Love Under The Christmas Tree

We often say that night is the mother of counsel, and honestly this expression had never sounded more accurate than this morning, because when I woke up, only one thought was in my mind : I had to stop Johnny before he flies back home.

I wasn't too sure of what had happened during the night to make me completely change my mind, but one thing was sure, I couldn't lose Johnny. I couldn't let go someone as amazing as him, someone that meant so much to me, someone who had proven numerous times that he cared for me and my daughter, and most of all, someone I was so helplessly in love with. 

What I had found in him, I most definitely wouldn't find it in anyone else. I had been asking myself so many questions since I'd met him that I had forgotten the most important : seize the moment and just live. It took me time to realize all this, but I eventually did.

I literally jumped out of bed and got dressed in a hurry before rushing to Emily's bedroom.

"Wake up babygirl ! Wake up !" I called, shaking her rather vigorously.

Her eyes lazilly fluttered open and she gave me a puzzled look.

"Come on angel, it's time to get up" I encouraged, still shaking her small frame.

"But Mommy, I'm too tired" she whined, turning her head to the nightstand to take a quick glance at the alarm clock, green numbers glowing 5:30.

"Make a little effort sweetie, it's gonna be worth it, I promise" I said.

Since she still didn't seem to plan on getting out of her bed any time soon, I figured giving her a few more details could help motivating her.

"You're gonna have your new father" I suddenly blurted out, observing her bright blue orbs lighting up at my words.

"R-really ?" she looked at me with wide eyes, utter shock clearly written all over her face.

"Really" I quietly confirmed "We're gonna move to Los Angeles with Johnny, we're gonna follow him. Now hurry up, we need to tell him before he goes to the airport.'

Emily didn't verbally respond to my statement, she just jumped out of her bed to throw her clothes on, her small voice echoing a few seconds later in a beyond delighted tone.

"I'm ready !"

♡♡♡

It wasn't even 6 in the morning when I rang the bell, Emily standing beside me with her small hand squeezing mine as I rocked back and forth out of stress. 

Despite the early hour, I could hear movement inside and I felt my heart dropping to my stomach as footsteps started echoing, coming closer and closer. Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath as the door slowly opened, revealing Johnny's aunt in her nightdress.

"Good morning " I breathed out, smiling nervously at her.

"Good morning" she said, returning the smile.

She didn't look like we had woken her up. Actually, it was rather the contrary, she looked wide awake. Slightly surprised at first, I rapidly shrugged it off to focus back on the reason of my presence. 

"Uh...I'm terribly sorry to show up that early in the morning but..." I paused for a moment, nervously rubbing the back of my neck "Can I talk to Johnny ?"

"He isn't here anymore, he left for the airport about fifteen minutes ago. His flight is at 7. I'm so sorry miss" she declared, my heart sinking at the sudden and unexpected piece of news. 

"Oh...I see" I barely whispered, my voice cracking toward the end of my sentence as I fought the tears that were menacing to roll down my cheeks. 

It was too late now, he was gone and I had lost him for good. I had lost the man I had fallen so desperately in love with, and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

Why didn't I just say yes when he asked me to just leave with him the other night on the balcony ? 

My hand slowly went up to my neck, gripping the beautiful heart shaped pendant he had given me that night. Tightening my fingers around it, I squeezed my eyes shut as a single tear escaped. 

Why did I have to screw everything up ? 

"You've change your mind, haven't you ?" I was taken aback by the abrupt remark of the woman standing in front of me.

"I beg your pardon ?" I frowned, wondering what she could possibly mean by that.

"You've changed your mind about moving to Los Angeles and live with him" she clarified.

"You...knew he asked me to ?" I questioned in surprise though I already knew the answer.

"Yes, he told me after you left on Christmas Eve" she replied "You should have seen him then. He was in pieces that you turned him down."

Some more tears formed in my eyes, making my vision even more blurry than it already was. I inhaled sharply, trying my best to resist the urge to drop to my knees and sob in despair. 

"You love him, don't you ?" Johnny's aunt spoke again, her question sounding more like a statement.

Unable to utter a single word, I simply nodded, my head lowered to the ground beneath me as I did so.

"What are you waiting for then ?" she asked with a small, almost mischievous smile on her face. 

I shot her a puzzled look, totally oblivious to what she was now referring to.

"Go after him" she continued "The airport is 30 minutes away from here, you still have a chance to make it on time and find him before he gets on the plane."

"Sure ! And what am I supposed to do when I find him ? Declare my love and ask him to just give me a few hours to pack up our things ?" I scoffed.

"Well, sounds like a plan..." she responded, actually sounding more serious than ever.

"But I know him for only a few weeks ! That'd be crazy !" I exclaimed, shaking my head.

"Oh yes, completely crazy" Johnny's aunt agreed, nodding her head. "So ? What are you waiting for ?"

Gazing at her wide-eyed at first as if she were mad, I soon realized her idea wasn't that dumb after all. My heart skipped a beat and I could feel my blood flowing through my veins. Hope had just returned.

"Thank you" I exclaimed, throwing my arms around her to embrace her tightly in gratitude.

Not wanting to waste any more time, I quickly let go of the hug and went to turn on my heels, my daughter's hand still in mine, when Johnny's aunt stopped me.

"I'll keep Emily. You'll be faster if you go alone" she suggested and Emily immediately ran to her"Now hurry ! You don't have much time left !"

"Bring him back Mommy !" were my baby's last words before I rushed down the stairs.