Beneath the mistletoe

chapter 3

Time had gone by from the time she left Julian's place he tried to call her and even threatened her but she never talked to him.

The December wind howled through the trees as Emily Gray stood by the living room window, staring at the frost-covered world outside. It had been months since the threats from Julian, and though the bruises on her skin had faded, the ones in her heart still lingered. Every day was a battle to rediscover herself, to reclaim the parts of her soul he had taken.

She found her old canvases and brushes .

Painting had been her lifeline. With each brushstroke, she poured out the pain, the anger, and the hope she was slowly beginning to feel again. Her canvases told stories of brokenness and healing, of darkness and light. The small studio space her mom had set up for her in the corner of the house had become her sanctuary. Each day ended with paint on face and clothes but to her it was therapy she slowly started to feel happy again.

As Christmas approached, the house began to fill with the familiar sounds and scents of the season. The smell of fresh pine mingled with the aroma of cinnamon and cloves. Decorations hung from every corner, and the soft glow of string lights illuminated the room. It was the first time in years Emily felt the stirrings of holiday warmth, though the ache of her past still tugged at her.

Her mom’s voice called from the kitchen. “Emily, Xander just texted! He and Luca are about thirty minutes out.”

“Got it,” Emily replied, her voice steady though her stomach fluttered. She hadn’t seen her twin brother, Alexander, Xander, as he insisted on being called in nearly a year. He had been traveling for work, and while he tried to keep in touch, the time zones and her life with Julian had made it hard.

And then there was Luca Ross, Xander’s friend and coworker. Emily didn’t know much about him, except that he’d been a constant name in her brother’s stories for the past few years. She hadn’t paid much attention at the time, too consumed by her own struggles, but now she found herself curious. She hated the nervous energy bubbling in her chest and pushed it aside. She hadn't felt nervous to meet a boy since high school before meeting Julian. She wasn’t ready for anything, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever be.

When the car pulled into the driveway, Emily braced herself, taking a deep breath as the door swung open.

“Xander!” Karen called out, rushing to embrace her son as he stepped inside, shaking snow from his coat.

“Mom!” Xander laughed, hugging her tightly before looking over her shoulder at Emily. “And there she is, the lost sheep.”

“Hey, stranger,” Emily said, her voice softer than she intended. She stepped forward, and Xander pulled her into a hug.

“It’s good to see you,” he said, his voice low, his arms lingering a little longer than usual.

“You too, but if you really wanted to see me you could have looked in the mirror we're the same person. '' she replied, her throat tightening.

As they pulled apart, Xander gestured to the man standing behind him. “Emily, this is Luca Ross. Luca, meet my sister, Emily.”

Luca stepped forward, his dark brown eyes locking onto hers. He was taller than she’d expected, with an easy smile and an air of quiet confidence that made her chest tighten. His dark hair was tousled from the cold, and his jawline was sharp, softened only by the warmth in his expression.

“Hi,” Emily said, her voice catching slightly.

“Hi,” Luca replied, his gaze lingering just a moment too long.

Something passed between them in that instant something unspoken but undeniable. Emily felt her cheeks flush, and she quickly looked away, focusing on helping Xander with the bags.

From the corner of the room, Karen and Mama Ruby exchanged a glance, the kind of look that carried a lifetime of shared understanding.

“Did you see that?” Karen whispered.

Mama Ruby nodded, her sharp eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, I saw it. That boy’s got a look about him, and she’s got it too, whether she knows it or not.”

Emily, oblivious to their quiet commentary, busied herself with arranging the snacks on the table. She could feel Luca’s presence in the room, and it unnerved her. It wasn’t that she didn’t like him it was that she liked him too much, too quickly. She had promised herself she wouldn’t let her guard down again, not after Julian.

“So, Emily,” Xander said, breaking her thoughts, “how’s life back home? You painting again?”

She hesitated, glancing at her mom before nodding. “Yeah, a little. It’s… it’s been good to get back into it.”

“Good to hear,” Xander said, his voice warm. “You’ve always been insanely talented. It’s about time you started showing the world what you can do.”

Emily smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Thanks, Xander.”

Luca, who had been silent up until now, spoke up. “What do you paint?”

Emily glanced at him, caught off guard by the question. “Uh, mostly abstract stuff. A lot of emotions, I guess.”

“That’s brave,” Luca said, his tone genuine. “Putting your emotions out there like that. It’s not easy.”

Emily blinked, surprised by his sincerity. “Thanks,” she said softly.

Karen, sensing the tension, clapped her hands together. “Alright, let’s give these boys a chance to settle in before dinner. Xander, you know where your room is. Luca, you’ll be in the guest room down the hall.”

As everyone dispersed, Emily found herself lingering in the living room, staring at the twinkling lights on the tree. Her heart felt like it was caught in a tug-of-war between the pain of her past and the faint, terrifying hope of something new.

Luca’s voice broke through her thoughts. “Hey.”

She turned to see him standing in the doorway, his hands shoved into his pockets.

“Hey,” she replied.

He hesitated, as if trying to find the right words. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable earlier. I know Xander probably talks about me like I’m some big personality, but I’m not usually this… forward.”

Emily frowned, confused. “You weren’t forward.”

Luca smiled, a little sheepish. “Good to know. I just well, I guess I’ll see you at dinner.”

As he turned to leave, Emily surprised herself by calling out, “Luca?”

He stopped, looking back at her.

“Thanks for asking about my painting,” she said, her voice softer now. “Most people don’t.”

Luca’s smile widened, and for a moment, Emily felt the walls around her heart c***k just a little.

“You’re welcome,” he said. “I’d love to see it sometime.”

As he disappeared down the hall, Emily sat back on the couch, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and possibility. Her mom and Mama Ruby, watching from the kitchen, exchanged another knowing glance.

“Looks like there might be a little Christmas magic in the air, or in the wine either way I'm liking it” Mama Ruby said with a grin.

Karen smiled. “Let’s hope so, and mom you're not supposed to be drinking.”

"Karen dear, I'm getting old the booze is what is holding me together take the bottle from me and you'll be my murderer " she replied to Karen.