Noah (Angel Institute #7)

Chapter 18

Eighteen

NOAH

M y heart races with excitement as I approach Paige’s parents’ house. The conversation with Ramona Summers replays in my mind, each word filling me with a newfound sense of possibilities. My fingers itch to grab a pencil to capture the joy bubbling up inside me in sweeping lines and delicate shading.

I pause at the front gate, taking in the sight before me. The large, modern farmhouse-style home is a beautiful blend of rustic charm and contemporary elegance. A warm glow emanates from the large windows, and I can see shadows moving inside, hinting at the life and activity within. A wreath made of pinecones and red berries hangs on the front door, its cheery appearance a stark contrast to the butterflies in my stomach. As much as I knew talking to Ramona was the right thing to do, I also know that I’m supposed to be with Paige.

Taking a deep breath, I make my way up the path and ring the doorbell. The sound of running feet and high-pitched laughter reaches me even before the door swings open, revealing a young boy with tousled blonde hair and bright, curious eyes.

“Hi!” he chirps, looking up at me with unbridled excitement. “Who are you?”

A smile tugs at my lips; the child’s enthusiasm is adorable. Before I can respond, a woman’s voice calls out from inside, “Tayden! What have I told you about opening the door to strangers?”

A harried-looking woman appears behind the boy, scooping him up into her arms. Her eyes meet mine, and a flash of recognition crosses her face. “Oh. You must be Noah. Paige mentioned you were stopping by.”

I nod, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the palpable energy emanating from the house. For the first time, I wonder if my sensitivity to these things is tied to my artistic soul. The joy that flows out the front door like a pent-up river would play into how I would draw this moment. “Yes, that’s me. Is Paige here?”

The woman shifts Tayden to her hip. “I’m Sarah, Paige’s sister-in-law. Come on in; I’ll let her know you’re here.”

I step inside, and the warmth and liveliness of the home wraps me up and makes me part of it. I did not grow up in a house that felt like this. I don’t remember my brother or sister’s friends ever wanting to hang out at our stark and efficient house.

The entryway opens into a spacious open-plan living area, where rustic wooden beams contrast beautifully with sleek, modern furnishings. A massive stone fireplace dominates one wall, its crackling flames casting dancing shadows across the room.

The air is thick with the aroma of baking cookies. Christmas music plays softly in the background, nearly drowned out by the cacophony of voices and laughter. Two more children are engaged in what appears to be an epic pillow fight on the large sectional sofa, while a man I assume is Paige’s brother attempts to referee while simultaneously hanging Christmas lights.

For a moment, I feel my old self creeping in—the quiet, reserved Noah who would rather observe from the sidelines than dive into the fray.

“Noah!” Paige calls out, emerging from what looks like a home office. Her face lights up when she sees me, and suddenly, the chaos around us fades into the background.

She makes her way over to me, deftly sidestepping a toy car that goes whizzing past her feet. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she says, reaching out to squeeze my hand. The warmth of her touch sends a thrill through me, chasing away any lingering nervousness.

Paige’s eyes search my face, and I see a flicker of concern. “You okay?”

I nod, grateful for her perceptiveness. “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just... a lot. But in a good way,” I add quickly, not wanting her to think I’m uncomfortable.

She smiles understandingly. “Come on, let’s go somewhere a little quieter. I want to hear all about your meeting..”

Paige leads me through the house to a set of French doors at the back. We step out onto the spacious deck, and I feel like I can breathe again. The deck is beautifully decorated with twinkling fairy lights and garlands of evergreen, creating a magical atmosphere against the backdrop of the starry night sky.

“Here,” Paige says, guiding me to a loveseat near a sleek gas fire pit. She flips a switch, and flames spring to life, casting a warm glow and taking the edge off the winter chill.

We settle onto the loveseat, and Paige turns to me, her eyes shining with curiosity. “So, tell me everything. How did it go with Ramona?”

The excitement I’ve been holding in bubbles to the surface, and the words come tumbling out. “It was amazing, Paige. She loved my sketches. She thinks I should sell them.”

Paige’s face lights up, her smile radiant in the firelight. “Noah, that’s wonderful.”

I’m grinning from ear to ear—the feelings that carried me to Ramona’s door are like waves that wash over me and recede, leaving me changed like the shoreline. “I can hardly believe it. Ramona had all these ideas—postcards, puzzles, calendars. She even suggested adding inspirational quotes to some of them.” I can already see several of these images.

Paige reaches out to take my hands in hers. “Your art deserves to be seen by the world, Noah.”

As I look into her eyes, seeing the pride and belief shining there, I feel a surge of courage. “For the first time in a long time, I feel like I could really do something with my art. I want to learn everything I can about making this work.”

Paige squeezes my hands. “And you will. I’ll help you however I can.”

“Paige,” I say, my voice softer now, “there’s something else I wanted to talk to you about.”

She giggles lightly. “Sounds serious.” When I don’t laugh, she tilts her head, curiosity evident in her expression. “What is it?”

I take a deep breath, gathering my courage. “We’ve been spending a lot of time together, and it’s been wonderful. I don’t want it to stop, and I want to promise you that I’m not seeing anyone else. I want to be exclusive.”

For a moment, Paige is silent, and my heart rate picks up. Her face breaks into a smile so bright it rivals the Christmas lights twinkling around us. “Noah,” she says, her voice filled with warmth, “I’d love that.”

Relief and joy wash over me, and I lean toward Paige, drawn to her with everything that is inside of me. My heart pounds in my chest as if it’s trying to get to her, too. Her eyes flutter closed just before our lips meet, and in that moment, there’s only Paige and me and this perfect moment.

Her lips are warm and yielding against mine, tasting faintly of peppermint and promise. I bring my hand up to cup her cheek, marveling at the softness of her skin beneath my fingers. As we settle into the kiss, it deepens, becoming more assured. It’s as if every emotion we’ve shared over the past weeks—every laugh, every shared glance, every moment of understanding— is being poured into this one perfect connection.

When we finally part, it’s with a shared sigh of contentment. I open my eyes to find Paige already gazing at me, her navy blue eyes shimmering with emotion in the firelight. Her cheeks are flushed, and there’s a smile playing at the corners of her mouth that makes my heart skip a beat. In her eyes, I see my own happiness reflected back at me, along with something else: a question about the trip. I can’t approach that yet. I’ve made big steps today. I have. There’s still a ways to go before I can follow her around the world. Right now, I promise to always be here when she gets back. She sees that promise and, for now, tucks the question away. It’ll come up again because it has to. Hopefully, when it does, we’ll both know the answer before we say the words.

“So,” she says, a hint of playfulness in her voice, “does this mean I get to call you my boyfriend now?”

I chuckle, feeling lighter than I have in years. “Yes.” I kiss her temple. She leans into me, and I hold her, wanting to stay here forever.

The Christmas lights twinkle like earthbound stars, the scent of pine and wood smoke fills the air, and the woman I love is by my side. This all came because I took the step; I followed my gut and the talent God put inside of me. I can’t thank Him enough for all that. Maybe I don’t have to say the words. As long as the feeling is this strong inside of me, He’ll know.

I lean in, placing a gentle kiss on Paige’s lips. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Noah,” she replies.

The sounds of the busy household behind us fade into a distant hum, and the worries about the future—my art career, Paige’s trip—are there, knocking at the door to be let out into the -open. I don’t want to ruin this moment, so I keep the door shut. I’m certain they’ll come back. Unresolved things always do.