by Watson, Lisa
“Hey, you didn’t ruin it,” Christopher told her. “I promised to give you some time to think about it. That’s the only reason I kept my distance. I didn’t like one minute of us being apart, Yvie. I just didn’t want you to feel pressured.”
“I don’t, Christopher. You’ve been amazing, and I should have told you before how I felt, but I didn’t. You and Lacey saw things for what they were a lot faster than I did. I was afraid to get in too deep, too soon.”
“Yvie, we don’t have to rush.” Christopher grasped her hand. “I meant what I said. I may not have done a great job of relaying that in the last two days, but I’m not going anywhere. I love you—and Lacey.”
Yvette swiped tears from her eyes. “I love you too, Christopher. We both do, and I want to be your wife. I want us to be a family.”
Christopher scooped Yvette up in his arms and held her tightly.
“I love you,” he said against her lips.
“I love you, Christopher,” she breathed.
He set her down. “Do you want to tell Lacey on your own, or should we do it together?”
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem.” She motioned behind her.
Christopher turned around to see Lacey, his parents, and the entire party squeezed into the hallway. They cheered as Lacey ran up and hugged her mom, and Christopher. He picked her up.
“I’m glad you’re marrying us,” she told Christopher.
His eyes grew moist. “I’m glad, too, kiddo.”
Lacey gazed up at her mother. “Mommy, I told you this would be the best Christmas ever,” she cried.
Yvette kissed her daughter, and then her fiancé. “You sure did, honey. You sure did.”