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With all the dramatics coming out of that woman, I swear she should have been the actress. I take one last look at Trixie’s store before turning and heading back to my car. I promised her some time, so I’ll keep my word even if the only thing I want to do is turn around and break down the walls separating us.
* * *
The next day I spent the whole day trying to come up with a plan to get my woman back. Unfortunately, it’s time for the tree lighting ceremony, and I have nothing. I don’t know what my mother or Tina said, and I don’t know how to fix this. That doesn’t mean I won’t try. I won’t give up until Trixie hears me out and knows how truly in love with her I am.
I grab a cup of hot chocolate from the food truck before heading to look for Trixie. I smile as I see kids bouncing in a line, waiting to meet Santa. Elves handing out candy canes. People ice skating in the rink. This is such a magical little town. It’s straight out of a kids’ dream, and I can’t wait to see my own kids running around through here.
I look up at the tree and then across, and that’s when I see her. My woman is hanging a tiny ornament on the base of the huge tree. I smile as I see her take a step back, then look around at all the ornaments. So many of them are one of a kind, and I have no doubt Trixie made most of them. She must feel my eyes on her because she looks across the tree and catches me staring. She gives me a small smile, and I take that as a good sign as I make my way over to her.
“Hey,” she whispers, fiddling with her hands as I walk up to her.
“Hey,” I say back. She looks up at me, and I can’t help it. I lean down and take her lips in a soft kiss. She doesn’t slap me or push me away, so thank god for small favors. When I pull back, she’s smiling shyly up at me.
“I’m sorry about yesterday. I had no idea my mother was even in town. Much less she was at your store with that crazy woman,” I tell her.
“It’s okay, really. It took me by surprise at first, but when I woke up and had time to think about it, I knew I was just being emotional. The things they said just weren’t adding up. You could never just leave and hurt me like that. We could have figured something out,” she starts, but I stop her.
“Leave? I actually called the movers last week. I won’t be taking on any more acting jobs. I want to stay here. With you,” I tell her.
“Your quitting acting?” she asks, shaking her head. “You don’t have to do that. We could figure something out.”
“Trixie, I never really wanted to act for the rest of my life. I just needed something to make me stay. You are the perfect reason, and this is the perfect place to finally settle. I’ve wanted to settle for years, now I have a reason too,” I tell her honestly.
She stares at me for a moment but finally smiles and throws herself into my arms. I laugh, holding her in one arm while holding out my hot cocoa with the other. She kisses my cheek before wiggling out of my arms.
“I have a present for you,” she tells me, digging in her bag and pulling out a beautiful teal-colored box with a silver ribbon tied around it. I take it from her and rip it open as fast as I can. Sitting inside the box is my very own custom ornament. It’s a tiny little silver knight holding a shield in one hand, and his arm hooked out in the other. There is a full red heart on his chest and ‘I love you’ written on the back. I look up at her and search her eyes.
“I love you too,” I tell her, smiling.
“There’s something that might complete that on the Christmas tree,” she says with a saucy little smile.
“Your ornament?” I ask excitedly, turning and spotting it immediately. I know exactly which one it is with just a quick glance. It’s a tiny little pink and mint fairy dancing in a circle with a small dent in her side. I walk up to her and hook the outstretched hand on the knight around her waist, and it snaps into place perfectly, just like a puzzle piece. Trixie and I each give a small sigh of relief before turning to look at each other.
“Now I have something for you,” I tell her, bending down on one knee and pulling the ring I planned to give her at this exact moment.
“I wish you knew how special you are to me, but I can’t put it into words. It’s just not possible. You may have only just come into my life, but I knew the minute I saw you, you would flip it on its axis.. and you did. You turned my world upside down, shot it through the stars, and now it revolves strictly around you. Will you marry me, Trixie Craft? Make me the happiest man on this earth,” I ask and hold my breath as I watch tears stream down her face. Finally, she nods her head up and down quickly.
“Yes, of course. I love you so much, Brandon Wells!” she says, and I quickly pick her up, swinging her around as the crowd claps.
My little fairy met her knight, and we will be joined at the hip for the rest of our lives.
Epilogue
Trixie
One year Later:
I lean over my desk, trying hard to finish this last ornament before I close for the day. This will be the last custom order I do before taking maternity leave. I’m exactly nine months today, and I’m so ready to meet our little boy. It’s not funny. He’s growing so big they decided to induce me tomorrow since he’s just content where he’s at. Brandon thinks it’s funny, but I can tell he’s just as eager to meet him as I am with each passing day.
Brandon is currently set up in the office we made for him in the back of my store. Turns out, he has a real knack for marketing, and this center has blossomed with his posts and contacts. I’m so proud of him, and he’s so happy being behind the computer instead of in front of a camera. He has to reassure me that this is life he wants every now and then, but I blame the doubt and fears on hormones. I smile at Jocelyn, my new assistant, and the woman I saw walking past my store that day. She’s the sweetest. She’s shy, but I can tell she just has to find her confidence or maybe someone who treats her like the precious gift she is.
“I’m heading out for the day. Are you sure you will be okay running the store for the next month?” I ask, worried I’m putting too much on her. She smiles and rolls her eyes at my question. It may or may not be the first time I’m asking.
“I’ll be fine. As long as you take care of that baby and bring him by now and then for a visit.” She winks at me.
We both know I won’t be able to stay away from my store for a whole month without at least a visit or five. Brandon walks out from the back and automatically comes over to me, grabbing my belly and placing a soft kiss there.
“Ready to go home, baby?” he asks, giving me a sweet kiss too.
“Ready,” I say, smiling and waving as he leads me out into Candy Cane Center. I thought I was in a dream when I opened my store in this magical place. Now I know it was a dream, the best one, and it also brought me the man my soul longed for. My life is full of magic, and the greatest of that magic will be completing our family tomorrow. I can’t wait to see the future we get to carve out together.
The End
