The Anderson’s house was packed on Christmas Eve. There were family members and people that Mr. and Mrs. Anderson work with, but there were also tons of people I knew too! Josh had invited Mona and Angelo (who I have a feeling are more than friends these days!), a bunch of the dancers from our dancing competition, the doo-wop guys and some of the restaurant employees, and people from his play this summer.

Josh was busy talking to his dad’s friend when I got there so I walked around and talked to people. It was fun seeing so many people that I haven’t seen in a few months.

Molly and Adam showed up, and then our friends started to trickle in. Jennifer brought Lindsay, Laura and Tanya with her. I must have had a lot of Christmas spirit because Laura and Tanya’s presence didn’t bother me. Jason and Kelly showed up and then Alex arrived with his parents. Josh finally pulled himself away from his parents’ friends to hang out with us. He sat down on the couch next to me and whispered, “I’m sorry about that.” I knew he was and I wasn’t mad but I had spent the whole weekend waiting to really spend time with him and it was starting to feel like it would never happen.

Adam was telling us stories about his new job but all I could think about was how charged the small space between Josh and me was. And then Josh took my hand and I could feel the energy flowing between us. It amazes me that just the touch of his hand can have such a profound effect on me. I just sat there watching his thumb move across my hand as if to say, “I’m here with you now.”

Then it was Christmas carol time: Josh at the piano and everyone gathered around him. He and his dad did their annual rendition of “We Wish You The Merriest.” Then he surprised us all by announcing that Lauren would be playing the rest of the Christmas songs. She looked so excited, and I’m not sure why he did it, but it obviously meant a lot to her that she got to play the piano this year. I was happy because Josh came and stood next to me and put his arm around me while we sang. Mona kept smiling at me from across the room. I can’t help but laugh when I think about it – she’s such a cheerleader for me.

After the Christmas carols Josh said, “Don’t we have a date?” I looked at him not sure what he was talking about. “Under the mistletoe,” he clarified and I laughed and told him that he was right. He took my hand and pulled me into the family room where the mistletoe was hanging. He said, “I’m sorry things have been off to a slow start with me being sick and people being around us constantly.” I told him that it was okay and he said, “I promise I’ll make it up to you.” Then he said, “At least it adds to the anticipation.” He’s got that right! Then he leaned in and kissed me, and it wasn’t quick or rushed. It was perfect. I wanted to stay there in that moment. All of the waiting was so worth it.

He stayed by my side the rest of the evening. We talked to some friends for a little while, but I was happiest as the party started to clear out. Josh and I sat together in the little glassed in room that the Anderson’s have in the back of their house. No one was in there with us so we finally got to talk. I told him how happy I was that he was finally home and that we were together. He smiled at me and said, “that makes two of us.”

I heard “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” playing in the background – and not the happy remade versions, but the real one: the sad version that Judy Garland sang. I told him that I had listened to it last Christmas and kept thinking about the line: “Next year all our troubles will be miles away.” And how badly I hoped that line was true. I told him that last Christmas was horrible. He agreed and told me that it was the worst Christmas of his life. He said that last Christmas Eve was miserable and that all he wanted to do was sit in his room and mope. He told me that his mother kept going upstairs and dragging him down to the party. It made my heart break all over again, and I told him how I spent the night in my parents’ guest room crying my eyes out to Aunt Lu.

He looked at me and said, “We are never going through that again. Ever. This is how Christmas should be spent – happy and together.” He didn’t have to convince me. Then he said something that surprised me. He said that we should make a promise that no matter what, we will always be together on Christmas. That wasn’t a hard promise to make. Sitting there, warm and happy, snuggled up close to him was much better than being down in Florida in that cold house crying my eyes out over a heart that wouldn’t stop breaking.

Everyone had left at that point and the rest of his family had gone to sleep. It was well past midnight so Josh told me that he wanted to give me my Christmas present. He said that it will be more special at night anyway. I couldn’t figure out what in the world it could be – but it was the coolest gift ever. It was a star projector. We took it down in his basement where it was really dark and turned it on. It projected the night sky on to the ceiling – little stars all over the place! He told me that I could look up the stars all the time now. I loved it, and I loved sitting there in the dark with him looking up at the “stars.” It was so romantic and so special because I could tell he had put a lot of thought into that gift.

On Christmas I spent the day at Uncle Bill and Aunt Linda’s house. We had a nice day. Brett got Guitar Hero and we spent half the day playing it. Aunt Lu thought we were all nuts and we should learn how to play a real guitar.

Last night I spent the evening at the Anderson’s. I had dessert with them and then we all watched the movie “Elf.” Josh had a few more presents for me – mostly stuff from England. He brought me back the most amazing soap. I know it sounds crazy but I love Woods of Windsor soap. Natalie’s mother always had it and I thought it was the nicest soap in the world. So Josh picked up some for me when he went to Windsor Castle. I was so excited!

So that was Christmas. Today I went out to lunch with Molly, Jennifer and Lindsay. Tonight is Molly’s family party. Josh and I are going over there, and then tomorrow he and I are going to spend the day together – a whole day, just the two of us.

That’s all for now. Merry Christmas!