When Hearts Heal

Chapter 35

The weeks had flown by, and suddenly it was the height of the holiday season. The streets were decked out in festive lights, and the air was filled with the scent of pine and cinnamon. Despite the seasonal cheer, Dominic and I found ourselves caught in a whirlwind of work commitments, leaving us barely any time to spend together.

At the hospital, the holiday rush had brought an influx of patients, each day blending into the next with a flurry of activity. I juggled my shifts, trying to manage the extra demands while keeping a smile on my face for the young patients and their families. The festive decorations around the ward provided a temporary distraction, but the work itself was as demanding as ever.

Dominic, on the other hand, was busy managing the hotel’s holiday events and dealing with a surge of bookings. His days were filled with meetings, decorations, and coordinating with staff to ensure everything went off without a hitch. Our texts and brief phone calls had become the only snippets of connection between our hectic schedules.

One evening, as I finished a particularly grueling shift and was heading home, I glanced at my phone to find a message from Dominic. “Miss you. Let’s try to find some time to catch up tonight?” I smiled at the thought, but the reality of my exhaustion and the long to-do list awaiting me at home made me hesitate.

When I walked through the door of our apartment, I was greeted by a flurry of unfinished holiday preparations. The tree was half-decorated, and there were scattered gift-wrapping supplies everywhere. I sighed, knowing I needed to tackle these tasks but also wanting to prioritize some quality time with Dominic.

As if on cue, my phone buzzed again. It was Dominic calling. I answered with a mix of excitement and weariness. “Hey, you.”

“Hey,” he said, his voice filled with a warmth that instantly lifted my spirits. “How’s work?”

“Busy as ever,” I replied, glancing around at the mess. “I barely made it home. How about you?”

“Same here,” Dominic said with a chuckle. “I’m practically living at the hotel these days. I miss seeing you.”

I smiled, feeling a pang of longing. “I miss you too. It’s been crazy, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he agreed. “But I was thinking—maybe we could set aside some time this weekend? Just us, no work, no holiday chaos. What do you think?”

I felt a rush of relief and anticipation at the thought. “That sounds perfect. I’d love that. Let’s make it happen.”

We made plans to spend the entire weekend together, promising to catch up and unwind. The thought of having uninterrupted time with Dominic was a beacon of light in the midst of our busy lives.

As I wrapped up the holiday preparations and managed to find a moment of calm, I couldn’t help but look forward to our upcoming weekend. The holiday season might be hectic, but the promise of reconnecting with Dominic was the greatest gift I could imagine.

The weekend had finally arrived, and after a week of non-stop work, Dominic and I were ready for a much-needed break. We decided to spend the weekend at his place, a cozy haven decked out with twinkling lights and festive decorations.

When I walked through the door, Dominic greeted me with a warm hug and a mischievous grin. “Welcome to our holiday hideaway. How about we start with some cheesy Christmas movies and comfort food?”

“That sounds perfect,” I said, slipping off my coat and letting out a contented sigh. “I’ve missed this.”

Dominic led me to the living room, where a pile of fluffy blankets and pillows awaited us on the couch. He had set up a mini Christmas movie marathon, complete with a variety of classic holiday films.

We settled onto the couch, and Dominic wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close. “So, what’s your holiday movie must-have?”

I snuggled against him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. “Definitely the Grinch. I’ve watched it every year since I was a kid.”

“Good choice,” Dominic said, chuckling. “I’m more of a Love Actually fan myself. There’s just something about that movie that gets me every time.”

We laughed and talked about our favorite holiday traditions as the movie played softly in the background. Dominic made hot cocoa, and we sipped it together, enjoying the sweetness and the warmth.

As the night went on, we moved from movie to movie, our conversation flowing easily between bites of popcorn and shared laughter. Dominic looked at me with a playful glint in his eyes. “You know, we should probably create our own holiday tradition. Something uniquely ours.”

I tilted my head, curious. “Like what?”

He thought for a moment, then grinned. “How about a holiday scavenger hunt? We could come up with clues and little surprises for each other.”

I laughed, feeling a sense of excitement. “That sounds fun! I’m in. But only if we can include some ridiculous Christmas-themed prizes.”

Dominic nodded enthusiastically. “Deal. And if you win, I’ll cook dinner for a week.”

“And if you win?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I’ll let you choose the next movie marathon,” he said with a smirk. “Deal?”

“Deal,” I agreed, smiling.

As the evening drew to a close, we turned off the lights and wrapped ourselves in blankets, content and cozy. Dominic turned to me, his eyes soft. “You know, despite how busy and chaotic everything has been, moments like these make it all worth it.”

I smiled, feeling a deep sense of contentment. “I couldn’t agree more. Being with you makes everything better.”

He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I’m glad we have this time together. It’s just what we needed.”

I nestled closer, feeling his warmth and the comfort of his presence. “Me too. Here’s to more weekends like this.”

We continued to cuddle, talking about our hopes and dreams for the future as the soft glow of the Christmas lights danced around us. The world outside might have been busy and hectic, but in this moment, all that mattered was the love and connection we shared.