Brooke is still lying in Lucas's arms, losing herself in the softness of the warmth he gives off. His scent floats around her, and she feels like a feather, light and soothed. But little by little, thoughts come back, disturbing the tranquility of the moment. A question, precisely. A question that has been running through her head for some time, but that she does not yet dare to formulate out loud. She lifts herself slightly from his torso, her hips resting on the bed, straightening up to look at Lucas. He is there, in his eternal softness, his eyes half-closed, as if he too is still letting himself be lulled by the moment. He looks so relaxed that Brooke almost feels guilty about breaking this calm with her questions.
Brooke : Lucas... What do we do now?
He straightens up too, leaning against the back of the bed, and looks at her with a questioning glint in his eyes. He knows, he understands. He knows what she's talking about.
Lucas : What do you mean now? I thought you wanted us to enjoy the moment?
Brooke shakes her head, a smirk on her face despite herself, but she's serious.
Brooke : I'm willing to enjoy the moment, but... we need to talk about... us, what comes next.
Lucas : You mean... the kids?
Brooke : Yes, the kids. They saw, they noticed, don't you think? We can't keep hiding. When do you think we should tell them?
Lucas : I don't know... I don't want to rush things. Maybe we should wait a little bit, see how it evolves, right?
Brooke : We've been through disappointments, breakups, failures. We can't hide everything from Max and Emma. What if we told them everything, all at once, like a gift, at Christmas?
Lucas : A gift?
Brooke : I mean, they did all this work to bring us together, right? Max's little schemes, Emma's knowing looks... They're the ones who brought us together, Lucas. They're the ones who made this happen, so why not give them our relationship as a gift?
Lucas stays silent for a moment. Brooke can see that he's thinking, that he's weighing every word. But very quickly, a smile appears on his lips.
Lucas : You know what? You're right. That would be perfect. On Christmas Day, like a real surprise. Our children will finally have their big moment, their big victory. And we can show them that they did the right thing by organizing everything.
Brooke : Do you think this is a good idea?
Lucas : I think this is a great idea, Brooke. We'll give it to them as a gift, but also to ourselves. As a new beginning.
Brooke suddenly feels lighter, as if a weight has been lifted from her shoulders. In fact, she likes it a lot. Christmas is a magical time, and she believes it's the best way to start a new page, a page written with gentleness and honesty. Everything becomes simpler, almost obvious. But as her mind resumes its course, a thought crosses her mind. It's the moment when she realizes that reality always comes back to haunt her, especially when it comes to everyday life. She still has to go home. And above all, she has to organize herself for Christmas. The presents, the preparations... All this is not going to happen by itself.
Brooke then gets up slowly, straightening up and throwing one last glance at Lucas, who follows her with his eyes. He is there, lying in the bed, his eyes half-closed, a satisfied smile on his lips, as if everything was in place. He smiles back at her.
Brooke : I have to go. I want to take the opportunity to buy some gifts for Emma. She already made me her list, and I want to do it right.
Lucas : You know, if you want, I can come with you. It's Christmas, after all.
Brooke : No, I think I'd rather go it alone. But thanks anyway. It'll be a moment for me, to think about the surprises I'm going to give her.
Brooke slowly gets dressed, enjoying the last moments of calm, putting on her clothes. When she's ready, she turns to Lucas, a last shared look.
Brooke : I'm glad we talked, Lucas.
Lucas : Me too, Brooke. It was a wonderful moment. See you later at school. Have a good day.
Brooke leaves the room, her heart beating slightly faster, with the idea that this Christmas could mark a turning point in their lives. But first of all, she feels ready to face the preparations, to offer Emma an unforgettable Christmas.
Before going out, she stops for a moment in the hallway, turning one last time to Lucas, who looks at her with a tender smile. Their eyes meet, and, without saying a word, Brooke feels that everything is finally aligned, that this new life together begins. It's time to get into the Christmas spirit, for them and for their children.
As she leaves Lucas's, the sharp cold hits her in the face, but inside, a gentle warmth lingers. She walks down the small snowy road, her mind still troubled by everything they've said to each other. Lucas is right: they're on the right track, and that idea fills her with a calm she hasn't felt in a long time. The main street of Green Valley is bustling, with decorated shops and fairy lights dancing to the rhythm of the wind.
Her first stop is a small toy store, where she quickly finds some perfect gifts for Emma. A musical snow globe and a small illuminated Christmas slideshow. Everything that sparkles has its charm, and she knows she'll like it. Her next stop is the bookstore. Lucas has told her about Max, about his love for stories full of mystery and adventure. She finds a book about a resourceful young inventor and another about a treasure hunt on the high seas. Brooke flips through them quickly before buying them, thrilled at the thought of seeing Max's face light up.
With her arms full of packages, she stops in front of the village bakery, where Haley is already serving a customer.
Haley : Ah, Brooke! Come in, my dear! With all this cold, you're going to turn into an ice cube.
The smell of warm pastries and fresh bread envelops Brooke instantly.
Brooke : Hi Haley. I was coming to pick up some treats for tonight.
Haley : So, what can I get you? Apple pie, maybe? They're fresh out of the oven.
Brooke : Yeah, perfect. And some shortbread cookies, too, please. Emma loves them.
Haley quickly wraps everything up, then hands the packages to Brooke, giving her a mischievous smile.
Haley : Tell me, Brooke... You look different this morning. Brighter, if I may say so.
Brooke : Oh, I don't know, maybe it's the Christmas spirit.
Haley : Or maybe Lucas?
Brooke blushes in spite of herself, and Haley bursts out laughing.
Haley : Ah, I knew something was going on between you two. Max keeps talking about you and Emma, you know. I'm so happy for you.
Brooke : Nothing's official yet.
Haley : Don't worry, it'll come. Good things take their time, but they always end up settling where they belong.
Brooke : Yeah, you're probably right. Well, I have to go. Have a nice day.
Brooke thanks her and leaves with her packages, her heart light. Haley is right: everything finally seems to be falling into place.
On her way home, Brooke passes by the big Christmas tree in the central square, decorated with gold garlands and twinkling stars. She stops for a moment to watch the children playing around it, laughing and throwing snowballs. It's a simple scene, but she remembers why she's here, why she chose to start over.