Page 21 of Wrangled by the Grump

“I’d love to be close to my family,” I admit, leaning into him. “I miss having their support and getting to see them every day. But I don’t necessarily need them to be happy. Because I have you.”

Genuine smile number three, which is probably the happiest one I’ve seen from him, pulls at his lips. “I love you, Honey.”

I match his smile, heart fluttering. “Why do you call me that?”

One of his hands goes to my hair, and he tugs a piece free from the careful braid I’d put it in—okay, not careful but rather stylishly messy—and twists the strand around his fingers before bringing it to his lips. “That night, you smelled like honey,” he murmurs. “And your hair looks like the kind we collect. And because I never got your name, I didn’t have anything else to call you. So, you’re my Honey. My sweet, sweet nectar. The only damn good thing in my life.”

That’s all I need to know to be sure of my choice. “Let’s get married then, you grump.”

11

MAX

Quiet music plays in the foyer of Town Hall, some upbeat Christmas song that gives me a sense of peace as Winnie grips my hand tighter. The clerk’s desk is empty, and there’s no line up of folk who need to be seen. For a brief moment, that peace disappears, and panic floods me instead. It’s not like it’s the end of the damn world if we don’t get married today, but I don’t want to wait any longer than we absolutely have to.

Winnie squeezes my hand and forces me to stop. “Relax,” she murmurs, eyes dancing over the space. “I’m sure they’re getting coffee.”

“Damn hope that’s the case,” I mutter through gritted teeth.

“Even on our wedding day, you can’t help but be a grump,” she says, rolling her eyes.

A shaky breath falls from my lips. “Sorry.”

Winnie shoots me an amused look as she shakes her head. “Come on.”

We make it to the desk, which is covered in maple leaves coloured in by kids from the elementary school. There are a few carved pumpkins either side of the desk lit up with fake candles, and even more decorations littered around the space.

The door behind the desk opens, and an older woman I recognise from around town shuffles out. “Max?” she says, surprise filling her voice. “What brings you here?”

I clear my throat as I take the license from Winnie and slide it under the partition. “We would like to get married.”

“Married?” She looks between us, then down at Winnie’s swollen stomach. “Well, I’ll be damned.” She takes the slip of paper and does something with it, clicking away at the ancient computer.

Winnie and I share a wary look before the old woman slides the license back to us, along with paperwork. “It’s nice to see a good man like you stepping up to do what’s right,” she says, dropping two pens for us. “Although, marriage before sex is also better.”

Winnie chokes on a surprised sound as she grabs one of the pens. “I’ll remember that for next time.”

I sigh as I pick up the second pen. “Where do we sign?”

It takes five minutes to go through the process of legalising our marriage. The clerk has to go find someone to witness the union, but ten minutes later, our paperwork is filed and our marriage recognised.

Soon enough, we’re man and wife.

And I couldn’t be happier as I pull Winnie into my arms while another worker snaps photos of us on my cell. Because this is everything I could have ever wanted.

Now, I spend the rest of my life earning it.

2 MONTHS LATER

The small town of Willow Ridge is covered in a thick layer of ice and snow as we go through the motions. Breathing exercises, contractions, more breathing, and silent prayers to the universe everything goes as planned.

I only want the best for my wife and our little Christmas Parasite.

It takes six hours for our daughter to be born.

For the first time since I married Winnie, tears fall without any resistance. I don’t remember crying at any other point in my life; not during my first marriage or during the divorce or after. I’d been numb to all emotion until Winnie entered my life, and I’ve been seeking that relief ever since.

Now, with our girl here, everything feels right. I felt complete finding Winnie again.