Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 47241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47241 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 236(@200wpm)___ 189(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
I flew home right before Halloween and stayed a while with Kay, then my parents. I tried not to think of Beau or all of the things that had happened after we met. It wasn’t that I regretted any of it. I only wished that I’d taken the time to “find myself” when I was younger. Maybe then I would have been ready for Beau when he came along, because the one big thing I learned over the past year: there was no such thing as finding yourself.
Life was meant to be a journey where each chapter added to a list of memories you cherished, the things you learned, and the things you lost. Then there were the things you couldn’t live without (and could live without). But you were never really lost. Not in your heart of hearts. You just had more chapters waiting to be written.
Me? I still had many pages left in my story, but I was good with not knowing where everything would lead. I was finally enjoying the journey, and that included taking this trip to Greenland before my voucher expired. I’d just made it with one day to spare.
My family and Kay, who was getting married in April, weren’t exactly happy, but I’d be with them for New Year’s. And, well, this was my life now. I wasn’t going to live it to make anyone else happy. Or unhappy. I could love them and still do my own thing. But one thing hadn’t changed. I still loved Christmas.
I soaked in the tub until my back, legs, and arms were completely tenderized to a mushy pulp, and then wrapped myself in a white fluffy robe.
I played some Christmas music on my phone and plopped into the big, overstuffed chair facing out across the moonlit, snowy plain before me. In the morning, I’d go and check out the reindeer, though we’d only get a few hours of light.
I leaned back and stared out at the starry night. Somewhere out there was Beau, doing what Santas did. It gave me immense comfort knowing there was real holiday magic in the world, no matter how intimidating or scary it first felt.
As my eyes began to close, a spark of light shot across the sky. I squinted, wondering if it was something other than a shooting star.
Who knew?
“Well, Merry Christmas, Beau,” I muttered.
Suddenly that star began changing directions, coming straight toward me. I blinked and then fell from my chair. I blinked again, and it was gone.
I got to my feet, trying to catch my breath. I’d probably imagined it in my half-awake state, but it sure felt real.
I turned to get into bed and spotted a box sitting in the middle of the comforter. It was red with a big white bow.
“Holy sheet.” I covered my mouth. Sheet. I said sheet! And not on purpose.
I grabbed the box and unwrapped it. Inside was a note and another box.
To Meri:
May all your wishes come true. Happy birthday.
Love,
Beau
I unwrapped the smaller box and found a gold key. I held it up to the light. It looked just like the ones Beau’s dad had left with me.
I held it over my heart. I couldn’t lie and say that a day had passed without missing him. Over the last year, I’d seen so many incredible things—temples, mountains, lakes, and the ruins of lost civilizations. I’d met the most amazing, kind people. I’d also seen poverty, death, and cruelty. I’d only experienced a tiny slice of the world, but I finally understood what Beau had said. It needed more happiness. And the only thing I really needed, I already had. Love.
I wish to be with you…
Also, seeing some reindeer would be cool.
The next morning, I woke up in my bed. It was barely light out, but the clock on the nightstand said it was one o’clock in the afternoon.
I stretched my arms and yawned, feeling a little disappointed that nothing had happened last night after my wish, but I also felt incredibly excited about being in this gorgeous place. Today was my thirty-first birthday, and I had my entire life in front of me.
What a way to kick it off. “Happy birthday to me.”
Suddenly, I noticed a butt pressed against my hip. I slowly turned my head to see a man under the covers, snoring away with his back turned.
“Oh sheet!” I jumped from bed.
“Come back to sleep,” he grumbled. “We can have cake later.”
“Beau?” I pulled back the covers.
“Meri, please. I’m exhausted,” he muttered, pushing up the blanket over his head. “Do you know how hard it is to deliver three billion presents in one night?”
“Beau, what are you doing here? In my bed?”
He slowly rolled over and cracked open his stunning blue eyes. “Just ten more minutes. Okay?”
Oh, no. You are not going back to sleep. I grabbed my pillow and thumped him over the head.