He folded his arms over his chest. “Seriously? I don’t get to see it? I mean, I’m assuming I’ll be the best man at the wedding; therefore, you’ll need to trust me with the wedding band. I think it’s only fair I see the engagement ring first.”
I stared at him. “That strangely made sense. But no. Viv will be the first to see it.”
He shrugged. “Whatever. I didn’t want to see it anyway.”
Shoving him, I said, “Get out of here.”
Once he was gone, I walked over to the dresser and opened the top drawer. I took out the blue velvet box and snapped it open. It was a ring I’d found in a jewelry shop in Estes Park a few months back. It was an Old European cut diamond in an intricate group of geometric shapes thatmade up the setting. There were small diamonds that went down the platinum band as well. It was beautiful, and I knew Vivianne would adore it because it was different and antique. She loved anything that had a story behind it.
The owner of the jewelry store said he’d bought it at an estate sale just a few weeks prior. I’d had to take money from my savings account for the business, but it was money well spent. And with Mitch agreeing to fund the remodel, it worked out perfectly.
I shut the box, then slipped it into my jeans pocket. With one last look in the mirror, I gave myself an internal pep talk.
You got this! She’s going to love it. She’s going to say yes. Just don’t fuck anything up!
With another couple of deep breaths, I opened the door and headed downstairs. I could already hear Vivianne laughing, along with my mother and grandmother.
Any doubts I had about her loving River Falls or my family were wiped away when I saw her dancing with my father while Nat King Cole’s “Deck the Halls” played. My heart felt like it grew ten times its size as I watched her laugh while Dad spun and dipped her.
“It’s like she’s always been here,” my brother Jason said, coming up beside me.
I nodded. “It is.”
He bumped my arm. “She’s going to say yes.”
Glancing at him, I smiled. “You think so?”
A wide grin appeared on his face. “Even I can tell she loves you.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “Thanks, Jason.”
He shrugged, and we both turned to see Dad dip her one more time as the song ended. Something about the moment would be burned in my memory until the day I died. I had a feeling that after tonight, my life wastrulygoing to begin…with Vivianne by my side for the rest of my days.
Her eyes met mine as she laughed again.
My heart went wild in my chest because without a doubt, I knew I was going to love this woman until I took my last breath.
After eating a full Christmas Eve dinner of ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, yeast rolls, and more desserts than I could even count, we ended up in the family room.
Mom and Dad opened their gifts first, which had been the tradition since we’d grown old enough to buy them their gifts. When my father opened Vivianne’s gift, he held up the shirt and grinned. “Perfect timing, Vivianne. I needed some new shirts!”
Vivianne beamed from next to me. Then my mother opened her gift and took out the necklace. She read the engraving, looked at Vivianne, then burst into tears. Both women stood and hugged each other.
“It’s the most perfect gift I’ve ever gotten!” my mother declared as Dad looked at the rest of us with raised brows and an expression like Mom had just wiped away years of his gifts. I tried hard not to laugh, but I lost the battle.
Grandma opened Vivianne’s scarf, deciding it was the most beautiful scarf she’d ever seen.
Vivianne clapped her hands and told my grandmother, “I fell in love with it and I had to buy it for you.”
By the time I opened my gifts—a flannel shirt and a journal—I had no doubt in my mind that my family loved Vivianne.
Then it was time for Vivianne to open her gifts. My father gave her a teacher’s planner, along with pens and pencils. My mother bought her a sweater, a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and a pair of riding boots. Grandma gave her a necklace with her birthstone, and a blanket that she’d knitted.
Mike gave her an apple knickknack that said World’s Best Teacher. Jason bought her a sweatshirt that said “River Falls” on the front, and on the back, “Team Wilde”—with his football number. David gifted her a backpack she’d seen a few months back and said she liked. Everyone gave him kudos for such a thoughtful gift. My mother was especially impressed he’d remembered it.
Then it was my turn…and this is where our plan kicked in.
My entire family stared in my direction, and I shrugged. “Why is everyone looking at me?”
