“They’re for our new place.” He says pointing to the shiny gold keys. “One for each of us.”
“What?” Suddenly the idea of having our own place sounds way better than a ring. “Are you serious?”
He grins and nods.
“Omigod!” I squeal as I tackle him onto bed.
After we come back up for air, a thought dawns on me and I spring out of bed. “We have to call Ty! She’s gonna freak.”
“Actually . . . one more surprise.”
“Alex! You said you were done,” I call as I stuff my head through his crumpled white t-shirt. It still smells like him and I drink it in.
“Well, I just figured you’d want to tell her the good news in person rather than over the phone.”
“No way? Is she here?”
“She’s scheduled to arrive Christmas morning.”
I laugh and climb back into bed. “Is Ty my Christmas present?”
“No . . . but technically it’s already Christmas,” he says, glancing at the glowing red numbers of the alarm clock. It reads 12:06 AM. “So I guess it’s alright to give you your Christmas gift now. Wait right here,” he says, padding barefoot to his duffle bag.
“This isn’t fair. I didn’t get you anything.”
“Babe, you showing up is all I need for the rest of my life.”
My heart soars.
He slips on a pair on boxer briefs and comes back over to the bed, handing me a red file folder with a white bow on it.
“What is this?”
“Your freedom, Rae.” He waits until I open the folder before explaining. “Phil did some digging. Your real name is Reagan Fine. Your birthday is December 25th . . . 1997. You’re eighteen years old today.”
I gasp. “What?”
“Yeah, there was some kind of discrepancy when he looked into your social. He did some investigating and found out that your records got swapped by accident when you were about three.”
“And my parents?”
“Still deceased. But we can explore your relatives if you want now.”
I nod.
Alex hits me with a dazzling grin that takes my breath away. “Rae, you’re free! As of today, you’ve officially aged out. Phil even did the paperwork for you, see?” Alex points to the passport, ID card and official looking documents inside the folder, but my mind is still processing all this new information.
So much has changed in less then twenty-four hours.
Just this morning I thought I might be completely alone. No friends, no Alex, no family, no future. But that’s all changed. Alex is sitting here next to me, telling me that I’m a legal adult, free to make my own decisions about my future. I even have a new name, and possibly a family worth looking into! Plus, tomorrow we’re going to pick up Tyra and go to our new apartment.
The odd feeling of fullness in my normally hollow chest is foreign and threatens to overwhelm me. I’m not sure I’m built to handle this much happiness.
Alex looks at me with concern. “Are you okay,? Is all this too much? I just want you to be happy.”
“Alex, I don’t think I could ever be any happier than I am right now in this moment,” I say as I lean in to kiss him through tears of joy.
“Wanna bet?” he asks playful against my mouth.
“Seriously? No more surprises, Alex. I don’t think my heart can take it.”
“Okay, fine. I was just gonna ask you a question,” he says, sliding from the bed to his knees.
My heart stops as he pulls a tiny red box from under the bed. He cracks the lid open so I can see a delicate gold ring with a small sparkling stone glittering from the center.
“Rae, I love you so much. And now that you’re a free woman, would you do me the honor of making me a better man and becoming my wife? I promise if you put this ring on, there’s nothing in this world that can tear us apart. Will you marry me, Reagan Fine?”
“Yes,” I whisper. Then I find my voice and scream it. “Yes, yes, yes!”
After I nearly kiss him to death, I let Alex slip the cool metal onto my shaking finger. The gold is so delicate and beautiful.
“Do you like it?” he asks.
“I love it, Alex.”
“Good. It’s a bit smaller than my original plan.”
“What do you mean?”
“I sent you one of your feather earrings back so you’d know it was me in the letters, which didn’t leave me much to work with. I snuck the earrings from your backpack about a week before I got placed. I brought them to a jeweler in Midtown. Thank God I did because he kept them safe all this time.”
“Why?”
“I planned to have him make a ring out of the gold from the earrings so I could propose to you when I turned eighteen, but we know how that turned out. I didn’t have a lot of money then,” he says sheepishly. “Trading your earrings was my only option back then.”
“Those earrings were the first thing you gave me. When they went missing . . .” I trail off, my heart squeezing painfully at the memory.
“I’m so sorry,” Alex whispers. “If I’d known—”
I shake my head, cutting off his apology. “Water under the bridge.
“I hadn’t expected it to take so long to get them back to you,” he says. “And I hoped you’d forgive me since the jeweler said he could melt them down to make the ring I planned to propose with.” Alex traces the ring on my finger. “That way you’d always have a piece of the first thing I gave you.”
“Alex, there’s nothing to forgive. The ring is perfect, you’re perfect, everything’s perfect.”
He pulls me into his arms and holds me tight as we both just revel in the moment of perfection. After a while, he whispers into my hair. “I’m doing good now, Rae. Phil got me a great job working for the city. I got enough money saved to pay first and last months rent on our new place and to get you this ring. We should have enough to have a nice wedding by this summer.”
I stare at Alex, not sure how in the world I got so lucky. My life has been one, colossal heartbreak after another until this beautiful boy walked into it and changed everything. All I know is how grateful I am, and that I don’t want to waste even a second not being completely his.
