WHILE SHE WAS changing her clothes, Jake slipped her presents under the tree. He pulled his sweater over his head and tossed it onto the couch. The light from the tree glistened in the windows. Jake unbuttoned the first two buttons from his shirt and leaned on the window, staring out over the city. Chicago was beautiful at night. The lights of the city reflected off Lake Michigan. The snow that covered the rooftops made them sparkle like diamonds. He sighed as the lingering fear returned with force, gripping him from inside. He was still agonizing over bringing Madi with him to L.A. He couldn’t leave her alone, not knowing Peter was out there somewhere, waiting to make his move. As long as they were together, he could protect her. He didn’t want her out of his sight for a minute.
Her hands slid around his waist and he tensed. “You were deep in thought,” she said.
“Umm,” he nodded, turning to face her. “I was thinking about you.”
“What about me?” she asked.
“I was wondering if you’ll like the presents I got for you.”
“I was wondering ifyou’lllike the presents I got for you!” she responded.
He stepped back and examined her. I don’t see a big red bow on that robe, so I’m assuming you’re not my gift?”
“You already have me,” she said, tugging him toward the tree. “Come sit with me.”
Jake pulled a blanket from the couch and laid it on the hardwood floor. He held her hand as she sat down. She glanced up at him as he slid down next to her.
“I can’t believe I’m here with you,” she said as she closed her eyes.
He brushed the hair from her face. “Merry Christmas, baby.”
Madi scooted over to him and he opened his legs to her so that he could wrap his body around hers. He kissed the side of her head as she leaned her back on his chest.
“It’s a beautiful tree. I wish I could have been here to decorate it with you.”
She turned and gazed into his eyes. “Next year,” she said.
“Promise?” he asked.
“I promise.”
Jake reached around her and pulled a box in front of her. It was wrapped in red satin with a red lace ribbon tied around it.
“For me?” she giggled.
He smiled. She carefully unwrapped the box and turned to him, biting her lip as she lifted the lid.
Inside was a worn brown journal held closed with a band. She smiled as she picked it up and removed the tie. Jake eyed her cautiously.
She opened the first page. Inside were scribbles of music and lyrics from Jake’s first song, “Gone Tomorrow,” written when he was still a teenager. Madi gasped as she turned page after page of Jake’s thoughts. Sometimes there were dates with comments about how he felt and other times there were pages of music, scratched on and erased multiple times. “Turn to the back,” he told her.
She flipped to the last page and Jake turned ten pages in, opening to a passage he’d written in May of this year.
When I turned and saw her, my heart stopped. No girl had ever made me feel that way before. Something tells me this one is special.
“Is this me?” she asked, her eyes filling with tears.
He nodded. “The last few pages are all about you. Every thought I had when I pushed you away. Every feeling I had that I didn’t want to forget, and finally…” he said as he turned to the last page. “The beginnings of ‘Saving Grace.’ I started writing it when I was in Germany, after you left me.”
Madi gazed into his eyes as a single tear rolled down her cheek. He brushed it away with his thumb.
“I want you to have it. Everything there is to know about me is in that book. I’ve never shown it to anyone. It’s my soul on paper. I can’t think of anyone I trust with my soul more than you.”
Madi gently placed the book back into the box and flew into his arms.
He held her close to him as she buried her face in his neck. “Are you sure you want me to have it?” she asked, pulling back to look at him.
“I’ve never been more certain about anything. It’s just my past. You’re my future.”
