Jade held up a camera. “You two get together and smile.”
Emily leaned close to Suzanne and smiled as Jade snapped the picture. “I want to take every photo op I can while I have on this dress.” She smoothed the knee-length A-line dress. “I love it.” It had a vintage look that she adored. “And you look very elegant,” she said to Jade. “That style suits you perfectly.”
Jade beamed. The floor length Grecian-style gown looked like it was made for her. “Thanks.”
“Seriously. You look very ‘old Hollywood’ or something. Like I half expect Clark Gable or someone to come sweep you off your feet,” Emily said.
Jade’s eyes grew wide. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the one about to be swept off my feet.”
Emily looked at her friend. “What do you mean?”
Without a word, Jade pointed across the room.
Emily slowly turned to see Andrew just inside the door. Wearing a tux.
“What is he doing here?” Even after weeks of no contact, her heart beat faster at the sight of him.
Suzanne laughed. “Well, I don’t think he’s here to sample the hors d’oeuvres.”
“Just in time for midnight, too.” Jade winked and gave her a little push. “Good luck.”
She tried to stay composed as she walked across the Peabody’s grand ballroom.
Andrew spotted her and his eyes lit up. A broad smile spread across his face. “Sorry to crash the wedding reception,” he said once she’d made her way to him.
“That’s okay.” She gestured around the room. “There are so many people, no one would notice anyway.”
“There’s only one person I wanted to notice.” Uncertainty flashed across his face. “Do you think we can step out of here for a minute? The band is kind of loud.”
The ’80s cover band belted out some of Bon Jovi’s greatest hits from the stage. “Sure. But I want to be back for the midnight countdown.”
He glanced at his watch. “Of course.” He ushered her out of the ballroom and into the ornate lobby. “It’s really beautiful here, especially with all of the Christmas decorations still up.”
She nodded.
Andrew led her to two empty seats in the corner. “This won’t take long.”
She realized what he had to tell her. He was leaving. It made perfect sense. Mary Kate was doing well, and he clearly was miserable in the city. The thought made her sad. Even though they hadn’t spoken over the past three weeks, knowing he wasn’t far away gave her some comfort. “What is it?” she asked softly.
He regarded her seriously for a moment. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking over the past weeks.”
“Me, too.”
Andrew took her hand. “Emily, I handled things wrong from the beginning. I urged you to confront your past and come to terms with it, even though I hadn’t done the same thing. And then when I realized I had feelings for you, strong feelings, it was too late.”
Strong feelings? That was new. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that when I realized that I’d fallen in love with you, it terrified me.”
“I’m sorry. You what?” She tried to register what he was saying.
Andrew sighed. “I know. I should’ve told you a long time ago. For all I know you’ve moved on and have some guy with you tonight who is better at this than I am.”
She shook her head.
“I want you to know that I’m done with all of that. It took me being without you to realize that by letting my fears rule my life, I was losing out on the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He smiled. “You.”
“So you aren’t leaving?”
He wrinkled his forehead. “Leaving?” He shook his head. “No. I’m here. For the long haul.” He stood up and held out his hand.
She took it and he helped her up. “What does this mean?”
“It means that if you’ll have me, I want to give this thing between us a real chance. I want to be your plus one. I want to go meet your parents and your grandma and see where you come from.” He pulled her close. “It means that I love you. And I’m not scared to say it or show it.”
She blinked back tears. “I love you, too.”
Andrew tipped her chin up and kissed her gently on the lips. He pulled away with a grin. “That was good practice for what happens in—” He looked at his watch. “Seven minutes.”
“Midnight?” she asked.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the ballroom. “Exactly. I believe that’s one of the things on your list.”
She laughed. “How do you even remember that?”
“The night when you showed it to me, that one caught my eye.” He grinned. “I think it was number six. Have a perfect kiss at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Right?”
Emily nodded. “Right.” She squeezed his hand. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
They walked hand in hand into the ballroom. “Me neither. And suddenly I’m a fan of New Year’s Eve.”
The band had stopped playing for the midnight countdown.
Emily and Andrew joined in the countdown and as the first chimes of “Auld Lang Syne” began to play, her lips met his.
Even though there were at least three hundred people in the ballroom, throwing confetti and offering well wishes, Emily felt like she and Andrew were the only two people in the room. As she leaned in to receive his kiss, shivers ran up her spine.
“Happy New Year,” he said softly, his lips still against hers.
She smiled. “The happiest.”
