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“These smell delicious,” Tyler said with a grin as he went to eat the first pie.
“They smell of Christmas,” she agreed, snuggling into his arms.
“It looks like Christmas now,” he told her, before kissing the top of her head.
“It does now that you’ve fetched it over.” She giggled.
He laughed. “And tomorrow, with the house full of our friends and all the food and drink flowing it’ll feel just like Christmas,” he promised.
“I hope you’re right.” She gazed into the fire, thoughtfully.
“You’ll see,” he promised. “Maybe not like Christmas past, but certainly Christmas present.” He gave her a gentle squeeze. “And talking of which,” he added, getting up and going into the hall.
He unzipped his holdall and took something from it before returning to the hearth.
Chloé swallowed hard. She’d half-hoped he’d gone to find some clean underpants to make himself more comfy, but it didn’t look like it. She couldn’t see what he’d fetched. “Oh no. I haven’t bought any Christmas presents,” she said, embarrassed.
“Neither have I,” he told her with a shrug. “I think it’s everyone’s presence that matters at Christmas, not their gifts, don’t you?”
She nodded, pleased that they thought alike.
“But I do have something for you. Not a Christmas present, exactly.”
He knelt up and opened a small box which he’d concealed in his palm. A diamond ring twinkled at her.
“I’ve had this for a while now,” he admitted. “I wanted to give it to you so many times, but I wasn’t sure I had enough to offer you. I’m not that well-educated and I don’t have much money, as you know.” He gave a self-deprecating grimace. “But now I’ve got a load of livestock and some beautiful horses, so I think I’ve got something to give you. I’ll work hard and make this place a resounding success for both of us. And I promise I’ll make you happy. Will you marry me?”
Tears flooded her eyes and her answer wasn’t much more than a whisper. But it was the reply he’d spent years yearning for.
“Yes, Tyler. I’d love to.”
The End
