by Paula Boyd
“Very nice,” I said, wrapping my arms back around his. “We should put a swing out here so we can just sit and watch the stars whenever we want.”
“Good idea,” he said, hugging me closer. “You know, I thought about what you said earlier, about wanting us to go home together tonight. I want that too.”
Our lives would probably never be simple or uncomplicated, but it was okay. A lot of things were okay. “I know I’ve fought against being here—and there will be lots of vacations. But the one thing I know for sure is that I’d rather live in Kickapoo, Texas with you than live in paradise without you.”
He turned me around in his arms, then reached up and gently touched my face. “That’s very good to know,” he said softly. , staring at me in the moonlight. “Very good.” Then, he stepped back. “There’s something I’ve wanted to do for a while now, but for a thousand different reasons it just wasn’t the right time. Now may not be either, but it’s the time we have.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I know we’ve talked about a lot of different options, but I want to officially give you this one.” He got down on one knee and held out his hand with an open ring box. “Jolene Jackson, will you marry me?
I felt the tears pouring down my cheeks and I was about one ragged breath away from breaking into a full blown sob. I held my hand over my mouth and nodded.
He shook his head. “I want to hear it.”
“Yes,” I said, wiping at the tears. “I will marry you. Right now if you want to.”
He stood and slipped the ring on my finger and then hugged me to him. “I’ve waited a lifetime for this, Jolene.”
“Me too,” I squeaked. “Let’s get married right now. You know people. Go wake somebody up and let’s get this done!”
He laughed and held me tighter. “I was thinking a Christmas wedding might be nice.”
Oh, it would! A Christmas wedding at the beach would be spectacular. However, I had a feeling he was envisioning mesquites and instead of palm trees. I could still hold out for a long escape to white sand and blue water after the wedding.
“I thought maybe we could have it here at the house,” he said, confirming my suspicions.
“Home,” I said, feeling it.
“Our home.”
I really liked the sound of that, and I loved it even more that Jerry had said it. His words were like a glowing warmth that both surrounded and permeated my whole being. Getting married still scared me, but this man made me feel safe. He was solid. I could trust him no matter what and that gave me a security and peace I’d never had before. And now, we had had a home together—our home. That it was in Kickapoo, Texas was still a little unsettling, but I’d eventually get used to it. Because, as much as I’d fought against wanting to make the move—seriously, Colorado to Kickapoo is killer—I was really happy about how things had turned out in so many ways—Jerry, the property…yes, the money. Still, there was a history here—a history that repeated itself, over and over and over. “Do you really want to risk getting married here?
“It’s not a risk, Jo,” he said, chuckling. “Risk implies the potential for trouble and the possibility that you can avoid it. We can’t.” He laughed again and I did too. He brushed a wisp of hair from my forehead. “And it’s okay.”
“I’m really glad you love me.”
Jerry smiled, a gentle smile that seemed to fill up his eyes with a deep emotion I’d only glimpsed before. “How about we go home now?”
I nodded and he kissed me again then led me back toward the house.
A few feet from the door, he stopped and turned toward me. “There is one thing we need to talk about before we go in.”
I felt a little twist of apprehension. “What?”
“Well, it’s the whole name thing. After we get married…”
Oh, no… Oh, hell no. My chest started pounding and I couldn’t breathe. I tried to, but I just couldn’t find any air.
“Well, don’t die over it,” he said with a gentle laugh. Pulling me to toward him, he rubbed my back. “Breathe.”
“I…I…”
“I know,” he said. “I just want to make it clear that I am marrying Jolene Jackson. I don’t need a Misses Parker. I want Jolene Jackson to be my wife. Okay?”
Relief and a thousand other emotions rushed though me. I sucked in a big gulp of air. After I caught my breath, I reached up, wrapped my arms around his neck and, with a burst of unbridled exuberance, I said, “This is going to be the best Christmas ever!”
Once again, no sooner had the words slipped out of my mouth than I regretted them. I couldn’t promise anything like that. Being with Jerry would indeed make it the best holiday ever for me in that way, but everything else was up for grabs.
My mind flashed forward to the wedding. And no sooner did my romantic winter wonderland fantasy unfold than it promptly exploded in unparalleled disaster. I could plan and prepare and wish and hope ‘til the cows came home, but ultimately, I couldn’t promise anything would go off without a hitch—or even with one. The only thing I could guarantee beyond a shadow of a doubt was that we were all headed for A Very Kickapoo Christmas.
THE END
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34