“He whispered words in a language she didn't understand, his lips brushing her ear. "What does that mean?" Astra asked. " 'The Christmas lights rose higher and higher, till they looked to her like the stars in the sky.' " Astra's heart twisted. " 'The Little Matchgirl.' One of my favorites, but it's so sad." Jack pulled her tighter. "I've always thought of it as hopeful. We leave one place to go to another with those we love. They're always waiting when we need them most," Jack said.” Loved OnesChristmas RomanceMatchgirl Book:Once Upon a December Source: Once Upon a December
“She took a deep breath and turned her face to the sky, where large white flakes drifted down, landing in her auburn hair, winter blooms on a field of red. She closed her eyes and let the flakes kiss her cheeks, eyelids, lips. Never before in his life had he been jealous of snowflakes.” Falling In LoveChristmas RomanceRed HairFeminine BeautySnowflakes Book:Once Upon a December Source: Once Upon a December
“They stepped out of the trees, which opened onto a large meadow that appeared to be in the middle of a mountain range, large boulders scattered around like a giant had dropped them like seeds. Bernie dashed between them, kicking up snow and leaving a twisty trail of tracks. The nearest boulder stood right next to them, taller than Jack. Most of the sides were straight, but the one facing the mountains had a seat carved out of it. Astra imagined some ancestor had created it as a convenient place to rest. On the horizon, the sun glowed orange in the space between the low-hanging clouds and the mountaintops, covered in snow-topped pines. Astra was stunned into silence. There was no explanation for this. The faintest breeze kissed her cheek, the air scented with pine and newly fallen snow. Jack set his hands on her shoulders behind her, and she melted into him, sharing this moment. A sight he had surely seen a thousand times, but could it ever get old? "This is the most beautiful..." She couldn't find the words. "I know." They stood in silence until the sun completely disappeared and the night sky turned from orange and red to purple to a deep black only broken by more stars than Astra had ever seen.” LandscapeSunsetMountainsChristmas RomanceSnowyPine Trees Book:Once Upon a December Source: Once Upon a December
“Before you, I thought my life was perfect. I had family, community, a long life in a literal magical land, but I wasn't living--- not really. I had abundant time, so it had no value. When I almost lost you, I realized how meaningless time was when I couldn't be with you. You've shown me that a second lived with the right person is better than one hundred years alone. Now every moment is precious because I know its worth." He opened his hand to reveal a sparkling diamond ring that resembled a star or maybe even a snowflake--- she loved that it could be either. Set in white gold, a round center stone was surrounded by smaller pear-shaped diamonds that formed the points. "Will you do me the honor of making every second of my life priceless?” Happily Ever AfterChristmas RomanceMarriage ProposalPrecious TimeConfession Of LoveDiamond Ring Book:Once Upon a December Source: Once Upon a December
“The tiny red-hatted gnome held a stack of books, the titles delicately carved onto the spines and painted in gold. Each book represented a different part of her. Outlander for their love across time and because it was one of her favorites. Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen because she had found it in the bookstore. A Christmas Carol because they both loved Christmas. Lily and the Octopus, presumably because of Bernie, and lastly Circle of Friends, which seemed self-explanatory.” BooksGnomeChristmas RomanceChristmas GiftSymbolic MeaningFigurine Book:Once Upon a December Source: Once Upon a December