𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 ๋࣭⭑𝘥. 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯

𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬

2019

it was a snowy december night when lucille's daughter, rachel, and her granddaughter, emily, arrived at her charming victorian house for the holidays.

the house, located in the big city of tulsa, was a beautiful testament to the past, with its intricate woodwork, grand bay windows, and a welcoming porch adorned with twinkling christmas lights.

lucille had lived in tulsa basically ever since she was born. she was married to man named david for about fifty years until he died from an illness a couple of years ago. david had been a carpenter, and his handiwork was evident in every corner of the house.

the wooden floors, the built-in bookshelves, and the ornate fireplace were all crafted by his skilled hands. lucille often reminisced about their early years together, the love they poured into making the house their home, and the joy they felt when rachel was born.

rachel had grown up in this house, her childhood filled with laughter, love, and the kind of small-town adventures that are the stuff of fond memories. she used to play in the spacious backyard, where david had built a sturdy treehouse.

that treehouse had been a castle, a pirate ship, and a secret hideout all in one. rachel's imagination knew no bounds, and her parents had always encouraged her creativity.

rachel moved to the bustling city of chicago for college, where she met her husband, mark. they had emily a few years later, a lively girl with her grandmother's sparkling blue eyes and her father's infectious laugh.

though rachel had built a life in the city, she always felt a strong pull back to tulsa, especially during the holidays. she wanted emily to experience the warmth and magic she had known growing up.

as rachel and emily made their way up the snow-dusted path to lucille's house, the scent of freshly baked gingerbread and pine wafted through the air, a hallmark of lucille's holiday preparations.

the front porch was decorated with garlands of evergreen and red ribbons, and a large wreath adorned the front door. tiny white lights twinkled, casting a warm glow against the snowy backdrop.

lucille greeted them at the door with open arms, her face lighting up with joy. she was in her early seventies, with silver hair that she wore in a neat bun and eyes that crinkled at the corners when she smiled. she was wearing a festive red sweater with a white reindeer pattern, a gift from emily the previous christmas.

"welcome, welcome! come in, you must be freezing!" lucille exclaimed, ushering them inside. the warmth of the house enveloped them, and the sound of crackling fire added to the cozy atmosphere. the living room was a festive wonderland, with stockings hanging from the mantle, a christmas tree twinkling with lights and ornaments, and presents already piled underneath.

emily, now eight years old, ran straight to the tree, eyes wide with excitement. "grandma, did you make gingerbread cookies?" she asked, her voice filled with anticipation.