Chapter 248

Aiden

The Hart house looked like it had stepped straight out of a Christmas movie.

Garlands wrapped the banisters in rich evergreen, threaded with gold ribbon and soft white lights. Ornaments hung like jewels. The sweeping staircase curved upward like something out of a castle scene, and for a second both Noah and I just stopped in the entryway and stared.

We looked at each other at the exact same time.

“Definitely,” he whispered.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “We’re getting a stairway like this.”

He grinned and bumped my shoulder. “And then you can dramatically descend every morning.”

“I already do,” I said.

He laughed—and then he wasn’t laughing anymore, because his mother was suddenly there.

“Noah,” she breathed.

He didn’t walk to her—he ran. The sound she made when he wrapped his arms around her cracked straight through the room. Emily joined them halfway, colliding into both of them, laughing and crying at once.

“I missed you,” his mother whispered into his shoulder.

“I missed you too, Mom,” Noah said, voice breaking. “So much.”

She cupped his face. “Look at you. You look… happy.”

“I am,” he said simply.

Then Emily grabbed him. “Don’t you dare forget about your favorite sister now that you’re all fancy and football famous.”

“I only have one sister,” he laughed, pulling her tighter. “So you’re stuck as my favorite forever.”

Emily clung to him. “FaceTime is not the same thing. I demand physical Noah.”

“I’m here,” he murmured, kissing her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere today.”

Lexie appeared next—glowing in deep red satin, hair falling in soft curls. She hugged Noah like he was a miracle. Then she pulled me in too.

“I can’t believe you’re both here,” she said, eyes bright. “This is… the best Christmas gift.”

I squeezed her shoulder. “We wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

She hugged me tight, cheek pressed against mine. “Thank you for coming,” she whispered. “Really.”

“Thank you for inviting us,” I said. “You look like a queen!”

She sniffed. “Finally, someone noticed.”

Her mother followed—elegant, composed, but with a softness that hadn’t always been there. Grief had written something quiet into her face… but peace too.

“Welcome,” she said, meaning it. “This is your home.”

“Thank you,” I said gently.

“And Merry Christmas,” she added softly.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Hart,” I replied.

A second after, Micah swept into view, throwing a handful of confetti, because of course that was him—black suit, silver-threaded waistcoat, eyeliner that shimmered when he moved, and a brooch shaped like a tiny star pinned near his heart.

“Look at you,” he said, spreading his arms. “Both of you. So gorgeous is rude. Completely unfair.”

He hugged Noah first, hard and long. Then he turned to me, hesitated a half-second—and then just buried himself in my arms.

“It’s good to see you,” he said into my shoulder, voice quieter than usual.

“It’s good to see you too,” I replied, squeezing him back.

He leaned away and flicked imaginary lint from my lapel. “You look disgustingly handsome.”

“You look like trouble,” I said.

“But flawless as usual…” Aiden added.

He pretended to preen. “Page seventeen of Vogue called me this morning, actually—”

“Micah,” Lexie warned fondly.

“What?” he grinned. “They might someday.”

Hale’s presence arrived before he did—grounding, steady. Then he stepped forward, warm eyes taking in the entire room at once.

“Welcome home,” he said simply.

Noah hugged him without hesitation. Hale cupped the back of his head for a moment, then let him go and clasped my shoulder.

“Good to have you back,” he said.

“It’s good to be back,” I answered.

In the background, Hale had already taken gentle command of everything. He relieved Mrs. Hart of every practical worry in sight, spoke quietly to the staff, redirected questions, made sure she didn’t have to lift a finger tonight.

“The staff have the drinks set. I’ll make sure everyone gets settled,” he assured Mrs. Hart.

She exhaled, grateful. “Thank you. Truly.”

Soon we were all gathered near the fireplace—glasses of eggnog and mulled wine in hand, music floating softly through the room, the glow of the fire painting everyone gold.

Lexie curled against Micah on the sofa, their fingers intertwined like it had always been that way. Emily sat cross-legged on the rug. Hale stood near the mantel, hands in his pockets, relaxed but attentive. Mrs. Hart had a quiet seat near the fire—watching, listening, surviving with grace.

Noah pressed against my side under the same throw blanket.

For a moment, no one rushed.

Then Emily broke the spell.

“So,” she said brightly, “how’s New Orleans?”

Noah smiled. “Busy. Loud. Gorgeous.... I heard is haunted. Oh, and it's full of food. Absolutely nothing like Texas—except the mild winter, and I heard it’s gonna be hot in summer.”

“We are just a few hours away, dude… It’s gonna be just like in Texas!” Lexie laughed softly. “And how about the Saints?”

“Training is brutal,” Noah said. “But I love it. I really do.”

His mom squeezed his hand.

“And the team? Your new trainer?” Hale asked.

“Good. They are all really friendly and great players,” Noah said. “Our coach is hard. Intense. But good. I’m learning a lot.”

I jumped in at that. “He’s not me though...”

Noah pouted. “No one will ever be you...”

Micah leaned forward. “And the new Dominion?”

Hale glanced at me and smiled faintly. “Coming together.”

“You’re opening it out soon, right?” Lexie asked, excited.

“Yes,” I said. “It’s taking a while, and it has been a lot of work. But yes.”

Mrs. Hart nodded. “I’m glad,” she said quietly. “People need places where they are… understood.”

Lexie reached over and held her hand, grateful for her mother’s understanding. “I’m so glad you support me in this, Mom.”

The room went gentle after that—like everyone felt the same invisible thread.

“Hell, yeah, that’s what I call a really cool mom! Handling the idea of the club is huge…!” Micah gave her a warm, teethe grin.

“Handling the idea of you is the real miracle…” I winked at them.

Mrs. Hart looked at Micah with kindness. “I don’t think we could’ve made it without Micah’s—” She paused to think of the words.

“Awesomeness?” Micah jumped in.

“Constant chaos,” she said. “And yes, awesomeness too. He’s been great to Lexie and to me as well.”

“You all hear that?” Micah gloated.

We all laughed, shaking our heads.

“And you?” I asked gently, looking at Lexie. “How are you?”

Lexie took a breath. “Better. Different. Healing comes in waves. But… this—” she gestured around the room, “—this helps.”

Her mother nodded. “We are learning how to live again.”

Then she smiled. “And you all being here means more than I can say.”

Lexie kissed Micah’s nose before giving us an update on school, the cheerleading squad, new teachers and all there was to tell.

Noah rested his head on my shoulder and whispered, “This is nice.”

“What is?” I murmured.

“All of it,” he said. “Us. Them. Being here for Christmas.”

I brushed a kiss to his hair. “Yeah,” I said. “It is.”

We sat there like that—talking, laughing, sharing pieces of our lives—while the fire crackled, the house glowed and the first Christmas without William settled over many, bittersweet and healing at the same time.

That night felt like something out of a memory I already knew I’d hold onto forever.

We shared a beautiful Christmas dinner—laughter threading through every conversation—and exchanged gifts that meant something special to everyone. Later, we gathered around the fireplace, and Noah took out his guitar and led us through Christmas carols, his voice soft and bright all at once. We told stories. We talked about the future—the new lives beginning, the healing still happening. And together, we gave thanks to God for the greatest gift of all:

His presence.

This family.

This peace we had somehow survived our way into.

And in my case, a love story I never could have imagined was meant for me.

One that came with a New Year’s surprise I had been keeping secret....

Until now…