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Maggie’s face lit up as Rory led her to the front where they both took a bow.

But before Rachael could hand Rory the certificate, the crowd began cheering.

“Kiss her,” someone called out.

“Kiss her, kiss her,” someone else began to chant.

The whole crowd took it up, and Rory’s heart stuttered.

I can’t actually kiss her…

There was only one woman he wanted to kiss. His eyes went automatically to Ana, but she wasn’t where she’d been standing before. And as he scanned the room, he just caught a glimpse of her running out the door to the hallway.

“Ana,” he called out. But her name was lost in the deluge of other voices, demanding that he kiss Maggie.

He turned to her, knowing that he had to break off whatever this charade between them was becoming.

But before he could get a word out, Arnold Jones stormed up and stepped between Rory and Maggie.

“That’s enough,” Rory heard Arnold say firmly.

Maggie’s eyes lit up and for practically the first time, Rory saw a genuine smile on her face.

The crowd went quiet instantly.

“I know I haven’t always been good at telling you how I feel,” Arnold said to Maggie, his voice deep with emotion. “But I can’t let you kiss this guy—no offense, man.”

“None taken,” Rory said, lifting his hands.

“I can’t let you kiss this guy without you knowing that I worship the ground you walk on, Maggie Sullivan,” Arnold said. “You were right and I was wrong. I do want us to be serious. And if you want marriage and more kids, I want it too. Emily thought I should make this more romantic, but I was kind of afraid I might be running out of time.”

“Emily?” Maggie said, looking out to the crowd, where Arnold’s teenage daughter waved to her with a big smile and hopeful eyes.

“So what do you say, Maggie?” Arnold asked her. “Will you give me a chance?”

“Of course I will,” Maggie said happily, wrapping her arms around him as the crowd cheered.

Feeling a little silly now, Rory took off his Santa hat.

“Congratulations, man,” he said to Arnold over Maggie’s shoulder.

“Thank you,” Arnold said, tears in his eyes. “And I’m sorry I stole your wife, Santa.”

“Not at all,” Rory said. “Here you go.”

He held out his hat to Arnold, who pulled it on, much to the delight of the crowd.

Then Rory slipped out of the semi-circle to let the two of them have their moment. He figured he might be able to catch Ana before she got home. Though he wasn’t entirely sure why she had run away, he was clinging to the tiniest hope about it.

“Hey there, young man,” Big Jim Allen said, catching him by the arm. “That was mighty kind of you back there.”

Big Jim nodded toward Arnold and Maggie.

“Oh, I’m happy for them,” Rory said with a genuine smile. “Maggie and I are just friends.”

“So it’s true then,” Big Jim said thoughtfully.

“What’s true?” Rory asked.