Scrooge

40. Haylee

40

HAYLEE

M y heart is stuck in my throat. I had been in bed for days, Alex not allowing me to move too much, do too much, or even feed myself. He remained by my side through it all, and my heart swells even now, thinking about everything.

“You look like you are about to vomit,” Jillian says, looking at me.

“Probably because I am,” I tell her honestly.

“It seems like your fiancé has redeemed himself?” she asks, watching me closely.

“He never needed to. Not with me.”

I am still fearful of Logan. I haven’t turned on my social media for days. I have ignored all television and newspapers. I have no idea what is going on, effectively burying my head in the sand, but I know Alex has it handled, and I trust him to keep us both safe.

“Haylee’s House has a nice ring to it. Almost as nice as that ring you still haven’t taken off your finger,” Jillian remarks, and I look down at my hand. She is right, I haven’t.

“I can’t believe he started a foundation,” I say, in awe. This Scrooge of a man has completely changed since I first met him.

“I wonder if he will name the next one after me?” Jillian asks, tapping her chin playfully.

“The next one is called Deloris’ Digs,” Alex says as he walks into the tent. I haven’t seen him for a few hours, and I suck in a breath. He is so handsome, eyes glistening as they look right at me.

“Typical. I’ll just be over here, playing elf,” Jillian murmurs, stepping around us to go help Mom and Dad some more.

“Are you ready?” he asks, and my brow furrows with confusion.

“For what?”

“I have a Christmas gift for you.”

“But it isn’t Christmas for a few more days?” Looking at my family quickly, all of them are now watching us.

“Go, dear. We’ve got this under control,” my mom says, and I tilt my head, looking at her. Even Jillian is smiling.

“Why do I feel like everyone knows something I don’t?” I ask, giving him a questioning look.

“That’s because we do. Now unclip those ears, change your shoes, and go,” Jillian says, bossy as ever, walking my bag over to me. I have to swallow my gasp, catching her looking at Alex with a wide smile. She approves of him.

I rush then, doing as she says and taking off my elf ears. I change my shoes, then shrug on a coat and my scarf before Alex grabs my hand, and I release a sigh.

“Alex, what about Logan?” I ask, looking around at the people, wondering if he is here.

“He is no longer a problem,” he says, and I feel instant relief. “Logan is done in this town. His family business closed, his bank accounts wiped. His reputation is in tatters, and I believe he’s currently on a train to Pittsburgh to go stay with a friend, since his parents kicked him out of their lives and out of New York.”

I feel a little bad, I can’t help it. What a fall from grace.

“Don’t ever fall on your sword for me again,” he says, voice low, and I swallow roughly but say nothing. We have talked, of course, but it’s a heavy subject, and with me recovering, Alex working, and getting this party organized, there has been a lot going on.

“Promise me you will always put us first,” he continues, and I know he needs my words.

“I will always put you first,” I tell him, because it’s just my nature. I love him. I only want what is best for him.

“And I will always put you first,” he says, pressing a kiss to my forehead before turning and pulling me along. When I see Tucker Toys up ahead, it looks different.

“What’s going on?” I ask, seeing a large building partition blocking the windows. The new Christmas ones I put up only a week ago, later than usual.

“This is me putting you first,” he says as we cross the road. We get to the store, and I can’t see inside. The windows are covered. My nerves are running wild with anticipation of what could possibly be going on right now. He pulls out some keys, and I frown, wondering why he has the keys to our toy store, before he opens the door, and we step inside and my breath stalls in my lungs.

“What’s this?” I ask, looking around, not believing what is in front of me. I feel like I am going to faint.

“Sunflower…” He takes a few more steps inside, but I am rooted to the ground, my heart thudding, my eyes watering.

“What’s going on?” I ask shakily.

“Your father and I made some changes.”

I glance at him before I look back at the store. It is completely different. It has been gutted and redeveloped. I have no idea how they did this in just a few days, right before Christmas, but they did.

