Never Sleigh Never (Man of the Month Club: Christmas Novella)

14. Epilogue

Thomas | One Year Later

I knew, based on the buzz over the past few weeks, the festival would be busy this year, but man, I didn’t think it’d be this crowded. Main Street appears to be the destination tonight, and the holiday cheer in the cinnamon-scented air is infectious. Even for a guy like me.

I still miss my dad terribly, but I’m coming around to the joy of the holidays. Thanks to Cara and her contagious enthusiasm. And when a little redheaded boy races up to me at the Lowcountry Lumber and Hardware kid’s craft booth, his father trying to keep up, and asks if he can make a decoration, I smile and say, “Of course.”

Though it’s one of the coldest nights we’ve had so far this year, I rub sweaty palms down the thighs of my jeans as the redhead gets to work with the wooden dowels, jingle bells and glue. Then, I pat my jacket pocket for the hundredth time. Thankfully, the small velvet box still rests right where I tucked it a couple of hours ago. I glance up and spot Phillip approaching with a knowing grin, and suddenly, my heart's racing faster than an automatic nail gun.

“Ready?’ he asks, clapping me on the shoulder.

I nod, swallowing hard. “It’s time.”

He glances up and down the street. “Have you seen her?”

I scan the thick crowd for Cara, not spotting her. Surely, my festival co-chair is busy double checking every last detail, which is perfect because I’ve been on pins and needles all day, waiting for the big moment. Still, my stomach knots. “Nope.”

Phillip turns away, but not so fast I don’t spot that stupid grin on his face again. Bastard. He’s enjoying my nerves and gloating over the fact I’ll soon be joining him in the hitched-to-the-love-of-my-life club. If Cara says yes, that is. I swallow hard and bite my tongue.

Things have been crazy the past few weeks. Even with an actual committee consisting of more than just Cara and me, it’s been a string of long hours and late nights. And something about my gorgeous girlfriend has been…off. She's been acting strange since before Thanksgiving, and the hell if I know why.

Everything with the festival has been going smoothly, and Coastal Charm’s sales have been steady, but Cara’s fuse has been short, and her smile’s not quite as bright as usual. Just yesterday, her nose wrinkled when I surprised her with a peppermint mocha mid-morning. When I asked if she was okay, she brushed off my concern, saying she was just tired, but then she set aside the coffee without a sip.

I won’t lie. The odd behavior kept me up last night, tossing and turning next to her in bed, while I second guessed my plans for this evening. But I’m going to shoot my shot, just like I did last year, and hope she says yes.

“Don’t worry,” Phillip says, firing off a text. “Gabby will find her.”

I’m sure she will. Cara’s best friend squealed with delight and bounced on the balls of her feet when I stopped by Magnolia Manor three days ago to ask for their help with my plans. And even though she admitted Cara didn’t quite seem herself lately either, Gabby assured me there was no way her best friend would say anything other than yes to my proposal. Still, I swore them both to secrecy and threatened to nail their front door shut if either of them said so much as a peep.

Phillip and I weave our way through the masses, skirting the line for the photo booth. But before I can swing around the back and grab the sign I stashed there earlier, I spot Cara. My beautiful girlfriend, with a hunter green scarf twisted around her neck, stands in front of the new Magnolia Mistletoe-themed backdrop we finished just this past Monday. She’s talking with Gabby while Mia preps the Polaroid only a few feet away.

My steps falter. Cara’s gripping a sign of her own, one I can’t read because it’s clutched tight against her chest. A shiver races down my spine, reinforced by the grim expression filling her face. Her ruby red lips are pressed together in a flat line instead of curving into a beaming smile. My unease transforms to dread faster than you can say, “Ho, Ho, Ho!”

She glances up and spots me, her emerald eyes going wide.

“Cara—” I start, sucking in a deep breath, but I don’t have a chance to ask whatever the hell I was about to blurt out to because she cuts me off.

“Thomas…” she squeaks, her voice higher than usual. “You’re early.”

Early? For what?

The blood drains from my face, my mind racing now that my plan is blown to shreds. I land on what matters most. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” The hesitation in her assurance renders it meaningless, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle.

“I, uh… I have something to ask you,” I say, taking a half-step closer and clearing my throat. “But it looks like you should go first.”

She bites her lip and nods. Then, with shaking hands and a look that is half-uncertainty and half-longing she slowly turns the sign around. The click of the camera barely registers over the murmur of the gathered crowd because I can’t believe my eyes.

My heart skips a beat and then another as I read what she’s written. All I want for Christmas is…to tell you you're going to be a father.

The world tilts on its axis, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe. “You’re… we’re…”

Cara nods, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I’m pregnant, Thomas. I’ve been trying to find the right way to tell you for days.”

Suddenly, all her odd behavior makes sense. The sensitivity, the mood swings. It wasn't doubt or regret I sensed. It was a wish come true she was waiting to share. One I couldn’t be more thrilled about.

Without hesitation, I erase the distance between us, scoop her up into my arms and spin around. She giggles, and the joyful melody is music to my ears.

“So, you’re happy?” she proclaims, the question more of a declaration as she threads her arms around my neck.

“Can tell, can’t you?”

She presses a kiss to my lips. “I’ve never seen you more enthusiastic in your life.”

“You just wait, then,” I say, setting her back on the ground and spinning toward Phillip, who thrusts my sign, facing backwards, in my direction. I grab it and turn back to Cara.

“What?” she says, a little V of confusion forming between her brows.

“I said I had something to ask you.”

Her eyes drop to the sign in my hands as I slowly turn it around. All I want for Christmas i….for you to say yes.

Her hand flies to her mouth, and tears well up in those beautiful eyes. I drop to one knee and fumble with the ring box, nearly dropping it twice before I finally manage to crack it open.

“Cara Livingston,” I start, my voice rougher than sandpaper. “A year ago, you breezed into my store and turned my world upside down.”

She lets out a watery laugh, but I press on. “You are everything I’m not. Don’t ask me how we work because to be honest I have no clue, but I know in my heart and in my soul, beyond a shadow of a doubt, we do.”

I take a deep breath, her familiar peppermint scent filling my lungs. “And I want nothing more than to spend every day of the rest of my life balancing your sparkle with sawdust. I couldn’t imagine anyone in the world better to stand by my side as we raise a family together.”

A tear slips down her cheek, and she draws a shaky breath.

“So, Cara, will you marry me? Will you let me be the lucky man to build a life and a family with you? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

For a heart-stopping moment, she’s silent. Then she nods, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Yes,” she chokes out. “A thousand times, yes!”

Relief and joy flood through me as I slip the ring onto her finger. It’s a perfect fit, just like us. I stand, pulling her against me, and she throws her arms around my neck.

“I love you,” she whispers against my lips.

“I love you,” I murmur back, kissing her soundly before I slip a hand between us to rest gently on her stomach. “And this little one, too.”

D ear reader,

Thank you so much for reading Never Sleigh Never ! I hope you enjoyed Cara and Thomas's journey to happily ever after.

xoxo ~ Ellen