Lucia was lying over Gabriele’s chest as she sat up, his hand on her ass supporting her. The others were around them, and Maxwell took her hand and slowly placed a gorgeous Victorian-style ring with a large diamond onto her finger.
“Oh God, it’s beautiful,” she said.
“It fits perfectly,” Salvatore said.
“She’s perfect, that’s why,” Gabriele chimed in.
“It was our mom’s, Lucia,” Maxwell told her.
“I love it. It’s so special. I didn’t think I could get any happier,” she told them, and they each kissed her.
“You haven’t had any of Mary’s special eggnog,” Lucifer teased, and the guys laughed.
“So where do you want to go to celebrate? We have a lot of time before we need to get ready for Mary’s party,” Gabriele asked.
“I think back to bed,” she told them, and Maxwell hooted and hollered as he lifted her up and carried her toward the stairs, his brothers on his heels.
* * * *
Lucifer held Lucia’s hand as they approached Mary Higgins’s front door. From the moment they pulled up to the roadway, they saw so many cars, and more people were arriving along with them.
She had done an amazing job decorating and bringing to life a holiday that now and forever would have great meaning for Lucia.
“Look at this wreath, it’s huge,” Gabriele pointed out, and Maxwell and Salvatore agreed. The front door opened, and a man dressed in a tuxedo was there to greet them.
“Good evening, and welcome,” he said then opened the door wider, allowing them entry. There were people everywhere talking, dancing, and laughing. The live band set up in the back of the house was playing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” There was mistletoe scattered above people’s heads, hanging from the top banister of the staircase right over where a couple currently stole a kiss.
She saw the large menorah celebrating Hanukkah. The silver-and-blue decorations set around the living room were so bright and shimmering.
There was so much to take in, including the people arriving then being handed an ornament to place on the ten-foot Christmas tree in the living room.
“Lucia!” Mary called out, and Lucifer released her hand as Mary hugged her tight.
“You made it. I’m so very happy. Everyone, this is Lucia,” she called to them, and people Lucia had never seen or met before began to greet her and the men. Before long, Mary was pulling her to the side and grabbing a special ornament just for her.
“This is yours to place on my tree, and I hope that you return every year to share in this celebration with me.”
She handed her an ornament of beautiful angel with long brown hair and huge brown eyes and a name engraved on the front in gold. Lucia.
She smiled at Mary and then gave the guys a wink before she looked at Mary again.
“Something tells me I’ll be spending a lot of years in Pearl with my four handsome soldiers,” she said and showed Mary the ring.
Mary screamed aloud and hugged Lucia then hugged the men.
“They’re engaged,” she called out, and everyone cheered and congratulated them.
As Lucia and her men made their way through the crowds of people, they started to see some familiar faces, including Sage’s and Diane’s.
As they all began talking and mingling, enjoying the party, Lucia absor
bed it all. She squeezed Salvatore’s hand as a magical sensation filled her heart.
Never in all her life, in the tough decisions she had to make out of fear and danger, would she ever have expected to land in a town like Pearl. She was never a dreamer, more like a survivor, but running for her life, meeting and falling in love with four handsome men, her own American soldiers, changed everything. It made her want to fight for their love, for the things she always wanted and never had, and to let down her guard and let good, kind, compassionate people inside. In doing so, she not only fell in love for the very first time, but she also gained some new lasting friendships in a town, and a community she was officially part of. This was her second chance at life, since that very first kiss to her forehead, so sweet and compassionate, a sign, an invitation to something as pure and powerful as love. Maybe the fairy tales and storybooks were right. Maybe celebrating, giving thanks, enjoying life, and making friends were what really made miracles happen during the holidays. Just taking the chance to open up her heart and allowing the pain, the bitterness, and anger to be set free made room for love.
Life was way too short to not find happiness. But she found it in Pearl. Now Lucia was officially home.
THE END