The fourth day of Christmas was also the night of the Holiday Concert that Josh’s students do each year so I knew there would be no prolonged romantic moments between us, but I did get an order of 4 large chocolate covered strawberries sent to me at the dance studio.

That night I went to the concert. It was the first time I’ve ever seen Josh’s students perform. It was really cool to watch. It doesn’t feel like all that long ago that we were on the high school stage performing, and now he’s the teacher. It kind of makes me feel old!

They had a small reception after the concert. I was talking with his parents when a few of the girls from his class ran over to me. I recognized them from the audience of the dance competition. They were going on and on about how they loved how I danced with “Mr. Anderson,” and they were so sad when I sprained my ankle. One of them asked if I was dating him. Josh walked up right then and cut them off with, “Ladies, I see you’ve met Ms. Bradford.” One of the girls smiled and said, “We love her! We think you should love her and dance with her again!” Josh just smiled at them and said, “I’ll take that under advisement.”

It was kind of nice to have some audience members that were female that seem to adore me and not just Josh. ;)

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a delicious 5 course meal. I didn’t know what to expect last night. He sent me a text around lunch time and told me to be at his apartment around 7:00 and to come hungry. I got there at 7:00 sharp and found him in the kitchen preparing a 5 course meal for us! He had also decorated his apartment with little white Christmas lights and had candles lit. It was so pretty and romantic.

We had an appetizer, soup, salad, a chicken dish and dessert - all of it prepared by him, with the exception of the dessert, which he confessed to ordering at the local bakery.

I am just so touched by the amount of thought, time and effort that he’s put into this for me. I don’t think anyone has ever made me feel so special before.

I asked him why he was doing all of this. He said, “We promised we’d always be together at Christmas and I broke that promise. I want to make up for the five years that we missed.” I told him he didn’t need to make up for anything and that our five years apart were just as much my doing as his. He said, “I know, but I am making it up for myself as much as I am making it up for you. I really wish we had had those years.” I agreed and told him that I wish had had them too, but I also realize that we needed those years apart to grow up and experience life separately so that we could come together now. I really think that things had to happen in their own time. There have been times over the past five years where I thought maybe we’d be together again, but things never felt right - not like the do now. They feel right now.

I told him that I appreciate all of the gestures, but more than the things themselves, I am grateful for how he’s made me feel. It’s pretty amazing when the person that is so special to you, makes you feel like you are special to them. That is the best Christmas present I could ever have. The gestures themselves are nice, but that feeling is priceless.