Chapter 4.
1100 Words
Chapter 4: A Decision to Make
The house is quiet, save for the faint crackling of the fire. The Christmas tree glows warmly in the corner, its lights twinkling like tiny stars. I sit on the couch, Ethan's words playing over and over in my head like a song I can’t stop humming.
"I’m not going anywhere. When you’re ready, you know where to find me."
It’s been years since anyone has made me feel the way Ethan does—like I matter. But the weight of my past mistakes, my failed marriage, and the responsibility of raising Lily presses heavily on me. Can I really take a chance on him?
The sound of tiny feet padding down the stairs pulls me from my thoughts. I glance up to see Lily standing in her fuzzy pajamas, clutching her stuffed bunny.
“Mommy, why are you still awake?” she asks, rubbing her eyes.
“I couldn’t sleep, sweetheart,” I say, patting the spot next to me. “What about you?”
“I had a dream,” she says, climbing onto the couch and snuggling against me.
“A good one or a bad one?” I ask, wrapping my arm around her.
She thinks for a moment. “It was about the skating rink. Ethan was there. He helped me again.”
My heart squeezes at the mention of his name. “Did he?”
Lily nods, her eyes sparkling. “He’s really nice, Mommy. Do you like him?”
There it is again—the question I’ve been avoiding. I hesitate, unsure how much to share with her. “He’s a good person, Lily. I think he cares about us.”
She looks up at me, her expression serious. “I think you should marry him.”
I burst out laughing, though the sound is more nervous than amused. “Oh, sweetheart, it’s not that simple.”
“Why not?” she insists. “He makes you smile. You don’t smile a lot, but you do when he’s around.”
Her words hit me harder than I expect. I want to argue, to tell her she’s too young to understand, but deep down, I know she’s right.
“Alright, Miss Matchmaker,” I say, kissing her forehead. “Let’s get you back to bed.”
---
The next morning, the smell of coffee and cinnamon fills the air as my mom hums in the kitchen. Lily is at the table, happily munching on a stack of pancakes shaped like reindeer.
“Good morning,” my dad greets me as I walk in. “You look… preoccupied.”
I force a smile. “Just thinking about some things.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Anything you want to talk about?”
I hesitate, glancing at Lily. “Later, maybe.”
As if on cue, the doorbell rings. Lily jumps up, her excitement palpable. “I’ll get it!”
She races to the door, and I follow, my heart skipping a beat when I see Ethan standing on the porch, holding a bouquet of poinsettias and a small gift bag.
“Good morning,” he says, his eyes locking with mine.
“Ethan,” I say, trying to steady my voice. “What are you doing here?”
“Christmas Eve deliveries,” he replies with a grin, handing the flowers to Lily, who beams with delight. “These are for your mom.”
“Thank you,” I say, taking the poinsettias and stepping aside to let him in. “You didn’t have to do this.”
“I wanted to,” he says simply, his gaze softening as it lingers on me.
---
We settle into the living room, where Lily eagerly opens the gift bag to reveal a beautiful snow globe. Inside, a tiny ice-skating scene sparkles with glittering snow.
“Wow!” she exclaims, shaking it excitedly. “Thank you, Ethan!”
“You’re welcome,” he says, his smile widening. “I thought it might remind you of the skating rink.”
Lily rushes off to show the snow globe to my parents, leaving Ethan and me alone.
“Ethan,” I start, unsure how to express the tangle of emotions swirling inside me.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he interrupts gently. “I just wanted to see you, to make sure you’re okay.”
“I’m fine,” I say, though the words feel hollow. “It’s just… this is all so unexpected.”
“I know,” he says, his voice steady. “But I meant what I said last night. I’m here, Catherine. For you, for Lily. Whenever you’re ready.”
His words are like a lifeline, and for a moment, I let myself believe that maybe, just maybe, I deserve this second chance.
---
Later that evening, as the family gathers around the tree for Christmas Eve traditions, I find myself stealing glances at Ethan. He fits in so effortlessly, laughing with my dad, helping my mom hang ornaments, and playing games with Lily.
At one point, he catches me watching him and gives me a smile that makes my cheeks flush.
“Mommy,” Lily whispers, tugging on my sleeve. “Can Ethan stay for Christmas dinner tomorrow?”
I hesitate, torn between my own feelings and what’s best for her. But the hope in her eyes is impossible to resist.
“We’ll see,” I say, ruffling her hair.
---
As the night winds down, Ethan lingers by the door, his hands tucked into his coat pockets.
“Thanks for letting me crash your family time,” he says, his tone light but his eyes searching.
“You didn’t crash anything,” I reply, my voice softer than I intended. “You made it better.”
For a moment, neither of us speaks, the unspoken tension hanging between us like a delicate thread.
“Goodnight, Catherine,” he says finally, his voice low and filled with something I can’t quite name.
“Goodnight, Ethan,” I whisper, watching as he disappears into the snowy night.
---
That night, I lie awake, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. Ethan’s presence has stirred something in me—hope, fear, longing—but most of all, the possibility of a future I thought I’d lost.
Can I really let myself believe in love again?
The answer, I realize, is one only I can give. And as I drift off to sleep, I know that tomorrow, Christmas Day, will bring with it a decision I can no longer avoid.
- Writer
