A Holiday Proposal (16 page)

“Not a thing, I guess, if you’re a girl.” He smirked and reached for her hand.

She laced her fingers with his. “Thanks for calling me today. I had fun.” Her eyes twinkled in the afternoon light filtering through the window.

“Working?” His employees never called work fun. Although he had to admit, he’d enjoyed it, too.

“The company was exceptional.”

The waiter interrupted their banter and took their orders. Fifteen minutes later their meals arrived.

Matthew breathed deeply of the delicious aroma of his burger. “You want a bite?” He lifted it and raised it toward Holly.

“No, thanks.” She reached for her fork and speared the lettuce. “You eat your
manly
food. I’ll stick with this.”

Matthew had never enjoyed a meal more. Things had definitely changed between them, and he liked it very much.

“What are you grinning about? Don’t tell me you’re giddy over your burger.”

He chuckled. “Very funny. I was actually—”

Holly’s cell phone rang. “Oops, sorry.” She looked at the caller ID. “Hold that thought, it’s my sister.” She shot him an apologetic smile. “Hi, Jessie, what’s up?” Her face fell. “Umm, okay. Are you sure?” Her eyebrows drew together. “What time? Fine, I’ll meet you both there.” She crammed her phone in her purse. “Sorry.”

“Bad news?”

“I suppose not, but Jessica has this idea that I’m not so sure about.” She pushed her soup bowl away. At least she’d finished the salad.

“Lost your appetite?”

She nodded.

Concerned, but unwilling to push, he got the waiter’s attention and asked for the check. Five minutes later they strolled along the sidewalk toward her apartment.

“You don’t need to walk me home.”

“I want to. Besides, it’s not really out of my way.”

“Thanks, and thanks for not pushing about my sister. I know you’re curious.”

He nodded. “I am, but I’ll respect your privacy.”

“We’re doing an intervention,” she blurted.

“Really?” He bit his tongue to keep himself from asking more. If she wanted to share she would. The stairs to her apartment were only ten feet away. “Will I see you in church tomorrow?”

“I hope so. I can save you a seat, if you’d like.”

“That would be nice.”

“What about your sister?”

He shrugged. “Feel free to save her one, too, but I don’t know if she’ll sit with us or not.”

“Will do. Okay, then.” She paused at the bottom of the stairs. “Thanks for lunch and the goodies.”

“Thank
you
. You saved me today.” Come to think of it, she’d done a lot of that lately. Between saving his niece’s life and helping when he was in a bind, he owed her more than a lunch she barely touched. “Take care.” He placed a soft kiss on her cheek, allowing his lips to linger a heartbeat longer than necessary. “See you in the morning.”

Holly touched her hand to her cheek, which blossomed a lovely shade of pink. “Okay.” She climbed the stairs and at the top, she turned and waved before going inside.

He couldn’t stop grinning. There were definitely sparks igniting between them, and he couldn’t wait to see her again.

Chapter 18

H
olly stepped into her parents’ hot tub and sat across from her mom with Jessica to Holly’s left. She rested her head back on the ledge and closed her eyes as warm water bubbled around her. She needed to do this more often.

Jessica cleared her throat. “Mom, Holly and I want to talk with you about something.”

Holly’s eyes flew open. Right, this wasn’t a pleasure soak, but at least Jessica had promised to do all the talking.

Mom looked from one daughter to the other. “Again? What’s going on?” She shook her head. “Honestly, girls, these talks make me weary.”

Holly bit her bottom lip. It was too soon after their Seattle trip to bring this up. She should have known better—they both should have. Mom would feel ganged up on. She caught Jessie’s attention and shook her head, hoping she would understand now was not a good time.

Instead, her sister ignored her and explained how Holly felt that Mom was disappointed in her and that no matter how hard Holly tried, their mother was never proud of her.

“That’s not true.” Mom shook her head and twisted in her seat to better face Holly. “Do you really feel that way?”

Holly couldn’t find her voice and simply nodded.

