The Christmas Charm (New Adult Holiday Love Story) by Alexander Bryn

Chapter 1
    Allie Remini opened her eyes, remembering this would be her first Christmas without her beloved nana (grandma), who had passed away the previous spring. She still missed her grandma terribly, with each holiday and birthday all the more painful in her first year alone. Getting up, she slipped into a warm robe, combed her straight, black hair and brushed her teeth. As she attended to her morning’s routine, she gazed into the mirror, looking at her solemn, gray eyes. She saw a petite, olive-skinned young woman with the remnants of sadness and loss still in her eyes.
    Even though it was Christmas morning, she felt no real special excitement about this holiday. If she had still had her nana living, she would feel more happy and excited. Instead of opening the small package from her grandma, she started a pot of coffee and looked outside at the bright, Las Cruces morning. It was sunny, but very cold outside. Winter had finally arrived to the southwestern New Mexico city. As she sipped the hot coffee, flavored with cinnamon-flavored creamer, she turned the small, gaily wrapped box over and over in her hands. This was her very last gift from nana and she wanted to savor the anticipation of opening the last gift she would receive from her. Finally, she slipped one slender finger under the taped fold and pulled it up, opening the red foil gift wrap. Removing the lid from the little box, she found a letter in her nana’s familiar handwriting.
    “My dear, dear Allie. This is your first Christmas without me around to celebrate it with you. I hope you waited until this morning to open your gift – even though I am gone, I want you to promise me that you will celebrate today. Even though I am no longer on the Earth with you, I am still there, inside your heart and memories. I watch over you every day and night, keeping you safe.
    I also want you to learn how to love, my darling. You are a very, very special woman – you don’t know yet just how special.
    I have given you a very special gift today. Inside the little jewelry box, you will find a special gold chain that holds special powers – this magic chain led me to your grandfather, giving me the greatest love I have ever known. I want this kind of love for you, my precious granddaughter.
    Allie wiped tears from her face – she still missed her nana, more than she had ever expected to. Setting the letter aside, she opened the small jewelry box. Parting the soft tissue, she found a gold neck chain that looked like nothing she had ever seen in her life. Slipping her fingers under it, she lifted it from the tissue, closely examining the design.
    “Oh, my God, this is so beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like this in my life!” Allie murmured to herself. A small, lapis lazuli pendant hung from the chain. A small hand curled around the semi-precious stone. Allie held the chain and pendant in both hands, seeing her grandmother’s image in her mind. She missed her terribly and another sob escaped from her.
    Eventually, Allie sighed, knowing that her grandmother wouldn’t want her to spend the rest of her life, mourning. She finished her coffee, ate a light breakfast and started getting dressed – she had made plans to join her two best friends for lunch at Lorenzo’s, a well-known Italian restaurant located on University Avenue, across the street from the city’s state university. Grabbing her purse and warmest jacket, she slipped into the coat and wrapped a soft neck scarf around her neck. Slinging the strap of the purse over one shoulder, she pulled her door open – and saw her next door neighbor standing on the front doorstep. Allie’s mouth dropped open and her heart suddenly skipped a beat. Once it started beating evenly again, it began pounding hard – she had seen him twice before since he had moved to her neighborhood. Those glimpses had only been momentary, as she was on her way out.
    ***
    Meantime, Allie’s neighbor, Emilio Alvarez, had been thinking