My "Three Kings" of Christmas

Allllrighty everyone here is the 9th and final chapter of the story. <3

Enjoy! :grin:

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Chapter 9

When I stepped into the house crying, my parents took immediate notice from the living room.

“Malai?” my mother addressed with concern.
“What’s wrong?” dad asked, lowering his book.

“It’s nothing,” I sniffed, heading for my bedroom, “I just need to be alone.” After I closed my door, I could only imagine my parents giving each other greatly puzzled looks. No doubt my mom would be calling Mami pronto for more information. (How I wished she wouldn’t.)

I cried into my pillow for a long while, mourning this wonderful Christmas break and everything that could have been…

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If all my choices had felt so right, then why did they all leave me heartbroken?

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to me, Aizen walked into his home with a crestfallen look on his face which caught the attention of his mother too, and Kai. Mami stroked his arm and asked him the same question my father had. He just shook his head with closed eyes. At Kai’s suggestion, the three of them retreated upstairs to Aizen’s room to talk.


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After a good cry, I pulled myself together - for the moment anyway - wiping all the tears away and blew my nose. There was something I absolutely needed to do before I went back home to New York, and I was not going to forget! I called Amaya on her basic flip phone.

I painfully informed her that I would be heading home in the morning, which I could tell was making her tear up. I got teary-eyed too.

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I promised her that I would keep in touch and that if she ever needed anything she could call me anytime. She appreciated it. We had a nice little chat about her artwork and how fun this Christmas break had been getting to know each other and then…we said goodbye. After hanging up, I held my hand to my mouth and sobbed again.

It was then that my mother lightly knocked on the door.

“Come in,” I tried to say normally, quickly brushing the tears away and sitting myself down.

As she entered my room she wore a loving, yet sorrowful smile on her face and sat down beside me on my bed. “Oh my dear Malai…,” she consoled, putting her arm around me. Yep, she knew everything.
I leaned my head against the nape of her neck and sobbed, feeling lower than I had ever felt before in my life. Even worse than when Landon and I broke up all those years ago. “I feel so lost right now momma,” I sniffed, “and I feel like I’ve ruined everything in my life.”
“Shh. You haven’t,” she hushed as she rocked me.

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“I’m sorry the plan didn’t work out like you and dad had hoped…and I’m sorry to always be such a disappointment to you,” I cried more.
“No. No no no no,” she countered, looking me straight in the eye. “You are not a disappointment, Malai. Your father and I have always been so proud of you! And the amazing woman you have become. We’re sorry for pushing you so hard to get married…it was never our intent to frustrate you with it.”
I appreciated hearing that and let her know with a heartfelt smile.
“We just want you to be happy,” she expressed, “no matter what. Single or married. You know what is best for you.”
“Well I’d prefer to not be single for the rest of my life,” I declared, with a hint of a chuckle which made her chuckle too. I’m sure she was greatly relieved to hear it. “But how will I know if a person is the right one, momma?” That’s what I struggled with the most in all my relationships. “How will I truly know?”

My mother thought for a moment and simply replied, “You’ll just know. It will hit you quick, sometimes when you least expect it. Not always like a bolt of lightning, but oftentimes through strong feeling,” she paused, pressing her hand to my heart, “and you’ll never be sure of anything else in the world. There’ll be no doubts.” She smiled.

I nodded. “Thanks momma,” I tearfully smiled in return. “I’ll remember that. And despite everything that's happened, I’m really glad I came home this Christmas. I love you so much!” I squeezed her.
“Love you too sweetheart.”

That evening, I couldn’t help wondering what was going on - or being talked about - at the Yamamoto household…


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Around bedtime, Aizen knocked on Amaya’s door to wish her goodnight.

Amaya barely uttered a “goodnight” to him in return, looking down sadly at her favorite stuffed animal she was stroking in her lap on her bed.

Aizen held back a sigh as he approached her, not oblivious at all as to why his daughter was feeling so sad. Truthfully, she was mirroring his own emotions.

