Chapter Thirty-two
“Ready?” Tucker said as he slid off the tailgate and closed it.
Sheila said, “Yep.” Then walked into his arms. “I am very ready.”
“Nice.”
He and Sheila drove up to the chapel house and quietly helped the Jacobs pile the presents under their tree.
Then Jack and Diane walked with them out to the truck. “I don’t know how we’ll ever thank you for everything,” Diane said.
“You’ll pay it forward,” Tucker said. “That’s how things work.”
“I have one more thing.” Sheila pulled the card from her pocket and handed it to Jack. “I want to help. I wish I could just give you this money. I can’t, but I can loan it to you. Interest-free. You take however long it takes. It’s the deductible for your insurance.”
“No. That’s too much. You can’t.” Jack pushed it back toward her.
“I can. I am. You will get through this. Sometimes we just need a hand up and I want to do this for you. Please allow me to.”
“But you don’t even know us,” he said.
“This is too generous,” Diane said.
“Please. We’ll work out the details over the next few months, but you need to be able to pull the trigger with the insurance company and not worry about this one part of all the recovery ahead of you.”
“Thank you.”
Diane hugged Sheila. “Thank you. So much. We will make this up to you. I promise.”
“You’re welcome. I know you will.” She stepped toward the door. “We’ve got to run. We’ve got family waiting for us, and you’ve got to get some sleep. Those babies are going to wake you up at the crack of dawn to see what Santa brought!”
“You’ve got that right,” Jack said. “Thank you. Sincerely. We really appreciate this.”
“Merry Christmas,” they said as Sheila and Tucker hopped back in his truck.
Tucker stared at her for a long moment before he started the truck. “You are amazing. How did you come up with that so quickly, over the holidays?”
“Sold the Tesla.”
His mouth dropped. “You didn’t.”
“I did. I was going to anyway. I knew someone who could afford it and made a call. He was delighted. Treated himself to it for a Christmas present.” She shrugged. “It seemed like the right thing to do. I’m so happy to be able to help them.” She choked back a sob. “I’m so grateful to be able to be a part of this.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so glad you forgave me. I’ll never make you worry—well, I guess I can’t promise that, but I won’t do it on purpose and I’ll always be there for you. Forever. Always. All the ways possible.”
“That’s a lot of always and forevers.”
“I’m serious. I know it’s fast, but I believe that with all my heart.”
“I feel it too.” She let out a breath. “I’ve never been this happy. I have a feeling I’ll be spending more time up this way.”
“Really? You just gave me the best Christmas present ever.” Tucker nodded. “This is great. I’ll come to Richmond too. It’ll work out.”
He reached over and put his hand on top of hers. They drove back to Orene’s in comfortable silence, sneaking occasional smiling glances, and he picked up her hand and kissed it.
She squeezed the kiss closed in her hand.
They got out of the truck.
“What’s that?” Sheila stopped tilting her head and leaning in to get a better listen.
Tucker paused. “It’s the church bells. They ring them at midnight on Christmas Eve.”
“It’s beautiful.”
He stopped and pulled her in front of him, hugging her. “It is.”
Orene walked outside. “Yes, they are ringing. It’s officially Christmas.” Natalie, Randy, Eli, Amanda, and Paul all walked outside and joined Orene on the porch. Tucker and Sheila walked hand in hand to join them.
“It’s so beautiful,” Sheila said.
“Merry Christmas, everyone.” Orene raised her hands in the air.
Words of merriment and joy were passed among them. Tucker chimed in glancing over at Sheila. “The Merriest Christmas I’ve had in a very long time.”
“I guess that means we get to open presents now,” Sheila said with delight.
Orene laughed. “Well, I guess that’s true.”
“Come on, y’all!” Sheila led the way, and everyone followed into the living room and gathered around Orene’s beautiful tinsel tree.
Sheila dove for the present wrapped in the pretty toile paper she’d brought for Orene. “Open mine first.”
Orene held the package in the air. “She tried to get me to open this on the thirteenth. I made her wait.”
“That was almost two weeks ago, which was pure torture for me.” Shelia sounded extremely dramatic about it, which Tucker found endearing.
“I shouldn’t be the first one,” Orene said. “Randy, why don’t you give Natalie hers?”
Randy shook his head. “You go first. Then Natalie can open hers from me.”
“Fine by me!” Orene ripped into that paper like a hungry beagle with a steak bone. “Oh my goodness!” She lifted the holiday teapot for everyone to see.
Sheila was tickled by Orene’s reaction.
“I’ve never seen one like this! No wonder you were so excited for me to open it. Thank you so much. It’s perfect! It’s going to be a special addition to my collection.” She hugged the teapot.
“I knew it would,” Sheila said. “I thought of you as soon as I saw it.” She was all smiles and clapping like a youngster still filled with the magic of Santa and wishes come true. “This is so fun.” She turned to Randy. “Can you two please open my gift to you before Natalie opens yours?”
Randy didn’t say anything, but Natalie did: “Yes. I know how you hate to wait.”
Sheila handed them the package. “Goody, thanks!”
Natalie removed the paper, slowly just like always, and then let Randy take the top off the box.
Before they could even see what was inside, Sheila was spoiling the surprise. “I wanted to be the first to give you ornaments as a couple, since this is kind of your first official Christmas together as a serious couple.”
Randy held a turquoise-colored ornament up. “These are like the ornaments my grandmother used to have on her tree. Thanks, Sheila. This really is a special gift. Perfect for this Christmas.”
