23. Chapter 23

Chapter 23

T wo Months Later

“You're sure you're okay with Draven and me going to this thing together?” Olivia asked Daniel for probably the hundredth time as they stood at one side of the town gymnasium hanging streamers for that night’s holiday party.

“Mom, come on. I already told you it's fine. You guys are a couple and that’s what couples do, right? Go to these kinds of things together?”

“Yes, you’re right. It's just that this will be our first year going where you aren't my date, bud, and I don't want you to feel left out.”

“Answer me this, Mom: If I wanted to come with you guys, would you or Draven say no?”

“No,” she replied instantly, already seeing his point as he bit back a smile.

Parker appeared then, carrying a very full basket of hand-cut snowflakes for Olivia and Daniel to hang on the walls; Olivia groaned. They definitely needed some more help.

“Hey,” she said, turning to Parker after glancing around the room for her boyfriend. “Where are the guys?”

Draven, Lucas, and Malcolm had been in and out of the gym most of the day doing all the heavy lifting and whatever random task Parker handed out to them. But they had disappeared for the last hour or so.

“Oh,” Parker said, pulling piles of snowflakes out of the box. “They’re working on a special project for me.”

“Special project?”

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Parker said with a wink.

What could Parker possibly have the guys working on that she did not know about? She didn’t bother asking Parker for more details; she wouldn’t tell her anyway. The woman was a master at keeping secrets.

The last hour dragged by. They had been setting up since noon, only stopping for a quick snack break. It was now nearing 4:30 in the afternoon.

She and Daniel went home to eat a quick dinner and to get ready.

But her nerves just would not settle. Something about tonight felt important. Maybe it was the fact that this would hopefully be the first of many holiday parties and she wanted it to go well.

She had been pacing around the kitchen for the last twenty minutes, just waiting for 6:30 to roll around. Eventually, Daniel joined her, offering up the solution.

“You know what always helps when you're feeling anxious, Mom …”

“Horchata,” they said at the same time.

Her earlier tension slipped away as they prepared their drinks. In this space, he was just her little boy. She was endlessly thankful for the kindhearted, thoughtful kid he was turning out to be.

“Hey, Mom? Can I ask you something?”

“Anything, bud,” she assured him as they each took their glass of horchata and brought it to their lips.

“Are you still scared of being with Draven?”

She and Daniel had a long talk after that whole mess with Draven and the book. She wanted him to know what Draven had considered doing and why he had ultimately changed his mind. She tried her best to explain what her own issues were. He was a smart kid and he could often sense when she was feeling out of sorts. She wanted him to know as much of the truth as was appropriate.

She paused for a moment to consider the question. But she already knew the answer. She wasn’t afraid of being with Draven, not anymore. He was committed to her and to Daniel, he loved them both very much.

“No, Daniel. I'm not scared. Not anymore. Why do you ask?”

“I don't know,” he said, although it was clear he did since he had asked the question. “It's just that you're always nervous. Like with the dance tonight.”

She understood. Her sweet-hearted boy was trying to make sure she was okay.

“You want to know why I’m nervous?”

He nodded.

“I’m nervous because I want tonight to go well. This is another first for Draven, and I want him to have a good time. But that’s all it is—I promise.”

“I guess that makes sense,” he said.

The sound of the doorbell ringing got their attention. She rose from the table, depositing both of their empty glasses into the sink.

“Draven's here,” Daniel announced and took off for the door. She followed behind at a more reasonable pace.

The way Draven looked, standing in the doorway, stopped her in her tracks.

It dawned on her that this was the first time she had ever seen him dressed up. Their first date had been dressy casual, but this was something else. It made her heart race and her mouth water to see him looking so sharp and put together in that tux.

His eyes caught hers and the crooked grin that graced his handsome face made her knees weak. He winked. Damn him.

“This is usually the part where people start talking,” Daniel said after they had been staring at each other for far longer than was normal. Olivia bit back a groan and Draven chuckled as he ran a hand through his hair.

“Sorry, kid. But your mom looks fantastic tonight,” Draven said as his eyes landed on Daniel.

