Chapter 14

"You look very festive,"Zoe told Chewy as she attached his leash to the new Christmas collar she'd gotten him. It had bells so it sounded like Santa's reindeer were coming any time he moved.

He was also wearing a pair of antlers. Anne had been right. Chewy was a dog born for the cold, and his tail was wagging with anticipation.

"We're waiting on Colt to get here," she said. "Hold your horses. Now that you're dressed it's my turn."

She didn't know why she was bothering. There were so many layers on top of her jeans and red sweater no one would even know how long she'd spent agonizing over what to wear. She laced up her white furry snow boots and then got her matching white down parka, red gloves, and red scarf.

"I'm going with a hat," she told Chewy and pulled the red pom-pom hat low over her ears. "They didn't have mommy-and-me antlers at the pet store."

Chewy looked at her skeptically but his tail kept wagging, so she guessed she was forgiven. "And once the tree-lighting ceremony is over Colt is going to take us on a romantic dinner. Don't worry. He said you could come too."

Chewy snorted out a breath and nodded. There was a knock at the door and she hurried to open it. She'd not seen Colt since early that morning, and he must have had a busy day because he had barely had time to text like he usually did.

"You okay?" she asked, leaning in to kiss him hello. She brushed the hair back off his forehead.

"I'm great," he said. "Just been a long week. Sometimes there aren't enough hours in the day."

"We don't have to go out," she said. "We can just stay in tonight."

"Staying in with you is becoming more and more of a temptation that's hard to resist," he said, kissing her again. This time with a little more passion.

She sighed and said, "That's my point."

He laughed and then took the leash and pulled her door closed, making sure it was locked. So much for temptation.

"You know patience is a virtue," he said.

"So is modesty, but I'm willing to sacrifice it for the greater good."

He laughed and said, "Come on. You don't want to miss the lighting ceremony for your first Christmas in Laurel Valley. I promise it's something you'll never forget."

They walked hand in hand toward Main Street, and The Lampstand was the beacon of light as people crowded the streets and waited for the show to begin. All of the other buildings and shops had turned off all their lights, and the ice-skating rink had been cleared so everyone could gather around.

"Come on," he said. "The family has a spot with a great view every year. There's benefits to owning The Lampstand."

"What about Chewy?" she asked.

"He's fine," he said. "We're going upstairs to the upper balcony."

They wove their way through bodies and Colt held open the door of The Lampstand so they could squeeze inside. And then he led her up a set of stairs tucked off to the side. There was already a crowd of O'Haras gathered. They stood along the railings of the balcony overlooking the center of town, a perfect view of the tree and the shops that would soon be lit.

"Oh, this is amazing," she said, ushering Chewy toward the railing.

Zoe looked up at Colt, happiness bubbling from with her. She'd been in Laurel Valley for less than six months and already she had more beautiful memories than she could remember.

"Thank you for this," she said, leaning up to kiss him softly. "I love you."

He was looking at her as he had so often lately, as if he was searching for something deep inside of her, but she could also see the love he had for her. He truly did love her. His actions had proven it time and time again. He was the right one. And this was the right time. Everything that happened before no longer mattered.

They might as well have been on the balcony alone. She couldn't take her eyes off him, and the chatter behind them died down. And then the lights of The Lampstand turned off completely and they were cast in total darkness along with the rest of the street.

The mayor began speaking over the intercom, but the words were muddled in her ears. Her heart pounded and she had the sudden urge to loose the scarf at her neck. Something had clicked into place. A knowing—an understanding—that though she'd managed to accomplish so much on her own and learn how to be her own person, Colt was a missing piece. When she was with him she was her better self. It didn't diminish who she was or her success. It amplified it.

Music started playing in the background—something cheerful and bright—and the countdown began. She was home. She was finally at home.

At the count of one the entire street lit up with lights and the tree in the middle of town was glorious in its splendor. She cheered with the rest of the onlookers but noticed the people on the balcony behind her had gotten rather quiet.

She turned to look and saw Colt down on one knee, his face shining with good humor and a little nervousness. There was a hush behind them, but the noise from the crowds below was still overwhelming. But it didn't matter. They were in their own world and his words were for her alone.

"Zoe," he said, his voice but a whisper though she could hear him perfectly. "You're it for me. From the moment I saw you I knew you were the one. It's as if a piece of me that I didn't know was missing clicked into place. So would you do me the great honor of being my wife and letting me love you for the rest of our lives?"

Her eyes were so blurred with tears she couldn't see the ring he was holding in the box. It didn't matter. She held out her hand and he came to his feet. "I love you, Colt. I can't wait to marry you." And then she took off her glove so he could put the ring on her finger.

There was a raucous cheer behind them as her new family looked on, and Colt leaned down to kiss her softly.

When she pulled away she put her hands on each side of his cheeks and gazed into his eyes.

"I meant it, you know," she said. "I can't wait to marry you. I'm thinking this weekend should be plenty of time to pull something together. And if you tell me patience is a virtue again I won't be responsible for what happens."

He laughed, pulled her in close and then whispered in her ear, "You want me bad."

"For eternity," she said.