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Abigail glanced into the living room. Trenton was on his stomach on the couch, playing a game on his new electronic pad. “I’d say he seems happy and very well-adjusted.”
“Hearing you say that means the world.”
Once the kitchen was tidy, they rejoined Trenton, and she sat near him. “If you look in the bag that I brought, you might find something that Santa left at my house for you.”
“Really?” With the raw enthusiasm only children seemed to show, he dashed over to the counter to fetch it. Then he returned to the couch to rip open the package.
“Oh! Wow.” He tore apart the box to take out the scientist set, complete with microscope, binoculars, and a bug collection kit.
Above his son’s head, Hayes mouthed, “Thank you.”
“Can we go out to the park, Daddy? I want to ‘splore nature.”
Since a walk would be great after all that food, she joined them.
When they got back, Trenton fell asleep.
“He was awake before dawn.”
She and Hayes snuggled on the couch, sipping some spiked eggnog. Then as the afternoon drew on, she suggested they get dinner going. Breakfast had worn off some time ago.
He texted her the instructions that the chief of staff had sent.
Seemed straightforward enough to reheat everything, including the prime rib. “This is my new favorite way of doing Christmas dinner.”
“I figured it was either this or making reservations.”
While everything baked or simmered, he led her back into the living room. Then Hayes crouched to grab a small gift bag that was hidden at the back of the tree.
“You didn’t need to get me anything.”
“It’s something I hope you like.” He offered the present to her.
With abandon, she pulled out the tissue paper and found a small box inside. Eyes wide, breath in her throat, unable to comprehend what she was seeing, she pulled it out. “Hayes…?”
“Open it.”
When she did, a massive diamond winked in the overhead light.
She looked at him, and he was watching her intently. “I…”Don’t know what to think. How to act.
“Abigail Chapman, will you do me the honor of spending the rest of your life with me?”
Tears filled her eyes, then spilled down her cheeks.
“I know it’s fast. But my entire life, I’ve wanted a woman with integrity who is generous and loving with a heart big enough to embrace me and those I love. I know you’re that woman. My perfect match.”
She didn’t know what to say. Sincerity was etched in his eyes.
“If you say yes, I swear I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy.”
“We’re…” Her voice cracked. Though her dreams were within reach, common sense screamed a warning. They were too different, and it wouldn’t work. “From different worlds.”
He shook his head. “We’re not. The same things matter to both of us.”
“Your money puts you in rarefied space.”
“It means we’ll have more choices. But it hasn’t changed me. It won’t change you.”
