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 abite, 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.”
27
JAKE
“You wouldn’t believe how ecstatic everyone is to see you and Lydia together tonight,” Hailey said, laughing incredulously.
I already knew that. Our mom had called me three times this morning to express her excitement. There were many questions about Lydia and my future, especially since I’d already moved in with her.
“Has Lydia’s present come in yet?” Hailey wondered.
I glanced out the window, wondering when the big brown truck would pull into the driveway and deliver it.
“No. It’s supposed to be here today.”
“Lydia’s going to be so excited when she sees it. It’s a shame you can’t hang it up in that fancy, new house of yours, but I understand. You and Lydia want to be at her grandparents’ cabin.”
Any other woman would’ve loved to have moved into my new house, but that wasn’t Lydia. She wanted to live here, and deep down, I did too. I tried to find a place like this, but it wasn’t meant to be. I was meant to be here . . . with her.
“What are you going to do with your new house?” Hailey asked. “Are you going to sell it?”
