Holiday Romance

When Molly first meets Andrew, he’s in a relationship with her college friend, Hayley. Over the years, their friendship grows into a comfortable constant, built through shared cultural heritage and their annual tradition of traveling home together over the Christmas holiday. Beneath that friendship, though, Andrew’s feelings for Molly deepen, revealing him as the more emotionally open and patient of the two. His kindness, steadiness, and sense of loyalty contrast with Molly’s need for control and her avoidance of vulnerability. Andrew’s defining traits are warmth, humor, and quiet confidence; he has an intuitive emotional intelligence that allows him to read people without judgment. On the 10th anniversary of their annual Christmas flights, Andrew opens up to Molly about his recent sobriety, a moment that shifts the dynamic between them. His vulnerability not only deepens their trust but also forces Molly to confront her own emotional distance. Seeing Andrew take control of his life with such honesty makes her realize how detached she’s become from the people who matter most to her. Andrew’s confession highlights the emptiness of that pursuit. His courage in choosing physical and emotional health represents the kind of change Molly’s searching for. She reflects, “Sometimes I feel like he’s been the one constant in my life since I moved to this city” (92), acknowledging that Andrew has been her emotional anchor amid the chaos of her career and self-doubt.

Though Andrew has loved Molly for years, life and timing have kept them apart. Both have dated other people, trying to move on without ever really letting go of what they share. When Molly finally kisses him under the mistletoe, it’s a culmination of years of unspoken longing. For Andrew, it confirms what he’s always known deep down: that no one else has ever fit quite like Molly. Though Molly is hesitant to leap, Andrew is sure their friendship will become the foundation for something real, tender, and lasting. Early on, she admits, “When this man became my weakness, I do not know. But tonight, it’s like he’s got me wrapped around his little finger” (71), showing that her usual sense of control begins to waver in his presence. Christmas represents everything Andrew values most: home and togetherness. While Molly sees Christmas as an obligation, Andrew sees it as a time to slow down and return to what matters. His love for Christmas symbolizes his emotional depth and his ability to cherish people. These qualities eventually help Molly rediscover her own sense of family and meaning, and that Andrew is the right man for her.

Andrew is sensitive and supportive, and he wants Molly to live her best life. He notices when she’s stressed, overworked, or holding herself back, and he responds not with judgment but with encouragement and care. He listens, offers advice when she’s ready to hear it, and gives her the space to figure things out for herself. He says, “I wanted to look after you. Sometimes I think it’s what I was born to do” (312). That steady, patient presence allows Molly to take emotional risks she might have avoided before, showing her that love can be grounding and freeing at the same time.

Zoe is Molly’s twin sister who lives in Ireland. She is pregnant with her first baby. Despite their physical distance, Zoe and Molly share a close bond. Molly’s tradition of buying Zoe a cheap bottle of perfume at the airport each year is a running joke between them, a lighthearted gesture that captures their laid-back approach to holiday traditions. When Andrew suggests that Molly and Zoe start a new tradition, he isn’t really talking about the cheap perfume. It’s his gentle way of urging Molly to see the value in shared rituals. His comment pushes Molly to rethink her resistance to holiday customs and to recognize that these moments of connection are what make the season meaningful. It’s another example of how Andrew helps her open up to the emotional side of life she’s been avoiding. Being with her twin again stirs something in Molly, making her realize that distance has cost her more than she wanted to admit. “I feel the same twinge of sadness I always do when I see her for the first time after a few months. I don’t think it will ever be easy being so far away from her, even if it is what I want” (201). Their reunion is one of the first moments when Molly begins to understand what she truly values and what home really means to her.