I laughed and pulled back to look at his beautiful face. I was smiling through my tears as I nodded. “It’s very good news.”
His face filled with the most tender expression I’d ever seen. “Do you choose me, Maggie?”
“I do. I choose you today and every day. I’m finally ready—ready to begin the rest of our lives together.”
Gray lifted his hands and gently ran his thumbs along the edges of my cheekbones, removing my tears. “There’s no need to cry anymore. I’m here.”
I smiled, though the tears would not stop so easily.
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
There was not a shred of uncertainty in my mind or heart when I said, “Yes.”
His face grew serious as he took out his handkerchief and gently wiped the rest of my tears away. It was cold and the snow crunched beneath our feet, but I didn’t care. Gray made me feel warm.
When my face was dry and my tears had finally stopped, Gray put the handkerchief back into his pocket and then put his hands on either side of my face, slipping his fingers into the loose strands of my hair.
“I love you, Maggie Wakefield,” he whispered as he kissed my forehead, my cheeks, my nose. “And I’ve been waiting for this day, I think, my entire life.”
He pulled back and looked me in the eyes. Even though it was early morning and anyone could see us standing there on the steps, Gray did not seem to mind—and neither did I. I was ready to proclaim to the world that this was the man I chose, that he was the one I wanted for the rest of my life.
That he was enough. More than enough.
“Once I kiss you,” he said, with that look in his eyes that told me he knew a secret I didn’t, “I will want to keep kissing you forever.”
“I know.” I nodded solemnly, though I could not contain my delight. “And you may. Whenever you’d like.”
“Promise?” he asked, touching my nose with his.
“I promise.”
Slowly, with the greatest care, Gray kissed me.
Every sound, every sensation, everything around us vanished, and all I knew was Gray. His lips, his hands, his arms wrapped around me. His kisses were tender and then fervent, taking my breath away. He kissed me deeply, passionately, and possessively. I was his and he was mine, and it was the most glorious feeling in the world.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, and he lifted me off my feet. I pulled him as close as I could, wanting more of him, all of him. I didn’t want it to stop, but eventually he pulled away, and we were both breathless.
A smile spread across my lips, matching his in brilliance.
His eyes were alight with longing. “When can we be married?”
“As soon as possible.”
“New Year’s Day? Your birthday?”
I nodded. “I couldn’t ask for a better day to start our married lives together.”
“How will I wait six days?” he asked, nuzzling my neck, pulling me close again.
Laughing, I kissed his cheek. “It will give us time to practice kissing so that on our wedding day, we get it just right.”
“I do believe we’re naturals already.”
I had lost so much in my other paths—friends, family, careers—but what I had gained in Gray’s arms had become far more precious. He loved me, he understood me, and he had sacrificially allowed me to choose what was best for me—and it just so happened that it was him. There was no one else like him, and in God’s amazing grace, He had brought us together to revel in one another’s love.
The wedding vows we would soon share were already ringing in my mind, and I didn’t want to wait a week to promise Gray that he had my heart, my love, and my devotion for all time.
So on that cold December day, with the past behind me and the future beckoning, I took his warm hands in mine and promised to love him for the rest of my life.