“That's okay,” Daniel said. “At least you're better than Lucas. He usually just mumbles around Parker and he blushes a lot. It’s kind of embarrassing.”

“It really is,” Draven said with a laugh. “I bet you won’t be that way with Lola tonight.”

“No way! We've got too much to talk about with the …” Daniel trailed off before casting a glance at Olivia. "Well, you know, just everything."

“Well, if that's not a reason to get a move on, I don’t know what is. Should we get going?” Draven asked.

Daniel agreed and ran out to Draven's car, leaving Olivia and Draven with a moment alone.

“Hey, you,” she whispered as he took her into his arms.

“You look stunning, Liv. If I haven’t already said that.”

“You don't look so bad yourself,” she said, trying her hardest not to blush. “This look suits you.”

“I'm glad you like what you see.”

She could not help herself. She pulled him in for a kiss. It was short and sweet, but it only served to remind her of what they would likely be getting up to later.

A ‘hurry up’ from Daniel got them moving out the door.

They stopped to pick up Lola, who lived only a few blocks away and headed for the gym. The place was packed full. Almost every town resident was in attendance. She was happy to see how much their hard work and planning these past few weeks had paid off.

After hanging up their coats, Daniel and Lola ran off to join some of their friends. Olivia and Draven went to grab some food. She, Rosa and Parker had spent the last few days making dozens and dozens of tamales. Along with gallons of Mexican hot chocolate.

They ate and ate until she felt like she would pop. Rosa and Janella chatted with Draven and Lucas about their mother. Olivia watched on with Parker at her side, happy to see how much Draven seemed to be enjoying himself.

Then Draven asked her to dance.

“I didn’t know you could dance.”

He laughed. “My mother taught me, actually.”

“Well, she was a good teacher.”

It was like a scene from a movie. Being here, surrounded by friends and family, there was an undeniable sense of security and joy. The aura around this whole place screamed Christmas and the general holiday spirit.

Swaying around the room in Draven's arms, knowing she had found someone to share these moments with, was like her wildest dream come true. She could have stayed here, with him, all night long.

But when the song ended and the next one began, he stopped dancing and leaned in to whisper in her ear, “I hate to steal you away when you’re enjoying yourself. But I want to show you something and I think now’s the time to do it.”

“Okay. Lead the way,” she said without hesitation. Maybe he was pulling her away from the crowd for a bit of privacy. Butterflies filled her stomach and her whole body suddenly felt warmer. She and Draven, in a small, dark space … that could be fun.

On the walk from the dance floor, she caught the eyes of Parker and Jill. They had been dancing too but stopped to watch them leave. They were on the other side of the room, but she swore there was something resembling tears in Parker’s eyes and Jill was grinning like a loon.

Something was up.

She was tempted to go over there and demand that they tell her what the hell was going on. But both of them sent her a thumbs up and waved her off. Okay, seriously? What was going on here?

She glanced over at Draven, but he was too focused on weaving his way through the crowd, so she could not get a good look at his face.

When they reached an exit door, Draven pushed his way through, pulling her along with him. What was going on? They would freeze out here. Her arms were already getting goosebumps.

“Uh, Draven. What are you doing? It’s freezing outside.”

She looked up as the door slammed shut behind them.

Snow, fluffy and white, was falling in the first flurry of the season. The sight brought a huge smile to her face. Ever since she was a kid, she had loved the snow. But only when it was like this, clean and light. Nothing could replace the feeling of peace that came over her when snow covered the earth, and everything was quiet.

Before she had a family, before she had found a home, she had this. Now that she had all of those other things, even if it seemed silly, the snow was even more special. She closed her eyes, breathing it in. Cool and crisp and perfect. A dreamy sigh escaped her lips.

After a moment, Draven's hand tightened in hers. She opened her eyes to look at him. He was looking at her with so much hope and so much love. It occurred to her that maybe the snow wasn't just luck.

“How did you know it would snow tonight?” she asked, shaking her head as she tried to make sense of it all. Red crept into his cheeks and his hand came up to cup the back of his neck. He smiled, but it wasn't his voice that answered her. It was Daniel's.

