Page 93 of Tacos & Toboggans

“Which wasn’t planned,” I assured him with a laugh. “But when I saw that photo.” I pointed at the one from the night of the tree lighting that Ivy had snapped. “I wondered if I could recreate it from the perspective that I remembered it.” The picture was of the two of us under the gazebo, flipping the switch to light the tree. It was probably my favorite one of all.

“This is how I remember it, too,” he whispered. “Your beauty outshone the tree, and I’d never felt luckier than I did that night.”

“I thought it was something we could hang in the hallway,” I explained. “Maybe the first of many.”

“My first thought when I pulled it out, too,” he agreed.

“There’s one more.” I pointed at the bag, and he handed me the first frame. When he pulled out the second, it was with a hitched breath that he held it for several interminable seconds before he spoke.

“This is…” He didn’t finish, and I was just about to jump in when he shook his head. “I remember this man,” he said, pointing at the drawing of his younger self in uniform. “He was cocky. Thought he could save the world,” he whispered. “He couldn’t. He couldn’t save half the people who came through his doors. This guy,” he said, pointing at the man wearing surgical scrubs. “He’s who I recognize as the person I was meant to be.”

“But without the lessons learned by the first man, the second one couldn’t exist,” I replied.

“What are these two spaces for?” he asked, pointing at the empty holes between the drawings.

Nerves filled me, but I plowed on. “Your Purple Heart and Silver Star,” I answered. “I noticed you keep them in a box in your desk drawer, but they should be seen. Others should know of the sacrifices you made for them to remain free.”

“Those medals have always been a source of shame for me,” he admitted, turning to hold my gaze. “A sign of weakness in the Purple Heart and failure in the Silver Star. It was my job to save those people, and I failed a lot of them because of my injury. Over time, I’ve come to understand that’s not the case at all, but learning to be proud of my career in the service has been a journey.”

“I can draw something else for those spots,” I said. “You don’t have to put them in there.”

“Maybe it’s time to change my perspective about keeping my disability a secret from everyone. I’m going to hang this in my office, so people can see that those medals don’t indicate failure at all.”

“They indicate strength,” I finished as his lips captured mine.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked as I leaned into her ear, but the grin on her face was enough to answer the question for me. “This isn’t painful?”

“Not even a little bit, and even if it was, I’m not turning down a ride in Santa’s sleigh pulled by reindeer!” she exclaimed, giggling as Ellis, dressed in his Santa suit, rang the sleigh bells.

When I planned this little excursion a few weeks ago, I couldn’t have foreseen everything that had gone on since. It had been part of my plan to prove to her that we were the Christmas couple for the year, and how right I’d been about that. But when Ellis texted me after lunch to ask if it was still happening, I couldn’t say no without asking her if she felt up to it. Since she’d been resting most of the day, and he had assured me that he would stick to the main roads that were plowed and not bumpy, I had agreed.

Now, bundled up in our winter gear and buried under a blanket, I kissed her cheek as we pulled into Bells Pass Park. The sun had set an hour ago, and the lights on the tree offered a blue glow across the parking lot. Ellis urged the reindeer forward to the usual parking spot for the sleigh. Only in Bells Pass could you find a place to rent reindeer on Christmas Day.

“Are we going to the gazebo?” she asked, clapping her gloved hands.

It had been a few weeks since she’d had to wear her splint, and her arm was well-healed without pain. That made me happy. If only we could have prevented her newest pain. I vowed then and there, watching her enjoy life with so much happiness, that I would protect her for the rest of my life. Shewas mine, and with that came a great responsibility. A responsibility that the gazebo and all her friends in Bells Pass trusted me to uphold.

Ellis stopped the sleigh near the shoveled path by the tree, and I disembarked carefully before helping her down. Thankfully, the sleigh was low to the ground, or I would have had to say no to his offer since she was moving gingerly with the stitches in her back. Holding her elbow, I walked her to the stairs and helped her up them. Then there we were, under the roof of the gazebo, to gaze up at the blue lights on the tree.

“We didn’t make it here very often this season, did we?” she asked, leaning against my chest as we kept our faces turned to the tree.

“It’s been a hot minute,” I agreed

"At least we made it one more time before they turn the lights off.”

“That’s the only reason we’re here. I knew you’d want to see it one last time this year. The reindeer will probably attract onlookers, though. Maybe I should kiss you now before people make their way here for their final look at the lights,” I suggested.

She turned to put her arms around my neck, and I lowered my lips to hers. To hide our PDA from Ellis, who was waiting on the sleigh, I tucked her in closer to the tree to offer us some privacy. It wasn’t easy, but I kept the kiss light, so she didn’t hurt herself. I ended it sooner than I wanted to, but a crowd was already gathering.

“What is that?” I asked, nerves filling my belly as the time had come to commit to the ploy or walk away.

“What is what? Do I have something on my face?” she asked, brushing at her cheeks.

“No, what is that on the tree?” I pointed as she walked over to the railing to see what I was pointing at.

“Is that a taco riding a toboggan?” Jaelyn asked, her laughter filling the park as she pulled the ornament down and turned to me.

I schooled my facial expression before answering. “It took a bit of glue and ingenuity, but it turned out to be the perfect Christmas ornament for the year.” The taco had its armsoutstretched and its mouth open in a scream. It wasn’t until she held it up by the ribbon that she gasped. The toboggan swung back and forth until I caught it and pulled a smaller ribbon, releasing the ring into my hand. As I lowered myself to my knee, I prayed Corbyn’s loaner held out long enough for me to ask the most important question of my life.

“Major, what are you doing?” she asked, her hands to her mouth as I knelt, holding out the ring in earnest.

“Asking the beautiful woman before me to be my wife,” I said, as though it should be obvious. “I saw this ring at Evergreen Acres a few weeks ago and commented to Cameron on how beautiful the red jasper was. Two days ago, he pressed it into my hand and told me it was meant for us because, as gorgeous as the ring is, I had been the only one during the season who had expressed any interest in it. When you were sleeping that night in the hospital, I sat there holding the ring and wondering if I deserved to ask you this question. If I deserved to be your husband. I had convinced myself the answer was no. Then you opened your eyes and selflessly took my pain onto your shoulders, even going so far as to apologize to me for something that wasn’t your fault. That’s when I knew you were my absolution, and this ring was our connection. Red jasper symbolizes life, and you are mine. I love you, Jaelyn Aina Riba. Will you once again prove the legend of this gazebo is true by marrying me?”

At her nod, I slipped the ring on her finger to the hooting and cheering of the unexpected crowd. She helped me up, and once I was standing, she took my face in her hands and leaned in, our lips almost touching. “I love you, Major. Thank you for showing me what life can be like when two souls who are meant to be, finally find each other. Yes, I will marry you, my sweet soldier.”

With my lips on hers, the cheering of our friends and family got louder as they stormed the gazebo to celebrate. Our love story may have been helped along by a truck full of tacos, a wayward toboggan, and an empty cottage, but it was cemented with a kiss in the very same spot on a night not long ago. That was when the universe decided two people belonged together and made it happen.

The kiss ended, and I pulled her carefully against my side to protect her from the hugs that were sure to go around. “When do you want to get married?” I whispered into her ear as she accepted congratulations from Ivy and Shep.

“I’ve always wanted an April wedding, but we can taco ‘bout it,” she answered with a wink.