This morning the sun is shyly breaking through the bedroom curtains, and Brooke can already hear Ema moving around in the next room. It's her first day of Christmas vacation, and she's been excited since she started counting the days on her calendar.
Brooke goes downstairs to make breakfast, and as soon as she puts the cup of hot chocolate on the table, Emma bursts in in her pajamas, her hair disheveled but her smile bright.
Emma : Mom! Is today the start of my vacation?
Brooke : Yes, honey. It's the big day. Do you want gingerbread or toast?
Emma : Gingerbread, please, Mom. And otherwise, what are we doing today?
Brooke is about to answer when there's a knock at the door. She glances at the clock: it's barely nine o'clock. Who can be so early?
When she opens the door, Lucas is there, a big smile on his face and a bundled-up Max next to him.
Lucas : Good morning, Brooke.
Brooke : Lucas, Max, come in, you're going to catch a cold outside.
Max quickly takes off his shoes and runs to join Emma in the living room, where she greets him with a cry of joy.
Lucas : It's obvious that they're happy to be on vacation, those two.
Brooke : Yes, you saw that. You're really early risers.
Lucas : I have an excuse. I needed to talk to you about something.
Brooke : Oh, I feel like this is going to be interesting. Tell me everything.
Lucas : I was thinking... Christmas is coming up, and my mother always organizes a big family meal. Why don't you come and spend it with us? You and Emma, of course.
Brooke : Spend Christmas with your family? That's a very nice invitation, Lucas. But... I don't want to disturb.
Lucas : On the contrary. Max and I have spent the last Christmases alone. This year, it would be different. We would love for you to spend it with us. And I'm sure my mother will be delighted.
Brooke : I'm a little uncomfortable.
Lucas : Brooke, I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. If you'd rather stay home, I understand. But I'd really like it if you could spend them with us... well, we'd really like that.
Brooke : That's a lovely offer, but I want to talk to Emma first.
Lucas : Sure.
Brooke turns to the living room, where Max and Emma are sitting cross-legged, toys scattered around them.
Brooke : Emma, come on in here for a moment, sweetie.
Emma looks up, curious, then run over to her mother and Lucas.
Emma : Yes, Mom?
Brooke : Lucas invited you and me to spend Christmas at his family's. What do you think?
Emma : At Max's? With lots of people and a big tree?
Brooke : Yes, but only if you agree.
Emma : Yes, yes, yes! It's going to be so great!
Lucas : So, it's decided. You can't refuse anymore.
Brooke : Very well. We'll come.
The children go back to playing, all excited at the idea of spending Christmas together, and Lucas looks at Brooke with a tenderness that makes her blush. A pleasant silence settles between them, interrupted by the laughter of the children in the living room. This idea of Christmas with the family, which seemed so strange to Brooke at first, begins to seem natural to her. Maybe even perfect. Lucas and she continue to chat quietly while the children play. Brooke realizes, through small gestures and glances, how comfortable Lucas is here, at her home, and it soothes her.
Lucas sets his gaze on Emma, who bursts out laughing at a joke from Max, and Brooke smiles softly.
Lucas : They go well together, our two little terrors.
Brooke : Yes, I think we couldn't have dreamed of better. They're inseparable, those two.
Lucas : Just like their parents.
Brooke : You're incorrigible.
Lucas : Maybe, but since you're smiling, you know I'm right.
Brooke laughs softly, unable to deny the obvious. Suddenly, Max starts calling Lucas insistently.
Max : Dad! We want to build a house for our Lego! Will you come help us?
Emma : And we'll put Christmas decorations on the roof!
Lucas turns to Brooke, hesitant.
Lucas : It's a group invitation, you know. If you want to...
Emma : Come on, Mom! Come play!
Brooke finally gives in and sits on the carpet with them. Lucas sits down next to her, and they spend an entire hour assembling a sort of improbable house, with crooked walls and an improvised tree made of a green Lego that Max has nicknamed Mr. Fir Tree. Laughter breaks out, and Brooke finds herself thinking that this Christmas, will perhaps be more beautiful than what she has ever experienced.
As noon approaches, Lucas straightens up and stretches.
Lucas : Okay, Max, I'm going to take you back to Grandma's. I need to start preparing for Christmas Eve.
Max : Oh, already?
Lucas : Yes, already. But don't worry, we'll see them again soon.
Brooke also gets up to walk Lucas and Max to the door. Emma follows behind, one hand clinging to her mother's sleeve. On the threshold, Lucas turns to Brooke.
Lucas : Thanks for this morning. And for... everything, actually.
Brooke : Thanks to you, Lucas. We're lucky to have you in our lives.
He hesitates for a moment, then reaches out to brush hers, a discreet but tender gesture.
Lucas : See you in a few days, then. For Christmas.
Brooke : Yes. We'll be there.
The children say goodbye with bursts of laughter and grand gestures, and Brooke watches Lucas and Max walk away in the fresh snow.
Later, after Lucas and Max have left, Emma tugs on her mother's sleeve, a mischievous smile lighting up her face.
Emma : Mom, I have an idea!
Brooke : Oh yeah? What an idea, big girl?
Emma : We should go buy some presents for Lucas' family! It's Christmas, and if we're invited to their house, we have to bring them something, right?
Brooke thinks for a moment. She's not wrong. Lucas has taken the trouble to include them in his family traditions, and this would be a great way to show their appreciation.
Brooke : Good idea, Emma. So, what are we waiting for? Put on your coat, we're leaving right now!
Emma bursts out laughing and runs to get her hat and gloves.
A few minutes later, they are finally on their way to the center of the village, where the little shops are full of Christmas treasures. Arriving at the market square, the air is filled with the smell of cinnamon, hot chocolate and roasted chestnuts. Fairy lights hang overhead, and the shop windows sparkle with a thousand lights.
Emma : Where do we start, Mom?
Brooke : Hm... Lucas told us about his mom and Haley. Let's find something for them first, shall we?
They enter a craft store filled with candles, pretty frames, and cozy throws. Emma stops in front of a scented candle in an etched glass jar.
Emma : This is perfect for Max's grandma! It smells like vanilla and caramel, she'll love it!
Brooke : Good idea. What about his aunt?
Emma scans the shelves, her face scrunched up in concentration, before spotting a hand-knit wool scarf.
Emma : It's really pretty, isn't it?
Brooke : Very pretty. You have excellent taste, sweetie.
They pay for their finds before heading to another store to find something for the rest of the family.
After a busy afternoon, Brooke and Emma finally make it home. Back at home, they spread out their findings on the table.
Emma : We did a great job.
Brooke : Yes, sweetie. Now all that's left is to wrap them.
Emma grabs rolls of colorful wrapping paper and ribbons, and they spend the rest of the afternoon wrapping each present with care.
Emma : Mom, do you think they'll like it?
Brooke : Of course they will, sweetie. What matters is that you thought of them with your heart.
Emma smiles at her mother, and Brooke feels a warm feeling. This Christmas, with Lucas, Max, and their family, promises to be truly special.
As the light fades and the first stars appear in the sky, Brooke finds herself hoping that this Christmas will be the beginning of something wonderful... a new life, for Emma and her. A life full of warmth, love, and those simple little things that make everything more beautiful.