Randy
“Yes!” Natalie leapt from her seat.
Randy swept her into his arms and kissed her. He spun her around in a circle, kissing her on the forehead, the nose, and then the cheek. “I love you madly.”
“I love you too.”
“Your ring was in the birdhouse tree topper the whole time,” he explained. “I was afraid the tree was going to be whisked off with your ring inside! I was going to propose during the Christmas Tree Stroll but there was never a good time.”
“But it wasn’t.” Orene pulled the two-story birdhouse tree topper out from behind the couch. “It’s right here. The bird nest you put on top of the tree you delivered wasn’t quite as fancy, but I don’t think Ms. Ferebee will ever know the difference.”
Randy picked it up and held it in front of Natalie. “Lift the roof.”
Sheila watched, with tears in her eyes, as her friend lifted the rooftop. Engraved in the wood was “I love you. Be my better half forever. With all my heart, I want to make you happy every day of your life.” Inside, a Tiffany Blue box. Natalie’s hands shook as she retrieved it and handed it to Randy.
Orene, Natalie, Sheila, and Amanda were all crying.
Randy popped the lid open, and lifted the diamond ring from the box; then he took a knee. “Let’s make this official. Natalie, I’ve already talked to Paul and asked for your hand in marriage, and we have his blessing. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?”
She said, “I will,” and her hand still shook as he slid the ring on her finger.
Tucker reached for Sheila’s hand and squeezed it.
“Merry Christmas, Nat,” Randy said. “And to all of you, who make living in this town so wonderful. I can’t wait to see what happens in our next chapter in Chestnut Ridge together.”
Tucker whispered into Sheila’s ear, “It’s going to be a really good year. I can feel it.”
“I’m going to follow the stars,” Sheila said.
“What exactly does that mean?” Tucker asked.
“Following the stars instead of a schedule. I’m going to live my life according to the natural rhythms that come my way, rather than adhering to a strict schedule.”
“That sounds promising.”
“I think so. You know, more spontaneous.”
“Like playing catch in the grocery store?” he asked.
“Excellent example. It seems to be working for me already. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I’d like to help you with this whole following-the-stars thing.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Randy and Natalie were showing the ring to the others.
Tucker walked Sheila into the next room, and out the back French doors. “This has been a Christmas to remember,” he said. “It’s beautiful back here.”
“It is. This has been such an amazing Christmas.”
“You don’t think it’s possible that all this, you and me, is just Christmas magic? I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and you’re going to have forgotten me?”
“Not on your life.” She shook her head, taking a breath, almost afraid to speak from her heart and break the spell. She understood what he was feeling. She was afraid too. “I don’t think so, because I’m honestly counting the days and the ways that we can experience wonderful things together in the new year.”
He turned toward her. “This doesn’t happen by accident. I wasn’t looking. Neither were you. We just—”
“Fit. So perfectly.”
