Chloe gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. Her dark eyes shone with unshed tears. James and Alice mirrored her reaction. “Addy?”
“Chloe, I’ve been in love with you since the first time I ordered the tofu eggrolls. Since I left you my number you’ve calmed me, motivated me, and cherished me. I can only hope I’ve done the same for you.” Lost for words, Chloe merely nodded. “So, the point of this is to say, would you do me the honor of being my wife? Let’s find that cabin in the woods and live a beautiful life together?”
Chloe slid off the couch and got to her knees, now eye-level with Addison. “Absolutely, I’d be honored to be your wife.” She held up a finger and fumbled in her cardigan pocket. “There’s just one thing,” she said as she pulled out a tiny velvet bag. Overturning the bag in her hand, a gold band with a solitaire diamond landed with a small thud. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
Before anyone could react, Alice screamed and jumped to her feet, sending her empty wine glass clattering to the floor. James hurriedly picked it up before tugging Alice onto his lap and shushing her. “Let them finish,” he urged.
“Of course, sorry.” Alice pursed her lips shut, her eyes darting back and forth between Addison and Chloe like she was watching a tennis match. She bounced like a child on Santa’s knee until James pinched her elbow and stopped her fidgeting.
“Of my God.” Addison panted, reaching out and sliding the ring on her fourth finger. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”
Both women giggled, staring at their rings in wonder. Chloe pulled Addison in for a kiss, while James and Alice tiptoed into the kitchen.
“Did you have any idea?” Alice stage-whispered to James.
“If I did, don’t you think I would have said something?” He was incredulous. “I’m a terrible secret keeper, almost as bad as you.”
Alice scoffed. “I’m not a bad secret keeper.” She nibbled her lip a moment before bursting out into a fit of laughter. “Yeah, okay. We’re both pretty bad at keeping secrets.”
From the living room, Addison shouted, “You’re both the worst!”
“Love you, too, Addy,” James replied, tugging his wife closer.
“This is the best Christmas, ever.” Alice melted against him, chasing his lips for a kiss.
“I have to agree. How about we give these two a little privacy? I have an idea.”
Alice took his hand and followed her husband into the studio. The space was equipped with bright overhead lights, but for the holidays James had hung twinkle lights around the space. He turned them on now, ushering Alice to the far corner where a small loveseat waited for them.
While Alice got settled into her seat, James pulled a bottle of wine from one of their many travels. It was a special bottle they were saving for a special occasion. “We’ll share with the girls in a minute, but first,” he said, popping the cork and pouring two portions into old paint glasses, “a Christmas toast.”
“I love you, you know that, right?” Alice teased, clinking glasses and opening her arms for James. He gracelessly fell onto the couch beside her, pulling her close until they were flush against each other. His heart rate slowed as they clicked into place. No matter where they were in the world, James never felt more at home than in Alice’s arms.
“I love you more, Alice.”
And there they sat, surrounded by twinkle lights in their creative space. To their left sat a bunch of James’s completed canvases ready for their next showing. To their right was Alice’s writing nook, her typewriter ribbon replaced, and a stack of paper at the ready. Despite all their journeys and adventures, Alice couldn’t think of a better place to be for Christmas than right here, in Buckeye Falls with her husband, friends, and family.
