She pressed a quick kiss to my cheek and walked off, all business.
Right after she walked out of the gazebo, Austin walked up to me.
“Hey man, how you holding up?”
“Oh, you know, nothing like a little public declaration of emotions to the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with to make me feel alive,” I responded.
“You’re going to do great, Cole. She’s going to love this,” a female voice answered from the chest pocket of Austin’s coat.
“Hi, Charlotte,” I directed at the phone, which Austin pulled out to show Blaire’s best friend on the screen.
“She basically threatened my life if I didn’t call her right this second to be sure she didn’t miss anything since she’s still in DC until closer to Christmas,” Austin answered by way of explanation. Charlotte nodded her head to corroborate his story on the screen. Apparently, having your best friends enter into a relationship automatically created some sort of bond, which Austin and Charlotte used with annoying efficiency to call both of us out when we were being stubborn about something.
“Okay, well, get both of you down into the crowd so you have a good view. Mom and Tom should be standing with the Greenes right down front, they’re supposed to be saving you a spot, Austin.”
“10-4, Mr. Thomas. We’ll see you afterward!”
I took a deep breath and snuck my way to the back of the stage. The festival had grown so large and successful that Blaire had to hire a part-time assistant for the back half of the year to keep up, which was the only reason I was going to be able to pull this off. Melinda handed me an extra mic when she spotted me behind the stage, Blaire already having started her opening remarks, which meant it was almost go time.
“And now it’s time to introduce this year’s honorary tree lighter, Penny Cartwright!”
Blaire turned around to see Penny stepping onto the stage with me and threw me a look that was mixed with confusion and a little bit of anger that I was throwing off her carefully scheduled timetable. I figured she would forgive me for it.
“Hi, Blaire, everyone. Before Penny gets up there and does her thing, there’s something I wanted to do first.”
I walked up to Blaire and got down on one knee in front of her and both of our towns, plus several hundred other strangers.
“Oh my God,” Blaire said, covering her mouth with her gloved hands. She’d stepped back from the podium when she saw me approaching, so only I could hear her. The crowd let out a gasp when they realized what was about to happen.
“Blaire Greene, you have made such an impact on our community over the past two years, taking the festival and making it more sustainable and inclusive, as well as inviting Winterberry Glen to be a part of the planning and hosting for the first time. The results for both towns are evident in the growth and success our towns have seen, plus there are a lot less brawls for the Sheriff offices to clean up. And while I have a new appreciation for my hometown, for me, that doesn’t begin to compare to the difference you have made in my life. You’ve given me so much, helped me grow and have courage to face my past instead of running from it, and given me a love I never thought I would have in a million years. It’s true love makes a fool out of you and you’ve made me a fool, but I’ve never been happier. Will you marry me?”
A speechless Blaire is something I’ve only accomplished a few times in our relationship, and this was one of those times. I stood, which seemed to wake her up, and she nodded and said aloud, “Yes.”
At that, I dropped the mic and gathered Blaire in my arms, laying a kiss on her that probably wasn’t appropriate for a family-friendly event. Penny’s secret cue for throwing the switch on the Christmas tree was Blaire saying yes, which must have happened, because the crowd’s cheers and applause only seemed to increase in the seconds after Blaire gave her answer, but I couldn’t see anything beyond the woman in my arms. I ended the kiss, hugging her tightly to me, my hand cradling her head as I picked her up and spun her in a circle, unable to stay still because this wonderful woman had agreed to be mine forever. I put her back on the ground and we looked out into the crowd, at our families and friends, beaming back at us from the front row. I don’t think I could ever have the appreciation for Christmas that Blaire did, but it absolutely meant something to me now. I looked over at Blaire to find her looking back at me. I knew at that moment it didn’t matter where we came from or what the town we lived in was called. In this woman, I would always find my home.