Epilogue
Valentine’s Day
Emily glanced around her new house. Even though there were still boxes everywhere, she’d managed to get a few things put away.
She paused in the hallway. Holly’s list, now framed, hung on the wall. She smiled. Her sister would be proud of her, she was sure of it. No more lists, just living each day to the fullest and thanking God for His blessings.
The doorbell rang and Buddy jumped up from his bed beside the sofa.
“It’s okay. It’s Andrew.” She reached down and patted his head. Buddy wagged his tail at the attention. He’d been one of Jade’s rescues, and no one had any idea what breed he might be. But he sure was cute.
Emily opened the door. “Are you ready for our first dinner in my new place?”
“Yes. But I’m prepared to call for pizza in case there’s a problem with the oven.” He laughed.
She wrinkled her nose. “Funny.”
He closed the door and followed her into the kitchen. “Sorry I’m late. I was helping Mary Kate and Sarah load the car.” He grinned. “I know they’ll be back to Memphis every couple of weeks, but I’m going to miss them.”
Emily nodded. “I’m just thankful she’s doing so well.”
“Closer to remission every day,” he said. “But for now, I think the best place for her is back in Laurel near her friends. And when they come to Memphis, they’ll stay with me.”
“Maybe we can go there to visit, too.” Emily grinned. They’d gone to visit his parents a couple of weeks ago, and it had gone really well. Emily had felt like part of the family.
“Dinner smells great.” He grinned. “But I’m ready to give you your valentine.”
“Now? Before dinner?”
He laughed. “I can’t wait.” He motioned toward the living room. “Come sit down. The food will be okay for a few minutes.”
She shrugged. “I’ll turn the pasta sauce on low for a minute.”
Once they were settled on the couch, he pulled a rectangular box from beneath his jacket. “Here you go.”
She unwrapped the box, wondering what could be inside. They hadn’t really discussed gifts. She pulled out the lone piece of paper from inside the box. “What is this?” She looked closely at the small print. “Two tickets to New York at Christmas.” She grinned at him. “I can’t believe you did this.” When he’d found out she hadn’t taken the trip, he hadn’t said much, just that he was glad she hadn’t gone alone.
&n
bsp; “Emily, I want to be the one beside you as you reach for your own dreams. Even if it takes a lifetime.” He dropped to one knee. “And I’m hoping that we can have some dreams together.” He grinned.
She met his eyes. “I’d like that,” she whispered.
“Meeting you turned my life around.” He took her hand. “I didn’t realize that I was only half living until the day we met. And now that I’ve met you and gotten to know you, I realize it was silly to be fearful. Because it doesn’t matter if I have one day, one thousand days, or one million days. I know I want to spend all of my days loving you.”
She blinked back tears.
“So I was hoping maybe we could take this trip to New York as our honeymoon.” He pulled a small box out of his jacket pocket and flipped it open, revealing a diamond flanked by two sapphires. “Will you marry me?” he asked softly.
Emily jumped up from the couch and threw her arms around him. “Yes. Of course.”
He slipped the beautiful ring on her finger and pulled her to him. “I love you.”
She knew she’d never get tired of hearing him say those beautiful words. She kissed him gently on the lips. “I love you, too.”
About the Author
Annalisa Daughety is the author of more than fifteen novels and novellas including the Walk in the Park series and Love Finds You in Lancaster County. Her first release, Love Finds You in Charm, was an UPtv original movie in 2015. She writes contemporary stories set in historic locations and classifies her writing style as romantic comedy. Annalisa lives in rural Arkansas along with her husband, three step kids, four dogs, two cats and more chickens and goats than she cares to admit. She enjoys gardening, traveling, and binge watching old shows on NetFlix.
www.annalisadaughety.com
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Books By Annalisa Daughety
Homegrown Love Stories Series:
A Romance Rekindled (found in Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley collection)
On Board for Romance
A Recipe for Romance (January 2018)
A Reservation for Romance (July 2018)
The Walk in the Park Series:
Love is a Battlefield
Love is Monumental
Love is Grand
Love Finds You Series:
Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio
Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Love Finds You at Home for Christmas
Memphis Moments Series:
All Shook Up
Can’t Help Falling in Love
Love Me Tender (February 2018)
Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries:
Off the Beaten Path
Earthly Treasures
Destination Weddings:
A Wedding Date in Hot Springs
A Wedding to Remember in Charleston
Waterfront Weddings
Matchmaker Weddings
Novellas:
Rainbow’s End
Kelly’s Charm
Can't Help Falling in Love (Memphis Moments Book 2) Page 15