Page 73 of A Holly Brown Christmas
The house was suddenly quiet, except for the faint sound of carols playing in the background. Considering the noise level of the last several hours, it almost felt strange. Everything had turned out the way he had hoped and planned, but there was still more that needed to be said. And maybe he wasn’t the only one to feel it because tension seemed to hang in the air like smoke.
Standing, he strolled over to the fireplace to collect his thoughts.
“Lucas?” his father queried. “Are you alright?”
And there was his opening. “Yes and no.”
Pausing, he saw his sisters nod in understanding.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the way things turned out, but…I don’t want this to be just a temporary truce, and then we go back to being the stoic Brooks family who looks good on a holiday card.”
His parents both looked at him, stunned. But now that he started, he knew he had to keep going, doing his best even as his voice shook.
“You think Christmas is about having the perfect dinner or getting the seating chart just right? About proving who remembers what gift or who said what five years ago?” He took a step closer to the tree, glancing at the ornaments—generic, impersonal, but beautiful. “Christmas is about presence, not presents. It’s about peace and kindness and those fragile little moments where people who’ve hurt each other still show up anyway. It’s about light in the dark and hope when things feel broken.”
He looks from his mother to his father.
“I didn’t know any of that until this past month. I spent Thanksgiving with Holly’s family and then we decorated her tree and watched Christmas movies, and…we sang carols and listened to the story of the baby in the manger who didn’t come to a palace but to a barn. And that’s when I realized it wasn’t about perfection—it was about love.”
He paused again, feeling oddly emotional. The only sound is the quiet hum of “O Holy Night” from the other room.
“So maybe… just for tonight…we can remember that. And be here. Really be here. For us. For each other. Not because everything’s okay, but because we’re still here. Together.”
He didn’t wait for a response. He turned and glanced toward the stairs.
“I’m going to go check on Holly and thank Melissa and her crew for all their hard work.” A beat passed and no one stopped him. But when he got to the foot of the stairs, he took a chance and looked back at everyone.
His mother looked down, but not before she gave him a sad smile, her eyes glassy. His father sighed, his shoulders slumping with something that looked like regret.
He stood there for another moment and it felt like maybe all wasn’t lost.
We’re not such a bad little family. Not bad at all, really. Maybe we just needed a little reminder about the importance of love.
Now it was after midnight, and he and Holly were back at his place. She wasn’t going to stay, but he convinced her of how much he wanted her there. Her parents had Shmoop for the night, so it was nice to have the place to themselves.
He had to admit that he enjoyed coming home to a place that looked and felt like Christmas. The scent of pine and cinnamon filled the air. Strings of white lights flickered gently on the tree, reflecting off the wrapped presents beneath it. He’d always grown up with Christmas trees—big, beautiful ones—but this one was his and it made him smile. He took in the way the guesthouse looked and it hit him how it no longer looked like the guesthouse; it looked like a home. His expression softened and his heart felt light.
That’s how Holly found him.
She walked over, sliding her arm through his. “You okay?”
Lucas glanced down at her, then back toward the room, and hesitated for a moment. “I used to think Christmas was about… the show. The gifts, the house decorations timed to music, the perfect party. I thought if I could give people that—something polished and expensive—I was doing it right.”
Her eyes shone brightly as she quietly listened.
“But standing here and seeing all the things we decorated and thinking about the conversations with my family after the party…knowing we were all helping each other simply by being together—it hits different. It’s not about how much you spend. It’s about how much you show up.”
“You’ve always shown up for me. I know this last month took you out of your comfort zone, and I appreciate you for being such a good sport about all of it. That’s when I knew you cared deeply for your family. You were doing it because you loved them.”
Lucas turned to face her, a smile slowly forming.
“Not at first,” he said lightly. “It was really about everything that you and Lennon said to me. I needed some involvement to get into the holiday spirit. But it all led to what happened tonight. You taught me that being surrounded by people who love you—that’s the real luxury. And no amount of money can buy the feeling of being known… and still wanted around the tree.”
He touched her cheek briefly, affectionately, nodding toward the room.
“I got the best gift this year. It wasn’t any one thing, and it wasn’t beautifully wrapped. Instead, I learned about the importance of family. Not things. Just time. Connection. Belonging. I think this is my favorite Christmas ever.”
Holly leaned her head on his shoulder. “I love that. And it’s not even Christmas yet. We have a few more days to get through.” Then she gasped and stared up at him.
