Married life was great. Sure, Alex might not have achieved his ultimate dream of becoming a professional gridball player, but he had something better. He had a loving spouse and a beautiful baby boy.

His life had been turned upside down the day the farmer moved in to Pelican Town three years ago, and Alex hadn’t even realized it. Not when he had spoken to them for the first time, or when they had asked him out, or even when they shared their first kiss. No, it wasn’t until they’d gotten married that he realized that everything was going to be different in a really big way.

Well, different, but also sort of the same. After all, farming was kind of like a sport! There was a lot of physical labor and sweat involved, just the way Alex liked it. He’d adjusted quickly to farm life — eager to help whenever his spouse asked for it.

Farming was all about seasons. Certain crops grew in certain seasons, and he was quickly learning what crops grew when. However, hardly anything grew in winter.

Alex hated winter.

Oh sure, the snow was pretty to look at, but he couldn’t lift weights outside without freezing his butt off. His spouse, on the other hand, seemed very excited about the change of season. He watched, bouncing their little one on his knee as the farmer set up their Tree of the Winter Star. It was his spouse’s favorite holiday.

Watching his precious loved one so excited and happy as they strung up different lights and ornaments for the Tree made his heart warm. Maybe that’s why he found it easier to tolerate the cold.

“Need help?” He asked, their son cooing, reaching for the farmer. “Pretty sure I can reach the top half better than you can, babe. Just sayin’.”