by Meg Easton
He took the lid off the top of the box and set it aside, revealing the stocking Macie’s mom had made with his name on it, with two links already attached to it—one that he hoped Macie would want to link with hers, and one to link him to her family.
He got down on one knee to the collective sound of gasps from everyone in the room. “Macie Zimmerman, will you marry me?”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Macie looked down at the stocking in the box, with her mom’s signature beading and stitching, and with Aaron’s name on it. Every year when her parents put up the linked stockings, she had imagined how it would look to have one up there with her future spouse’s name on it. Seeing that stocking with Aaron’s name on it felt exactly and completely right.
“You...You want to get married?”
Aaron chuckled. “I hadn’t seen this coming, either. But apparently all along it wasn’t that I didn’t want to get married—it was that I didn’t want to get married to anyone who wasn’t you.”
She realized that she could deny it all she wanted, but Aaron was exactly what she’d imagined every day since the seventeen-year-old her had first made her Future Husband list. He had been her needle in the haystack all along, and deep down, she had known it even during the times when she’d allowed fear to try to convince her that she’d just been holding another piece of hay.
“So,” he said, his voice coming out more unsure, “what do you say?”
“Oh, Aaron, yes! Yes! Of course the answer is yes.” She pulled him to his feet, wrapped her arms around his neck, and said, “Yes, I want to be your teammate in life, your partner in everything, your wife. I want to be the person you turn to, the shoulder you cry on, the one you laugh the hardest with, and the one you dream the biggest dreams with. You and me, hand in hand, facing everything life has in store for us, together.”
Aaron set the box aside and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close. Their noses touched, and he said, “I’ve seen the way we are as partners, and I’m pretty sure there isn’t anything we can’t conquer.”
She grinned and he grinned, and then she kissed that grin. His kiss back wasn’t hesitant like the last time they’d kissed. It was soft and wonderful and full of confidence. Their lips moved together in perfect unison, like a dance that they’d practiced the steps to. She pulled him in closer. And then she realized that she was being kissed by her fiancé, and her kiss turned into a smile once again.
“Too much smoochie-smoochie!” her four-year-old nephew Brighton said. “Everyone quick—cover your eyes!”
Macie burst out in laughter and Aaron’s cheeks reddened.
“Oops,” he said.
Macie just turned to face her family, then grabbed Aaron’s hand and lifted it high, and then they both bowed, just like they’d done at the Winter Formal. She smiled at him to cheers and clapping. One room, and it was filled with all the people she loved more than anyone in the entire world. After not seeing Aaron’s face for several days, and fearing that she’d never see it regularly again, seeing him smile back at her brought her even more joy than she’d ever imagined she’d feel in this moment. “I love you, Aaron Hall. With my whole heart, with my whole soul, with my whole everything.”
“And I love you, Macie Zimmerman. About a hundred times more strongly than I thought was even possible.”
They stood there side by side, looking in each other’s eyes, as happy chatter filled the room.
Macie’s dad stood up and shook Aaron’s hand, and said, “Welcome to the family, son. You’re in our hearts for good now.” Then he turned to the group and clapped his hands together. “I think there are two things that need to happen before we move on to the gingerbread house competition. Now I know you are just freshly engaged and don’t even have a wedding date yet, but do either of you have any objections to linking Aaron’s stocking right now?”
Macie saw the look on Aaron’s face and thought that maybe, just maybe, having his stocking linked to everyone else’s was just as important to him as it was to her. Her dad must’ve noticed, too, because he said, “I’ll take that as not having any objections. What about the rest of you? Any objections?”
Marcus raised his hand. “I object to having more competition for Favorite Uncle.”
Macie’s dad laughed, and said, “I’ll also take that as not having any objections. Emeline?” He held out his hand, and Macie’s mom stood and put her hand in his. Then they turned and linked Aaron’s stocking to Macie’s, and then to the rest of the family. Her parents both turned back to face all of them, and Macie’s dad said, “More than anything else, family matters. And we would like to officially welcome you to ours.”