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“Malai called me and told me she’s leaving in the morning…”
“I know…,” Aizen sorrowfully said. “That was nice of her to call and let you know.” It warmed his heart, yet made it ache all the more. Filling it once again with regret.
“Of course! Cause…,” Amaya stopped, her lip quivering, “we’re buddies.”
A lump formed in Aizen’s throat.

The little girl leaped from the bed towards her dad and threw her arms around his waist. Aizen crouched down to her level and held her just as tightly and emotionally in return.

“I don’t want her to go,” Amaya cried, “I’m gonna miss her so much!”

A tear escaped Aizen’s eye. “Yeah,” he whispered. “Me too…”

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It never hurt so much to leave my hometown than it did that New Year's Eve morning. I wasn’t entirely sure why. But no matter the reason, the break was over and I had to get back home and return to work. Return to my life. My super awesome, albeit lonely life. It sure never felt so lonely now…

As I packed up the rest of my things into my suitcase, I got a text from Kai saying,

Have a safe trip home, Malai. ✈ I had a wonderful time with you this past week and…I’m sorry things didn’t work out. :( On both accounts. I wish you the best in all your endeavors. ? And don’t be a stranger. I'd love for us to keep in touch. ??

It made me smile and filled my heart with warmth. A part of me wished I could take back everything I told him and we could continue going where we left off, do the long distance relationship, but another part of me knew it most likely wouldn’t work. And I kinda got the vibe that Kai felt the same. I needed some time to myself right now. To reevaluate my future. Maybe we could pick things back up someday, maybe not, but if we did, that would mean seeing Aizen again…when I didn’t know if I could. Or even do that to him.

Of course I informed Landon - via text - that I would be returning to work soon and gave him a watered down version of everything that had transpired. Not long after Kai’s text, I got a reply from him saying:

Gosh I’m sorry to hear that Mai…That really su’cks! When you get back, let's eat a tub of ice cream and wallow in our depression together. ;) <3

I chuckled. Totally! I texted back to him. Thanks buddy. <3 I’ll let you know when my plane lands. See you soon!

It was a tearful goodbye with my parents on the front porch; the cab came quicker than expected. I took one last look at the Yamamoto home with mixed feelings before slipping into it and closing the door.

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Goodbye Maplewood Falls. Until next year. Maybe…

I clutched the handle on my suitcase the entire way to the airport, staring out the window, feeling so sad and heartbroken. I thought I felt convinced that leaving was for the best - because I had to return to work, of course - but mostly because I couldn’t build a future with a man who couldn’t trust me. That really stung my heart and soul. So I should’ve been feeling validated and satisfied with my decision…but I wasn’t. In fact, I was only feeling worse. Why?

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As I went through airport security all I could think about was Aizen and everything he told me…everything that awful woman put him through. A guy like him didn’t deserve any of it, no matter what kind of mistakes he made in the past. Sometimes life is just so darn unfair! The fog in my mind was clearing over the whole situation now. How could I fault him for struggling to trust women after such a traumatic experience? And that’s the thing, it was a legit traumatic experience, one that he was still healing from. Throwing up all his best defenses to make sure it would never happen again! Totally understandable! And yet somehow…my pride, and hurt, had overshadowed my better judgement towards him.

Kai likened his older brother’s pain to hell and really…hell it had been. In more ways than one. My heart began to ache all the more as I proceeded to the terminal.

I only waited about 10 minutes before it was time to board the plane and as I did I began to feel a giant pit in my stomach.

Looking out the small plane window, in the direction of Maplewood Falls, my chest grew heavy, tears pri’ckled behind my eyes, and my heart began pining more and more for him. Aizen…

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I couldn’t leave him. I just couldn’t leave him. It didn’t feel right. It wasn't right.

I told him I wasn’t like all those other women and yet what was I doing? Running away. Just like they had.

