MELISSA went to bed that night with a feeling in her heart that seemed to promise new beginnings.
It had been three years since her son passed away, and all she had left were the memories. The divorce from her husband, not long after, had left her battling with stress, but her hopes and her faith as a Christian had given her the strength to keep on going.
The first amazing thing that happened to her was receiving her house lot and, with a bank loan, building her own home. It had lifted her up, but she was still alone, true happiness still lost somewhere. Then, one day, she adopted two dogs—a stray mum and her pup—and caring for them brought her joy.
They became her constant, but there was still something missing from her life to make her whole again.
It was not something she *was looking for; she was content to live with her son’s memories, her teaching, and her pets.
But after talking to the doctor that afternoon in the park, it somehow awakened a feeling she had buried.
“I wonder…” she mused as her eyes closed in sleep.
She went to the park the next afternoon with Penny and Bubbles, with a slight hope that she might see the doctor again, but he was not there that afternoon, nor the four more afternoons that followed.
Melissa sighed as she sat on a park bench, the two dogs relaxing at her feet.
“I guess it was nothing.”
A few minutes later, Bubbles pulled away from her and ran along the path, barking excitedly.
“Bubbles!” Melissa jumped up to run after him, then stopped when she saw it was the doctor he had run to meet.
“Hey,” she said with a little smile, taking the leash from him. “He’s never done that before.”
“He remembered me,” the doctor said with a pleasant smile, “and I think he likes me.”
“He’s not often like that when any guy stops to talk to me, always nipping at their ankles.”
“Well, that’s a good thing for me,” he laughed a little.
She smiled and said, “I haven’t seen you around.”
“Oh yeah,” he said, “I have been working day shifts.”
“Oh, of course,” she voiced quietly, “a doctor’s life.”
“Yup. Doctor Lucas Pereira, general practitioner,” he introduced himself.
She shook his hand. “And you know me.”
“Yes, I do.”
She smiled, and, for that brief moment, looking at him, her heart seemed to whisper something to her.
“Not sure,” she responded to herself.
“So,” Lucas was saying, “I know we have just met, but can I invite you out for a casual dinner sometime, or a movie, or…”
Melissa laughed a little at his uncertainty and said, “I guess you can.”
And so it began, a casual relationship—dinners, drives, movies, hanging out at the seawall—things she hadn’t done since the split-up with her husband. It had left her so devastated she couldn’t speak to a strange man and had withdrawn into a quiet, lonely life. Lucas had reignited the joys of life in her, the things she had loved, and she was beginning to really like him. He was sincere, charming and kind to animals, all attributes she loved.
Months went by as the Christmas season approached, and though her heart was telling her she was falling in love with him, she was scared to acknowledge it.
“I’ve really got to work on this fear,” she vowed to herself.
Lucas, to her relief, understood what she was battling with and stayed supportive.
The Christmas season arrived, and Melissa got busy with the Christmas party for her students, shopping in the city, putting up décor and lights at her home, and Christmas jerseys for Penny and Bubbles, who were pretty excited.
One evening during Christmas week, Lucas took her to the Christmas Village on Main Street. It was, for her, truly magical—the splendid décor and shimmering lights filled her heart with joy, but watching the little children laughing and playing brought a touch of regret to her heart. She looked up at the heavens and said quietly, “You would have so loved this, baby.”
As they continued walking, she felt a slight tug on her hand and turned around, but no one was close behind her.
A little perplexed look crossed her face, but she let it go.
That night at home, she showed the pictures and videos to Penny and Bubbles, who wagged their tails and barked with excitement. They were so adorable, she laughed and hugged them, happy for the decision she had made to adopt them. They were her comfort and had brought some light into her lonely life.
And as the season continued, she went shopping with a few of her colleagues, picking up gifts for family and friends. On Christmas Eve, she went to church with her mother and sisters, and on Christmas Day, she invited them home for lunch. Lucas, unfortunately, couldn’t be there because he was on day shift.
“I’ll see you in the evening,” he had told her.
Melissa’s mother was happy she had finally found someone to share her life with.
“He has all the characteristics I love,” Melissa stated, “but I’m still unsure.”
“Listen to your heart, dear,” her mother advised her.
Melissa smiled wryly. “Yeah, I know. Wish it was something easy for me.”
Just after they left, she got dressed to wait for Lucas, and as she sat on the sofa, looking at her son’s portrait, she felt a slight touch on her hand. It was the same little touch she had felt at the Christmas Village. A slight sensation ran through her body, and she said with a little choke in her voice, “Are you here, baby?”
A rapping at the door broke the moment, and she took a deep breath before opening the door. It was Lucas, looking quite dapper and wearing an invigorating cologne. He kissed her lightly on the cheek and handed her a gift.
“Merry Christmas.”
“Thank you,” she said with a warm smile and handed him a gift. “Merry Christmas to you, too.”
It was the first time he had come into her house and looked around with an appreciative smile.
“It’s beautiful, fragrant and cosy.”
They had a nice dinner with wine, soft music and scented candles, and later, as he said ‘good night’, he kissed her lightly on the lips.
“I enjoyed the dinner and your warm company.”
That night, Melissa couldn’t sleep, thinking about Lucas, how far they had come in their relationship, and those two strange instances that made her feel her son’s spirit was present.
“I don’t understand,” she said to herself. “It’s been three years now since he’s been gone, and now I’m trying to move on. Doesn’t he want me to?”
The days after Christmas went quietly, and on Old Year’s Night she went to church and prayed for love and peace in the world, for care and compassion for animals, and for a new beginning in her life for the New Year.
Lucas invited her out for an elegant dinner in the New Year. He ordered the best that was on the menu and champagne, and taking her hand, he kissed it and said, “There is something I need to tell you. You touched a place in my heart since that day at the hospital, and that feeling stayed with me even though I wasn’t sure I would see you again—but I did. It means we were meant to be together, and I am ready to take the next step when you are ready.”
She took a deep breath, tears misting in her eyes, because it was the same dinner scene she had seen in her dream the night before, with her son smiling and nodding.
His presence was to tell her he wanted this to happen for her.
“Lucas,” she paused for a short moment, “I am ready.”