Aaron reached out like he was going to shake their hands and give them a heartfelt thank you; but instead, her parents enfolded him in a hug. And then Macie’s brother Zach slammed into their group hug, wrapping his arms around them all. “Welcome to the family, bro.”
“Stop hugging,” six-year-old Sophie demanded, one hand on her hip and the other holding out a present. “Grandpa, you said there were two things that needed to happen, and hugging wasn’t one of them. This was.”
Macie accepted the present, and saw that the tag said it was to Aaron, and the from line was blank. When they’d opening presents earlier, she hadn’t even noticed that there was one still unopened. Who had gotten a present for Aaron? She hadn’t even guessed he would be there. But her mom motioned for her to give it to Aaron, so she did.
Aaron took off the wrapping paper, took the lid off the box, and started laughing. He pulled out a pair of Christmas pajamas. “I knew I was underdressed.” He turned to her mom. “Thanks for having my back.”
“Now hurry and change,” Macie’s brother Everett said. “I’m going for the ‘tallest gingerbread house’ award, and I need some better competition than these fumble-fingered troglodytes.”
“I had fun today. Your family is very accepting.” Aaron rubbed his hands down his pajama pants, and then tapped his fingers on his knee.
“It’s because they all have the Christmas spirit. Just wait until Valentine’s Day—that’s when the claws come out.”
Aaron looked at her in alarm.
“Kidding! They love you.” She watched as he jiggled the mouse connected to her laptop. They escaped the festivities not long after lunch and headed back to her place to wait for the video chat with his parents. “Why are you so nervous?”
“I’m pretty sure you’ve gathered that my family is not like yours.”
“And you’ve never ‘brought home’ a girl before?”
“Not since Sabrina. And that was nine years ago.” He looked up for a moment. “Looking back, that meeting didn’t actually go very well. It’s not too late to back out. Do you want to back out? I can tell Aliza to just let them know that I couldn’t make it.”
Macie put her hand on Aaron’s leg. “Family is important. Whether it’s big or small, functional or not so much, accepting or exclusive, they’re important.” She grabbed his hand with hers. “Side by side, together, we’ve got this.”
Aaron looked at Macie, his gaze intent and searching and welcoming. He leaned forward and gave her a kiss. His lips had barely touched hers when the incoming call alert sounded. Aaron took a deep breath, then said, “We’ve got this,” and clicked to answer the video chat.
“Aaron! So good to see you. Merry Christmas!” His mom leaned closer to the camera, squinting. “Are those Christmas pajamas you’re wearing?”
“Hi, Mom. Merry Christmas to you too.”
“Seriously, son, it must be like two in the afternoon where you are. Why on earth would you still be in pajamas? Remember when you used to dress nice for our calls?”
“Mother, you’re wearing a swim suit.”
“That’s because I’m vacationing in Cabo San Lucas. Check out these white sand beaches.” She turned her tablet around, giving them a view of the landscape.
“It looks beautiful there. And warm.”
“Oh it is. A
nd I am here with a very good-looking and—Oh, it’s your father.” Aaron’s dad’s picture showed up on the screen. “Hello, Ken.”
“Hello, Sheri.” Aaron’s dad’s voice had been just as cold in his greeting to his mom as she had been in his. “Aaron! How you doing, son? Wait, are those...Are those Christmas pajamas you’re wearing?”
“Hi, everyone! Sorry I’m late,” Aaron’s sister Aliza said as her face popped up on the screen, and Aaron’s grip on Macie’s hand loosened just a bit.
“It’s okay, honey,” his mom said. “We already talked to you recently.”
“Did I miss anything?”
“Just your brother showing up in pajamas,” his dad said, and Macie quietly chuckled, just out of view of his family. Her laughing nearly made Aaron laugh out loud, so she put her hand over her mouth.