“Oh, sweetie, I’m always proud of you, and I love you more than words could ever express. But you’re my strong daughter. You don’t need me to shower praise on you to succeed.” She cast a sheepish look toward Jessica. “I’m sorry, but you’ve always needed a little extra encouragement. You thrive on being in the spotlight.” She turned back to Holly. “I didn’t ever mean to make you feel unloved, or like I don’t approve of what you do. I’m so proud of your accomplishments. I’ve never been great at the mushy stuff—prickly, yes.” A wobbly smile touched her lips. “Please don’t give up on me. I promise to do better, now that I understand.”

Holly opened her mouth to reply, but her brain turned to mush.
Mom is proud of me.
Her throat suddenly burned, and she blinked rapidly. “I don’t know what to say. All these years I assumed you loved Jessica more than me. That I was a disappointment because I haven’t married.” She studied her mom’s face and saw the sincerity in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.” Elsa’s words about a mother’s love hit home.
She loves you as much as your sister, just differently.
All these years of feeling like the lesser daughter could have been avoided if only she’d understood.

Mom reached for Holly’s hand. “No, I’m sorry. I should have told you I was proud of you. I am so used to showering accolades on Jessica...well, I will work at letting you know what I think—good and bad.” A sheen lit her eyes.

Holly caught her breath at the emotion in her mother’s eyes. Her mom had meant every word. A burden lifted, and she felt free of the load of guilt she’d carried for so long.

“I love both my girls.” She stretched her other hand out to Jessica, who grasped it. “But you are very different personalities. I just forgot that even though one of you thrives on showers of accolades, that doesn’t mean the other doesn’t appreciate positive encouragement, too.”

Holly looked from her mom to Jessica. “Well, how was that for an intervention?” She couldn’t stop the smile that made her face hurt. What a day. First she awoke to a call from Matthew and now this. What was next?
Matthew.
Her heart warmed at the thought that danced in her mind. For the first time she felt free to love—really free. Was the discord between her mother and her the root of the problem all along? Was she ready for a serious relationship now?

* * *

Friday evening Holly rushed home from work and jumped into the shower. Matthew would arrive shortly to pick her up to go ice skating. She zipped through her shower and freshened her makeup. Satisfied with her appearance, she slipped into her favorite pair of jeans and a violet turtleneck. She couldn’t wait to see Matthew. The week had been full, and she hadn’t seen him since church on Sunday.

A knock on her door sent her heart into double time. She slipped on her jacket and stuffed her phone, key and cash into a pocket. She flung the door open. Matthew stood there wearing a forest-green pullover and jeans along with a black ski jacket. He looked so good. “Hey, there. Long time no see.” She stepped into the cold early-evening air and shivered. “Brr.”

“I know, and we’re not even on the rink yet.” Matthew took her hand, and they walked side by side down the stairs.

“Methinks hot chocolate is in order.”

Matthew grinned. “That’s a tall order.”

At the bottom of the stairs she slipped her arm through his and snuggled into his side. “You can handle it, boss man.” She smiled when his eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “What?”

He shook his head. “There’s something different about you.” He turned her toward him and studied her face. “You’re happy.”

Holly laughed. “It shows, huh?” She propelled them forward. “The intervention with my mom went exceptionally well the other day, and I found it to be a freeing experience.”

“Really?”

She nodded as they strolled arm in arm along the sidewalk. Traffic crawled along the road to their right, but few people were out on foot. “Things between me and my mom are better than they’ve ever been, and for the first time since I was a little girl, I’m excited about Christmas.”

“Wow. That’s great news. I’m really happy for you, Holly.” They neared the ice rink. Children squealed in delight as they soared around the smooth surface, and several adults mingled nearby. A cart had a hot chocolate sign posted beside it. Matthew stopped and bought them each a large cup from the street vendor.

They were at the rink now, but what she really wanted to do was go for a walk away from the hustle and bustle of the village. “Would you mind if, instead of skating, we walk along the river?”

His eyebrows rose again. “You are full of surprises today. It’s dark, so I’m not sure that’s a great idea.”

“Good point. Maybe we could turn around and go to Waterfront Park instead. It’s lit and so pretty this time of year.” They did an about-face and headed for the park. “Thanks for being flexible. I’m around people all day and getting away from it all sounds good.”