“I don’t want a wedding in the summer, Alex. I want to marry you right now. Today!” I sink back against his chest and let him cradle me. “I love you so much,” I sob. “I don’t want to wait anymore. Do you think someone would marry us on Christmas?”
“I believe in miracles. And this Christmas seems to be full of them,” he says as he gently kisses away my tears of happiness.
Chapter 17
“So what’s this I hear about a wedding?” Tyra yells out the window of the town car before Andrew can park.
She’s out in a shot and goes straight for my ring finger. Her eyes bulge out of her head. “I’ll be damned!” She gives me a fierce hug and congratulates me before turning her attention to Alex. “I don’t know whether to slap you or hug you.”
“Hug, please,” we both say at the same time.
All three of us end up laughing and hugging.
“Well, what’re we waiting for? Let’s get this Christmas wedding on the road.” Tyra says.
We all pile into the back seat of the town car—Alex in the middle, just like always.
Alex is grinning like he just stole the sun. “Church of Sacred Hearts, please, Andrew.”
“Right away, sir.”
As we pull away, the radio blares with a DJ’s cheerful voice, “Wishing you all a Merry Christmas.” The opening notes of the 12 Days of Christmas start and Andrew reaches for the radio.
“Andrew,” I say, “you can leave it. I’ve changed my mind about this song.”
The End
We hope you have enjoyed this cozy Christmas mystery. If you want more sweet Christmas romance from Christina Benjamin, check out her new Christmas novel, Tomboys Don’t Love Christmas.
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Keep reading! The Christmas Present by Michelle Courtney is up next!
Chelsea is an ambitious teenager, thrilled to have the honor of organizing her school's Christmas Tree Project this year. Carson, her ex-boyfriend, finds his love for her has never faded. When Chelsea finds that Carson secretly supplied all the presents for the project, will these two high school Seniors rekindle their middle school love?
Chapter 1
Chelsea - Tree
I gasped, every ounce of air escaped my lungs. “Trevor!” I shouted with an echoing screech in the empty school lobby. I jettisoned forward, trying to halt the Christmas tree from crashing into the wall. Trevor and Braxton were such creeps. Pushing each other, Braxton had shoved Trevor directly into the path of my fully decorated Christmas tree.
“Bro, what the heck!” Trevor burst out a laugh as his body careened with the tree, sending it hurling into the wall into a heaping mass of shattered ornaments and broken pine needles.
“Trevor! Get off of my tree!” I shouted. I swatted the air, barely missing Trevor’s shoulder. Even if I had made contact with him, I doubt if he would have even cared. A burn crawled from my spine to the top of my head. I had literally just spent an entire hour arranging the ornaments on my charity club’s “Giving Tree.”
This year I was thrilled to be heading the Christmas Charity Club for our school. Most of the club consisted of my best friends, who I selfishly encouraged to join to make it even more fun. We chose to collect toys for the children at the local Domestic Abuse Shelter. After hours of searching the internet for a good cause, we happened upon the local shelter site. We were more than excited when we saw that children needed presents and I am determined to give these kids a happy Christmas.
I could feel my blood boiling. I was furious as I studied the spilled remnants of broken ornaments on the floor. I had intentionally stayed after school to avoid the chaotic school rush of students. The only students left were the basketball team, who were practicing. Of course that consisted of the obnoxious rich jocks’ group: Trevor, Braxton, Hayley, Katelyn, and of course Carson. They seemed to single handedly destroy everything in their path, with no regard for anyone.
Braxton, who was holding his stomach in laughter, darted out the front door, leaving the green mess sprawled out along the floor with no apologies.
Trevor hopped to his feet with a huge grin. He swiped up his bookbag and flew out the glass doors behind Braxton, laughing uncontrollably. My face burned. Real funny. All my hard work was now a pile of branches and shiny pieces of red and green shards and glistening streams of silver garland strewn on the tile floor.
I bent down to retrieve my work. I tried hard to keep my eyes from tearing, contemplating in my head, all the time that I had spent on decorating the tree. I picked up the balls that had rolled off and wrapped the garland around my shoulders like a boa when I heard snickering.
“Oh my God, what a mess,” Hayley snarled as if it were the most disgusting thing she had ever seen in her life. But somehow knowing how much she got around, I am sure she’s seen worse.
A cloud of perfume followed her. Her platinum blonde hair, her nails manicured in bright pink, she was gorgeous. Life was so unfair. Why did some girls look like they just stepped off the runway. Their makeup and hair were so flawless. She made everything seem so effortless and they ended up looking gorgeous. I felt a burn of jealousy in my throat. I swear, when I put on makeup, not only does it take me hours, but when I’m finished, I could easily be mistaken for a circus clown.
Strutting beside Hayley the Hater was the last of the obnoxious rich-jock clique, Katelyn and Carson. Ah, Carson—he was nearly six feet with muscles like mountains and a smile that could melt an entire glacier.
Katelyn rolled her eyes over her shoulders at me as they strolled by.
I let out a long deep sigh. Could this night get any more humiliating—yep. Here comes the rest of the basketball team leaving the locker room and heading toward the lobby.
