I Really Can’t Stay (A.R.’s Holiday Standalones #1)

Epilogue

Christmas, One Year Later

“ A ll right, time for you to open another!” Tim says, passing me a present. The thin box is wrapped in brown paper, tied with a hunter green velvet bow.

This year, the Stokes family decided to try something new, and instead of having a free-for-all when opening gifts, we’re slowing down a little, taking turns to open them one at a time. Plus, it feels different without Lincoln here since he got stuck at work and wasn’t able to make it.

“Me? I just opened one! It’s Miller’s turn.” Placing my gift on the coffee table in front of me, I reach for the one I’ve brought for Miller, handing him the small box. He takes it from me, shaking it with a smile on his face.

“Hmm. What could this be?” he probes, shaking it again.

I shrug, trying to not give anything away with my expression. “Open it.”

Sneaking a glance at Tina, she beams at me, already knowing what’s inside. I told her this morning when I helped her put breakfast in the oven—an egg casserole that we made the most delicious breakfast burritos with.

Keeping up with his family’s tradition, Miller and I came over first thing this morning. We were earlier than the Stokes expected us, thanks to Potato and his hungry belly deciding to beat me up the moment the sun peeked over the horizon.

Unwrapping the box, Miller tosses the paper to the side, and lifts the top. I wait with bated breath, antsy for him to figure out what it is. His brows pull together, confusion etching itself deep in his features, just as I had hoped.

Searching for the perfect gift for him was like finding a needle in a haystack. Anything he wants, he buys. There’s nothing he needs . But there has been one thing he’s been asking for, and after months of telling him the timing wasn’t right, I finally felt deep in my soul that now is the perfect time.

Placing the box on his lap, he reaches inside, grabbing a fistful of the shredded paper. He glances up at me as he holds it in his hand, then lets it go as a smile plays on his lips. The paper floats down into the box, joining the rest of the shreds. “I’m all for creativity, but I’m not quite sure what I’m looking at here.”

“Not even a small clue?” I ask playfully.

“Nope. Kindling is the only thing that comes to mind.”

“That’s my lease agreement.”

“Okay?”

“My landlord let me out of my lease early.”

His eyes widen. “Elizabeth, what are you saying right now?”

Standing, I go to where he’s sitting and drop to my knees, grabbing his hands as I look up at him. I love this man so much . “What I’m saying is I will move in with you.”

Instantly, we’re both on our feet and he picks me up in a bear hug, spinning me around with excitement. I giggle as he asks with disbelief, “But what about your job?”

“I’m getting transferred to the East County location! It just got approved, so I’ll have to switch back and forth between locations for the next month, but once I’m there permanently, I’ll commute from here.”

“You’d do that for me?”

“I’d do anything for you.”

He smashes his lips to mine, then places me on my feet again. “Good, because I have one last gift for you.”

“Miller! You’ve already given me plenty.”

He shrugs. “One more.”

From across the room, Tina squeals and kicks her feet against the carpet, and Tim shushes her. Glancing at them over my shoulder skeptically, I quirk a brow in a silent question. Both of them clamp their lips closed, mirroring each other in a very husband-wife way as they try to look at me innocently.

When I turn back around, my gaze instantly drops, and I suck in a sharp breath. Miller is down on one knee looking up at me with so much love in his eyes, and a ring box in his hand.

“Elizabeth Ashford. One year ago, you walked onto my farm and completely uprooted my boring, mundane life. I hadn’t realized there was so much lacking until you brought so much happiness, love, and laughter into it. You’ve added nothing but joy to this family, and effortlessly became one of us, as though you always belonged. I knew from the moment I saw you that you would be my wife one day, and I think I’ve been a pretty patient man by giving this relationship a little more time to grow since we started off as such a whirlwind. But, Zee, I can’t wait any longer. Will you do me the honor of making me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”

My hand flies to my mouth, and I try my hardest not to cry, even though I know this time, they’ll be happy tears. “You want me to marry you?”

“Oh, Elizabeth, I don’t want you to marry me. I want you to spend your life with me, be the mother of my children, and grow old with me.”

