The falling snow gently taps my face and melts into my tears as the pain in my back radiates out to my immobile limbs. The only thing I can feel is Jack’s hand in mine.

 

“Lucy, you have my heart,” he huffs out in a pain-laced voice.

 

“Forever,” I whisper back as I succumb to a dream-like state that transports me to the front porch of Coci Stella’s.

 

The snow is gently falling around us, blanketing the ground, as Jack and I stand in front of the two-story home set on a narrow plot off the main road that leads to downtown Wilkes-Barre. The porch is decorated with multicolored globes strung around the windows and awning with garland and wreaths adding to the Christmas decor. Festive music descends onto the silent night from a speaker set in the upstairs window. The crackle of the recording lets me know that it was from an old record set into the console that also houses the old, but still working, television.

 

Coci Stella steps out onto the porch to greet us as if she were Mrs. Claus herself. The joyful smile and rosy cheeks lets us know she has been baking our favorite holiday cookies, cakes, and breads. Many friends will be stopping to visit during the season and she will be well prepared.

 

“Come in and get out of the cold,” she says, waving us in. I squeeze Jack’s hand and run up the front steps to give her a big hug.

 

“Wesołych Świąt,” I say, wishing her a Merry Christmas in Polish.

 

“Ah, you’re learning,” she replies proudly.

 

“A little at a time,” I admit, stepping back.

 

“Merry Christmas, Coci,” Jack greets, leaning in for a hug.

 

“Merry Christmas, Jack. Come on in you two. Coffee is hot and I just took a batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookies out of the oven.”

 

As we enter we’re transported to a winter wonderland. Christmas decorations adorn every surface, from tiny figurines to a large-scale manger scene, hand-painted by a local priest. An animated doll holds a ball of snow with a mischievous look on her face, while a Santa sits nearby checking his list. The heavily decorated tree rotates in its stand while the steam engine toy train rides along the track surrounding the Christmas village underneath. When our eyes are finished taking in the sights, our ears register multiple musical items playing different Christmas carols at the same time. It’s a cacophony of cheer and I bask in the warmth and joy it brings to be back here.

 

“Let me turn these off,” Coci Stella says, making her way around the room to turn off the musical decorations. “I know it can be a lot, but I wanted you to hear them all when you came in.”

 

“It is a lot to take in, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love spending Christmas here,” I say, shrugging off my coat.

 

“Come, let’s sit.”

 

Jack takes my coat with his, and hangs them in the bedroom closet before joining me at the kitchen table with a freshly perked cup of coffee sitting in front of each of us. Coci fixes a plate of cookies for us to pick from. There are chocolate chips, peppermint candy canes, Chinese noodle cookies, sugar cookies, and pineapple truffles. She knows not to put the anise flavored cookies out for me. Those are only for my mom. I can’t stand the flavor. I choose a chocolate chip and dip it into my hot coffee. The flavor hits my tongue and I’m taken back to my childhood. Glimpses of Christmas’s past shuffle through my mind.

 

“Coci Stella, these are amazing,” Jack says, bringing me back to the present as he pops another pineapple truffle into his mouth.

 

“Hey, watch out. Those are my favorites,” I say, jabbing him in the ribs.

 

“If they’re your favorite, how come you didn’t pick that one first?” he ribs back.

 

“Fine. They’re all my favorite,” I giggle with my admission.

 

“Eat slow and eat a lot. There are plenty more,” Coci ensures, taking a sip of her coffee.

 

“We will,” I happily agree, taking a pineapple truffle and popping it in my mouth, the tangy flavor dancing across my taste buds.

 

“I also have a surprise for you two,” Coci says, crossing her arms in satisfaction with a huge smile on her face.

 

Just then Uncle Walter and the rest of my family walk in. The cozy kitchen now filled to the brim with loved ones. Jack and I jump up in excitement and start hugging everyone.

 

“Darling Granddaughter, you’re back!” Grandma Elizabeth cheers.

 

The word back whips me out of my revelry.

 

“Did you say back?” I ask.

 

“Yes, it’s so good to see you again. I know it hasn’t been that long for me but I couldn’t wait for you to come back,” she continues.

 

I look at Jack and realize that we are young again. No more wrinkles. No more age spots. No more gray hair. We’re as young as the day we met when I ran into him in front of Stella’s Diner. When I’m done inspecting us, I look to the beaming faces of my family huddled behind Coci Stella.

 

“It’s time,” Coci cheers.

 

I look around in shock. I thought it was all a dream but I should have known better than that. I’ve been here before. I know what this is. Jack and I have lived our lives. We’ve collectively saved hundreds of people as a nurse and a firefighter. We’ve raised two children, a girl and a boy. We’ve watched our grandchildren grow. Now it’s our turn to take on the family legacy. It’s our turn to run the diner.

 

Coci is standing there with a set of keys dangling in the air. I look to Jack.

 

“Are you ready for this?” I ask him.

 

“You bet. You have my heart and I never want it back.”

 

I squeeze his hand. “Forever.”

 

I close my eyes and when I open them snow is still falling down on us. My body warms with a golden glow and suddenly the snow stops tapping my face. Officer Peter Faith hovers over us letting us know he’s here to take us where we need to go.