Chapter 13
13
“ W hy don’t you drive?” Ginger suggested as they strolled toward the parking area after the performance.
“Are you sure?” Oliver replied, putting his arm around her.
“Tonight I want an excuse to wrap my arms around you.” She had something important to ask him.
Oliver threw his head back and laughed. “You never need an excuse for that—you always have my permission.”
When they reached the scooter, Ginger slipped on her helmet, and he helped her onto the back of the Vespa.
After he got on, she slid her arms around his torso and squeezed.
“Ready back there?” he asked.
“I’m ready for anything.” She flipped her red scarf over her shoulder as the scooter rumbled to life. “Let’s take the beach route to the cafe. It’s such a beautiful night.”
“You read my mind.” Oliver steered through the parking area. “Do you think anyone will mind if we’re a little late?”
Ginger laughed into the breeze. “One advantage to age is we can do as we please. Within reason,” she added. “Merry Christmas,” she called out, waving as they passed people she knew.
Friends answered her and waved them through the line of cars exiting.
“See? Age has its benefits,” she said.
“No, that’s all for you, darling.” Oliver chuckled. “I feel like I’m with a celebrity. You’re adored in Summer Beach. Will you miss that?”
“That was never a goal for me.” She rested her head against his shoulder, enjoying the ride as they whizzed past a kaleidoscope of lights down Main Street. She could feel the beating of his heart, matching her own.
Within minutes, they were near the beach, and Oliver veered to one side. “Mind if we stop?”
“Let’s. The moonlight on the waves is breathtaking.” She removed her helmet and rested it on the scooter as he did the same.
They were alone on the beach. In the distance, the starry night sky kissed the sea on the horizon. Oliver reached for her hand, and they strolled toward the waves in lockstep as if they’d been doing this all their lives.
Pausing at the water’s edge, Oliver turned to her. “I’ve been thinking…our life is what we decide to make of it.”
“I’ve always thought so, too. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” She squeezed his hand. “We’ve both created the paths we wanted...”
“I’ve admired that about you.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed her fingers.
Ginger warmed to his touch. She selected her words carefully, though she wanted to appear nonchalant. “You were fabulous onstage tonight. What a marvelous surprise. You were so charming, distinguished, and handsome. I felt like the luckiest woman in the audience when you pointed to me.”
“I meant every word of it. All I want for Christmas, and the rest of my life, is you.” He dropped slowly to one knee. “Will you marry me, Ginger?”
“Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she said, pulling him to his feet. “You might hurt your knees on a shell or a piece of driftwood. Let’s not end a romantic evening like that. What will I do with you?”
He laughed, shaking his head. “You can’t answer a question like that with a question. It’s not an answer.”
“Of course it is. Let’s be partners, Oliver. You know I won’t have it any other way.” She hesitated, but only for dramatic effect. She knew what she wanted, but he had beat her to the question. Still, she wanted it noted for the record. “My dearest Oliver, will you marry me? I had hoped to ask you first.”
Smiling, he pressed a hand to his heart. “A million times, my love.”
“That sounds rather extravagant,” Ginger said. “Let’s start with just once.” She met his lips in a kiss that made her feel like a young woman again. Then, tapping her foot, she said, “Now, what shall we do about rings? Some traditions I’m all for.”
Oliver slapped a hand to his cheek and shook his head with a merry expression. “You really are something. This isn’t going quite like I envisioned. I thought we’d shop for rings together.”
“Why, I like that idea even better. Not that I need one, but I wanted to chide you a little, so we don’t get too serious about this. At our age, that could be dangerous.”
“And riding a scooter isn’t?”
“Not in Summer Beach. People watch out for celebrities.”
Laughing, Oliver wrapped his arms around her. “Please don’t ever change. You keep life interesting, Ginger Delavie.”
“As do you, Oliver Powell. You know, I think we’ll be fabulous together.”
“We already are.”
Ginger looped her red scarf around his neck and drew him in for a kiss.
In each other’s arms, the years melted away. Their love, like nature, was timeless. Waves still raced to the shore, stars still glimmered in the sky, and the sun would rise again.
Ginger knew this was the right step for them. “Should we join the party now?”
“I’d like that. Do you want to share our news tonight?”
“I think it will make a marvelous memory, but are you ready for their questions about where we plan to live?”
Oliver raised his brow and nodded. “I’ve been pondering that, and tonight, I had an epiphany. I have a proposal for you.”
