Chapter 20

Lily

Frank Sinatra’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” played over the speakers in the lobby of Grandma’s new home. Alex and I walked hand in hand to the front desk to request entry to see her.

We went up to her room, a place we knew quite well. Even though it wasn’t close to the campus, Alex and I helped her move into her new apartment and had visited every weekend since. She said she’d wait until after the New Year, to save me from having Christmas elsewhere, but I realized that this was her life now and I made my own with Alex. If she wanted to move then I wouldn’t put up any more of a fight.

Alex kissed me on the nose before I knocked on her door. A sliver of pleasure coiled around my stomach as I leaned into him.

The door opened, and Alex and I said, “Merry Christmas!” I displayed her gift in my hands. I brought her a snow globe from a local shop near campus to remind her of me.

“It’s not Christmas yet,” Grandma said with a smile. She was so literal sometimes.

“I’ll say it to you again tomorrow if you’d like,” I said.

She pulled me into a hug. “How were finals?”

Alex and I entered the apartment which had changed so much since we visited last. There was a small tree on the coffee table. My heart sunk but I tried to keep my appearance as positive as I could. Of course, I missed the giant tree that she decorated each year, but as I tried to convince myself, things were different now. We were both moving on with our lives, and through that, change was in order.

We talked for a little while about finals while we exchanged gifts. She knitted a hat for Alex and a scarf for me. I already received all my grades, and they were straight A’s as normal. I boasted Alex a bit saying that he finished his semester with high B’s and some A’s. I was so proud of him and his accomplishments. Him, even more so. But he made a goal to get all A’s next semester.

“Should we head downstairs?” Grandma asked.

The hallways were bustling with the residents and their families who came to visit for the Christmas Eve party. Grandma had a lot to say about what went on that week. She was on the decoration committee and donated her boxes of decorations to the home. I squeezed her hand as I noticed a lot of memories displayed on the walls. I had a feeling she did most of this for me to ease the transition and there were no words to thank her enough.

In the main dining room, families sat at tables, catching up while eating cookies and drinking eggnog and cocoa.

“Stay here,” Grandma said, leaving Alex and me at an empty four-person table.

“What’s she up to?” I asked.

Alex shrugged. “I have no clue. But I’m dying for a cookie.”

I laughed, watching him brave the line to get a cookie from the serving station across the room.

Grandma approached an older gentleman who expertly played the piano on the other side of the room. From the way she rested her hand on his shoulder, I knew there was a budding romance already in the works. I supposed at that age, you gave into your impulses, never knowing how much time you had left.

I glanced at Alex who was on his way back with a stack of cookies on a small red paper plate.

“Is she a singer?” Alex asked me, indicating the piano.

“Not a professional, but she’s good.”

As if on cue, she started singing with the older man. The rest of the room begun to take notice, and after a few moments, their voices were the only ones heard.

Halfway through the song, Grandma broke out of her trance and invited others to sing.

Alex handed me the cookies and went over to the piano, volunteering himself. Several others went as well.

I watched them, not wanting to subject anyone in that room to my singing voice. Alex put his arm around Grandma while they sang together. The sight was beautiful, and it brought tears to my eyes. I never expected anyone to meld into my life as easily as Alex did. With everything he did for Grandma and me, it was hard not to fall in love with him.

When the party started to wind down, I volunteered to help clean up the dining room while the families dispersed to exchange gifts with each other. I would have loved to spend Christmas with Grandma, but she insisted that I spend the day with Alex and his family. I wanted to savor each moment with her and try to make new holiday memories at the home.

“Lily,” Alex said from behind me.

I handed over the garbage bag to one of the staff to throw away. “What’s up?”

“I want to give you something,” he said, pulling me back into the dining room.

Grandma and her male friend were still at the piano, giggling with each other like little kids. I couldn’t help but smile. How could I have ever thought that she wouldn’t make it on her own? She was the strongest woman I knew. I hoped to have half her courage and strength when I was her age.

“I thought we weren’t exchanging gifts until tomorrow?” I asked him.

He positioned me in front of him as if I were a decoration to be placed. I raised an eyebrow what was he up to?

He pulled out a small box from behind his back.

I opened it and inside was a large, shiny diamond attached to a silver band.

“Oh my gosh,” I said. “This isn’t…is this—?”

Answering me, Alex knelt down beside me. I peered up at Grandma, my mouth opened wide. She smiled broadly at me. Did she know about this?

I looked down at Alex as he held my hand in his. “I know we’ve only known each other for one term, but I wanted to tell you that I’m in love with you. And if you would do me the honor of spending the rest of our lives together.”

“Alex,” I said, breathless. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say yes!” Grandma cheered. Her friend shushed her.

I let out a sound between a laugh and a sob.

“We can wait to get married until after you graduate,” he said. “But you should know that I’m serious about us, Lily Davis.”

I sniffed, trying to compose myself for my answer. Alex mirrored my feelings about him. He was everything I ever dreamed about in a man; smart, sexy, talented, and got along with my only living family member. He was perfect. And even though I was still young and had a lot of life to live, I couldn’t imagine being happier with anyone else.

“Yes,” I said, reaching down to help him up.

He slid the ring on my finger and kissed me. I giggled against his lips and tilted my head back, allowing him to lift me up from the ground. He twirled me around, and I noticed the tuft of mistletoe that hung from the ceiling above us. This was the mistletoe kiss that I would never forget.

The End