“It’s a long story,” she explained, “and yes, that Faith.”
He huffed as he cast a look over his shoulder at Tanya and Tucker. “Of course it’s that Faith.”
Tanya yawned and lay down.
Valerie lifted a shoulder. “It’s all part of who I am.”
His eyes glistened. “I know. But you know it doesn’t matter how famous you or your family are or who you’re named after. Although, if we have a baby girl one day, I’d like her middle name to be Rose.”
Valerie’s hand flew to her mouth. “I would love that. Your mom is amazing!”
He chuckled as he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Now that we agree on all the important things….”
She swatted at him. He pulled out a ring box and cracked it open. Nestled inside was a replica of her mother’s wedding ring that had been lost in the plane crash. The alternating smaller ruby and diamonds arranged between the intricate milgrain borders culminated in a stunning Asscher cut two-carrot diamond.
If she doubted any of his story before, this ring erased all of it. There was no way it could be here, in front of her, in Ethan’s hands, unless a miracle had occurred.
“Valerie Faith Remmington.” He drew in a breath, making his wonderful chest expand. Valerie couldn’t wait for years on end of sleeping on his chest. “I was given one Christmas Wish to fix everything wrong in my life, and I wished to marry you.”
A large tear slid free, and she brushed it off her cheek.
“But even if nothing were wrong, I would wish that we could be together because you are beautiful, happy, and filled with a melody that makes every moment sing. Without you, there would be no music in my life. Will you marry me?”
Closing her eyes, she let his words fall on her and gathered them into her heart. She leaned down and touched her forehead to his.
“Yes,” she whispered. Their lips came together in a soft, promising kiss as warm as the fire crackling across the room.
A whoosh of cold burst into the house with the force of a helicopter.
Ethan got to his feet, and they turned to see a group of people standing in the Christmas room. Ethan’s family was there–and a bunch of people she didn’t know. Nick–not dressed as Santa but wearing an ugly Christmas sweater. And–Valerie let out a startled cry. “Auntie! Uncle!” She ran for them, her arms outstretched. They grabbed onto her and rocked happily back and forth. “How did you get here?”
Uncle’s mustache twitched. “Helicopter ride.”
“Sleighride.” Nick coughed into his hand.
Uncle swiped the ten-gallon cowboy hat off his head and grinned at her. “A surprise weddin’? Darlin’, no wonder you haven’t been answerin’ my calls.”
Valerie laughed.
She glanced at Nick, and he winked. “A private wedding ceremony–yes? Just as you imagined?”
“Now?!” she gasped. She glanced around the room–her Christmas Room. The sun was setting over Moose Hollow outside the wall of windows casting everything in a soft golden glow. The lights on the tree and over the mantle twinkled. Every touch of Christmas meant something to her–either a reminder of years gone by or brought into her life by new friends.
Valerie looked around at the other faces in her special space. Lauren and Jacob. Rose and Benjamin. Charlotte, who held an incredible Christmas bridal bouquet.
Nick. A preacher. Wait–a preacher?
Valerie stepped back and looked at Ethan for an explanation. He cupped the back of his neck. “Uh–you said yes, right?”
A woman in a red leather skirt and a white furry sweater stepped forward. “I’m Stella; this is my husband, Pastor Kristopher Kringle.” She motioned to the man in the pastoral collar. Valerie glanced back and forth between Stella’s bad girl image and his holy aura and decided that opposites must attract.
Also,Kris Kringle?
Stella held up a garment bag. “My sister sent you a wedding dress–if you want it. If not, we’ll tell her it was stunning.”
“You can’t lie,” admonished Pastor Kringle.
Stella lifted a shoulder. “Frost doesn’t have a Naughty List radar.”
