Page 61 of Blame It On the Lattes

“Another bad word,” Kennedy pointed out, holding her hand out to Cassidy.

Cassidy reached into the box on the table, retrieved a piece of fudge, then handed it to Kennedy.

“You’re going to pay for that,” I said, pointing at Cassidy as I took the hand Sam extended to help me up.

“What does she mean that you’re my gift?” he asked softly.

I lifted the sign for him to see and watched as his facial expressions changed as he read it.

“Ms. Harrison—Sugarplum Falls Elementary Kindergarten Teacher,” he said, his eyes looking up to meet mine. “You’re staying in Sugarplum Falls?”

I nodded, wiping an errant tear with the back of my hand.

“After I declined the position in Houston, Cassidy told me about a position that had just opened at Sugarplum Falls Elementary School. It’s a kindergarten class, but I’m really excited about it.”

Sam searched my face for a moment before looking at his sister to see if this was some sort of joke.

“Ms. Jackson decided to retire early. She told me about it the other day when she came into Waldon’s. I immediately called Avery and told her to go to the school and see if they would let her interview for it. Everything just kinda fell into place after that,” Cassidy explained.

“I can’t believe you’re staying,” Sam whispered, holding the sign and continuing to stare at it.

I couldn’t tell whether he was relieved or disappointed that we weren’t going to Houston after all.

“Is that a good thing or...”

“It’s a wonderful thing, Avery. It’s the best present you could have ever given me.”

“Well then, I guess I’ll take the other stuff back,” I teased, giggling when he reached down and tickled my sides.

“I don’t need anything other than you and Kennedy. I can’t tell you how happy I am that you guys are staying. How will it work with you being the kindergarten teacher and her starting kindergarten next year?” he asked.

“I talked to the principal and explained everything. She said that she didn’t see an issue with it and that we would make changes as needed. But since Sugarplum Falls is such a small town, they can’t really do anything about it because there’s only one elementary school and only one kindergarten teacher. But I gotta admit that I’m happy I’ll get to experience her first year of school alongside her and that we get to stay in Sugarplum Falls. It turned outyouwere the sign I was looking for all along.”

“That’s amazing. I still can’t believe the good news. I mean, I wish I would have been more prepared, but like my grandfather always used to say, sometimes good things happen when you least expect them.” Sam shoved a hand through his hair nervously, then looked from Cassidy and Kennedy to me.

“I know that staying in Sugarplum Falls wasn’t something you planned on doing, but I’m so glad you are. I hope that you and Kennedy will continue living with me because you’ve made my house into a home, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I have a question I’d like to ask you, but because I wasn’t prepared for this, I’m going to have to wing a few things.”

My heart began racing as he pulled two candy canes out of his back pocket and then dropped to one knee.

“Avery, you’ve shown me what true love is, and I can’t imagine a life without you and Kennedy. You’ve already made me the happiest man in the world when you told me you loved me, but I would love it if you’d give me the honor of being my wife and making me the happiest man again. I don’t have a ring because I wasn’t planning to do this right now—”

“Sam, you don’t have to—”

“No, Avery. I want to. I want to ask you to marry me more than I want anything else. And while I don’t have a ring right this moment, I have these two candy canes,” he said with a smile.

“Women want diamonds, dumbass. Not candy canes,” Cassidy commented from the couch.

Sam glared at her before returning his focus to me.

“I’m probably a little crazy for doing this, but this feels right, Avery. And I will buy you all the diamonds in the world if that’s what you want. But for now, I present to you the symbol of love that my grandfather used to always tell me about. When they’re separate, they’re just candy canes. But when you put them together, they make a heart. Without you, I’m just a guy who makes some of the best coffee in Sugarplum Falls. But with you, I’m the luckiest man in the world who still makes the best coffee.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“And still so humble,” I teased, whispering loudly behind my hand.

“Avery, will you accept my candy cane heart with the promise that I will get you a real engagement ring, and be my wife?”

I covered my mouth and nodded, the tears already filling my eyes.

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