103. Alice

ALICE

I feel oddly turned on as Michael slides his phone back into his pocket.

I think we need to revisit the instructor role-playing again tonight.

“Joey, I’m ready for the next part,” Michael calls out.

My attention turns to Joey as he opens a pair of doors I hadn’t noticed before.

Through it, two people wheel in a table holding a three-tier square cake that looks to be entirely covered in gold leaf.

“What’s the next part?” I whisper.

“The next part,” Michael whispers back as he pulls on my hand to bring me closer to the cake, “is the rest of our lives.”

Emotions tie a ribbon around my throat, making it hard to swallow.

And as we get closer, I notice the words etched into the gold.

The love of my life.

My forever.

Baby Cakes.

Little Alice.

Mrs. Claus.

Mistletoe Eyes.

My Sweetness.

Then I hear it.

The chimes.

My eyes slowly lift, and I watch Joey carefully set something on the top of the cake.

A shiny round gold centerpiece, with candles around the bottom and angels twirling above the flames.

It’s the same.

It is the exact same centerpiece that my grandmother would put out for Christmas.

The same thing that I drew for Michael days ago when we were snowed in at that cabin.

It’s exactly the same… except for the flash of color, the red and green sparkling in the candlelight on each turn.

Michael lets go of my hand and reaches up to stop the angels from spinning.

And from the top of an angel’s head, he picks up a ring.

My hands press over my heart.

And my vision swirls as tears fill my eyes.

Michael gives me the softest smile as he lowers to one knee before me. “Alice.” He holds up the ring. The massive princess-cut diamond is set in a band of alternating rubies and emeralds. “I know I’ve only just met you. And I know this is fast. But I don’t need years to know that you’re mine. I felt it the moment I laid eyes on you. I can feel the truth of it right here.” He places a palm over his heart. “It’s the same place I can feel your love for me. It’s burrowed there. Made itself a home inside me. You give me warmth. Purpose. And I need the entire world to know it will only ever be you.” He lifts his hand from his chest and holds it out to me. “So tell me, Baby Cakes, will you marry me?”

“Of course.” I’m nodding and sniffing. “I will.”

Michael holds my hand steady with one of his.

He slides the ring onto my finger. “Good. Because we’re going to do it on New Year’s Eve.”

My eyes widen, and a laugh bubbles out of me as I throw my arms around my Chef.