“So, no announcements or anything have been made yet?” Aliza asked.
“You already told us your announcement, honey.”
“But it sounds like Aaron hasn’t told you his.”
Both of his parents looked into their cameras, their faces full of questions and impatience, while Aliza leaned back in her chair, arms folded, a smile spread across her face. Aaron looked at Macie and said, “Are you ready?” She nodded, and he turned the laptop so that the camera captured both of them in the frame. “Mom, Dad, Aliza, I’d like you to meet Macie Zimmerman. She’s an amazing woman who, as of about five hours ago, is now my fiancée.”
“Congratulations, son,” his dad said. “Congratulations to both of you.”
Aaron’s mom’s hand flew over her mouth. “You’re getting married? Ken, our son is getting married!” She shouted loudly enough that everyone on the beach probably heard, “My son is getting married! And so is my daughter!” She held the tablet out toward all her fellow beach goers so they could see the evidence, but none of them seemed the least bit interested. She turned the tablet back to herself. “Oh my goodness, neither of my kids are going to die old and alone. Oh, I’m so happy!”
“Thanks, Mom,” both Aaron and Aliza said at the same time.
“Oh, come on you two. You know you were both giving me plenty to worry about.”
“Truthfully,” his dad said, “I’m thrilled for both of you. I hope you’re as happy as me and Felina are.”
“And as happy as me and Carlos are,” his mom quickly cut in, aiming the tablet toward a muscular, shirtless man in the lounge chair beside her.
Aaron looked at Macie, his face all love and smiles, and said, “I think we’ve got the happiness thing down.”
Epilogue
With a blanket in his arms and Macie by his side holding two bowls of ice cream, Aaron made his way from the back door of Joselyn’s house out across the grass, Reese, Lola, and Dasher joining them.
“It’s still so muddy—I’m sinking!”
“Here, take this,” Aaron said, holding out the blanket.
With both bowls of ice cream in her hands, Macie grabbed the blanket between her elbows, and then Aaron scooped her up into his arms, the blanket and bowls of ice cream now resting on top of her.
“Mmm,” Macie said. “The last time you did this, it felt like an angel lifted me out of the land of the nearly dead and carried me to the land of salvation. It feels every bit as amazing even when I’m on top of the world.”
He made a mental note to hold her in his arms like this every chance he got. As he picked his way across the backyards that all came together in one, Macie snuggled in close enough that he could smell the scent of her shampoo—milk and honey from heaven—and he kissed her on top of her head.
Reese stayed right by their side, while Lola ran ahead to the picnic table she must’ve sensed they were headed to, and Dasher ran circles around them, yipping his excitement about being able to run around in grass that was turning green again.
When they reached the picnic table, he joined her and wrapped the blanket around both of their backs as they sat on the table, their feet on the bench. She passed him his Maple, Please Bring Home the Bacon, and picked up her Is the Doctor Pepper In?, and they each took a bite as the tractor rolled into place on the very last empty Zimmerman family lot, and started digging the hole for their future house.
“And the first scoop of dirt is out!” Macie said, and held up her cup of ice cream.
Aaron bumped his bowl into hers, and thought about their very first meeting over these same flavors. He had been so clueless back then about how much the trajectory of his life was about to change. What if he hadn’t decided that the events of that day had called for ice cream, and he missed out on knowing how rich life could become?
“It’s freezing out here!” Macie said as she scooted even closer. “Whose crazy idea was it to celebrate this moment with ice cream anyway?”
Aaron laughed. “I believe that one was your crazy idea. It’s one of the reasons why I love you.”
“Right back atcha. I hear that marriages full of mutually crazy ideas make for the best ones.” Macie grinned and then leaned in for a kiss.
Aaron pressed his lips against hers, their cold noses touching, the simple kiss sending a wave of warmth to his chest. Then, still less than an inch apart, he said, “We’re going to have a house soon.”