I look around the room, seeing all my canvases on the walls. The one of Deloris and Benny, one I did of my niece and nephew, and countless more. Every single one proudly displayed on the walls, lamps overhanging, lighting up each of them. This feels like a dream come true.

I don’t move as I take it all in. I have no idea how this happened. But I guess hiding in my bed these past few days gave everyone ample time to get my art out of Mom and Dad’s house and install it here. My eyes feast as I see the new dark floorboards, the exposed ceiling. Gone are the shelves, the toys, the broken floorboards, and chipped paint. The toy store is now replaced with a full-blown art gallery that looks even better than Maddison Miller’s.

“What happened to the toys?” I ask, looking up at him as sudden concern sets in.

“Well, I sat down with your father and did some financial projections. Based on the sales to date and what was expected to come in, we discovered that the toy business was probably not going to be the best business decision moving forward. So we donated most of the toys and pivoted.”

“Pivoted?” I question as I try to make sense of his explanation.

“We opened the upper floor. That is now housing the vintage toy selection that Jillian and your mom selected. Tucker Toys will remain here, but more of a boutique style for specific toys, ones that are bestsellers or nostalgic for your customer base.”

That sounds like the perfect plan. I’m nodding along, which has him smiling as he continues.

“Your mom and dad will be well looked after in retirement. Jillian is going to work here with you at the Haylee Tucker Gallery, and you, Sunflower… You are going to do what you always wanted to do. Paint and sell your art to the world.” A proud smile spreads across his face and my body warms from the inside out at his faith in me, his support.

“What’s that area?” I ask, stepping forward, seeing a small room out the back with a large table, with some easels and other art supplies.

“That’s a kids’ art room. I know you love kids, so I thought maybe you might want to do some art classes with them. We could have that be a part of the Jackson Foundation programs, if you like the idea? Help the kids who are less fortunate in the city discover their dreams?” he suggests, and my throat thickens as I blink away tears. He’s really thought of everything.

“A few months ago, I was a Scrooge. Hated people, hated investing in people. Didn’t want to spend a dime more than I needed to on anything or anyone, all to help my bottom line. But then, I met you.” My heart beats out of my chest as he steps closer, my breathing rapid as I watch him come to stand in front of me before getting down on one knee. I gasp, and those tears I blinked away, they’re already back. This is it, the moment the man I love is getting on his knees for me. For real this time.

“You changed me, Haylee Tucker. For the better. My world is so much brighter and more colorful. I smile, I laugh, I remember how to live when I am with you. We started out as an agreement, but I meant what I said in the Hamptons. That is null and void and shredded. I am a better man because of you, Sunflower. Please do me the honor of being my wife. To love, to cherish, to be by my side until the end of time. For forever and for always,” he asks, looking up at me with tears shining in his eyes too. He holds my hand, the one that still has his ring on it, and I swallow past the lump in my throat.

“Always,” I say on a breath, the shock wearing off as I feel disbelief run through my body. Cupping his face, I lean over to kiss him. He stands immediately, wrapping his arms around me. Pulling me close and tight against him, we kiss like we haven’t kissed in days. When we slow our lips, I ease back to look at him.

“I’m giving you and Jillian this building. This is your gallery. Your business. Yours to do as you please. You run it with Jillian how you see fit.”

“But… that’s too much.” Giving me a building, especially one like this, it’s worth millions.

“It’s not too much. You’re worth it all,” he says, tracing my lips, and any stubbornness I had surfacing falls away. “You know, there is something I haven’t told you…” Holding me tighter, he looks at me with a mix of emotions.

“What’s that?” I ask.

“My mother. Her name was Haylee. With two E ’s.”

“What?” I ask, shocked. “That’s uncanny.”

“I have learned that my mom and yours were friends. You are named after my mother.”

I think my head is about to explode. How did I not know this?

“What?” I whisper, feeling a burst of love radiating from my chest.

“Her favorite flower was a sunflower. She used to carry them everywhere. They used to…”

“Brighten her day,” we both say together, smiling.

“So you see, Sunflower … we were always meant to be. Because you brighten my day. Each and every one,” he says as he holds me in his arms. Right where I belong.