The door swung open behind them. “Hey!” Luke called. “You two done out here, or should we bring the cider?”
“Make it hot cider!” Ethan added. “They’ve been out here a long time!”
Caleb grinned from the doorway. “You gonna tell Mom, or should we?”
“Tell her what?” TJ called back.
Luke cupped his hands around his mouth. “That you finally grew a spine and kissed the girl!”
The laughter that followed was instant and loud.
Lila groaned. “They’re impossible.”
TJ smiled. “You’ll get used to them.”
“Will I?” she teased.
He tilted her chin up, eyes glinting, as he brought his face to hers. “You planning to stick around long enough to find out?”
Her answer was a whisper against his lips. “Try and stop me.”
He kissed her again, and somewhere inside, Grandma cheered. Lila hadn’t even caught her breath when the door creaked open again.
“All right, all right!” Grandma called. “If you two keep that up, we’ll have to start planning a wedding!”
TJ laughed softly against her hair. “She’s not wrong. I think half the town’s watching.”
“Let them,” Lila whispered, grinning through the happy blur of tears.
He leaned back just enough to look at her. “Good. Because they’re going to see this, too.”
Her brow furrowed. “See what?”
TJ was already reaching into his coat pocket.
Lila’s heart stumbled as he dropped to one knee right there on the snow-dusted porch.
The crowd inside gasped. Someone squealed as Grandma yelled, “Mercy, somebody get the camera!”
“Lila Comfort,” he began, voice steady, his eyes bright, “I’ve crossed oceans for research and mountains for data. But nothing, and I mean nothing, has made me feel the way coming home to you has.
Her breath hitched.
He smiled, that crooked grin that undid her completely. “You’re the only thing I’ve found worth staying for. I left because I had to be sure. Now I am. And I’m not going anywhere again, unless it’s wherever you’re headed.”
Tears streamed freely now. “TJ… are you sure?”
“I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.” He held up a small velvet box. “Marry me, Lila. Marry me, and you’ll never have to wonder again if I’m coming back.”
For a heartbeat, she couldn’t speak. Then she nodded, laughing through her tears. “Yes. Oh my goodness, yes!”
The porch erupted. Ethan cheered as Luke whistled. Caleb shook his head and muttered something aboutfinallywhile Grandma waved her lace handkerchief like a victory flag.
“Guess we’ll be attending a wedding at the old church.” Doc chuckled.
TJ rose and slipped the ring onto Lila’s trembling hand. It fit perfectly, and he kissed her again.
Snow began to fall in earnest, soft flakes glimmering in the porch light.
