Brant’s handwriting on plain white copy paper.
Holly’s heart sped as she read it:
Holly,
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas f rom afar since I will be out of town on Christmas Day. There is a lot that I need to say to you, but I think it’s better if I write to you. I love you. I love you more than you know. For the longest time, I have wanted to apologize for my carelessness. I know it’s not enough. You have to be able to trust that I wouldn’t walk again when the going get’s tough.
Well here it is. Here is all that I have to give. Everything in my life comes down to you. If you love me and will have me, everything else is just a bonus. I know I’ve let you down, and I’ve paid for that everyday since we’ve been apart. There has never been anyone else. My heart is too consumed by you. You walk around with a big piece of me wherever you go. I know you’re hurting. I was too. I never expected to feel so out of control with our lives. I didn’t leave because I didn’t want to take care of you. I left because I didn’t want my family to see me so weak. Your dad told me to take the time I needed, and he would hold down the fort. He saw how close to the edge I was. I was about to snap. I blamed myself entirely. I still do. Then, when your dad tried to explain what happened, you took it personally. See, Holly, you have an inner strength that I’ve never quite mastered. You can take the hits and keep on rolling. I might be physically strong, but you are the strongest out of the two of us. You are, and forever were my rock.
I was wrong. Families are supposed to work through things together, and I was gone when you needed me most. I don’t know if I can ever make up for that. But I can promise you that I will never leave your side again. I want our family back. I need us to be a family again.
Merry Christmas H olly. I hope you will consider what I’ve said. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you, or love you more than the day before. I think you still love me, too.
Still Yours,
Brant
Tears flooded Holly’s eyes as she read and re-read the letter from her ex-husband. She did still love him, and she wanted nothing more than to welcome him back into her life. She just had to trust that he wouldn’t crack under the pressure of day-to-day life again. She certainly had much to consider as she sat smiling under the lights of the Christmas tree.
*****
A car door slammed outside of 56 Wallace Road as Holly jumped in reaction. She had fallen asleep under the lights of the Christmas tree, with Brant’s letter still hanging in her grasp. She looked up at the clock that hung on the wall through raw, tired eyes.
3:17 A.M.
Who the hell would be showing up here at this time of night?!
Learily, Holly walked to the front window and pulled aside the sheer curtain as her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. Standing in the white glow of the moonlight was Brant. Holly’s heart leapt when she saw him. He was leaning against his pick-up truck with bouquet of Casablanca lilies in his right hand and a determined look in his eyes.
Brant had always chosen Casablanca lilies for Holly. They are a classically beautiful flower with surprising strength and resilience. That was his Holly, alright.
Maybe it was the alcohol…
Maybe it was the Christmas music…
Or maybe Holly’s heart was finally doing exactly what it had wanted to do for so long.
Holly raced to the front door and swung it open. She ran off the porch into the still falling snow. Her boots trudged loudly through the snow, going faster and faster.
Brant watched with a shocked smile at the vision before him. He never thought he’d see the day that Holly would come back to him.
Now there they were, two lost souls in the night. Two wounded hearts running towards the only person on earth who could make them whole again.
Finally, Brant was within arm’s reach. Holly
Holly’s heart sped as she read it:
Holly,
I want to wish you a Merry Christmas f rom afar since I will be out of town on Christmas Day. There is a lot that I need to say to you, but I think it’s better if I write to you. I love you. I love you more than you know. For the longest time, I have wanted to apologize for my carelessness. I know it’s not enough. You have to be able to trust that I wouldn’t walk again when the going get’s tough.
Well here it is. Here is all that I have to give. Everything in my life comes down to you. If you love me and will have me, everything else is just a bonus. I know I’ve let you down, and I’ve paid for that everyday since we’ve been apart. There has never been anyone else. My heart is too consumed by you. You walk around with a big piece of me wherever you go. I know you’re hurting. I was too. I never expected to feel so out of control with our lives. I didn’t leave because I didn’t want to take care of you. I left because I didn’t want my family to see me so weak. Your dad told me to take the time I needed, and he would hold down the fort. He saw how close to the edge I was. I was about to snap. I blamed myself entirely. I still do. Then, when your dad tried to explain what happened, you took it personally. See, Holly, you have an inner strength that I’ve never quite mastered. You can take the hits and keep on rolling. I might be physically strong, but you are the strongest out of the two of us. You are, and forever were my rock.
I was wrong. Families are supposed to work through things together, and I was gone when you needed me most. I don’t know if I can ever make up for that. But I can promise you that I will never leave your side again. I want our family back. I need us to be a family again.
Merry Christmas H olly. I hope you will consider what I’ve said. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you, or love you more than the day before. I think you still love me, too.
Still Yours,
Brant
Tears flooded Holly’s eyes as she read and re-read the letter from her ex-husband. She did still love him, and she wanted nothing more than to welcome him back into her life. She just had to trust that he wouldn’t crack under the pressure of day-to-day life again. She certainly had much to consider as she sat smiling under the lights of the Christmas tree.
*****
A car door slammed outside of 56 Wallace Road as Holly jumped in reaction. She had fallen asleep under the lights of the Christmas tree, with Brant’s letter still hanging in her grasp. She looked up at the clock that hung on the wall through raw, tired eyes.
3:17 A.M.
Who the hell would be showing up here at this time of night?!
Learily, Holly walked to the front window and pulled aside the sheer curtain as her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. Standing in the white glow of the moonlight was Brant. Holly’s heart leapt when she saw him. He was leaning against his pick-up truck with bouquet of Casablanca lilies in his right hand and a determined look in his eyes.
Brant had always chosen Casablanca lilies for Holly. They are a classically beautiful flower with surprising strength and resilience. That was his Holly, alright.
Maybe it was the alcohol…
Maybe it was the Christmas music…
Or maybe Holly’s heart was finally doing exactly what it had wanted to do for so long.
Holly raced to the front door and swung it open. She ran off the porch into the still falling snow. Her boots trudged loudly through the snow, going faster and faster.
Brant watched with a shocked smile at the vision before him. He never thought he’d see the day that Holly would come back to him.
Now there they were, two lost souls in the night. Two wounded hearts running towards the only person on earth who could make them whole again.
Finally, Brant was within arm’s reach. Holly
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