He chuckled. “No problem.” He raised his cup. “This will keep me from turning into an icicle. Oh, and the hand warmers I slipped into my pockets.”

“Cheater!”

“Ha. You just wish you’d thought of it.” He winked. “But, if you’re real nice, I might share.”

She batted her lashes and shot him a silly grin.

Matthew tossed his head back and laughed, then placed one into her hand. “And you call me a cheater.” He turned around and they strolled back the way they’d come. They passed by Holly’s apartment then waited for traffic to allow them to cross the street.

Holly slowed on the steep descent down to the park, taking careful steps to avoid slipping and falling. A short time later they turned left into the park and walked out onto the bridge. “This is exactly what I was hoping for—peace and quiet.” She faced the river and took a deep breath of cold evening air. “It’s serene down here.”

“I agree.” He spoke softly into the hushed evening. “So, tell me what’s changed. You’re a different person from the woman I talked with almost a week ago.”

Holly placed her cup of hot chocolate on the railing of the bridge and explained about her mom and how the experience had lifted a weight from her. “I don’t know why it was such a big deal, but knowing my mom loves me for who I am changes the way I think about things.” She turned to face him. “Something else has changed, too.” She caught the hopeful look in his eyes and then gazed down at the semifrozen water below. “I’m not afraid anymore.”

His forehead scrunched. “You were afraid? Of what?”

“Of us.” Saying the words caused a shiver to shimmy up her back.

He rested his hand over hers as she clutched the railing. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

She faced him and lifted her chin. “I’m ready to fully explore what’s going on between us. I really like you, Matthew, and I think you feel the same way.” She looked down, then back into his face. “Actually, that’s not true. Somehow in the midst of this most unusual holiday season, I fell head over heels in love with you.” She bit down on her bottom lip and held her breath.

A slow grin spread across his face and he placed his cup beside hers. “That’s the best thing I’ve ever heard anyone say. I love you, too.” He wrapped his arms around her waist, lifted her up and whirled her around.

A scream of delight escaped Holly’s lips. “Stop before you make us both fall in the river.” She laughed and pushed at his shoulders.

He slowed and lowered her until her feet landed firmly on the bridge, but he kept her within the circle of his arms. “I’m so happy for you, for me—us.” He laughed. “I’ve prayed that God would help you to move past what happened and that He would heal your relationship with your mother.”

“You did?” Holly rested her palm against his cheek. “That is about the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. Thanks.”

“I’ll admit, I had reservations about becoming involved in a relationship because of my business, but when you jumped in and helped out like you did, it showed me that my concern was unfounded. If anything, you are a help, not a hindrance. You make me better, Holly.”

“Mmm. Better is good.” She wrapped her arms around his neck.

Matthew tilted his head. His mouth brushed hers, sending shivers down Holly’s back. She closed her eyes and melted as his soft lips caressed hers for too brief a moment. With a sigh her eyes fluttered open, and she gasped at the twinkle of mischief in Matthew’s gaze. “What?”

“Just thinking how much I’d like to marry you.”

“Hmm, that sounds like a plan to me. Are you asking?” Her heart nearly exploded.

His eyes widened. “Would you say yes?”

She nodded.

“Then I’m asking. Will you marry me, Holly, and make me the happiest baker in town?”

“Yes. A thousand times yes.”

Epilogue

Christmas Eve, One Year Later

H
olly stared at her reflection in the mirror, loving the look of her hair in a French twist topped with a veil that draped softly to the middle of her back. Her white satin dress hugged her in all the right places and cascaded to the floor.

Jessica came up behind her and rested her hands on her shoulders. “You look positively exquisite.”

Holly grinned at her sister in the mirror. “Thanks, and you look radiant. Pregnancy suits you.”

Jessica held a finger to her lips. “Shh, we aren’t telling anyone yet.”

Holly giggled. “Sweetie, you’d better say something soon, or everyone will think you’ve indulged in too many holiday sweets, and Mom will have a fit if she’s the last to know.”

