Chapter 33

Thirty-Three

Another successful Lights Festival is in the book, ohana. Our school is so grateful for the talents of Mr. Bell and Mr. Winters, who went above and beyond in organizing this year’s program. We raised a record amount of money and had tremendous fun in the process. Enjoy these pictures, and enjoy your break!

NOLAN

“Wake up.” A bony elbow nudged me, but I didn’t have to fully rouse myself from a cozy sleep to know who it belonged to.

“You have to be kidding me.” I let out a quiet groan. Maybe if I was subdued enough, Merry would fall back to sleep, but he poked me again. “It’s the first day of winter break,” I offered. Merry threw off the covers in reply, so I tried one more time. “Surely the kids aren’t up. It’s not even dawn.”

It was still dark outside, and whatever Merry had planned, it better be good. I shivered as I sat up in bed.

“Come on,” Merry urged, tugging me the rest of the way out of bed.

“You are so lucky I love you.” I squinted at him as he flipped on a light.

“I am.” He hummed as he pulled on pants, the happiest morning person on the island.

“Are pajamas suitable attire for this crack-of-dawn awakening?” I asked right before he tossed me a sweatshirt and jeans. We’d sold out of the shirts featuring original student artwork at the Lights Festival.

“Nope.” He shrugged into his own sweatshirt.

“At least we match.” Huffing, I followed him out of the bedroom. The twinkling red foil tree was the only light in the dark apartment. “There is zero sun yet.”

“Yep.” Merry continued to steer me toward the door.

“We’re going outside?” I frowned at him. We’d snuck off to the hot tub more than a few times, but this was early even for that. “Aren’t you worried about the boys?”

“Nope.” He led me to his car, where I immediately discovered the reason he wasn’t worried. The boys were already in the backseat, Barney sitting up tall between them. They looked almost as awake as their father, happily chowing down on some of the bagels my parents had shipped in lieu of coming for the holidays.

“Are we sure I’m not dreaming?” I blinked. Yep. Boys and dog were still there.

“We’re sure.” Merry opened the passenger door and handed me a thermos. “Get in. And this is your coffee.”

“Bless you.” I took a long sip as Merry headed out of the apartment parking lot. “I’m confused but grateful.”

“Don’t be confused—” Ryder was in the running for perkiest Winters that morning, but Legend quickly elbowed him.

“Shush. Don’t give?—”

“Both of you, quiet for the drive,” Merry said sternly, then gentled his voice. “Nolan’s still waking up.”

“Oh, feel free to enlighten Nolan.” Smiling, I turned toward the backseat, but the boys mimed being unable to speak, which left us all chuckling. And me no closer to figuring out what Merry was after as we headed north.

“I thought your parents were coming down for Christmas Day this year.” I wouldn’t complain about an impromptu trip to North Shore, but we had a pretty tightly scheduled holiday week between his family and mine. After Christmas, we were headed this direction for an amateur surf competition the twins and Merry were all competing in.

“You can keep on guessing.” Merry pulled off almost as soon as we hit the two-lane highway headed to North Shore. He turned toward Kualoa Beach, which was one we hadn’t been to yet.

“A new beach?”

“Best sunrise on Oahu,” Legend loudly bragged. “They’ve even put it in movies.”

“Legend.” Merry used a warning tone. Both boys seemed even bouncier than usual as Merry found a spot to park. Curiously, we weren’t the only vehicle in the parking lot at this insane hour, nor were we the only sleepy people emerging.

Wait. I knew some of those cars, particularly Merry’s parents’ ancient station wagon, covered in bumper stickers.

“Your family is here?” I asked the obvious question as his mom, dad, and grandpa all emerged from the car carrying beach chairs and a cooler. “Please tell me they brought breakfast.”

“And…” Ryder started to share, only to trail off as Legend and Merry glared at him. “Stuff. They brought stuff.”

“And my family?” I tilted my head as Cara, Craig, and all three kids emerged from their SUV. Luckily, Craig wasn’t deployed for the holidays this year, much to everyone’s relief. He waved a greeting before standing still for Cara to settle Noah Craig in a hiking carrier on Craig’s back.

The baby was one now, full of energy and hollering, “Unca!”

I waved back at him and Craig before turning toward Merry. “What are you on about, Merry Winters?”

I was starting to have something of a guess and champagne bubbles rose in my throat and tickled my sinuses. I might have a clue, but I also wasn’t sure I’d manage to survive what was coming. And, of course, he’d known I’d want an audience whether I lived or not.

