Page 141 of Light My Fire Three Times
The warm glow of the candles, the clinking of glasses, the comfort of good food shared with people who care.
“Alright, Livvy,” Jesse says, raising his glass, “here’s to a Christmas that’s a little less perfect, but a lot more real.”
“Cheers to that,” Karl adds, winking at her.
I lift my glass as well, watching Olivia, who’s looking at all of us in turn.
“To the real Christmas,” she says softly. “And to all of you.”
The meal lingers long after the plates have been cleared, the air rich with the comfort of full stomachs and content hearts.
We lean back in our chairs, the fire crackling in the corner, and the soft clink of the tableware being cleared away fills the quiet between us.
The holiday magic is palpable, but there’s something even more profound, unspoken, hanging in the air.
Karl stretches lazily in his seat, his arm draped over the back of the couch. “Alright, alright, I think it’s time for the moment. Gifts.”
His eyes sparkle with mischief.
Olivia blinks, clearly surprised. “Wait, gifts? I didn’t realize there were?—”
Jesse interrupts her with a soft chuckle, standing up and reaching for the stack of wrapped presents on the table. His gaze meets Olivia’s, and for a moment, there’s a quiet softness in his eyes.
“We figured we'd spoil you a little,” Jesse says, the words almost shy despite the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “You’ve been through a lot, Liv. Thought you deserved something special.”
Olivia blinks again, the surprise shifting to warmth. “You guys didn’t have to?—”
“Shush,” Karl cuts in, flashing her one of his usual playful winks. “No excuses. Let’s see how we did.”
Jesse hands her a small, neatly wrapped box. “This one’s from me.”
Olivia carefully unwraps the paper, revealing a smooth wooden box. When she opens it, inside is a small, leather-bound journal.
Her fingers linger over the soft cover, and she looks up at Jesse, her expression caught somewhere between surprise and appreciation.
“I thought,” Jesse starts, almost awkwardly, “that you might like something to write in. You know, with everything going on… It’s a place for your thoughts, or whatever you need. I know you don’t exactly talk about it all, but maybe this helps a little.”
Olivia’s eyes soften as she holds the journal close. “Jesse, this is perfect. You’re right. I’ve been meaning to get something like this for a while. Thank you.”
The words feel genuine. She’s really touched. She gives him a soft smile, but there’s a warmth in her gaze that says more than just the simple thank you.
Olivia then turns to Karl, who grins. He leans forward, arms stretched out dramatically, and hands her a gift with a flourish.
“From me,” he says, with all the charm of someone about to make an entrance. “Prepare yourself for pure magic.”
She laughs and rolls her eyes before unwrapping it. Inside the box, she finds a framed photo. A candid shot of the four of us, taken from one of our earlier hangouts at the firehouse. We’re all laughing, in that easy, unguarded way, and the photo captures the exact feeling of those moments: real, messy, and full of warmth.
Olivia’s expression shifts, surprise flickering across her face. She looks at Karl, who’s watching her with an exaggeratedly innocent look. “You did not just give me a photo of you all.”
Karl shrugs, unfazed. “I’m a man of deep thought, Liv. You’re welcome.”
She stares at the photo for a beat before laughing softly, shaking her head. “It’s perfect,” she says. “I don’t have a lot of pictures of us together. I love this.”
Karl gives a satisfied nod. “Thought you might.”
Then it’s my turn. I stand up and walk over to her, holding out a gift bag with a small, carefully wrapped box inside. I hand it over with a slight smirk, the packaging understated but thoughtful.
Olivia tilts her head, clearly curious. She unwraps it carefully, revealing a delicate silver bracelet, simple but elegant, with a small, polished stone that glints in the light.