“We planned it that way, Mom.”

Creating this moment had been a team effort by himself, Daniel, Jill, and Parker. Even Janella and Rosa had pitched in, conjuring up the snow. It was all worth it to see the look on Olivia’s face right now—pure, unbridled joy.

“You two planned the snow?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

Daniel nodded.

“That's so sweet. Thank you both so much. You know how much I love the snow, bud.”

“I do, and that’s what I told Draven. But that's not all, Mom. Not even close.”

She looked back at Draven with a question in her eyes. He did not respond, watching her face as the horse-drawn sleigh pulled up behind him. He did not want to miss a second of her reaction.

“Oh my God. Oh, my God!”

Her grip on his hand tightened substantially as she took in the horse that led the old-fashioned sleigh. He grinned at how she could not seem to stop looking back and forth between their ride and himself and Daniel. It filled him with joy to see her in child-like wonder.

Daniel looked just as thrilled to see his mom happy. The horses had been his idea. Apparently, the two of them sometimes went riding together. Without the kid, none of this would have happened. He was the true mastermind.

“Ready to go for a ride?” Draven offered.

“Seriously?” she asked as he led her over to the sleigh.

“Seriously,” Daniel said with a laugh.

She looked at her son and then to the sleigh that would only fit two people. The tiniest trace of concern creased her brow.

Daniel reassured her right away. This kid was so attuned to his mother it reminded Draven of himself as a kid. “Don't worry about leaving me behind; I have dibs on the next one with Parker.”

“The next one?” she asked as Draven helped her up into the carriage.

“Well, it hardly seemed right to deny everyone this experience, given we planned this together. More sleighs are waiting to take everyone else on their own rides around town.”

“God, I love you,” she blurted out and he chuckled, bringing her hand up to his lips to kiss it lightly, loving the feeling of her warm skin against his lips despite the chill in the air.

“Hold on to that thought. It’ll come in handy later.”

She still seemed too shocked and excited to say much of anything as he rounded to the other side of the sleigh and got in. He did not mind, though, not when she looked as happy as she did right now.

Happy and cold. That was one thing he had overlooked. She was only in her dress, having hung up her coat when they arrived. Luckily, he knew each sleigh was equipped with a blanket. He pulled one out from under the seat and laid it across their legs. Their friends all exited from the dance, coming to stand with Daniel on the snow-covered sidewalks to wait for their own rides. They waved goodbye to Olivia and Draven as the sleigh moved off into the night.

They took a path around the gym and into the wooded area behind it, where everyone else would be taking a route around the square, down around Main Street and back. Draven had mapped it out himself earlier today.

The world around them looked like it had been retouched with movie magic, and it was breathtaking. Magic really was amazing. Jill and Parker had really managed to make a winter wonderland. That was exactly what Draven wanted for Olivia to have on this special night.

Parker had come up with the spell for the special snow, just for tonight. Then she and Draven had added it to the book together. She had even insisted he sign his name next to hers.

“What do you think of all of this?” he asked after a while of comfortable silence.

She just shook her head as she looked over at him and smiled. “I think I must be dreaming. I honestly can’t figure out how you managed to do all of this without me noticing,” she said as he brushed a strand of wayward brown hair from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She laughed. “I mean, I know it was magic, obviously. But you and me, us being here, having this. I never imagined my life could be like this. You know what I mean?”

“I do. You are a dream I never knew I always wanted, Liv.”

She gave him a soft kiss and curled further into his side, soaking him through with a warmth and wanting that flowed throughout his entire body. No matter where they were or what they were doing, he always wanted her. Hopefully, things would only get better from here on out. His heart felt like it was going to fly out of his chest as the sleigh drew closer to the spot and the moment that could change his life forever.

He tried to keep his nerves under control as their driver took them down the less-traveled paths that had been carefully chosen for this night. All afternoon, Draven, his brother and their friends had worked to set up the twinkling lights and lanterns along the way. In the darkness of the night, they shone like bright stars. It all looked exactly as he hoped it would. The way it had all come together made it difficult for him to keep it together. This had taken a lot of planning, and he wanted it to go perfectly.