“You’ll see.” He winked at me before grabbing my hand. “Now, hurry, the sunrise is about to start.”

“Oh, I’m hurrying.” In fact, I was pretty sure I’d never walked this fast or with this much anticipation.

“Come on, troops.” Craig rounded up the kids, relieved Grandpa of carrying his beach chair, and headed toward the beach as well. “Follow Merry.”

The beach was wide and sandy, with a lush amount of palm trees. The sky had started to lighten, the barest hint of pink emerging, and everyone stood quietly, faces turned to the east.

“Are we waiting for something?” I asked Merry.

“The light,” one of the kids yelled out. “Here comes the sun.”

“Right…now.” Next to me, Merry sank to one knee and revealed a small box, which he opened right as the sunrise hit the metal ring. “Marry me?”

“You planned all this? For me?” I wasn’t entirely shocked as we’d spent much of the fall discussing the future, particularly whether it made sense to keep paying rent on two places. And Merry had become way more comfortable with talking about years down the line, like after the boys were done with high school and when we might want to join his folks on North Shore. He used the word we a lot, and I’d dropped more than one hint that when he was ready, I’d be all over making this thing permanent.

“It’s solstice, the shortest day of the year.” Merry turned the ring box so it caught even more of the rising sun. Legend had been right—this truly was the prettiest sunrise I’d seen during all my time in Hawaii. Merry’s voice was surprisingly steady as he continued, “A day when we celebrate the light that breaks through the darkness. And you’ve been the biggest ray of light for all of us over the last year. I’m asking you to bring that sunlight into my life. Will you marry me?”

I hesitated, not out of indecision, but rather to glance at all those who had come to watch. They’d woken up early to celebrate with us. It was more than a little humbling. As a teacher, I’d learned that it took a community to make a thriving school, and this thing between Merry and me had grown so much bigger than simply the two of us.

“Nolan,” Craig called out in a voice worthy of any theater director prompting a line. “Say yes already.”

“Say yes!” both twins shouted.

“Legend? Ryder? You guys are really okay if I say yes?” I teased, knowing full well Merry wouldn’t be asking if he hadn’t had a long, serious talk to make certain the boys were on board.

“Say yes!” they yelled louder, then everyone joined in. “Say yes!”

“Unca!” Even the baby had to get in on the fun.

“Yes, yes, I’ll marry you.” I extended a hand down to haul Merry up next to me.

“Kept me waiting,” he grumbled. “Although, really, I guess I kept you waiting. Again.”

“Not too long.” I thought back to our talks about the future, each one leading us closer to this moment. We’d spent the past year building something solid and real, so much more than a holiday fling. “Not too long at all.”

The sun continued its spectacular ascent, truly a sunrise for the ages. I’d found myself on this island, come into my own as a teacher, and found Merry here, but never had I felt as at home as I did right now. Merry too often thanked me for staying, but after a year, I could unequivocally say I’d stayed for me.

“Bubbly for everyone!” Merry’s mother opened the cooler to reveal sparkling cider, small plastic champagne flutes, and a cake that proclaimed, Congrats, Merry and Nolan! Yep. There had been no real doubt for anyone as to my yes.

“Does this mean I can give notice at my place?” I asked Merry in between bites of the piece of cake we were sharing. “It’s basically clothing storage at this point anyway.”

“Yep. And actually, Cara’s been helping me look for something a little bigger. More closets.”

“I like the sound of that.” I preened. Unable to resist, I looked down at my hand again to study the simple metal band. “And this. I like this a lot.”

“It’s not much?—”

“Hey!” Ryder cut Merry off. “We helped pick.”

“You did an awesome job,” I assured him and Merry. “It’s everything.”

And indeed, it was. More thrilling than a Tony, more inspiring than a packed house, more wonderful than a good review. I’d won the starring role of a lifetime, and I couldn’t wait to make the part my own.

Ready for more holiday romance? Be sure to check out all of Annabeth’s holiday titles. Rival neighbors turn lovers in the beloved hit, The Geek who Saved Christmas , while a crush on his older brother’s best friend takes an only-one-bed twist in Catered all the Way .

And coming in 2025, even more Annabeth goodness as book 4 in the Mount Hope series, Over and Above , continues the 911 Lonestar meets Fuller House vibes with a widowed paramedic who has met his match in a cocky bar owner. When two find themselves temporarily sharing space—and a whole lot more—they discover that life truly does bring second chances when we least expect them. Preorder your copy today!