Total pages in book: 186
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 178688 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 893(@200wpm)___ 715(@250wpm)___ 596(@300wpm)
“I already have ten Hallmark Christmas movies recorded! We’ll make the boys cook while we start one.”
“Putting me to work already, Mads?” I flash her a wink. “I’m on vacation, you know?”
Maddie smirks with an eye roll. “Oh, puh-lease. You’re here to cook for me. Don’t even deny it.”
She’s not wrong. I anticipated being in the kitchen, and I don’t mind. It gives Liam and me some alone time to shoot the shit and catch up. The girls can drink their wine as they watch their corny holiday movies—as long as I get my wife back by the end of the night.
By Saturday, the entire house looks like it vomited Christmas decorations. I helped Liam put up a real tree, and Maddie’s sister and even Serena and her son came to help decorate. They all brought their kids and packed all the rooms. It was great to reunite with Mason and Sophie too.
That night was their annual sisters’ Christmas dinner and gift exchange. I helped cook a ham and turkey, and Gemma offered her not-so-great baking skills. Though she tried, which was cute. I didn’t think I could be any happier, but being here surrounded by my closest friends and new wife, I’m nearly bursting at the seams with joy.
Perhaps it’s because it’s a special time of year, but also, it’s the first Christmas I’ve celebrated in over five years.
And so far, it’s been one to remember.
“I brought one of your gifts,” I whisper in Gemma’s ear when I come up behind her.
“You did?” She spins and faces me. “I didn’t pack one! Why didn’t you tell me you wanted to exchange presents here?”
“Don’t worry. It’s an early one. We can still do ours Christmas morning, but I want you to have this particular one now.”
“Okay.” She smiles as I grab her hand and lead her to the tree.
Everyone quiets as they watch me kneel in front of her and reach in my pocket for the velvet box.
“What’re you doing?” she whispers.
“Giving you what you deserve.” I take her hand and smile up at her. “A real proposal and a real ring.”
She tilts her head and tries to smile through her tears. Though she’s already said she doesn’t need anything fancy, I want to show her how much she means to me and how much I love her.
“Gemma, sweetheart. After everything we’ve been through, I can’t imagine my life without you in it, and I hope I never will again. You’re the woman I always want to fall asleep next to and wake up to. We might’ve gotten hitched unconventionally, but I’d marry you again in a heartbeat.” I open the box and show her the ring. “Will you marry me again?”
She wipes her cheeks and immediately nods. “Of course.” She bends down until our lips collide. “I can’t believe you bought me a ring.”
“Well, technically, I didn’t…” I take it out and slide it on her finger. “Your dad gave me your mom’s engagement ring, and I had it set on another band.”
Gemma gasps as she stares at it, holding out her hand and watching it sparkle under the light. “Oh my God.” She barely gets the words out before she falls to her knees. Wrapping her arms around me, she cries into my neck, and I hold her tightly against my chest.
Even though over a dozen eyes are on us, it feels as though we’re the only two people in the room. I know how much this means to her and how special this ring will always be to us.
“This is unreal,” she mutters. “I can’t believe you did this.”
I tilt her chin until our gazes lock. “I love you, more than anything.”
When I mentioned to Jerry that I was saving to buy Gemma a wedding ring set, he said he had something even better than an expensive diamond. He told me the story of how he proposed and how special his wedding day was. After five years, she lost the ring, so he bought her a new one. It wasn’t until after she passed that he found it and kept it in an old jewelry box. Jerry planned on giving it to Gemma but was waiting for the right time, and he told me the time was now.
“I can’t take all the credit, though. Your dad offered it, and I ran with it.”
“I thought she lost her solitaire ring.” She stares at it in awe.
“Not this one,” I tell her and plan to tell her the whole story later when we don’t have an audience.
“You better invite me to that wedding this time, Tyler!” Maddie blurts out, and everyone laughs.
“You got it, Mads.”
“We should do it on our one-year anniversary. Give us time to plan something amazing,” Gemma suggests, and I nod in agreement.
“I love that idea. A fall November wedding,” Maddie gushes.