Page 73 of The Christmas Door

Luke blinked like he wasn’t sure the scene was real. “You’re—here?”

“Amayah arranged it.” His father stepped forward first, his voice thick. “Your mother insisted we pack up and drive down instead of going to Europe.” He set the gifts aside and reached for Luke’s shoulder. “After hearing about the kids, your job, and everything you’ve been doing, we just had to come here to support you.”

Emotion tightened Luke’s throat so sharply that he could hardly breathe.

His dad’s voice softened into a low, steady warmth. “We are so incredibly proud of you.”

The words hit Luke like a wave—unexpected, unearned, but deeply, painfully true. He breathed in shakily as the Crump kids peeked around the corner, eyes wide at the sudden arrival of grandparents-in-spirit.

“We’re glad you’re spending Christmas with us.” Amayah smiled warmly.

Luke looked around the house—at the kids, at the staircase leading to the attic they’d built together.

The past couple of weeks had been a lesson in mercy—mercy from Amayah toward him. Trying to give mercy to himself for his mistakes. Realizing his parents deserved mercy despite keeping secrets from him.

He’d been a fool to create distance with his parents.

He realized now that God had a hand in it all. God had opened just the right door for his parents to adopt him. If they hadn’t, his life would look a lot different right now.

He’d been truly blessed.

His father pulled him into a hug. For the first time in years, Luke didn’t feel caught between worlds.

He felt . . . anchored.

Chosen.

His parents stepped inside, and as Amayah closed the door, Luke saw something catch her eye.

He followed her gaze to the front window, the one that had finally been replaced last week, which glowed with soft winter light. It had been a mess before, barely hanging on, drafty and splintered. But now it was whole, clear, sturdy.

Luke came to stand beside her, shoulder brushing hers. “You okay?”

She nodded, eyes still on the window. “I just had a realization.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s an old saying, but it’s true. When God closes a door . . .”

“He opens a window,” Luke finished.

“And sometimes He opens a whole house.”

He let out a soft laugh—one that held relief, wonder, and something very close to love.

Luke’s parents stepped farther inside.

The kids came to greet them.

Warmth spilled from the kitchen.

Joy flickered like light through stained glass.

“What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open . . . See, I have placed before you an open door.” Revelation 3:7–8

Those verses had been a constant in his mind, a reminder.

Luke realized that Christmas had never felt so full of new beginnings.

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