Page 135 of Sunset Catchers

“Your turn now.” Levi flips his camera from where he’s lying in his bed so I can see the sunset from his bedroom window. There isn’t any pink in his sky.

“My sunset is way better. I win.” He chuckles. “I miss you,” I say. My heart squeezes once. My fingers find the heart-shaped locket at my neck; Levi’s birthday gift to me. Now we are permanently squished together, always kissing, even when we are far apart.

“I miss you too. Can’t wait to see you this weekend.”

We are meeting at the cottages to spend a few days together to do all of the fall traditions and see the leaves changing colors.

“Me too, big stud.”

“Why did you give me that nickname?” he asks, frowning.

“I don’t know. You just seemed so solid. Studs are important in a home; they are the foundation. They hold everything together and turn a house into a safe place.”

There’s a soft smile curling up his lips.

Levi turned out to be exactly the foundation I needed to rebuild myself.

December

Winnie

“Merry Christmas Eve, everyone.” I clink my wine against the slew of other raised glasses around me.

Kit’s house is fully decorated for the holidays. Wreaths on the doors, garlands on the stair banisters, and incandescent string lights everywhere.

It’s the holidays, and I’m not lost in a crowd anymore.

Levi found me. In a box of lost and found souls, he chose mine.

I even got to do the whole Christmas tree tradition with them. And add in the ugly ornament I thrifted and pretty sure was handmade by someone’s kid.

“Winnie, how petty are you exactly when it comes to Monopoly?” My mouth becomes a wretched curve of red lips.

“The pettiest.”

Sloan laughs. “I claim Winnie as my co-owner.” Levi whines in protest, sliding the arm that’s not holding his own glass of wine around my waist, until my back is to his chest, and his chin is resting on my head.

“She’s my girlfriend,” he argues.

“So? She’s also my girl friend,” she argues back.

Over the last few months, Sloane has become one of my best friends. Every time I find myself in Toronto, Levi’s home is suddenly her favorite place to hang out. He always acts as if he’s annoyed she’s around so often, but I know it makes him happy that I get along with his sister. It makes me happy too. It lessens the sting that my best friend remains in Montreal while I’m with them in Toronto.

“Fine,” he relents. “We’ll play in a few.” Then his hand is in mine, and he’s tugging me toward the empty tea room. I smile at Levi’s mom when I catch her eye while passing through. She grins back at me with something akin to love on her face. My heart sings a Christmas chorale. It’s been healing, forming a relationship with her.

Levi tugs me down on the big reading chair after leaving our glasses on the antique table, throwing a blanket over our bodies.

“What are we doing?”

“Enjoying the view,” he says gesturing to the wall of windows.

Big, fluffy snowflakes are slowly descending from the sky, as if falling in slow motion. The snow already amassed on the ground is sparkling under the dusky sky.

“It’s beautiful,” I say to Levi.

“It really is,” he agrees.

Levi made it a point to show me how the scenery through the windows changed with every season. I loved the rain in spring, admired the colorful blooms of summer, and cozied up to watch Fall’s red takeover, but I think the winter version is my favorite to date.