Oh my gosh…, I gaped as the realization set in, a tear escaping my eye.

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Instantly every moment I shared with Aizen that past week played back in my mind. Ending with him saying,

“I’m trying to…”

Those three words were saying he felt I was worth it. Worth it enough to rip down all his strongest defenses and actually allow himself to love again, for the first time since his life “ended.” Oh how my heart started to sing.

It was then that I knew - like momma said - without a shadow of a doubt.

“I have to get off this plane!” I voiced to the person sitting next to me. Just saying it made my heart jump for joy and conviction, beating that terrible weight off my chest.

I stumbled through the people in the aisle lifting their carry on bags into the overhead bins, frantically making my way to the exit. The flight attendant stopped me and asked what I thought I was doing and…I wondered if I should give a full explanation or just tell her I changed my mind about leaving?

I might've given her a watered down version of the situation which somehow brought in an audience of other passengers. Talk about feeling like you're in a Hallmark Christmas movie right at the ending climax!


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Aizen was actually working on the day of my flight, he and the other crew members were putting walls up on a home foundation in a new subdivision.

It didn’t take long for me to find him. Maplewood Falls is a small town and of course the Yamamoto clan were a huge help. I loved how overjoyed they all were to see me, especially Amaya. The feeling was mutual.

I parked a little ways back from the building site, walking in anticipation towards it to surprise Aizen. Butterflies filled my stomach. And I had no clue what I was going to say, but I knew my heart would guide me.

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The moment my eyes found him I stopped, still a few feet away, and watched as he finished securing a section of the wall to the foundation. Once that was done he jumped down onto the ground, picked up a few two-by-fours from a pile and heaved them up onto his shoulders. His sweat heavy bangs bounced as he did so. I won’t lie, I kinda wished he’d been doing that shirtless, or heck, even while wearing a tank top, but…it was winter after all. Darn.

As he made his way towards the ramp, he casually glanced in my direction and then did a double take. Stopping. I smiled as our eyes met.

Carefully he lowered the two-by-fours from his shoulders and onto the ground, not breaking eye contact. The look on his face was initially one of disbelief, but soon the corners of his mouth turned up into a smile of pleasurable surprise as he shook his head. I could almost hear him thinking, I don’t believe it.

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I stepped closer and so did he, our affectionate grins never fading. We stopped about a couple of feet from each other.

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“Isn’t there a plane you’re supposed to be on?” he playfully asked.

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“Yeeeah,” I played back, “but…there was this certain guy I couldn’t get out of my mind and,” I paused, my emotions building while holding his gaze, “I suddenly realized that I was inadvertently doing exactly what I said I would never do, or be, and,” my voice choked a little, “I didn’t want to let him down. He’s been through enough of that.”

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His smile beamed.

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“I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions,” I continued, inching closer, “when I should’ve been way more understanding. But I really want you to know that–-” I was interrupted by him throwing his lips on mine, kissing me so gently while cupping my cheeks in his hands. And you bet I kissed him back! Oh it felt amazing!

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“Shhh, you don’t need to say anything more,” he whispered, stroking my lips with his. “Your return has already told me everything.”

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With profound happiness I grinned, causing his lips to bump into my teeth which made us laugh.

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Then we kissed again, wrapping our arms around each other, drinking deeply from our affections; no longer suppressed.

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“I’m so glad you came back,” he whispered to me again, pressing his forehead against mine. “I thought I scre’wed up for good this time--"
"You didn't sc'rew up," I corrected. "I did."
His eyes beamed with appreciation. "Gosh you’re some kind of wonderful Malai…and I'm falling so hard for you." Then he swallowed emotionally. "I don’t ever want to lose you.”

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With a swelling heart, I nuzzled my forehead against his. “Well you won’t,” I assured with my eyes, “because I’m falling in love with you too.”

