Page 83 of Aussie
“Have you ever seen anything like this before?” Aussie asked, pulling her a little closer.
Ava shook her head, her eyes glistening. “Never. It’s beautiful. I feel like I’ve stepped into the North Pole.”
“Good,” he said, his voice low and warm. “You deserve this kind of magic, Ava. You and Christian both.”
Her heart swelled at his words, and she leaned into him, her head resting on his shoulder. “Thank you for sharing this with us,” she whispered.
They continued strolling, eventually making their way to the center square where a grand Santa’s workshop had been set up. A line of kids waited eagerly to meet Santa, their laughter and chatter filling the air. Christian had rejoined them by then, tugging Ava’s sleeve.
“Do you think I’m too old for a picture with Santa?” he asked, a mix of hope and embarrassment in his tone.
Ava smiled, brushing a hand over his hair. “You’re never too old for Santa. Go for it.”
Christian grinned and turned to Aussie. “You coming with me?”
Aussie chuckled, nudging him forward. “Not this time, kid. This one’s all you.”
They watched as Christian joined the line, talking animatedly to a boy around his age. Ava’s gaze softened as she turned back to Aussie. “He’s really fitting in, isn’t he?”
“He is,” Aussie said, his voice full of pride. “He’s got a good heart. You’ve done an amazing job with him, Ava.”
She blinked, surprised by the sudden emotion welling up inside her. “It’s not just me. He’s come so far because of people like you and your mom and dad. He can see what a real family is like and that it really does exist.”
Aussie stopped walking, turning to face her. Snow dusted her hair, and her cheeks were pink from the cold. He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing along her jawline. “You’re my family now,” he said softly. “Both of you.”
Ava’s breath hitched, and she felt the sting of happy tears in her eyes. Before she could respond, Christian’s voice called out.
“Hey! I’m next!”
They both turned, laughing as they watched Christian sit on Santa’s chair, grinning for the camera. Ava felt a warmth settle over her, one she hadn’t felt in years. This was more than a magical night. It was a new beginning.
Aussie reached for her hand again, interlacing their fingers. “Let’s make this our tradition,” he said.
Ava smiled up at him, her heart full. “I’d like that.”
As they strolled past a booth filled with trinkets and holiday ornaments, Christian suddenly stopped, his gaze fixed on a silver charm bracelet displayed under twinkling fairy lights. The delicate bracelet featured a small snowflake charm that sparkled under the glow.
“What caught your eye?” Ava asked, stepping beside him.
Christian hesitated, his cheeks pink from the cold or maybe embarrassment. “Katy mentioned once that she wanted a charm bracelet,” he admitted softly.
Ava’s heart melted at his thoughtfulness. She liked Katy and thought it was sweet that Christian was thinking of her. “How about I get it for you to give to her when we’re back home?” she offered with a warm smile.
Christian’s face lit up. “Really? You’d do that?”
“Of course,” Ava said, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder.
Without warning, Christian threw his arms around her, hugging her tightly. “Thank you, Ava. You’re the best.”
Ava’s heart swelled, and she wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. Moments like these made her wish more than anything that she could keep Christian for good. She couldn’t imagine her life without him anymore.
The night continued with everyone laughing, sipping cocoa, and enjoying the festival’s magic. Ava was admiring an intricate ice sculpture of a reindeer when Aussie’s phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and sighed.
“It’s Derek. I need to take this,” he said, his tone apologetic.
“Go ahead,” Ava assured him. “We’ll walk around a bit more.”
Aussie gave her hand a squeeze before stepping away, leaving her and Christian alone. They wandered toward the edge of the square, where the snow was falling more heavily. As they stood near a tree wrapped in golden lights, Christian’s expression grew serious.