CARSON - TREE
I strolled out of the locker room behind Trevor and Braxton. Hayley and Katelyn were standing by the gym doors waiting for us. This was our group, the five of us. Yeah, you could say we were the popular kids in our school. Me, Trevor, Braxton, Hayley and Katelyn. The five of us met as freshmen. Here we were four years later, still hanging out and still popular.
Then as I propped up my duffle bag onto my shoulder, I saw her; Chelsea. The girl who made my heart beat fast and my palms sweat when I was near her. I just wished she felt the same way, like we did in middle school. She was my first. My first kiss, my first touch, my first girlfriend, and my first biggest mistake. I let her go.
I came just in time to see Trevor fall into the tree. God, I was in disbelief. I swear my heart stopped beating for a good minute. I know Chelsea put everything she had into this stuff. These guys had never put any effort into anything in their life. What other students said was true—they had no worries. They were rich and entitled. If they broke something, they just pulled out a wallet and threw money at it. It was so obnoxious.
Then there was Hayley. I didn’t know what Hayley’s deal was, but man, she had so much hate for Chelsea for some reason. I swear that sometimes I think she is jealous that me and Chelsea have gone out. Hayley and I were friends with benefits, but I knew she always wanted more. I could never be serious with her. Hayley just never made my insides bubble like Chelsea did.
“We still have room in our Charity Club if you would like to join, Hayley.” Chelsea chimed. She shot Hayley the most sarcastic smile I had ever seen from Chelsea.
I burst a chuckle through my lips. That was a funny question to ask her. I knew Chelsea asked that as a smart-ass question. We both knew Hayley had never volunteered for anything in her life. She didn’t even work; she just batted her eyelashes at her dad for money and he would pull out his wallet, no questions asked.
Chelsea turned her head back to the tree, taking in the mess. Damn, these guys could be pricks. Christ. I cringed and jumped into helping. It was the least I could do. I walked toward Chelsea. I gave the situation a quick glance and checked out the tree, lying helplessly along the floor. Chelsea’s face was a mix of hurt and anger. I couldn’t bear to see her so hurt.
Unlike my friends, Chelsea gave selflessly to anyone who needed it. I respected that about her. It had been like that ever since I could remember. It grew stronger in high school.
I dropped my bulky sports bag with the logo Eastern Basketball on the side. Then skated by Chelsea, to the tree. It was almost my mission to save her from these guys. It actually ended up being a lifelong mission. It seemed like they purposely taunted her every opportunity they could. For the life of me, I didn’t know why.
I leaned over the tree, grabbing the center green pole. It was pretty light, with one easy motion, I lifted the tree and uprighted it. Now to check on Chelsea. She was pretty strong. I doubt if I had to console her too much, but I want to show her I care and respect her causes.
I’d love to wrap my arms around her and pull her into me and tell her everything will be okay with her tree. I would love to just hold her soft skin next to mine and spend time with her again. Breathe her soft fresh floral perfume in. But this distance between us has always seemed to be the only interaction the two of us had since we broke up.
“You okay?” I asked. I met her sparkling eyes before shouldering my bag. Man, those eyes still made my heart skip a beat. I was so embarrassed at my friends’ behavior. But this was natural for them. They constantly picked on classmates; it was rude, but usually harmless. And I was always the one to apologize for them. They weren’t all that bad. They were good friends and a hell of a lot of fun; they just sometimes overstepped their boundaries.
“Yes, thanks,” she said. My heart aches as she flashes me a forced grin. It crushes me, leaving her there to clean up their mess, but staying here with my friends waiting for
me to console Chelsea isn’t really an option. They’re like oil and water. Especially the girls.
I nodded and walked out. I was such a wimp. What was wrong with me? I should have asked her what she was doing, what the tree was for. I had every opportunity to engage in a conversation, but I blew it. I would never talk to her in front of my friends, especially the girls.
Chapter 2
CHELSEA - The Aftermath
He just nodded back and made his way to the door where the monstrous Hayley and Katelyn stood waiting for him. I wished I knew what was going on in that gorgeous head of his. What did he think about my tree in a green heaping mass on the floor? I can’t help but wonder if he still even thought anything about me or felt that same flutter in the bottom of his stomach that I felt.
Carson Dodd. He was so quiet, but his body did the talking for him. His chiseled jawline, packed lean muscular body. His red hair and dimples. He was a dream for sure, and his quiet demeanor made a girl melt with just a look. The guys respected Carson. He didn’t talk bull crap and do goofy things. Why he hung around this group I had no idea.
Sometimes I get snarky with them. I know they are Carson’s best friends, but I didn’t care. Carson and I had known each other since elementary school, way before any of them came into his life.
Other players filtered out of the locker room passing by me. I got way more stares and questionable glances than I wanted. My cheeks began to grow warm. I’m pretty sure I would be a hot topic of gossip tomorrow. Great.
I continued redecorating the tree. It gave me a few minutes to think about Carson. About when Carson and I went out in 7th and 8th grade, but then he became a big shot and left me over the summer before high school. I heard that he met one of the cheerleaders. He got in tight with the boys on the football team from the other side of town that merged into our high school.
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