Page 97 of The Clause in Christmas
“Is everything okay?” Cassie glanced from Maggie and Dolores to Frank, then Eliza.
Flashing a reassuring smile, Eliza surreptitiously slid her cell phone from her coat pocket, swiped open the camera app, and pressed record.
Luke took both of Cassie’s hands in his. “Everything is more than okay. In fact, I can only think of one thing that could make this evening better.”
The crowd gasped as Luke dropped to one knee.
Cassie’s hand flew to her throat, her fingertips curling around the necklace Luke had given her for Christmas.
Reaching into his coat pocket, Luke withdrew a tiny velvet box. “I realize we haven’t been together long, but I couldn’t envision another year without you as my wife. Cassie Hayward, would you make my Christmas wish come true by saying yes?”
Luke slowly lifted the lid, revealing a stunning antique diamond ring.
Eliza stole a glance at Frank, whose steel-gray eyes glistened with unshed tears.
Dabbing at her own eyes with her scarf, Eliza had trouble keeping the phone steady.
The first time Luke shared the touching story, Eliza cried for five straight minutes. Luke offered to purchase Edith’s ring at any price, but Frank refused payment, insisting the ring was meant for Cassie.
Cassie’s green eyes sparkled as brilliantly as the tiny emeralds encircling the oval cut diamond as she held out her hand. “Yes, of course! Yes!”
The final yes came out as a sob as Luke scooped her into his arms.
Their lips met as the clock struck midnight.
Cheers and applause erupted as large confetti cannons burst, shooting rice paper poppy petals into the air.
Other couples joined Luke and Cassie in ringing in the New Year with a kiss as the string quartet once again performed “Auld Lang Syne” in concert with the chime of the church bells.
Eliza slipped her phone back inside her pocket as others around her recited lines from a classic Alfred Loyd Tennison poem:
“Ring out the old, ring in the new, Ring, happy bells, across the snow; The year is going, let him go; Ring out the false, ring in the true.”
For the first time since hearing the age-old adage, the words struck Eliza at her core.
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
And that’s when she saw him.
A dark figure blurred by bright red petals fluttering to the ground.
It couldn’t be…
Her heartbeat stilled as she peered closer, desperate for a definitive view.
But as suddenly as the figure appeared, he vanished from sight.
