“Fine!” Sage couldn’t stand it a second longer. She moved to the door, yanked it open, then stood for all to see with her hair a wild mess, no makeup, and wearing a thick, baggy sweatshirt, unflattering sweatpants, and sheepskin boots. And she didn’t care—not even a smidgen.
“I just want to say that I am the most jealous best friend in the world. If you don’t run to him right this minute, I’m going to push you down the porch steps and use your body as my own personal red carpet so I can take him myself.”
“Then I guess I’d have to get Camden to console me,” Sage said slyly.
“I would scratch your eyes out,” Grace said before her eyes opened wide and she covered her mouth. “I mean . . .”
“I will find out exactly what you mean, Grace, but later. Right now I’m going to push you out of the way and run out there into the arms of the man I love.”
At least a hundred of their neighbors were standing in front of Bethel’s house, and more were showing up by the minute. They were all singing Christmas carols and holding paper sky lanterns with candles glowing inside them. Spence was in front of them all, down on one knee, a lantern in one hand, a box in the other.
“Sage Banks, I love you,” he said as she moved toward him, her legs trembling, her heart thudding. It was simple, and it was sweet. He was opening his heart to her in front of people they’d known their entire lives. He was telling the world that she was worth the risk. He was telling her this was forever.
She dropped to her knees in front of him, and she didn’t even feel her sweatpants get soggy in the snow. “Spence Whitman, I love you,” she replied, then took the initiative and leaned forward, kissing him and clinging to him for all she was worth. She was through analyzing this, through thinking it over. Sometimes, as her grandmother said, you have to take a leap of faith.
Their friends and family continued singing as he returned her kiss. Her heart was so full now it seemed almost unfair to all the people who didn’t have someone to love.
“Marry me, Sage. That’s all I want for Christmas. I just want you to be my wife.”
“Then it looks like you’ve been a good boy, Spence.” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, so she continued. “Santa is giving you exactly what you want.”
Spence grinned as he drew back, took an exquisite diamond ring from a black velvet box, and slid it onto her finger. “She said yes!” he called out, and their neighbors, in sync, released the sky lanterns, the hot candles helping them to soar.
Spence stood, pulling her up with him. He lifted his arm and released his lantern, and together they watched them all float into the sky.
“Your last gift, Sage. All our prayers and wishes have just floated upward. I plan on making every dream you’ve ever had come true.”
“You gave me the dream I didn’t know I wanted, Spence. You love me—my faults and all. And I love you—your faults and all.”
“I will forever be grateful to our meddling family members, but let’s not tell them—ever,” he said with a chuckle. The two of them turned to find Martin standing nearby with his partners in crime: Bethel, Maggie, and Eileen.
“I agree. We’ll make them suffer. It looks like the meddlers are only missing one member of their scheming group.”
“Ah yes, Joseph Anderson. We both know he’s the one who got them all started,” Spence said.
“Should we feel sorry for your brothers, or happy for them? Because right now I know I should still be angry at the meddlers, but I’m so happy I can’t find room for any other emotions to fit inside.”
“I say we step up and help them out,” Spence said.
“You are a terrible man—and I say . . . I agree.”
Then the two of them forgot all about talking as Spence took her into his arms and kissed her, showing her exactly what she meant to him. Their neighbors and family faded away as he lifted her and carried her inside.
EPILOGUE
“What a beautiful wedding that was,” Joseph said to Martin, Bethel, Maggie, and Eileen.
“That horse-drawn carriage looked like it came right out of the pages of Cinderella,” Bethel said with a sigh as she looked across the room at her granddaughter dancing in her husband’s arms.
“Yes, Spence really went all out to make her dreams come true. I’m mighty proud of my boy,” Martin said, his heart glowing.
The words brought tears to Bethel’s eyes. “And I’m so happy that Sage has found a man strong enough to hold her heart.”
“And I have another daughter to warm our home,” Martin observed. “This matchmaking stuff is pretty wonderful.”
“I was a little worried there for a while. Those two just weren’t cooperating,” Eileen said. She was glad it had worked out, but a bit bored now, though she didn’t want to admit it. She and her friends hadn’t been doing anything to move things along with the other two victims—er, bachelors—in the Whitman family.
“Yes, your kids are certainly as stubborn as my own brood,” Joseph replied with a laugh.
Martin joined in the laughter and said, “Oh, look at that. Spence is scowling.”
The little group turned to see Austin tugging Sage into his arms for a dance. Before Spence could claim her back, Austin’s wife, Kinsey, tapped his shoulder. He smiled at her and then offered his arm.
“He doesn’t want to let go of Sage for even three minutes,” Eileen said. “That boy is head over heels in love.” The woman directed a shy glance at Martin.