A Christmas to Remember

Chapter 4: Haunting Memories

Beep. Beep.

The faint sound of a message notification barely registered at first, but it eventually stirred Adam Luke from his sleep. Groggy, he turned over, his hand instinctively reaching out to the other side of the bed, only to find it cold and empty. His brows furrowed. Where had she gone?

Sitting up, Adam rubbed his eyes, hoping to shake off the fog of sleep and last night’s haze. His hair was disheveled, tousled from the intensity of the night. He let out a frustrated breath as fragments of memories came rushing back.

Her laughter. The soft melody of her voice in his ear. The fire in her gaze, mirroring the same desperation he’d felt. The way her body seemed perfectly designed to fit against his. Her curls dancing around her face as they’d moved together. It had been a night unlike any other—intense, raw, and unexpectedly profound.

But now, the woman who had stirred all of those emotions in him was gone.

His jaw tightened as he glanced around the room. There was no note, no trace of her belongings, not even a stray hair on the pillow. She had left, just like everyone else did. Without knowing him, without giving him a chance. She hadn't even left her name.

Adam’s hand drifted to his lips, the memory of their feverish kisses still fresh. He clenched his fist, anger bubbling beneath the surface. Why did she leave? And why did it bother him so much?

Ring! Ring!

The piercing sound of his phone jolted him from his thoughts. He grabbed it from the nightstand, exhaling sharply before answering.

"Hello?" he said gruffly.

"Finally, man! I thought you'd dropped off the face of the earth," came Steve’s voice, his best friend’s enthusiasm grating against Adam’s already frayed nerves. "I’ve been trying to reach you since last night. What’s the deal? Don’t tell me you were stuck in your work dungeon again, Mr. Overachiever."

Adam leaned back against the headboard, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Last night isn’t something I’m in the mood to discuss, Steve."

"Oh, so it’s one of those nights?" Steve teased. "Let me guess—someone swept you off your feet, and now you’re pretending it didn’t happen?"

"Drop it," Adam said curtly, his tone brooking no argument.

Steve chuckled but didn’t push further. "Anyway, I hope you’re ready for today. You’re still going to your family house, right? Or are you gonna chicken out like every other year?"

Adam’s stomach twisted at the mention of his family. Today was supposed to be his first visit home in years, a chance to mend the broken ties that had plagued him for almost a decade. But the idea of walking into that house filled him with dread.

Eight years. That’s how long it had been since the night everything fell apart.

The memory came rushing back, unbidden. He and his younger brother Luke had gone to the club to celebrate the holidays. What should’ve been a night of laughter and bonding had spiraled into tragedy. Luke had had too much to drink, and despite Adam’s protests, he insisted on driving home.

Adam clenched his fists as the memory of the accident played out in his mind. The screech of tires, the shattering of glass, the sickening sound of metal crumpling. He’d survived, but Luke hadn’t. And his family never let him forget it.

"Adam?" Steve’s voice pulled him back to the present. "You still there?"

"Yeah," Adam said hoarsely. "I’m here."

"You’re not backing out, are you?" Steve pressed. "Look, I know it’s hard, but it’s been eight years. Maybe it’s time to put the past behind you."

"It’s not that simple," Adam muttered, his gaze drifting to the empty space beside him.

"No, it’s not," Steve agreed, his tone softening. "But it’s Christmas, man. If there’s ever a time for forgiveness, it’s now. Besides, I'm your family misses you. Especially your mother"

Adam’s chest tightened at the mention of his mother. Despite everything, she had always been his anchor, the one person who believed in him even when he couldn’t believe in himself. Maybe Steve was right. Maybe it was time.

"I’ll think about it," Adam said finally.

"Don’t think too hard," Steve quipped. "The longer you wait, the harder it’ll be."

Adam ended the call and set the phone down, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. His gaze fell to the empty pillow again, and he couldn’t shake the thought of the woman from last night. She had offered him a fleeting moment of solace, a brief escape from the weight of his guilt and pain.

But now, the emptiness was back, sharper than ever. And the thought of facing his family only made it worse.

He shook his head, determined to push aside the nagging memories of last night. He grabbed his wallet and jacket, ready to leave the room behind—and her along with it.

Downstairs, the hotel lobby was alive with activity. The soft murmur of conversations and the clinking of coffee cups filled the air. Adam approached the receptionist to check out, handing over his key card.

"Ah, Mr. Luke," the receptionist said with a polite smile. "Someone left this for you."

Adam frowned, his curiosity piqued as she handed him a small envelope.

"Who left this?" he asked.

"A woman," the receptionist replied. "She said it was important."

Adam hesitated before tearing open the envelope. Inside was a note written on hotel stationery.

“Last night… thank you. I needed that. – E”

Adam stared at the note, his heart pounding in his chest. E. Was that her? The woman who had slipped away like a ghost in the night?

For the first time in a long time, a spark of hope flickered in his chest as he folded the note carefully, slipping it into his pocket. He didn’t know who she was or why she had come into his life, but one thing was certain—he wasn’t ready to let her slip away completely.

Not yet.