"Come on in," I said, waving the family toward the living room. The boys relaxed visibly after delivering their rehearsed line, and within five minutes of entering, there were no bow ties in sight.
"The guys have been talking all week about the Christmas tournament you organized," Mr. Bass told me a few minutes later, standing near the fire with a beer in his hand.
The Bass family, and a lot of the other guests who were arriving steadily for the party, were new friends I had met as a result of agreeing to coach a travel soccer team. I’d become one of the leaders in the league, offering direction and helping to organize additional opportunities for the players—like the Christmas tournament.
"I'm excited about it too," I told Mr. Bass. "Your boys have a lot of talent. I'm really glad to have them on the team." The talented twins dashed by right then, chasing Taylor and Maddie through the crowded living room as the girls shrieked. April caught them at the door and I saw her bend down to tell them something and then point back toward the play room, where movies and toys had been set up to keep the smaller guests occupied.
The house filled up rapidly, guests mingling all through the first floor as the lights glowed and Christmas music played. April and I were busy, hosting and helping our guests get everything they needed, but after a couple hours the party took on its own rhythm, and April found her way to my side.
I put an arm around her, loving the feel of her soft silky skin against my palm. "You look amazing tonight," I told her.
She grinned up at me, "So do you."
"Are you ready to get the game going?" I asked.
April had done a lot of online research about appropriate activities for holiday gatherings, since she had never really been to one as an adult. She'd decided that a party game was needed, and had settled on a game where guests opened gifts in order and could steal from one another. The gifts were all little things, and many of them were kid-appropriate, since April partially organized the game with Maddie and Taylor in mind.
"If everyone could find a seat," April called, turning down the music. "We'll play the game."
Maddie had gone through the crowd, offering everyone the chance to draw a number, which would determine who went first. April had drawn number one—I had set it up that way, and though she'd tried to give it back, Maddie had insisted she had to keep it. So when everyone was settled, April stood back up. "I drew number one, so I guess I'll go first, even though it feels pretty rude at our own party."
"Here you go," Helen Manchester picked up a big box with a glittery green bow and shoved it toward April, nearly spilling her Manhattan in the process.
"Helen," Lottie scolded. "She gets to pick."
"No she doesn't," Helen assured her friend. "She wants that one."
April glanced at me and I nodded, so she shrugged and took the big box. She pulled it onto her lap as she sat on an ottoman and pulled off the wrapping paper and ribbon, opening the box only to find another box inside. Maddie came over to help her as she unearthed box after wrapped box, accumulating a mountain of paper as she opened each one.
"This is the best present ever," Maddie lisped reverently as she helped open the gifts.
Finally, the box in April's hand was so small, she seemed to realize there could not be another inside it, and just as she was about to open it, Maddie took it from her and handed it to me.
"Hey," April protested.
Taylor stood and came over to pick up all the wrapping paper and stick it into a trash bag, clearing the area around April. And then I stepped in front of her, dropping to a knee with the box in my hand and my heart pounding madly. The girls and I had practiced this, and they'd done their parts perfectly. Now it was my turn.
"April," I said, as her hands flew to her face, which was turning pink. "You barreling into my life was the best thing that ever happened to me. You barged in here, bossy and demanding, and pulled me out of the darkest days I've ever known. You gave me a chance to find myself again, helped me discover a new life and were gracious enough to agree to be a part of it. Since you've been here, I have lived a better life than I ever knew was possible. I face each day with hope and excitement, mostly because I know it will be another day with you."
A tear was streaking down April's cheek and her hands had begun to shake.
I kept my eyes locked on April's as the crowd began to murmur around us, realizing what was happening.
"I'm hoping you might be willing to agree to spend some more time with me," I went on, lifting the small box and opening it to reveal a perfect solitaire diamond ring. "I'm hoping you'll be willing to stay forever. I'm hoping you might agree to marry me."
April was nodding, slowly at first and then madly, her dark hair sliding around her shoulders. "Yes," she whispered, and then she seemed to remember the crowd around them and her role as hostess. She stood up and nearly shouted, "I said yes!" so those in the back could hear.
I stood too, and slid the ring onto April's finger as her eyes locked on mine again.
"You've made me so happy," I said, leaning in to kiss her.
The gathered guests erupted in cheers and applause, and April whispered, "you can have forever."
I pulled her tightly against me again, my entire body warm and happy as the future glowed like the lights on the enormous tree in the parlor.
Forever sounded perfect. And with April at my side, every day of that forever would be just like Christmas.
THE END
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Also by Delancey Stewart
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The Seasons in Singletree Series:
Shaking the Sleigh
Crowning the Cherry Blossom Queen
The Movie Stars in Maryland Duet:
Book One: Happily Ever His
Book Two: Happily Ever Hers
The MR. MATCH Series:
Book One: Scoring the Keeper’s Sister
Book Two: Scoring a Fake Fiancée
Book Three: Scoring a Prince
Book Four: Scoring with the Boss
The LOVE IN THE VINES Series:
Vintage
Redemption Red
Beyond Redemption
A Holiday Delay
The Love in the Vines Box Set (Books 1-4)
The STARR RANCH WINERY Series:
Chasing a Starr
THE GIRLFRIENDS OF GOTHAM Series:
Men and Martinis
Highballs in the Hamptons
Cosmos and Commitment
The Girlfriends of Gotham Box Set
STANDALONES:
Without Words
Without Promises
Mr. Big
Adagio
The PROHIBITED! Duet:
Prohibited!
The Glittering Life of Evie Mckenzie
Copyright © 2019 by Delancey Stewart
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Shaking the Sleigh: Seasons in Singletree Page 25