I swallowed hard, unsure if I could stand. So many emotions were already at the surface, but this one, this feeling that flooded my whole body, was one I had never felt before. Pure, unbelievable happiness.
Blake pulled me to my feet and took both my hands in his.
“You always said you wanted a small, intimate wedding, just the ones you love, no dress, no fuss. Well, here we are, with your parents in our hearts, standing in the same room where they were joined together.” He paused while I let out a small sob, and he gently wiped the tears from my cheeks. “Spencer Peters, will you marry me right here, right now, so you can be mine forever?”
“Yes, yes,” I cried as everyone stood and clapped. Whoops of joy filled the room while G pushed forward a small raised platform for Shannan to stand on.
As she spoke her sweet words, and my family stood all around us, for just a frozen moment in time I could feel my parents in the room as if they had never left. Although the pain of them being gone would never leave, tiny cracks in my heart started to heal.
Blake slipped a ring on my finger, and I did the same as his lips sealed with mine. We only pulled apart at the sound of a cork being pulled on a bottle of champagne.
“Sorry. Guess that was premature,” Kim apologized.
The entire room broke into laughter as we finished the ceremony.
Pictures were taken, kisses were given, and we partied well into the holiday night.
***
“Mrs. Daniels,” Blake called from downstairs.
“Yes, Mr. Daniels.” I grinned into the mirror.
“Our guests are on their way over, and the turkey is about fifteen minutes from being finished.”
“Okay!” I rushed downstairs just in time as I heard their footsteps stomping outside the door.
“I have cookies, I have stuffing, and most importantly, I have gin!” Kim announced as she and Shannan burst through the door looking dressed to kill in their ugly Christmas sweaters.
“You had me at gin.” I laughed and took the plate of treats from her hand and nodded for Shannan to leave the stuffing on the counter.
“Merry Christmas, married lady.” Kim kissed my cheek as Shannan gave me a hug, then they both headed over to the fireplace, still holding hands. Kim wouldn’t let her out of her sight, poor thing. “Damn, these Dachshund legs are not meant for that much snow.”
“It has been a lot so far this year, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, I thought global warming was on my side, but apparently it’s a man, so, you know.” Kim struggled. “He’s indecisive.”
“Speaking of men…” Shannan peeked down the hallway.
“He went to get some more wood.”
“Is he chopping it too?” She gave me a dirty wink.
“Possibly.” I handed them a drink, and they gladly took it.
“Cheers to a year of loss, pain, and gain.” Kim clicked my glass and did the same to Shannan. As she took a sip, she coughed, trying to catch her breath at how strong I made it. “You,” cough-cough, “always were my favorite.”
“Just followed my father’s recipe.”
“Oh, yes,” she laughed with tears, “what did he call it?”
“Just the drink to get through the Donalds’ holiday party.” We said it together, and we all laughed at how true it was. The neighbors on the other side of us had the most boring Christmas parties. No alcohol, homemade music, and sugar-free treats. It was the worst, but we did it with a little help from Dad’s drinks.
“You better not have started without me.” Jaci struggled to hold her bags and cheesecake when a hand appeared out of nowhere and helped her before it all fell.
“Thanks, G,” she said over her shoulder, and I waited like a kid in a candy shop for my uncle and aunt to see how I had decorated the cabin.
“Wow.” G beamed as he stepped inside and choked back some emotion. “Spence…you…it’s just like—”
“Is it right?”
“Yes, it’s as if time has gone backward.” He wrapped me in his bear hug and reached for Lisa, who was in awe, too. “You did a wonderful job.”
“Oh, honey, look at what you did,” Lisa cooed. “It’s perfection.”
“Thank you.” I wiped a tear, just knowing my parents were back sitting in the room admiring the view. It had been far too long since the cabin had seen a Peters Christmas.
Bentley, my parents’ hound dog, lifted his head to see who was here then dropped it back down with a heavy huff. Apparently, we were disturbing his nap. I didn’t want to point out the fact that Lloyd the asshole cat had taken over his bed in front of the fire again. Maybe they had a truce and were finally co-existing because there was no other way around it. Either way, I was happy to see they were getting along.
“Ah,” Jaci looked horrified, “those are some,” she swallowed dramatically, “pretty sweaters you got there.”
Kim, who loved making Jaci cringe at any point, sent me one of her intrigued smiles, and I knew the Christmas games had begun. “Thanks. I made it from real cat hair.”
“Cat hair?” Each word jumped from her tongue like it stung her to even repeat it.
“Yes, it’s been a six-month project.” She leaned down and patted Lloyd to drive her sick point home.
“That’s disgusting.” She couldn’t hold it back any longer, and Kim’s delight was evident.
“Touch it.” She used her pointer finger and rubbed the nasty wool around in a circle.
“This is why I don’t leave the city.” Jaci tossed her hands up and moved across the room toward me while Shannan, nearly in tears, high fived her.
“I’m concerned for you, Spencer.” Jaci gave a pointed look toward Kim, who was still playing her part, and I chuckled, loving the lightness of the evening.
“Don’t be.” I spotted Blake as he returned from the shed with an armful of snowy wood and chuckled when Shannan made a beeline for him.
The table was set with red and gold coloring, and a little angel sat in the center. It spun slowly as the heat from the flame moved it around, sending a tinkling sound through the room. Lisa helped me bring the food to the table while Shannan opened the wine bottles.
“All right,” I called everyone’s attention, “dinner is ready.”
Warmth spread through my body as I glanced at all those who sat around the table. Laughter and love shone from each and every one of them. My eyes sought Blake’s and held his loving gaze as he lifted his glass to me with a look of pure lust that I would be sure to address later. To think if I had continued to live in my sad bubble and not let anyone else in, I would not have this. I drank deeply and returned his look with a promise.