AEAO

thirteen

The Reems family's home was a picture-perfect image of Christmas cheer. It was late morning on Christmas Day, and the house was buzzing with activity. The large tree in the living room was adorned with twinkling lights, shimmering ornaments, and a few homemade decorations. The smell of cinnamon, gingerbread, and fresh pine filled the air, mixing with the warmth of the fire crackling in the fireplace.

Shi was in the kitchen with her mom, Camari, who was busy preparing the Christmas feast. The kitchen island was piled high with ingredients—mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, honey-glazed ham, and the centerpiece turkey.

"Mom, you're going to make us all gain ten pounds this Christmas," Shi teased as she grabbed a spoonful of mashed potatoes.

Camari laughed, wiping her hands on her apron. "Well, that's the point of Christmas, isn't it? To indulge and enjoy with family."

A sudden knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Shi turned to see her dad, Keanu, grinning at her from the doorway, wearing a cozy red sweater and jeans. He was holding a large, wrapped gift in his hands.

"Dad! You're early," Shi said, walking over to give him a hug. The two of them embraced warmly, and she could feel his protective, loving presence.

"I know, I know," Keanu said with a smile. "But I couldn't resist seeing you all today. Plus, I have a gift for you."

"Thank you, Dad." Shi beamed, reaching for the present in his hands. But before she could unwrap it, there was another knock at the door.

Camari and Keanu exchanged a look, both intrigued. Keanu raised an eyebrow. "Who could that be?"

As if on cue, the door swung open to reveal Luca standing in the doorway. His smile was wide, a twinkle of excitement in his eyes. He was holding a small, neatly wrapped box in his hands.

"Merry Christmas!" Luca greeted, stepping inside with a wave. "Sorry I'm a little late. I didn't want to miss out on the Reems family Christmas!"

Shi's heart skipped a beat as she saw Luca, dressed casually in a red sweater and jeans. His presence made her smile instantly.

"Luca!" Shi said, walking over to him. "I didn't expect you to come by, but I'm so glad you did!"

Luca chuckled, leaning in to kiss her cheek before giving her a tight hug. "Of course I came. I wouldn't miss spending the holidays with you." His gaze flickered to Keanu, who was watching the exchange with a knowing look.

Luca cleared his throat, standing a little straighter. "I, uh, have a present for you," he said, holding out the small box. "I hope you like it."

Shi's heart fluttered as she took the box from his hands. She met his eyes for a moment, giving him a soft smile before carefully unwrapping it. Inside, she found a delicate silver necklace with a small, heart-shaped pendant.

"It's beautiful, Luca," Shi whispered, touched by his thoughtfulness. She looked up at him, her heart full. "Thank you."

Luca smiled back, his eyes shining with sincerity. "You deserve it, Shi. You're the best."

At that moment, Keanu cleared his throat loudly, drawing attention. "Alright, alright, no mushy stuff before the food's ready. Everyone take a seat."

Everyone laughed as they settled around the large dining table, which was decked out with festive china and candles. The sound of plates clinking and the scent of the meal made the air even warmer, and it wasn't long before everyone had gathered.

"Okay, before we dig in," Camari said, raising her glass of wine, "I want to thank everyone for being here today. It's been a crazy year, and it's moments like these that make everything worth it."

Keanu reached over and clinked his glass against hers. "I couldn't agree more. Here's to family, love, and good food."

Luca looked around at the Reems family, a little nervous but also excited to be part of it all. He turned to Shi, who smiled at him reassuringly. He cleared his throat, standing up for a moment.

"Uh, I just want to say thank you for welcoming me into your family. I'm really grateful for everything," Luca said, his voice genuine. "I care about Shi a lot, and I'm looking forward to getting to know all of you better."

Camari and Keanu exchanged a glance, then smiled warmly at Luca. "Well, Luca, it's good to finally meet you properly. Shi's mentioned you a lot, and I can tell you care about her," Keanu said with a nod.

"You're welcome here anytime," Camari added, her tone kind but sincere. "Family's important, and we want you to feel like one of us."

Luca's face softened with gratitude. He nodded quickly, his nerves starting to melt away. "Thanks. That means a lot."

Dinner was filled with laughter, conversation, and the sound of everyone enjoying the meal. The Reems family, and now Luca, exchanged stories and jokes. It felt like everything had come full circle for Shi—her life had changed in ways she hadn't imagined, but somehow, it felt right.

After dinner, the family gathered by the fireplace. The Christmas tree glowed in the corner, and the house was cozy with holiday decorations. Shi was sitting beside Luca on the couch, her head resting against his shoulder as they chatted quietly.

The others were in the kitchen cleaning up, but Keanu came over and patted Luca on the back, a grin on his face.

"You know," Keanu said with a wink, "I'm glad you came today. I like having you here. But just a heads-up—if you hurt my daughter, I will be the least friendly guy you've ever met."

Luca stiffened for a moment, but then he saw the humor in Keanu's eyes. He chuckled nervously. "I'm not planning on hurting her, Mr. Reems. You have my word on that."

Keanu nodded, his grin widening. "Good. Just making sure."

Luca laughed, feeling the tension ease. He glanced down at Shi, who had heard the exchange and was smiling softly.

"I'll keep that in mind," Luca said, his voice lighter.

As the evening wore on, Shi found herself feeling incredibly content. This Christmas was everything she'd hoped for—being surrounded by family, love, and now, Luca. She had no idea what the future held, but in this moment, she knew she was exactly where she was meant to be.

And with Luca by her side, she was ready for whatever came next.