Page 67 of Christmas Cove

“Brothers,” Leo whispered back. “Later.”

The man outstretched his hand to Leo. “The name’s William Doyle. I’m the lawyer representing the state. Is everyone assembled for the official head count?”

Leo looked around and nodded his head. “It’s now or never,” he spoke to himself, though America heard. He walked up the steps to the Christmas tree. Backlit by the tiny lights, Leo put his hands up to hush the crowd. When he had the people’s attention, he announced the count. “Good evening, Christmas Cove!”

The crowd applauded, and a very real electricity traveled through the air. It was probably the most exciting thing to happen in the Cove in years. America put her arms around her parents’ waists and waited for Leo to speak again.

“I need everyone to group into sets of ten people for the count,” he said. “From left to right, the first ten huddle together and then so on. Mr. Doyle is going to check each group, and we will have the official numbers in a few minutes. I thank you all for coming out here on this rather chilly Christmas Eve night. Now, go ahead and split up.”

Leo stayed on the steps for the duration of the count, and when the groups finished sorting themselves out, he motioned for the lawyer to begin. Mr. Doyle started with America’s grouping, counting to ten and then moving to the next. She watched as he made his way clear across to the other side of the plaza before joining Leo back on the steps beside the Christmas tree that they had all helped decorate.

They stood in each other’s confidence for a moment, and then she saw it. Leo’s face lost all color and his life seemed to leave his cheeks. It was unwelcome news. Her eyes scanned the groups quickly. She knew the count would be close. Two or three under, but as she counted the sets of friends, family, and neighbors, she saw they had come up shorter than she had predicted.

Leo took a step forward. The lawyer joined him at his side and spoke to the residents. “I’m so sorry, but Christmas Cove simply doesn’t have the numbers. I wish I could deliver better news to you tonight, it being Christmas Eve and all. There are some legalities to work out in the new year, but please know that the city of Elizabethtown has your best interests at heart. Some good news: The mayor of Elizabethtown has assured me there are no plans to rename Christmas Cove. It will now simply be a neighborhood of Elizabethtown.”

As the people spoke to one another in a hum, America walked towards Leo, and they met at the fountain. She gave him a hug, as though that could fix his disappointment, and held him while the shock washed over him.

“I really thought we had it, America,” Leo said.

“We do have it.” She took his face in her gloved hands. “Look at all these people. Look at this tree, the decorations, the smiling faces. Christmas isn’t a place, it’s something that lives in all of our hearts. Don’t forget why you came back here after your parents passed away. Because it felt like home to you, and it always will.”

“Yeah,” Edwin said as he slapped Leo on the back. “Who cares if you’re not mayor anymore? That just means more free time to do other things. Like cleaning up the mess you left in the stable.”

“Or helping me renovate that house down there,” America said, pointing down the street.

“Or fixing that dock of yours,” Carol added. “What? You never know when you might need it.”

Leo shook his head at Carol. “Never,” he said.

She grinned. “One can hope.”

“How many did we need?” Edwin said.

Leo held up two fingers. “Just as I thought. And I made certain to include the Townsends in the count. We still didn’t have the numbers.”

Edwin patted Leo on the shoulders. “It’s all right. I’m dang proud of you for what you’ve done, with the help of the lovely Miss Greene, over the past couple of weeks. And I’m glad you two worked things out. Love will make you do crazy stuff.”

America threw her head back. “Does everyone know?”

“What, that you two lovebirds are meant to be together?” her dad said. “Yes. We all know.”

America had no choice but to laugh it off. Sometimes it’s hard to see what is true and good because it hides behind fear. She remembered the paper that had failed to burn up in the bonfire, and the fear that she would never see Leo again. “Leo, do you still have the little papers?”

“Yeah, why?” He pulled out a small wooden box and handed it to America. “What you’re looking for is in here.”

Her brows scrunched together.Why would my fear be in a box? She wondered.

The clock tower on the old church began to mark the hour. “Listen to those bells. It’s midnight, which means it’s Christmas,” she said, smiling, and looked up to the sky. “And it’s snowing.” Emotions flooded into the back of her misty eyes as tiny flakes dusted her lashes.

Leo kissed her cheek. “Go on, open it.”

With shaky hands, she opened the wooden lid and saw the most beautiful snowflake she had ever seen. When her eyes finally left the glittering ring and met Leo’s gaze, he bent down onto one knee. She gasped.

“You never have to fear losing me ever again. I love you, America Greene. I meant what I said yesterday about not wanting to spend another day without you in my life.” He smiled and took a deep breath before continuing. “I love that you love Christmas as much as you do. I love that you laugh with me. I love how caring you are and how you want others to be happy and whole. You embody that kind of love that I so admired about my own parents and never thought I would have for myself. I don’t deserve you. But I hope you’ll have me.”

Stunned didn’t quite cover it, but America felt her heart would burst if she didn’t kiss the man that instant. There was no hesitation in her answer, her heart had already made its decision the moment he brought that dinky Christmas tree to the cabin the morning when she planned to head back to the city. He was everything she wasn’t looking for, but everything she needed. He was her Christmas.

“Yes. A thousand times, yes,” she said as she kneeled down to kiss him. “Merry Christmas, Leo Thorpe.”

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