Ben got up and opened the door, Flo right at his heels, tail wagging a mile a minute.
Their entire family stood on the broad porch. Stephanie was front and center, wearing reindeer antlers and an ugly Christmas sweater with knitted tire treads across it. She was leading the caroling with dramatic hand gestures. Behind her stood Dr. Boyfriend—William—looking amused.
I guess he’s part of the family now too, Charlie thought.
Behind him were Arden and Kyle. Gabe and Rochelle. Bear with Star sitting on his shoulders and Ellie at his side. Elias and Wren. Shane with April and their son, Kevin. Waylon and Frankie with baby Danny bundled in a little red snowsuit and Santa hat. Gina and Lachlan. Alex and Sylvie. Hannah, and Sandra, and Nettie. Flint and Harper, Badger and Brianna. Jodie, and Mac, and Colin, all from Watchdog.
And a whole lotta dogs.
Stephanie stopped singing mid-verse. “Benjamin Massey, did you really think you could get away with proposing to our Charlie without all of us?”
Our Charlie.
She could have died of happiness right there and then.
“Yes, actually, I thought I could,” Ben said.
“Well.” Stephanie's eyes sparkled. “Shows what you know.”
“Don't worry,” Arden said, holding up several insulated bags. “We're just feeding the lovebirds, and then we'll be on our way.”
“Wouldn't mind some of that cider I know you brewed gallons of though,” Elias said, already pushing past Ben into the house.
“And I wanna see that ring, girlfriend!” Wren pushed right in behind her husband.
“Make yourselves at home,” Ben said, his voice drier than the cider. “Allof you.”
But of course he was smiling. And Charlie was smiling. And suddenly the Victorian was full of noise and laughter and love.
Stephanie commandeered the kitchen, directing Arden and Rochelle in laying out enough food to feed an army. Kyle built up the fire. Bear settled into the armchair with Star, while Frankie perched on the couch next to Charlie with Danny.
“Let me see it,” Frankie demanded, as Wren stood behind the couch pursing her lips and snapping her fingers like demanding royalty.
Charlie held up her hand. The ring caught the firelight, the blue stones glowing.
“Oh my God,” Wren breathed. “Ben, I love the rings you made for Elias and me, but this? It’s your best work.”
“Of course it is,” Stephanie said, appearing with a plate of colorful sugar cookies. “The man's a romantic. Who knew? Don’t answer that.”
Ben's ears went red but he was grinning.
Shane raised his glass of cider. “To Ben and Charlie. The couple who survived an avalanche and still said yes.”
“To Ben and Charlie!” everyone chorused.
The evening dissolved into warmth and chaos. Food and drink and laughter and happy dogs underfoot. Baby Danny grabbed at Charlie's necklace with his tiny fists. Star toddled over to Flo, patted her very gently…and calling her Spot Skunk. Someone turned on some music and Brianna, April, and Hannah did their best Sixties Girl Band impressions. Elias and Lachlan argued about whether or not Die Hard was a Christmas movie, to which Charlie shouted, “Of course it is!” and Arden hugged her for that. Stephanie regaled everyone with the storyof how she knew Charlie and Ben were meant for each other the moment she met them.
At one point, a line streaked through the house, ending under the mistletoe.
Eventually, as midnight approached, people started bundling up to leave. Hugs and congratulations and promises to help plan the wedding were plentiful. Arden especially told her that they should get together between Christmas and New Years.
“I’d love that,” Charlie told her friend.
Finally, it was just Ben and Charlie again. Flo snored quietly on her dog bed by the fire. The tree lights glowed. The house smelled like balsam and cinnamon and fresh Christmas cookies. Charlie sat with the ring on her finger and the fire dying down and Ben dozing lightly against her good side, and she thought about Joey.
It's late, she told herself.It's Christmas Eve. He's probably with friends, or his wife, or?—
She stopped.