She smiled into his lips and said, “And we’re going to be married soon,” before kissing him again.
They both turned to watch as the tractor dug another scoop of dirt out of what would eventually be their basement. After going over so many plans, the weather had finally cooperated enough to start. Aaron took a bite of his ice cream. The past three months had been more blissful than he thought life could possibly be. With as against marriage as he had been for so many years, he surprised himself by not having a single moment where he wondered if he had made the right choice or not. He just knew, without a doubt, that marrying Macie and starting a family with her was what was going to make him the happiest he could possibly be.
Feeling Macie’s intense scrutiny on him, he turned to face her again. “Uh oh. You’ve got your amateur Ice Cream Motivation Analyst face on.”
Macie tapped her spoon against her lips. “I better analyze you then. Let’s see. With that look, you must be...trying to decide what the chances are of you being able to finish your Maple, Please Bring Home the Bacon before Dasher jumps up here and eats it for you.”
Aaron laughed as the puppy finally managed to jump onto the bench, bouncing and yipping. He pulled his bowl in closer to him. “That wasn’t what I was thinking. Strike one for the amateur analyst.”
She nodded. “Okay, you were thinking that I look really great in this sweater you gave me for my birthday.”
“While I have thought that many times today, it is not what I was thinking just now. Strike two. It’s a good thing you didn’t join the Ice Cream Motivation Analyst Guild. I don’t think they’d be thrilled with your record right now.” He took another bite of his ice cream.
“No, I’m going to get this. Just give me a minute.” She studied his face, her own face so intensely serious that he had a hard time not either flinching or chuckling under the weight of it. “I’ve got it! You’re thinking about how many children we should have.”
His eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Impressive. The Guild is reviewing your application as we speak. They’ll waive the application fee if you can also figure out how many I was thinking.”
“Four.”
She hadn’t even paused to think about it first—her response was immediate. He actually hadn’t come up with a number himself yet. “Why four?”
“Because that’s how many it takes for a swim medley relay.”
Aaron laughed so loud, he was positive that all her siblings heard it inside each of their houses. “Kids, you don’t have a choice. You—you’re the firstborn, so you must perfect backstroke, you’ve got breast stroke, butterfly for you, and I know you’re the baby, but you need to bring some serious speed with your freestyle.”
Macie grinned and took a bite of her ice cream.
“Unless, of course, you want a setup like this eventually.” He motioned around to all of her siblings’ houses. “Then we’ll need seven kids.”
“I don’t know. I already promised Reese that he could have a houseful of puppies. And I sideways promised that Lola could too. I’m not sure how many we can fit in this house.”
“Hmm. We’re going to need more room.” Aaron set his ice cream aside and stood up, letting his side of the blanket fall to the top of the picnic table. “I’ll go tell him to dig a bigger hole.”
Macie laughed and pulled him back down. “However many kids we end up having, I’m sure we’ll find a way to fit.”
He wrapped the blanket around them more tightly and pulled Macie in close. “As enjoyable as it is to be your fiancé, Macie Zimmerman, I am very ready to be your husband.”
“Waiting stinks,” Macie said. “It’s like we’re at the starting line to a wonderful life together, and we’re just standing there. Waiting. It’s right there, so close we can see it, and no one is ever going to sound the ‘Go’ horn.”
“I would suggest that we elope, but I don’t want to miss out on seeing what the Zimmerman family is like when you add aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents, from both sides, to the mix.” Truthfully, he couldn’t even imagine how big that group would be.
“And if all those students of yours who were so determined to find you a wife by the end of the school year didn’t get to come to the celebration, I think they might just plan a secret one for us, and then find some sneaky way to get us there.”
Just picturing what they’d do made him chuckle. They were good kids. A little presumptive, but good. “So I guess we wait.”
“Which comes with the added bonus of giving the contractor enough time to finish our house. Because otherwise, we’d be sleeping out here under the stars and cooking all our meals over that fire pit.”