Pulling him to his feet, I toss my arms around his neck as I jump up and latch my legs around his waist. “Yes! I’ll be your wife!”

Tina and Tim get to their feet in excitement, hooting and hollering, and hugging each other, as Miller spins me around again. When he places me back on my feet, his hand cradles my lower back as he dips me, and kisses me deeply.

Tim whistles low, but I ignore everyone else in the room, getting lost in my fiancé .

I thought nothing could top last Christmas when I met and fell in love with the man of my dreams, but I’ll never forget this moment.

Miller kisses me like I am the answer to all of his prayers, but what he doesn’t realize is that he’s the answer to mine.

Before him, I let the loneliness and the grief of losing my family consume me. But now…now I feel whole again. And although I’ll never stop missing my parents and brother, part of my heart will always feel full thanks to the everlasting Christmas gift the Stokes family and Miller have given me.

When the Christmas festivities have winded down, and Tim and Tina retire to their bedroom, Miller and I sit in front of the crackling fire in comfortable silence.

With my head resting against Miller’s chest and my feet curled under me, I could fall asleep. And the way he’s rhythmically rubbing his fingertips against my arm makes me think he wants me to.

My eyes grow heavy, and I yawn, unable to stop it from happening.

“Ready to go home?” Miller asks.

Home.

Home is where Potato is, and my heart swells, knowing he’s at Miller's cabin.

My head bobs in a nod. “Yes.”

Pushing to his feet, Miller stands, tugging me with him. He wraps his arm around my shoulders, and leads me to the door. Stopping to put on our coats, he tugs my beanie down around my ears before kissing me on the nose.

“Thank you, fiancé.” I grin.

“You’re welcome, fiancée.”

After locking up behind us, Miller cranks the heater in the truck for me, and drives us back to his cabin. I spend the short ride admiring my sparkling diamond ring, and it shimmers under every streetlight we pass under. “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe I’m going to be your wife.”

“I can. I knew you would be from the moment I saw you, remember?” He glances over at me, grinning.

“So I’m thinking I’ll move up here during the last week of January. I have my apartment until January thirtieth, and I transfer to the East County location on January twenty-seventh.”

“Whenever you want, Snow Angel. I’d keep you here now if I could.”

“Do you think Potato and Penny will ever get along?”

“That depends on if Potato ever decides to come out from under the bed.”

There have been numerous occasions over the last year that I’ve brought Potato with me to Miller’s and each time, he’s never ventured further than his food bowls. We’ve tried everything to coax him out from under the guest bed, but we’re always unsuccessful.

“Highly unlikely then.” I laugh as Miller pulls in front of his cabin. Cutting the engine, he hops out of his truck and comes around to open my door. Extending his hand like he always does, he helps me down and laces our fingers together as we walk to the house.

Once inside, he flips the light switch, casting a warm glow throughout the living room.

“Penny,” he calls out, looking for his dog. It’s unusual she’s not right at the door waiting for us.

Moving further into the house, he calls for her again, and I start to look around, wondering where she could be. “Did she sneak out the back?” I ask, but as I peer into the kitchen, I see the backdoor closed and locked.

“Penny! C’mere girl!”

Moments later, I hear Miller roar a laugh. “Zee! Get in here, quick.”

Racing down the hallway, I come to a stop in front of the guest bedroom, where Miller stands in the doorway. “What, what's wrong?” I asked, panicking as he blocks my view.

My heart sinks, thinking the absolute worst.

But when he steps aside so I can see, my heart swells with excitement.

On the guest bed, up by the pillows, are Penny and Potato, snuggling together in perfect contentment, like they’ve always been best friends. Penny’s curled up in a ball, while Potato lays against her stomach like her little spoon.

“Looks like he came out from under the bed,” Miller muses, leaning against the doorway and putting his arm around me.

Resting my head against his shoulder, I look at the two furry babies who I love so much, sound asleep together. There’s a smile on my face as I wrap my arms around Miller’s waist and confirm what we both already know. “Best Christmas ever.”