When The Curtain Falls

27 ~Christmas Day Pt 1~

Josh and Jenna were awoken from their sleep by the sound of children running down the hall.

"Looks like Santa came," Josh chuckled, stroking Jenna's hair. Jenna felt Josh's laugh vibrate in his chest which her head was against. She looked up at Josh and stretched her neck to give him a kiss as he met her halfway. "Merry Christmas, mama," Josh said.

"Merry Christmas, Joshy," Jenna smiled. "Oh! I have your present." She jumped out of bed and rummaged through her bag to pull out a small wrapped box with a velvet bow on top. She sat cross-legged on the bed before handing him the box. Josh's eyes gleamed with joy as he frantically unwrapped the gift. He opened the box to reveal a little leather-bound notebook and a wooden pen. They had matching designs of feathers with gold paint outlines.

"I love it!" Josh said, flipping through the pages of the book.

"I saw you were getting down to the last few pages of your other one."

Josh examined his gift. "Did you make these!?" Josh exclaimed.

"Yes," Jenna looked down humbly. Josh got up and crawled over to Jenna. He stood in front of her on all fours, caressing her cheek before placing a soft kiss on her lips. "It's perfect."

"I'm glad you like it... We should probably go downstairs and join the others," Jenna said as Josh pulled away.

"Okay, but first look in the closet," Josh smirked. A look of confusion and excitement danced across Jenna's face. She slowly opened the door to see a gift bag resting on the middle shelf. She brought it back to the bed and took out a picture frame. It was a picture of the two of them from the day at the beach. Jenna remembered that exact moment. They had just dried off after jumping off the cliff into the water and were drying off in the sun. Josh had scooted up next to her and took a selfie of them laying in the lush green grass.

Jenna turned the frame over to see a cd and a note taped to the back. Merry Christmas Jenna. May our future be as bright and may our love be as warm as the sun was on that beautiful day xoxo. P.S. enjoy this mix of all the songs that remind me of you.

"Josh!" Jenna tackled Josh who was leaning against the headboard on the bed and buried her face in the crook of his neck. "Thank you. I really love it."

The couple headed downstairs to join the others in the living room. Children were tearing apart the wrapping of their presents in a giddy eagerness and parents were huddled around the coffee pot, waiting to pour themselves a cup.

***********

"Morning," Jake whispered in Bella's ear, waking her up.

"Good morning." She pulled her face out of his chest and smiled.

She sat up and started to grab her clothes off the floor, dressing herself up again in her shorts and tee. Bella turned back around to see Jake sitting up in bed. hair messy, flipped over to one side of his face. He rubbed his eyes and swung the blankets off to sit on the edge of the bed. Bella walked over to him and sat on his lap, throwing her legs over him.

"Merry Christmas, Jakey." She kissed him softly, making the kiss last.

"Same to you my girl." He ran his fingers up and down her back.

"Ooh! I want you to open my present!" She got up frantically.

Bella handed him the gift wrapped in a box with a red tie holding it all together. He ripped open the box to find his pair of lucky boots. He stared at her in confusion. "Did you just take my boots and wrap them up?" Jake chuckled.

"Flip them over!" Bella told him. As he flipped them over, he saw her name engraved on the sole of the left shoe.

"Do you like it?" Bella asked, twiddling her thumbs anxiously.

Jake placed them back in the box gently, he looked up at Bella as a single tear dropped from his face. He wiped it away embarrassed.

"This is the best gift ever." He grabbed her waist pulling her down on the bed with him. He kissed her.

"Thank you, Bella. My shoes are even more special now."

"I'm so glad you love them, Jakey, I was worried." she giggled brushing his lips with her thumb.

"Breakfast!" Karen yelled from the kitchen.

"I'll give you my present later." He kissed her neck.

Jake and Bella both got up and got dressed, meeting everyone else in the kitchen.

"Merry Christmas!" Bella said, walking up to Jenna, hugging her as Josh kissed her cheek gently to greet her. "Merry Christmas!" he said ecstatically. After a delicious breakfast of Belgian waffles, eggs, and bacon by Mama Kiszka, everyone got ready for the day and went their separate ways.

"We will be back, Mom!" Josh yelled, before sliding the back porch door open and leading Jenna outside. They were both bundled up head to toe in snow clothes. After they got down the snow-covered steps and touched the ground, Josh grabbed Jenna's hand and pulled her through the backyard and into the woods off of their house. They laughed all the way. Josh let go of Jenna and they walked side-by-side. The couple remained in the silence and stillness of the winter, the only sounds being their crunchy footsteps.

Bella's POV

We were driving down a long dirt road, it seemed to never end. His hand rested on my inner thigh while the other was on the wheel. I didn't know where he was taking me, but I did not care. I was fascinated by the town of Frankenmuth, there was so much to look at in the winter.

"Bella" he called my name and I frantically looked over at him. He had on his dark shades so I couldn't see his eyes. I looked into the dark lenses. "Yes?" I replied in a cheerful tone. For the most part, I was calm, but the moment my eyes slipped down to where his veiny, muscly hands were gripping my thigh, I lost it and couldn't help but inch closer to him.

"I want to take you somewhere very special to me. A place I hold a lot of fond memories." He now placed his hand on mine, intertwining our fingers. I stared out the window once again and let out a sigh as "In My Life" by The Beatles played.

We arrived at a place called Fischer Hall. I hopped out of the car with Jake's help, as he opened and shut the door behind me. We walked up to the place and he swung open the big doors. Jake took my hand, removing the shades from his face. We walked slowly to the very front of the stage. I looked around and found no one in there, yet the stage was all lit up.

As I walked closer, his hand in mine, I began to see red and white roses arranged on the stage, I couldn't quite tell what it was spelling out though. I approached the stage and he led me up the stairs where the flowers lay.

"Jake, this is so beautiful!" I let go of his hand and turned to read what the flowers were saying. I began to read out loud. "Will...you..-" I felt a lump form in my throat. "-m-marry me?" I turned to Jake in pure shock.

Unable to get any words to leave my mouth, I stood there in silence as Jake stood on one knee in front of me. I felt faint, sick to my stomach even. I wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not.

"I know we haven't been together that long. I'm not even sure how long we've been together, but what I do know is, I don't want to spend the rest of my life with anyone other than you. I love you so much. Will you marry me, Bella?" Jake asked me, holding the ring box open. Oddly, there wasn't any hesitation in my answer; this boy was the one I wanted to be with, I am sure of it.

"Yes" I grabbed his arms helping him stand and he picked me up. I threw my arms around his neck as he kissed my face all over. He brushed my hair from my face with his fingers. He spun me around while the lights of the stage beamed down on us. He put me down and I kissed him hard. "You are my person, Bella," Jake said.

"I love you, Jacob," I said back.

I grabbed his hand "Well, let's go! We have to tell everybody!"