Page 72 of Cassidy

“Ah, thanks, Rhy.” Gabe tried not to look as nervous as he felt. “First, I’d like to thank you all for putting your lives on the line to rescue me.” He knew his way of fighting crime, from behind a computer screen, was important, too, but not in the same way they put themselves in danger.

“Oh,” Elly called out loudly. “Oh, no!”

“What?” Joe demanded. “Don’t tell me...”

“Um, yes, I think I’m in labor.” Elly put her hands over her belly. “The contractions are coming faster now.”

“Faster?” Rhy and Joe echoed in horrified unison.

“Yes, sorry. I wasn’t sure they were real,” Elly said with a shrug. “I wanted to come to the party.”

Gabe watched as several of the pregnant women gathered around Elly, helping her into her coat as Joe looked on, his eyes wide with terror, as if he might throw up.

“Get her to the hospital, Joe,” Rhy said, clapping his brother-in-law on the back. “And keep us updated.”

“Let’s go, Elly.” Joe pulled himself together, escorting his wife to the door. Then Joe glanced back and gave Gabe a knowing grin and nodded. As if he knew what Gabe had intended to do and was giving his approval.

“Sorry, go ahead, Gabe,” Rhy said, getting everyone in the room back on track. “What were you saying?”

He reached over, took Cassidy’s hand, then went down on one knee. He pulled the engagement ring box from his pocket and offered it to her. “Cassidy, will you please marry me?”

For a long second, the room was dead silent, everyone, even the kids, seemingly waiting for her answer.

“Oh, Gabe, yes!” Cassidy almost knocked the ring box from his fingers as she threw herself into his arms. “Yes, I’ll marry you!”

The room erupted into applause and shouts of congratulations. Gabe didn’t really bother to pay attention to their teammates. He was just thankful Cassidy had said yes.

“Merry Christmas, Cassidy,” he whispered.

“Merry Christmas, Gabe,” she whispered back. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“Here’s to the soon-to-be Mr. and Mrs. Gabe Melrose,” Zeke declared, lifting his glass of hot cider.

“Hear, hear!” the rest of the group chimed in.

“I can hardly wait,” Cassidy said as he finally put the ring on her finger.

He couldn’t wait to make her his wife either. He held her close, reveling in the warmth of her love, thrilled to have those closest to them, maybe not tied together by DNA, but family all the same, here to celebrate with them.