“Last to know what?” Their mom stood in the dressing room doorway.

Holly pressed her lips together and nodded. She didn’t mind sharing the spotlight, even if it was her wedding day.

Jessica shook her head and whispered, “This is your day.” Then she turned and strode to their mother. “We didn’t want you to be the last to know that Holly is wearing your diamond earrings.”

Mom waved a hand. “I gave them to her. Honestly, I don’t know what’s come over you girls.” She dabbed at the corners of her eyes. “My baby is getting married. I never thought I’d see the day, and on Christmas Eve, too! You couldn’t have chosen a better time of year. I just hope the snow doesn’t prevent anyone from coming.”

Holly grinned and rolled her eyes, catching her sister doing the same. “Everyone that matters is already here. Besides, the roads aren’t bad.” She looked toward the window, where soft snowflakes gently fell from the sky.

“I know, dear. And now I have an extraspecial memory to replace the old ones that always pulled me down during the holidays.”

Holly blinked back tears as her heart bubbled over with love for her mother. She knew her wedding would make her mom happy, but didn’t think about the timing being a healing balm.

Jessica cleared her throat. “Enough of this mushy stuff.” She patted a tissue on her face. “Come on, Mom. Let’s let Holly have a few minutes to herself.”

“Okay. I’m so proud of you both. See you in the sanctuary.”

Holly watched her mom and sister leave and breathed deeply of the evergreen-scented air, courtesy of the Christmas tree sitting in the corner of the room.

A soft knock at the door drew her attention. “Come in.”

Matthew poked his head inside. “May I come in?”

“Absolutely not!” She ducked behind a dressing screen. “You can’t see me before the ceremony.” She heard the door click shut then the floor creak. What was the man thinking coming in here an hour before they were to be married?

“Ahem.”

“Matthew?”

“Yeah, it’s me. I want to pray with you before the day gets away from us.”

Her heart melted, and she stepped out from behind the screen. Would he ever stop surprising her with his sweetness and Godly ways? “I would love that.”

His jaw dropped, and he took her hands in his. “You look gorgeous!”

“So do you.” His black tux fitted perfectly and enhanced his manly physique.

He bowed his head. “Lord, I thank You for this woman whom I’m about to marry. I thank You that she is as beautiful on the inside as the outside and that she loves me as much as I love her. Please bless our marriage and help us to keep You number one in our relationship.”

Holly took a calming breath, willing herself not to cry. “Lord—” Her voice caught. “What he said. Amen.” She opened her eyes and saw the mischievous look on his face. “What?”

“You. You’re sentimental and stingy with words.” His grin lightened the mood. “I’ll see you soon.” He stooped and thoroughly kissed her.

“What are you doing in here?” Jessica rushed across the room and playfully swatted at Matthew. “You have to leave now.”

He chuckled. “I’m going.” He sent Holly a look of longing that held a promise and slipped from the room.

* * *

After the ceremony the dull roar of voices and laughter drew the new couple toward the fellowship hall, which was decked out in greenery with red berries and sprigs of holly intermingled. Red and white roses sat atop their three-tiered cake and gentle Christmas music filtered through the speakers.

Holly stopped before entering and looked up at her husband with a soft smile. “You ready for this?”

“With you by my side, I’m ready for anything, Mrs. Cook.”

Holly slipped her arm through his. “Thanks.”

“For what?”

“For loving me and for helping to make this day so special. I love you with all my heart. And for planning our wedding night. I’m looking forward to snowmobiling up to the cabin later and waking up on Christmas morning with you by my side.”

He waggled his eyebrows and sent her a leer worthy of a pirate before pulling her to him and planting a kiss on her lips.

Holly melted in his gentle arms, returning his kiss.

“There you are.”

Holly groaned and pulled back from her husband. “Mom.”

“Your guests are anxious to see you. Come on.” She dragged the couple into the room as friends and family erupted in applause at their entrance.

“So, this is what it feels like to be the star.” Holly spoke under her breath. She flashed a smile at her friends.

Matthew planted a soft kiss on her cheek. “Honey, you’ll always be my star.”

* * * * *