They arrived in the clearing Daniel helped him choose. It had reminded them both of something out of a fairytale. Once there, the sleigh drew to a stop, the driver climbed out and quietly retreated, walking back the way they had just come. Draven had arranged for him to be picked up by another sleigh so he would not have to stand around in the cold. Which he was now realizing was very considerate of him, but he had no idea how they were going to get the sleigh back.

A problem for later.

He helped Olivia down and his heart filled with satisfaction as she took in their surroundings. Her face radiated pure delight. He needed this to go well.

“I can't believe you did all of this,” she said, pulling him from his thoughts. His hand was already reaching into his pocket, fingering the ring that rested there. Her brown eyes caught his, and he could see that she had finally put the pieces together.

“There is nothing in the world I would not do for you, Liv. But I was hoping tonight you might do something for me.”

As he said the words, he dropped smoothly to one knee.

Her eyes widened, shining with tears.

Her right hand came up to cover her mouth, coincidentally leaving her left hand free. He pulled the ring from his pocket. Her eyes stayed firmly locked on his even when the ring was in plain sight.

Tears were now falling from those dazzling eyes that always saw right into his soul.

“Will you marry me, Liv?”

A giggle bubbled past her lips and he found himself laughing too.

“I realize that this is kind of fast. But that doesn’t make it any less real to me. I never dreamed I would find someone like you, someone who understands me like no one else ever has. Someone who knows the world is full of magic and wonder, someone with a heart of gold. All I want is to spend the rest of my life loving you. You and that amazing kid of yours.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking one deep breath and letting it out slowly. When she opened her eyes, they burned with intensity. There she was, his brave beauty. “Yes, of course, I’ll marry you. I love you, Draven. I love you so much. All I want is to be yours forever. Forever and always.”

He stood up, grabbing her up into his arms and holding her tight.

Then he was kissing her. This kiss was a raging flame amidst a sea of falling snowflakes. A kiss so pure it touched his very soul. When they broke apart, he leaned his forehead against hers, trying to catch his breath.

He slid his grandmother’s ring onto her finger, where it would now stay forever. It was a simple ring that spoke to Olivia’s elegance, grace and beauty. It was as if the ring was made for her, which made him incredibly happy. He took it as another sign that she was the one for him.

She gazed down at the ring for so long, that he was sure she was going to say she hated it. But of course, he was wrong.

“It’s perfect, Draven. It’s just the kind of engagement ring I always imagined myself wearing. I love it.”

“I’m so glad. It belonged to my grandmother. My mother left it to me. I know she would have loved you, loved that you were the one I gave it to,” he said as he placed a kiss on her cold nose. “Now, as much as I wish we could stay here just the two of us for a while, there are some people who I’m sure will want to see you. Guess we’ll see if I can drive a sled. I really didn’t think that part through.”

She laughed, shaking her head and then smiled fondly. “Daniel helped you plan all of this?”

“He did. We had a very serious talk a couple of weeks ago. He let me know the sooner I proposed, the better,” he said, laughing at the memory of Daniel’s very stern face throughout the entire conversation.

“Oh, I can believe it," she said with a laugh. “If Daniel had his way, we'd be married with a baby on the way already."

“Is that so?” he asked, his tone dropping into something a little more flirtatious at the mention of those next steps. If that was something they both wanted. Making babies meant sex, lots and lots of sex.

“Hold that thought, Draven,” she said with a laugh. “Let's just take this one step at a time, all right? First, we have to tell everyone the good news.”

“As per usual, you make an excellent point,” he said, leaning in to give her a quick kiss on the lips. “Besides, I know your friends will never forgive me if I don't bring you to them soon.”

“I can't believe they all knew,” she mused to herself. “I mean, they're usually all so bad at keeping secrets and this one … well, let's just say I can't believe they pulled it off.”

“I think what kept everyone’s mouths shut was that they wanted this whole thing to go well. You mean so much to them and all they wanted was for you to be happy.”

“Well, it worked,” she whispered as she held onto him, leaning in for yet another kiss.