Nerves fill me, and I start to shake out my hands. “I’m ready.”
“You look absolutely stunning,” Chelle says as she winks. “I’ll see you out there.”
Then Dean’s mother approaches. “I couldn’t be any happier that you will be my daughter.”
I fight back the tears, and she dabs at her eyes.
Now it’s my mother “Will you walk me out to him?”
Her lips tremble. “Oh, Holly, nothing would make me happier.”
A tear falls down each of our cheeks, and we giggle as both reach to wipe the other’s cheek dry.
“Ready?”
“Yes. I’m ready.”
My mother and I walk out and down the hall to the room that I would know with my eyes closed. It’s our room. The one with photographs of eyes and lips all around it. The individual pieces of the exhibit come together in the middle, making the parts appear to be one face.
Dean and I always felt like this was what we were—two parts that, when put together, became whole.
It’s the room where he told me he loved me.
However, it’s been transformed. There’s a wooden arch at the back of the room that has holly leaves and berries wrapped around it. All around the room are poinsettia plants, and garland. It’s green and red and lush and it’s a lot of holly.
We walk toward him, as he stands there, arms folded in front of him, standing so tall and trying not to cry, but I have no chance of holding it back.
I smile at him and he smiles back.
When we reach him, his eyes are watery and he’s slowly shaking his head. “You’re so beautiful, you take my breath away.”
“You did all this?”
“I had help from some elves.”
I grin. “This is a lot of holly.”
Dean’s fingers gently grip my chin. “There’s never too much Holly.”
Charlie clears his throat, and I can’t help but want to laugh at all of this. He’s the same as he was the first time I met him with his long white beard with reddened cheeks. Here we are, on Christmas Eve being married by a man who looks like Santa.
“Are you ready to marry me?”
“I was ready the day of the elevator.”
He laughs and then turns to Charlie. “Okay.”
“Dean?” I say as a thought comes. “How? I mean, is this . . . legal?”
I can see the discomfort before he takes both my hands in his. “We’re married where it matters, here, around our family and friends. I couldn’t find a way to get a marriage license without your consent.”
“Well, that’s comforting.”
He laughs. “But I wanted our anniversary to be Christmas. I wanted to surprise you and take all the stress away. This will always be the day you became my wife, but next week, we’ll go downtown and sign it to make it legal.”
“Just when I think I can’t love you anymore than I do, you say the right thing.”
“Let me say even more.”
I nod. “Marry me today.”
“Nothing could stop me.”
We both turn to Charlie, and he begins. We exchange rings, and then it’s time for the vows. I haven’t had more than an hour to process this, but instead of feeling uneasy, it’s as though I feel even calmer than ever.
“Dean . . .” Charlie prompts.
“Two years ago, I almost lost you—or maybe it was that I wasn’t sure I could even have you, but then, a snowstorm like we’re having today allowed me the opportunity to fix all that. When I think of my life without you, it’s colorless and bland. It’s filled with dark nights and sunless skies. You are what brings meaning to my world. You’re the most precious thing to me, Holly. I told you that I would make you love Christmas again, but I want to give you every holiday and every day in between. I promise that I will love you, cherish you, and never forsake you. You are my love, my heart, and my soul.”
Tears fall down my cheek and I barely hear Charlie say my name.
“Dean, you are my Christmas. You’re the joy and the hope that comes with it. You’re the miracle I don’t know how I was fortunate enough to receive. I was lost that day in the elevator, feeling like nothing good could ever come again, but there you were. While we may not have been brave enough had it not been for that, I think my heart was always meant to find you and that we’d be here somehow. There is not another person who could love me the way that you do. I promise to understand you, love you, and be there no matter what comes our way. Today, I pledge my fidelity and my soul to you.”
There are sniffles around the room as Dean takes my face in his hands before turning to Charlie. “I’m going to kiss her now,” he explains.
He points up to the mistletoe above us. “It’s bad luck not to.”
His lips touch mine in the most wonderful kiss that has ever been.
“Merry Christmas, wife.”
I grin back at him. “Merry Christmas, husband.”
He lifts me into his arms, carrying me back down the aisle, and I know that Christmas will always be the best holiday that ever was. All because of him.
What is really THE END … well, who knows next year I may go crazy again. But at least for now, let’s go with it
I really hope you enjoyed this sugary sweet and romantic Christmas story. I had a lot of fun writing it during a time when it sort of felt like everything was just … well, you know. We’re all living it.
Because this is TRULY my favorite time of year, I wanted to give you yet another gift. Last year, Melanie Harlow and I wrote the cutest holiday story that we laughed and smiled the entire time writing. If you flip to the next page, you’ll be able to download it FREE if you
