From Coins to Commitment: A Holiday Romance in the Big Apple

Jacob and I had been in a long-distance relationship for almost a year when we decided to take the next step and spend two weeks together in New York City, a place I had dreamed of visiting for as long as I could remember. He lived in Germany, and I was in Russia. Our long Skype calls and occasional visits with me traveling to his Bavarian town and him visiting St. Petersburg weren’t enough anymore. We wanted more time to see if we were truly right for each other. I was optimistic, but I had no idea how life-changing this trip would be.

Jacob had organized the entire NYC trip, and it was clear that he wanted to impress me. Every detail was planned out to perfection. The hotel, the activities, everything. He put so much effort into it, making me feel truly special.

However, I noticed something else about Jacob: his lifestyle was very simple when we first met. His German apartment was modest: just a bed, a few chairs, and several shelves filled with books.It puzzled me at first because he had a decent income. But later, I found out why. He had been sending most of his earnings back to the U.S. to help his family pay for overwhelming medical bills. This explained the sparseness of his apartment, and it made me admire him even more for his generosity.

The only item that was in big contrast with the rest in Jacob’s apartment was his coin album, which he had been collecting over the years. The coins were gorgeous, each one more beautiful than the last, but the album itself was very plain though. I remember thinking to myself, If and when the time is right, I will give him a truly special album for his coins.

We met in New York in December, right before New Year’s which also happened to be during my birthday.

The streets were alive with holiday cheer, and snowflakes started falling, dusting the city in white. That first night, we could hardly sleep. From our hotel room, we could see the glowing skyline and the lights of the Chrysler Building in the distance, while the sounds of the city filled the air. It was exhilarating, in the best way possible.

The next day, Jacob surprised me with something I’d mentioned once when I was a little girl: sitting on Santa Claus’ lap. He remembered, and he took me to Trump Tower to meet Santa. I couldn’t wait to find him. I went around the building looking for Santa, getting more excited as I approached the main area.

Not seeing him and not wanting to wait any longer, I turned to the two security guards nearby and asked, “Have you seen Santa?” The guards paused for a moment, exchanged looks, and then burst out laughing. One of them finally managed to choke out, “Ma’am, he’s right there.” There he was, sitting on his velvet throne, surrounded by tiny wrapped boxes and fake snow. I marched right up, sat on his lap, and posed for the picture of a lifetime. Santa asked me what I wanted for Christmas, and I jokingly said, “World peace, of course.”

His hearty laugh was contagious. If only we knew what was coming in 2022. Looking back at this happy time, the irony is overwhelming.

My childhood dream of sitting on Santa’s lap came true after just twenty years. ©Jane Evgeniia Dubrov
Later that day, we went ice skating in Central Park. The rink was bustling with people of all ages, some gliding gracefully, others clutching the rails like their lives depended on it. But the experience of skating in the middle of a busy city, while surrounded by skyscrapers, was unforgettable.

The next morning, over breakfast at a small café, Jacob smiled and said, “I have a surprise for you.” I tried to get it out of him, but he just smiled and led me outside into the cold December air.

We walked down Fifth Avenue, with all the store windows decked out for the holidays. Louis Vuitton, Prada, Tiffany’s — each store draws you in with its glittering displays. I was so caught up in the sights that I almost forgot about Jacob’s surprise. Suddenly, he stopped and led me into a boutique.

And then, just as we passed Bespoke Suits for Women, Jacob suddenly stopped. “We need to go in,” he said, pulling me toward the door. We entered the boutique, and an Italian tailor in his sixties, sharp in his suit, approached us. I gasped with excitement. I remember telling Jacob how different the experience is for a girl to have clothes tailored. It’s so much better than standing in front of the mirror in a boutique’s changing room, trying on outfits and discussing options. And Jacob remembered.

“Your husband already told me it’s your birthday and what you want: a fitted blazer, a silk blouse, and sleek trousers. Let’s see what we can create for you,” the tailor said warmly, his Italian accent adding charm to his words.

When the time came, we returned to the boutique. The moment I slipped into the tailored outfit, I felt a rush of excitement and confidence. The blazer fit perfectly, hugging my shoulders in all the right places, and the silk blouse flowed elegantly. The trousers were sleek, flattering my figure just the way I had imagined. I stood in front of the mirror, admiring how the outfit came together. Every detail was spot on.

I turned to Jacob, and he was smiling at me with such pride. “You look incredible,” he said softly.

It wasn’t just the clothes; it was the moment of feeling truly seen and celebrated. Jacob had given me more than just a gift, he had given me the experience of feeling beautiful, and it meant so much to me.

Now it was my turn to surprise him. I handed Jacob a neatly wrapped gift and was expecting a reaction. He slowly unwrapped the package, revealing the coin album, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Then his expression was unreadable. He stared at it for a moment, almost as if he didn’t understand what he was looking at. “You bought me a coin album?” he asked slowly, his voice filled with surprise. There was a long pause as he repeated the question, almost as if he was stalling, trying to process it. “You bought me… a COIN album?” His tone was confused as if he couldn’t quite grasp what was happening. I felt my heart skip a beat. “Jacob, if you don’t like it, just say so,” I said nervously, and I remember my voice trembling.

He laughed, shook his head, and hugged me. “No, I love it. But I need to tell you something.”

My heart sank. “What is it?”

“I must be honest with you. I went over my budget this year. I wanted this trip to be extra special so I pawned my coin collection to help pay for it,” he said. “I’ll get it back, I already arranged for it, but it will take a little time.”

I couldn’t believe it. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me? We could’ve stayed in a cheaper hotel or skipped the gifts. I don’t care about any of that. I just need you.”

Jacob smiled gently, reaching for my hand. “Seriously, do not worry. It’s only temporary. But now I have the most beautiful album to put them in.”

At that moment, I knew that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. For any girl out there dating and wondering if he is the one, when you find a man like this, you know that he is a keeper.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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