Found Along The Way

Chapter thirty-one

The sun had hidden away in the past few weeks, snow falling gracefully in its place and creating a soft, white blanket over the town. Anya always loved Christmas, ever since she was a little girl. The lights, music, snow, promise of Santa bringing her the toys she'd always wanted, it filled her heart with joy. Even now at twenty-four years old, Christmas brought back every nostalgic, joyous feeling she had from her childhood.

The curtains opened that morning, December twenty-fifth, to reveal the sky glittered with snowflakes, filling Anya's heart with the joy she felt every year. She smiled at the view for a moment, wrapped in her warmest blanket, filled with content.

"Merry Christmas Anya!" Lucas's gentle voice appeared from behind her, running his hands through her shoulder length hair, a lot more trimmed than the mid-torso length she had last Christmas. "What's the plan for today then?"

"Well... there's visiting my parents, then your mom, then dinner at Lina's, but before anything else, gifts." Anya said with excitement, grabbing his hand and running down the stairs with him to where their beautifully decorated tree was sat in the living room. Under it were all shapes and sizes of gifts to and from each-other. Lucas quickly grabbed a rectangular box wrapped in glittery pink wrapping paper, and handed it to Anya. She tore into the paper, gasping with a grateful small when she saw the most beautiful set of light pink pencils and paintbrushes with her name engraved on the side of each one.

"I know you're always worried of your pencils and brushes going missing at school, and not only are these personalised and pretty, but they're also very professional." He chuckled.

"I love them Lucas, thank you!" She exclaimed, hugging him tightly and continuing to admire the gift. "Oh! You need to open this." Anya said, shoving a large gift box into his arms. He carefully removed the blue ribbon from around it, and opened the lid to find an adorable, dark blue ukulele wrapped in tissue paper.

"Ann! I've always wanted to play an instrument, it's beautiful."

The gifts were unwrapped and given to each-other, warranting hugs and words of appreciation in return. The snow outside settled frostily on the cars and rooftops, Anya and Lucas warm in the embrace of the Christmas joy, enjoying the love in one another's company. It was a perfect morning.

Michael Bublé played in the kitchen as they ate their breakfast, dressed ready for their busy day of visiting their loved ones. Anya's wavy hair was in a cute bun, with a white ribbon wrapped prettily around it. She had a red woolly dress keeping her warm, and her long green coat over the top, creating a sure barrier from the cold. Lucas's woolly sweater that his mother had knitted for him was a matching red to Anya's, causing the young couple to very happily coordinate with each-other.

The first stop was Alfie and Clarissa's house, where they were welcomed with open arms but couldn't stay for long because of their next stop, which was Lucas's mother. Maria's Christmases were much lonelier these days, with all of her children grown up and making their own ways through the world, and of course without Javier... But he hadn't been around in a long time.

"Are you sure you don't want us to stay Maria?" Anya asked, after a cup of hot-chocolate and listening to an old story of Christmas back in Venezuela. "We can be late to Lina's, I'm sure she won't mind."

"No, no, I'm heading down to church soon and I'll have all the company I can get there. You kids have fun."

She responded, smiling contently.

"As long as you're alright mom." Lucas gave her a hug, before they gathered their things and set off for their next stop.

Anya gasped at the beautiful, warm, smell of freshly baked cookies that overtook her senses as they entered the house. Fairy lights were strung up around the living room, and classical Christmas music played as Rosie sat playing with her new toys, wearing the cutest little blue dress.