Page 45 of One Little Chance
He dropped the mistletoe to the ground and slid his hands possessively around my waist, my body flat against his.Foreversounded good to me.
Knock, knock.We turned, and there stood his mom and mine in the doorway. I gasped and lifted my left hand to show off my ring. They cheered running toward us, followed behind by the rest of our families. Shoes thudding against what was soon to be our new floors. The faces of those we loved lit by twinkle lights. We talked about getting married in the spring. Maybe April.Maybe May. Ending the night all of us huddled around the front porch.
Past and present mingling together and making something beautiful.
Chapter 21
DECEMBER 16TH, 2023
Jordan
good morning fiancé
Me
good morning soon-to-be husband
Jordan
ready to show off that ring at the most happening spot in town??
Me
the Christmas tree lot is the most happening spot in town?
Jordan
if we’re judging by the parking, oh yeah
If you were looking for a fresh, real Christmas tree in Sweet River, the Holly & Ivy Christmas Tree Lot was the place to go. They didn’t only sell trees. They had fresh garland and wreaths, a hot chocolate stand, and a Santa with a line of kids weavingdown the block. I was looking for a tree, and I’d enlistedmy fiancéto help me pick and haul it home.
The scent of spruce and fir mingled with cocoa and peppermint hit my senses as we walked onto the lot hand in hand. The ring on my finger sent a little thrill down my spine.
“Okay, we need hot chocolate with marshmallows, stat.” I squeezed Jordan’s hand.
“Oh, you don’t have to tell me. That’s exactly where I was headed,” Jordan said, his breath coming out in frosty puffs.
We stood in line for the hot cocoa stand, Jordan warming my fingers in both of his hands, when I spotted Emma Brown and Gabriel Hernandez standing amongst the rows of Christmas trees. She had on a floppy Christmas hat over her long blonde hair and was giggling while Gabriel showed her a picture he’d taken on his phone. He had some fancy camera attachment on it.
I turned back to Jordan, who was reading the menu. “Do we need chocolate dip pretzels or roast chestnuts? Or both?”
“Both.”
“Hey you two,” I heard a familiar voice. Lucy Rhodes, the redheaded kindergarten teacher was in line behind us with her sisters, Gracie and Olivia.
“Hi there,” I said. “Looking for a tree?”
“Yeah, Liv and I are roommates, so we’re scoping out the perfect tree for our place,” Lucy said, nodding her head toward her smaller, freckly older sister.
“All I know is I want it to be poofy, like maybe a spruce or something,” Olivia mused, really pondering her tree choices.
“I like ‘em tall,” I said.
“Obviously.” Lucy giggled, eyeing Jordan from her five foot three stature. He had over a foot on her.
I felt my cheeks go pink. “I suppose that’s true.”
“Can you believe it’s been nearly a year since our impromptu group Valentine’s dinner?” Lucy asked as we stepped forward in line. “And look where you are now.”
