“I wish it was open today,” he says, as the entrance comes into view, potted plants bursting with welcoming color.
“We don’t have time.”
“There’s always time…” He takes my hand and gives me a wink. “…when you think ahead.”
I frown in confusion. “Well yeah, but you can’t help it if they’re closed. Nothing you can do about that, even if you plan ahead.”
Billy nods, shrugs, and mutters, “Hmmm, I hear ya.”
We keep walking, which is weird. Our car is the other way. We’ve just cleared the park. The gardens’ entrance is where this path ends, except the road that leads to Piedmont street which is clear on the other side from where we—wait a minute.
“Dad?” I whisper, looking from the figure on the other side of the glass to the man who’s smile is growing. “Billy, what’s going on?”
“We thought we’d do something different this year.”
“The gardens are open?”
“Mmm…sort of.”
Dad opens the door as we arrive, his coat over his arm since it’s warm inside the building with high ceilings and modern design that serves as the official entrance. I’ve handed my ticket over many times in this room. There are pamphlets and maps in an unmanned kiosk behind him, and stairs on the right lead to the restrooms.
“Pretty cold outside, huh?” my father smiles as I take off my hat.
A woman appears, her badge displaying the logo and her name. “I have to close up in one hour,” she warns, impatient.
Billy reassures her, “No problem, Susan. We’re just going to walk around a bit.”
“Where’s Hope, Dad?”
“Here! I’m here!” She comes running out of the bathroom, fastening her coat’s buttons. “I’m sorry. I drank too much coffee today.”
I relax and smile to Billy as he takes my hand while we wait for her to join the three of us. “This is so nice!”
“Glad you like it. We’ve been together a year today.”
“You’re declaring today our anniversary?”
“It’s the day your dad said we were together so that marks it as official, don’t you think so, Mr. Horten?”
“When are you going to call me John?”
That makes me laugh and I’m still grinning as Hope walks up, admiring my coat. “I love this red on you!”
“Thank you. I always get black. I thought this was more fun.”
“One hour!” Susan calls after us as we walk out into the chilly air.
Billy pulls my hat back onto my head, covering my eyes. I smack him, grinning, and fix it. He laughs, whistles, calls me gorgeous, and we start down one of the beautiful paths while Hope keeps the conversation easy with a story of her book club.
As we turn a corner, I slow down at a crowd of at least fifty people. My eyes narrow as I spot Bryn, Harlow, Gabriella and her boyfriend, all the members of the Cocker family I’m friends with now—Samantha, Lexi, Zoe, Wyatt, Nathan, Caden and his wife, Nicholas and his wife, Nicholas’ best friend Matthew and his partner. My mouth goes slack as I see two of the most surprising people here. The ones I’ve only seen in photographs… my boyfriend’s parents.
“Billy, what is going on?”
He drops to one knee and pulls the sweetest diamond ring out of his pocket, wriggling it free from a string it got caught on.
Wyatt shouts at him through cupped hands, “Real smooth, Cooper!”
Billy ignores him, holds up the ring as tears spring to my eyes. He stares at me, his smile full of meaning. “Will you be my Haven for the rest of my life?”
I completely melt. “Oh Billy! I want to see your smile every day. Every day!”
“Say the official word.”
“Yes! Yes, I will marry you! I would love to marry you!”
Our friends, and acquaintances we’ve become closer to over the past year during so many more parties, break into cheers and loud applause. Dozens of surprised birds take off in flight from hidden perches in the trees, causing dried leaves to drift to the ground all around us as Billy kisses me, holding my wet cheeks. “I love you, Haven.”
I laugh through my tears and whisper, “What I’m most thankful for today, is knowing you. I love you, Billy Cooper. I love you so much!”
His parents rush over to meet me, and Hope cries out, “How are we going to get the tables out here?!”
It turns out she was just joking. Everyone was set to return to their holiday plans after they hugged us and bore witness to the best moment of my life.
Well, it’s tied with three things. The day we got married, and the one where I held our daughter for the first time. Those three rank pretty high in my book.
But then again, we’ve a whole life to live together still. And Billy swears he’ll top those.
We’ll see, I will smile to myself, whenever he says that.
Between you and me, I can’t wait to see him try.
The End.
I hope you enjoyed this warm-hearted holiday novella.
COCKER BROTHERS SERIES
In Kindle Unlimited
Read them all in the 30-Day Free Trial
THE NEXT GENERATION
8. Hannah Cocker
9. Ethan Cocker
10. Gabriel Cocker
11. Emma Cocker
12.Eric Cocker
13. Sofia Sol Cocker
14. Sean Aka Diesel
15. Max Cocker
16.Nicholas Cocker
17. Cocker Bonus Scenes
18. Caden Cocker
19. Tonk Jr.
— side character novella
20. Billy Cooper
— side character novella
21. Samantha Cocker
22. Jack, Marion, & Troy
— side character novella
23. Wyatt Cocker
24 May Cocker
(Grams as a young girl, where true love in the Cocker Family began)
ONLY SIX MORE COUSINS LEFT!
Lexi, Nate, Ben, Elijah, Zoe and Hunter
(Though not in that order.)
Click the pic for their dedicated store on Amazon!
Thank you for enjoying Cocker Brothers.
COCKER EXTRAS
CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR:
Free Bonus
