Page 56 of This Christmas

Who am I to argue?

“Let me know what you need me to do.”

“I will. But right now, I’m done with work.”

“Perfect timing. I have dinner and a bottle of red upstairs waiting for us.”

We tell Noelle to have a good evening and head up to the apartment. We wash up and then I pour two glasses of wine while Eve carries our dinners into the living room. She sits down in her normal seat and glances at the roses I bought her yesterday. I watch her every move.

“Zane, what’s in the flowers?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Evangeline leans forward and plucks a ring from one of the rose buds. She holds it by its delicate gold band.

“Zane?”

I move closer, taking it from her fingers and reach for her left hand, third finger. “I know it’s only been six months since we have found our way back to each other. Maybe it’s too soon, but I don’t want to waste any more time not letting you know how important you are to me.” I set the ring before her first knuckle andlook at her.

“As much as I would love for this to be an engagement ring only, it can be a promise as well. I’m going to let you?—”

“Yes,” she says, interrupting me. While my heart beats wildly, I didn’t ask her anything.

“Yes?”

“The first part,” she says.

“Ah.” I push the ring a bit farther. “Evangeline, will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

Before I can pull her into my arms, I push the ring the rest of the way down her finger, then pull her to me. “I love you.” My lips are on hers and we both deepen the kiss in the moment. She pulls back and holds her hand up, the early evening sun catching just right on the diamond.

“I’ve seen this ring before.”

I lace my hand with hers and continue holding her hand with the sunlight. “It was my mother’s.”

She looks at me, with unshed tears. “If you want something different, we can go pick something out.”

Evangeline shakes her head. “Wearing her ring will be an honor.” She cups my face, the cool metal grazing my cheek. “I love you.”

“Thank you for giving me this second chance at proving myself.”

“It's the best decision I have ever made, except for one.”

“Which is?” I look at her questioningly.

“I want to get married this Christmas, on the farm.”

“As if we’d get married anywhere else.” I pull her tomy chest and hold Evangeline, thankful for this second chance at the life I could’ve had years ago.

The End