Page 43 of We Wish You a Messy Christmas

“Would you ever want to move back here?” he asked as they walked down the footpath, snow crunching underfoot.

“Under the right circumstances, yes.”

“What about your job?”

She shrugged. “Fortunately, the kind of work I do can be done off-site. Or if I really wanted, I could get into something else. Sometimes I fantasize about doing something completely different.”

“Really?” He paused to look at her. “Like what?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I’ve always been kind of creative. At least, I imagined I was. And when I went to work at the marketing firm, I’d hoped I’d get to exercise some of that creativity. And I suppose I do, but not like I’d hoped.”

“What would you do that’s more creative?” he asked.

“I’m not sure. Sometimes I imagine having a little craft store. You know, the kind of place where people can come take classes and learn various crafts. Both for kids and adults. I remember how I used to do things like that with your mom. It was always so fun. And this town doesn’t really have anything like that anymore.”

“That sounds like a great idea. I know my mom would be for it.”

“Mine too. I mean, she’s always enjoyed crafting. Of course, it was always in her perfectionist way.” She chuckled. “Which is exactly why I preferred doing crafts with your mom.”

They paused by the city park. “Look at that.” Malcolm pointed to the gazebo all covered in snow and washed in golden light from the sun now fully coming up.

“Oh my.” Olivia gasped. “It’s so beautiful. I wish I had my phone to get a picture.”

“Take a picture with your brain,” he teased. “It lasts longer.” He tugged her hand. “Let’s go check it out more closely.” Leaving a trail of footprints in the freshly fallen snow, they traipsed over to the gazebo, going up the steps and standing inside to look at the eastern horizon now glowing in dawn light. “Merry Christmas,” he told her, sealing it with a kiss.

“Merry Christmas,” she said back.

“Olivia,” he began slowly, his expression suddenly shy. “You may have figured this out by now, but I’d like to say it out loud. I love you.”

She felt her throat tighten as she nodded, hoping she’d be able to speak. “I love you too, Malcolm.”

His face brightened even more. “How about Sadie?” he asked.

“Sadie?” She felt confused.

“Yeah. Do you love her?”

She laughed. “Of course. I thought you knew that. In fact, I’d like to steal her from you.”

“What if we both kept her?”

“Joint custody?” she asked with a tilted head.

And right there in the snow, Malcolm went down on one knee. “Olivia Bradshaw, will you marry me?”

She felt her smile grow wider and wider as she eagerly nodded. “Yes, Malcolm McEntire, I will gladly marry you.” Then she fell down to her knees and hugged him.

They exchanged some more enthusiastic kisses until their knees started getting cold, and then he helped her to her feet.

“Do you think the Bradshaws and McEntires can handle this?” he asked. “Particularly your mother?”

“Well, it’s already been a pretty messy Christmas for my poor mother,” she concluded. “Might as well throw one more happy mess at her.”

“Here’s to a messy Christmas.” He kissed her again.

“A messy Christmas to you too.” She laughed.

The End