Page 140 of The Holiday Stand-In

“Hey!” Everyone cheers as they walk into the family room hand in hand.

Jordan gives a little wave. “Thanks for letting us crash your Christmas Eve party. I don’t have any family in town and Justin wanted to spend the holidays with you guys.”

“It’s more than okay.” Janet’s smile is big and warm. “We’ve been through a lot with Justin. He’s one of us now.”

Justin laughs good-naturedly, swinging his arm around Jordan’s waist. “Thanks, Janet.” His eyes dart to me. “I’m happy to be here.”

I smile back at him, grateful he’s here too. It’s been a rocky year. I’m pretty sure he hated me and Summer for the first few months after she left him for me. There were a lot of unanswered texts and calls, but now everything is back to normal. Actually, it’s better than normal. Justin and I are closer than we’ve been in years and I have Jordan to thank for that.

“Where’s Bob Irvine?” Aunt Carma snaps, craning her neck around the room.

“It wasn’t Bob Irvine at the door.” Juliet places her hand on Carma’s leg. “It was Justin and his girlfriend Jordan.”

“The twinhas a girlfriend?” Aunt Carma scrunches her nose. “I don’t like it.”

Marty waves his hand in Carma’s direction, dismissing her. “As I was saying before the knock on the door, this year, we have something special planned before we start the Christmas play.” Summer’s dad looks right at me. “Caleb, I’m turning things over to you.”

Summer’s brows drop in confusion. She watches in silence as I walk to her, grabbing her hand. I lead her to the front of the room.

“What are you doing?” Her confused smile makes me smile.

“It’s a birthday surprise. I have to top the snow globe earrings from last year.”

She touches the dangling jewelry hanging from her ear. “I don’t think you can top these. I love them.”

“Well, let me try.” I drop to one knee, reaching under my pants to where the ring box is hidden in my sock.

The second she sees the velvety red box, she gasps along with all four of her sisters.

“Summer”—I open the box, showing a pear-cut diamond ring—“we’ve spent an entire year together—gone through every season and experienced living life to the fullest—and I can say with absolute certainty that you are the woman for me. I love you more today than I did one year ago when I saw you pass by me in the gondola. And I’m so happy that I was the wrongrightbrother because you are who I want.” Her eyes glisten with tears as she laughs. I glance around, looking at each person in her family before meeting her gaze again. “And I know how much you love everyone in this room and how much they mean to you, so it’s only fitting that I ask you to be my wife in front of them. So, Summer Stanworth, will you complete my heart by becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”

She leans down, kissing my lips quickly. “Yes!” She laughs through her tears. “Yes! I will marry you.”

I slip the ring on her finger and come to a stand. She jumps in my arms, and I hug her close, lifting her feet in the air.

Everyone claps, and before I lower her to the ground, I kiss her the way I plan on kissing her for the rest of her life.

With absolute adoration.

The End