Page 78 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
I’m relieved she’s been able to get a week’s trip away figured out, but more so, I’m excited for her to see my parents. They’ve talked on video chat and Joy and my mom text, but this will be their first time meeting face-to-face, since we’ve been together.
The lines of communication have remained open between my parents and grandparents too. Over the last year, a lot of phone calls have been made and a lot of talking has taken place. I’m certain an in-person visit will happen with them soon too, as long as they continue to talk and take steps to repair their damaged relationship.
“Thank you for this,” I tell her before sliding my hands into her hair and moving forward to kiss her lips once more. I’ll never get tired of kissing her. Her mouth was made for mine.
“You’re welcome,” she replies when we finally come up for air. “And thank you for my gifts too. I love them all.”
“I have one more for you,” I reply, my heart rate starting to climb.
This is it.
“You do?” she asks, glancing under the empty tree, but I know she won’t outwardly see the last gift there.
“I do,” I confirm. “It’s in the tree.”
Her eyebrows draw together as confusion sweeps across her angelic face. “Inthe tree?”
“Well, on it. See if you can find it.”
She climbs off the floor and stares at the tree we spent so much time decorating. She still has a tree over at her apartment, but I don’t think it’s been on but one or two nights since we put it up. She’s been staying with me here, at my house, more times than not, which is exactly how I want it. I want her here every night from this one moving forward.
I know immediately when she spots the extra ornament I hung on the tree early this morning while she was still sleeping. She smiles and reaches for the small trinket box I made. I swear I’m not breathing as she runs her finger across the top of the new ornament on our tree.
“I thought we could start a new tradition,” I tell her, causing her to look my way. “We hang a new ornament on the tree each year to signify something important that happened that year.”
She smiles down at the square. “I love our first one.”
I engraved a few different items on the small box. A cupcake on one side, a bare tree on the other to signify our jobs. The front has the year, and the top a pair of ice skates.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Open it.”
Joy looks back down at the box and gently lifts the top. I get into position and smile when she gasps. She spins to the side, her head volleying between the diamond ring inside the box and me on one knee.
“You’ve been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Every single memory I have in Snowflake Falls features you, and I want you in every single one moving forward.” I take a deep breath and ask the most important question of my life. “Joy Campbell, will you marry me?”
She smiles through her tears as she nods emphatically. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
I reach for the box and pull out the ring, my fingers shaking as I slide it on her hand.
It’s a perfect fit.
Just like her and me.
When the ring is on her hand, I stand up and kiss my fiancée. Her hands rest on the sides of my face, and even though I can’t see it, I feel the weight of that ring adorning her left hand. “I love you,” I whisper against her lips.
“I love you too.”
She pulls back and smiles down at the solitaire princess cut diamond ring. It’s not huge or extravagant. I know Joy wouldn’t want that. It’s timeless and breathtaking and looks amazing on her hand. “I can’t believe this,” she whispers.
“Believe it, Easy-Bake. Or should I call you Mrs. Easy-Bake Whitman.”
She barks out a laugh. “I think that would look perfect embroidered on an apron.”
“Done,” I reply, making a mental note to get that ordered ASAP. “Now, let’s get ready to go.”
She makes a face. As far as she knows, we’re not going anywhere until lunchtime, but that was all part of the plan. “Where?”