“Another one?”
“There’s always another option, my love.”
They strolled back to the scooter, deep in conversation.
By the time Ginger and Oliver arrived at the cafe, their family and friends were crowded around the firepit and lining up for the buffet Marina had organized.
“Over here,” Marina called, motioning them to the chef’s table in the kitchen area. “We saved seats for you.”
She warmed food on the stovetop while Brooke ferried dishes to the buffet table. Ethan poured the wine, and Heather stirred hot cocoa.
“Why, thank you, dear. What a marvelous holiday party.” Ginger loosened her scarf.
“Where have you been?” Kai asked, cradling a sleeping little Stella. “We were getting worried about you. We picked up the girls from the sitter and were surprised we beat you here.”
Oliver put his arm around Ginger, his eyes twinkling. “Should we tell them?”
“Why not? It’s Christmas Eve.” Ginger beamed at her family and, taking Oliver’s hand, said, “We stopped by the beach, and we proposed to each other.”
“Oh, my goodness,” Kai said, bouncing in her seat. “You’re engaged?”
Oliver looked at Ginger with pride, and she nodded. “In the interest of time, we decided to skip an engagement and simply get married. We’re considering New Year’s Day because everyone will be here. We could invite the pastor to our open house for a brief ceremony before the feast.”
Kai’s eyes glittered. “That’s fabulous. I’ll help organize it.”
“And where will you live?” Marina asked.
“We weighed our options,” Ginger replied. She had told Oliver that Marina would probably be the first to ask the question. “We’ve come up with a brilliant idea.”
Oliver cleared his throat. “My nephew wants me to move near him in Boston, but I can’t take Ginger out of her element. I’ve also grown accustomed to Summer Beach and all of you, who have welcomed me into your family.”
Marina smiled. “We love having you. You’ve made our grandmother so happy.”
“Indeed he has.” Ginger kissed Oliver’s cheek. “He offered to build a new home for us here, one that would be ours together.”
Oliver shook his head. “We decided we’d rather visit Paris and Marrakech than spend time doing that, especially since Ginger already has a home on the beach.”
“However, I thought Oliver should feel like it’s his home, too,” Ginger said. “So we came up with a compromise.”
“What’s that?” Heather asked, setting two mugs of hot cocoa in front of them.
“Why, thank you,” Oliver said, pausing for a sip. “We decided to add a large primary suite onto the lower level of the cottage. We might grow weary of stairs someday, and I want Ginger to have a luxurious whirlpool bath.”
Ginger nudged him and smiled. “Large enough for two, I should think. For therapeutic reasons, of course.”
Jack grinned. “Is that what you call it?”
While Marina swatted her husband, Oliver lifted his chin toward Axe. “What do you think about that idea? From a building perspective, can you make it work?”
“I’m sure we can,” Axe replied. “It’s a great solution.”
“That’s what we thought, too.” Oliver squeezed Ginger’s shoulder. “I’ll sell my home, and we’ll buy a townhome in Boston to visit Chris and his family.”
“I’ve always loved Boston and Cambridge,” Ginger said. “We can take trains all over the East Coast, and it’s a short flight to Europe from there.”
A smile grew on Marina’s face. “You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”
Kai looked relieved. “We were all so worried you’d move away and we’d never see you again. We still need you.”
“None of you need me, but I’m flattered you think so,” Ginger said, smoothing a hand over Kai’s. “You’re all marvelous young women—and men.”
“I like this idea,” Marina said.
Heather nodded, too. “I’ll move out when Blake and I marry, so you’ll have the cottage to yourselves.” She paused, looking a little embarrassed. “If that’s okay with you. Or I could move in with Mom, Jack, and Leo for a few months.”
“No, dear,” Ginger said. “We both want you to stay there.”
Marina came around the table and hugged Ginger. “I’m so glad you and Oliver found a path ahead.”
“Perhaps Holly’s ornament foretold our future as well.” Ginger smiled and said, “There is always a way to create the life you want.” She looked around the table into the faces of those she loved. “That goes for every one of you.”
“Hear, hear,” Oliver said, raising his mug. “And here’s to a Merry Christmas for all of us.”
“And so much more,” Ginger said. “May the warmth of this holiday season spill over into the new year and beyond.”
As the clock struck midnight, they all clinked their mugs—to Christmas, the future, and a sunny life ahead.