Page 12 of Tangling with the Christmas

She laughs, the sound bright and clear above the carolers starting up nearby. "Thank you for not letting me freeze."

Joseph stirs, letting out a small sleepy sound. Noelle starts singing "Jingle Bells" at the top of her lungs, completely off-key and getting most of the words wrong. Around us, the town celebrates another successful festivalRosemary's festival.The one she's coordinated perfectly for three years running.

And me? I'm just the guy who finally learned that Christmas isn't really about the lights or the decorations or even the perfect tree.

It's about coming home.

It's about the people you love.

It's about a stubborn, sunshine woman who saw past every wall I'd built and decided I was worth loving.God, what a miracle that is.

"Hey, Rhett?" Rosemary nudges me gently.

"Yeah?"

"Next year, I'm thinking we expand the festival. Maybe add an ice-skating rink?"

I groan, but I'm grinning. "You're going to run me ragged, aren't you?"

"Every single year," she promises, eyes sparkling in the glow of a thousand lights. "Until we're old and gray and Noelle and Joseph are bringing their own families to the festival."

"Sounds perfect," I say.

And I mean it.

Because with her, everything is.