“I’ve never seen one like this! No wonder you were so excited for me to open it. Thank you so much. It’s perfect! It’s going to be a special addition to my collection.” She hugged the teapot.
“I knew it would,” Sheila said. “I thought of you as soon as I saw it.” She was all smiles and clapping like a youngster still filled with the magic of Santa and wishes come true. “This is so fun.” She turned to Randy. “Can you two please open my gift to you before Natalie opens yours?”
Randy didn’t say anything, but Natalie did: “Yes. I know how you hate to wait.”
Sheila handed them the package. “Goody, thanks!”
Natalie removed the paper, slowly just like always, and then let Randy take the top off the box.
Before they could even see what was inside, Sheila was spoiling the surprise. “I wanted to be the first to give you ornaments as a couple, since this is kind of your first official Christmas together as a serious couple.”
Randy held a turquoise-colored ornament up. “These are like the ornaments my grandmother used to have on her tree. Thanks, Sheila. This really is a special gift. Perfect for this Christmas.”
Natalie hugged Sheila. “Thank you so much.”
“Now it’s my turn.” Randy handed Natalie a small package. He let out a long breath, and Tucker wondered if he might pass out.
“I can’t wait.” Natalie hunched her shoulders in excitement. Inside, there was a small photo album. The cover was wooden, with an etched image of her cabin on the front. “This is exquisite.” She grazed her fingers across the indentations. “How did you do this?”
Randy nodded to Tucker. “Tucker made the photo album and did the engraving.”
“Really?” Natalie said.
Sheila swung around and looked at him. “What other talents are you hiding from me?”
“Wait and see.” Tucker blushed. “I’m no expert. I mess around. It turned out pretty good, though. I’m glad you like it.”
“So sweet.” Natalie held the album close.
“Look inside,” Randy insisted, glancing over at Tucker.
“Oh. There are pictures inside?” Natalie opened the cover, and Sheila huddled closer to see them over her shoulder.
“Oh gosh, this is when we visited your sister at Giddy-Up andGo when she was at the art festival.” Natalie turned the picture for everyone to see. “And the first time we ate at Trout and Snout together.”
Randy explained, “My sister opened a coffee shop in a horse trailer that she moves around. It’s called Giddy Up and Go.”
“It’s so cool, she built it out of a horse trailer,” Natalie said. “The coffee and tea are wonderful, but she’s a baker too.”
“Cute idea,” Tucker said. “We should hire her to come up for one of the festivals.”
“We should,” Randy agreed.
Natalie giggled and commented as she flipped through the pictures, and then she stopped. “Whoa.”
“Another giddy-up-and-go moment?” Sheila teased.
Randy sat there bobbing his head with this weird expression on his face.
The sudden silence caught Sheila off guard. “What’s going on?”
Natalie lifted the photo album and showed the last picture to them. It was a picture of the tree topper he’d made for her, and next to it, in script, Randy had written,
Natalie,
Will you be my wife?
With all my love,