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He smiled. “Love huh? Are we there already?” he teased with an arched eyebrow.
I grinned. “Well, I love your family and I love Amaya so…,” I trailed off with a playful shrug.
“‘Nuff said,” he grinned in response before kissing me again, oh so passionately.

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Never had I imagined that I would find my one true love over the course of one week, but hey…if something feels right, deep within your heart and soul, and you both know it, then why wait to take the plunge?

I’m so glad we didn’t.

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You should’ve seen how excited Amaya was when her dad brought me home, with my hand in his, and popping a kiss on my cheek. There was never a happier little girl. And that evening the three of us watched the fireworks light up the night sky together, ringing in the new year. And a new future. In a way, we already felt like a family.

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Aizen and I courted long distance (talking on the phone, texting, and FaceTiming) for a little over four months. Then one day, he and Amaya surprised me at my apartment complex in New York just as I was coming home from work. And before I knew what was about to happen, Aizen knelt himself down onto the disgusting New York pavement and proposed to me. Cherry blossom petals were blowing all around us. It was so romantic! And of course I said, YES!

We got married at the church in Maplewood Falls and it was the best and happiest day of our lives. So romantic, and so perfect.

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There was never a set of happier parents in all the world at our wedding. It was adorable. Especially hearing all their bragging to the wedding guests about the part they played in bringing us together.

Kai came to our wedding with a very sweet girl he met in Montreal named Katie, (who is also a therapist) and Aizen and I got the feeling that wedding bells would be ringing for them soon too. Which ended up being true.

You’re probably wondering if things were ever awkward for a time between me, Aizen, and Kai. Honestly…no. Because what happened was meant to happen - orchestrated by a higher power. We all knew it and we were all ok with it. It was truly a blessing.

Ryu and Tara are still dating. We’re not exactly sure what the plan is there: if they’ll get married, move in together, or what. But everyone is different when it comes to relationships so we’re just anxiously waiting to find out what they’ll do!

Landon and I are still best friends, of course. And yes, he’s still my boss. (Aizen intimidated him a little at first, but now they are good friends.) Through his soul searching, he discovered that he’s bisexual, so he’s been going on dates with anyone he feels a strong connection to. Right now he’s dating a sweet woman named Nicole and seems very happy with her so I’m happy for him.

Together, Aizen, Amaya, and I decided to make our home in a fairly quiet suburb just outside of New York City. I was definitely willing to find a job closer to Maplewood Falls (to also satisfy the grandparents), but Aizen wouldn’t hear of me giving up my dream job at CM Magazine. He’s so incredibly sweet, unlike how my first impression was of him. I (we) still laugh about it to this day. As far as his employment goes, he takes up whatever construction jobs become available in the city, but for the most part he’s a stay at home dad. And he admitted to me just the other day that it’s become his favorite job. I love him.

Amaya is enjoying school, making good friends, and really delving into Art. Her artistic abilities will surpass mine one day; I’m sure of it. I feel so blessed to have her as my daughter. To call her my daughter. She has made my life richer than I ever imagined and inspires me to always be the best person - and parent - I can be. The first time she called me Mom…I’ll never forget it.

I don’t know what the future has in store for our little family of three. But I know that together we’ll weather any storm, no matter how challenging it might be, and cherish and relish in all the good times God blesses us with. Aizen and Amaya are my everything and I can’t imagine my life without them. I never realized just how happy and wonderful life could be.

I must admit, I’ve been feeling awfully nauseated lately…

Not sure what’s going on there… *wink, wink*


And that concludes the story of my unforgettable Christmas with the “three Kings.”




❄❄❄ The End ❄❄❄



Author's Closing:
I just wanted to thank y'all again, from the bottom of my heart, for reading this story and for all your sweet and humorous comments about it. ? They were - are - always a joy to read and have warmed my soul. <3 I seriously have the best support group here on the forum! :star: Y'all encourage me to keep writing and to pursue the thoughts I've been having for a while now about publishing these short Christmas stories. Perhaps someday. ;)

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ?