She tugged him along, Lizzie dancing circles around them. The winter chill hit as soon as they stepped out of the sleigh. He glanced down to find himself wearing tractor pajamas while standing out in the open for all of Moose Hollow to see. He shook his head. “Where’s Nick?”
“I’m sure he’s around here somewhere,” Charlotte replied flippantly, her attention on every detail of the house. She touched the trim around the door and the old-fashioned handle with reverence before pushing through.
Lizzie ran past them, disappearing into the living room that circled around the dining room leading to the kitchen. He could have cut her off if he walked right down the hall in front of him. She kept running. “It’s perfect! It’s perfect!” she called.
Charlotte stared at the beautiful railing leading up to the second floor. A glimmer of light went across her hand, and she looked up at the stained glass skylight above her head. Closing her eyes, she spun in a circle as multiple colors danced across her body and in the air around her.
“It’s magic,” he said quietly as he watched the light play.
Charlotte stopped and lifted one eyebrow at him. “I thought you didn’t believe in magic?”
He stepped forward, placing his hands on her hips. “I believe in us. In this.” He captured her mouth and kissed her like it was his last chance to do so and like he planned to do this every day forever.
Her hands moved up his chest, and then she buried her fingers in the hair at the back of his neck, drawing him closer.
Something else clicked inside of Micah. Life was not perfect, but there were perfect moments in life. This was one of them. And Charlotte had a way of making these moments happen. It came from her attention to detail, her ability to create beauty, and her love for all people. Love was the secret ingredient he’d been missing. He had it now and did not intend to let it go.
Lizzie slammed into the side of them. “Are you getting married?”
Micah laughed nervously. He hadn’t forgotten his off-the-cuff proposal. He shook his head at himself. Had he not learned anything about creating a moment? Charlotte deserved better; she deserved more from him.
“Why do you ask?” He cupped the back of his neck and found it hot with embarrassment.
“Because there’s a preacher on our porch.” Lizzie pointed to the door they’d left open behind them. Micah and Charlotte spun to find a man in a pastor’s collar smiling kindly.
“Hi,” he waved.
Charlotte laughed. “Yes, we are,” she told Lizzie.
It took Micah a second to catch up. “We are?”
“Don’t look so surprised.Youaskedme,” she countered, a gleam in her eye.
“Yeah, but–.” He stopped the protest. Why would he try to get out of this? Charlotte was the woman he wanted, so what would be the point of waiting? He glanced down at his pajamas. “Maybe we should get dressed first?”
Charlotte laughed. “As much as I love matching pajamas at Christmas, I want to wear a wedding dress.”
Robyn Kringle brushed past him and into the room, carrying a bag large enough to carry a wedding dress over her shoulder. “Did someone order a wedding dress?”
Charlotte kissed Micah, making his head swirl. “I’ll be down in a jiffy.” Her eyes sparkled with a promise, and she skipped up the steps with Robyn. “I knew you’d be here.”
Robyn trilled a laugh. “I couldn’t leave you hanging. Besides, you’ll love this dress–it’s so you.”
Hazel swept in a slightly smaller bag over her arm. “Lizzie! Let’s get you ready.”
“Ready for what?” Lizzie looked up at him. Micah’s head spun with how quickly everything happened around him. One minute he was flying a sleigh, the next, he was prepping for a Christmas wedding–hiswedding.
“To be the flower girl, of course.” Hazel held out a hand, and Lizzie took it, a look of excitement on her face. They, too, went up the steps.
Micah looked at the preacher for some guidance. Perhaps he had words of wisdom that would carry Micah through the ceremony and help him be the strong man his girls deserved.
He held up both his hands. “I don’t do wardrobe.”
“Great. I’ll just get married looking like a ten-year-old.” Micah huffed.
“We would never let that happen.” In swooped an entire group of people, led by a woman in a Santa skirt and top, a large black belt around her middle.
“Santa?” he asked in disbelief.
