year. Don’t get me wrong, I’m mostly a happy person every day of my life, it’s just it’s different at Christmas.”
Max chuckled. “It’s almost magical, huh?”
I touched the mistletoe attached to my sweater. “Do you believe in magic . . . or miracles?” I asked him.
My thoughts wandered to Margaret, and when I looked toward the gazebo, I saw that she was there, dressed in her usual red sweater and black pants. She smiled and waved, but when I looked at Max and then back to the gazebo, she was gone.
Max squeezed my hand and pulled me closer to his side. “Do I believe in magic or miracles?” His gray eyes met mine and he smiled. “I do.”
“You do?” I questioned.
He nodded. “How could I not? It’s because of you that my grandfather is happy again. If you hadn’t asked us to play cards with you and your nana two years ago, I don’t think he’d be with us today.”
That hurt my heart.
“What do you mean?”
A heavy sigh escaped his lips and so much sadness was on his face. “My grandfather was in a bad way when my grandmother died. We all thought he’d give in to his broken heart and wither away. Luckily, he met your nana and that gave him something to look forward to. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
My eyes burned just thinking about it.
“I’d have to say the same about my nana,” I confessed. “I never thought I could imagine her loving someone other than my pappy, but I think she’s getting there with John.”
Max squeezed my hand again. “My grandfather said you were his miracle, Lydia. That’s why I believe in them.”
There was no stopping the tears that fell down my cheeks. I used my free hand to wipe them away and Max chuckled. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.” He stepped in front of me and wiped the rest of my tears away. “Just know that my family is truly grateful for you and your nana. They want to meet you soon.” My stomach balled up with nerves. That was a huge step, but I knew it had to be taken at some point. “Would you like to come over for our family holiday party on Christmas day? You don’t have to stay long. I know you probably have things to do with your own family.”
If we were going to take that step, I needed to go all in just like he was.