Natalie hugged Sheila. “Thank you so much.”
“Now it’s my turn.” Randy handed Natalie a small package. He let out a long breath, and Tucker wondered if he might pass out.
“I can’t wait.” Natalie hunched her shoulders in excitement. Inside, there was a small photo album. The cover was wooden, with an etched image of her cabin on the front. “This is exquisite.” She grazed her fingers across the indentations. “How did you do this?”
Randy nodded to Tucker. “Tucker made the photo album and did the engraving.”
“Really?” Natalie said.
Sheila swung around and looked at him. “What other talents are you hiding from me?”
“Wait and see.” Tucker blushed. “I’m no expert. I mess around. It turned out pretty good, though. I’m glad you like it.”
“So sweet.” Natalie held the album close.
“Look inside,” Randy insisted, glancing over at Tucker.
“Oh. There are pictures inside?” Natalie opened the cover, and Sheila huddled closer to see them over her shoulder.
“Oh gosh, this is when we visited your sister at Giddy-Up and Go when she was at the art festival.” Natalie turned the picture for everyone to see. “And the first time we ate at Trout and Snout together.”
Randy explained, “My sister opened a coffee shop in a horse trailer that she moves around. It’s called Giddy Up and Go.”
“It’s so cool, she built it out of a horse trailer,” Natalie said. “The coffee and tea are wonderful, but she’s a baker too.”
“Cute idea,” Tucker said. “We should hire her to come up for one of the festivals.”
“We should,” Randy agreed.
Natalie giggled and commented as she flipped through the pictures, and then she stopped. “Whoa.”
“Another giddy-up-and-go moment?” Sheila teased.
Randy sat there bobbing his head with this weird expression on his face.
The sudden silence caught Sheila off guard. “What’s going on?”
Natalie lifted the photo album and showed the last picture to them. It was a picture of the tree topper he’d made for her, and next to it, in script, Randy had written,
Natalie,
Will you be my wife?
With all my love,
Randy
“Yes!” Natalie leapt from her seat.
Randy swept her into his arms and kissed her. He spun her around in a circle, kissing her on the forehead, the nose, and then the cheek. “I love you madly.”
“I love you too.”
“Your ring was in the birdhouse tree topper the whole time,” he explained. “I was afraid the tree was going to be whisked off with your ring inside! I was going to propose during the Christmas Tree Stroll but there was never a good time.”
“But it wasn’t.” Orene pulled the two-story birdhouse tree topper out from behind the couch. “It’s right here. The bird nest you put on top of the tree you delivered wasn’t quite as fancy, but I don’t think Ms. Ferebee will ever know the difference.”
Randy picked it up and held it in front of Natalie. “Lift the roof.”
Sheila watched, with tears in her eyes, as her friend lifted the rooftop. Engraved in the wood was “I love you. Be my better half forever. With all my heart, I want to make you happy every day of your life.” Inside, a Tiffany Blue box. Natalie’s hands shook as she retrieved it and handed it to Randy.
Orene, Natalie, Sheila, and Amanda were all crying.
Randy popped the lid open, and lifted the diamond ring from the box; then he took a knee. “Let’s make this official. Natalie, I’ve already talked to Paul and asked for your hand in marriage, and we have his blessing. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man in the world?”
She said, “I will,” and her hand still shook as he slid the ring on her finger.
Tucker reached for Sheila’s hand and squeezed it.
“Merry Christmas, Nat,” Randy said. “And to all of you, who make living in this town so wonderful. I can’t wait to see what happens in our next chapter in Chestnut Ridge together.”
Tucker whispered into Sheila’s ear, “It’s going to be a really good year. I can feel it.”
“I’m going to follow the stars,” Sheila said.
“What exactly does that mean?” Tucker asked.
“Following the stars instead of a schedule. I’m going to live my life according to the natural rhythms that come my way, rather than adhering to a strict schedule.”
“That sounds promising.”
“I think so. You know, more spontaneous.”
“Like playing catch in the grocery store?” he asked.
“Excellent example. It seems to be working for me already. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.”
“I’d like to help you with this whole following-the-stars thing.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Randy and Natalie were showing the ring to the others.
Tucker walked Sheila into the next room, and out the back French doors. “This has been a Christmas to remember,” he said. “It’s beautiful back here.”
“It is. This has been such an amazing Christmas.”
“You don’t think it’s possible that all this, you and me, is just Christmas magic? I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and you’re going to have forgotten me?”
“Not on your life.” She shook her head, taking a breath, almost afraid to speak from her heart and break the spell. She understood what he was feeling. She was afraid too. “I don’t think so, because I’m honestly counting the days and the ways that we can experience wonderful things together in the new year.”
He turned toward her. “This doesn’t happen by accident. I wasn’t looking. Neither were you. We just—”
“Fit. So perfectly.”
“Yes,” he said. “My job is important to me, but I want to experience life too. I can see that with you.”
A whirl of excitement pushed through her. “I know. I didn’t even know that’s what I wanted. But I do.”
“The timing and the stars just finally lined up for us. We owe ourselves the chance.”
“Yes. You’re right.” She slid her hand down his arm, then laced her fingers with his.
He rested his body against hers as he looked to the sky. “What a special night.”
She followed his gaze, and at that moment a shooting star zoomed across the sky. Instinctively, her hand reached for the sky.
Tucker said, “Tell me you just saw that too.”
“I did.”
“My mom always told me that a couple witnessing a shooting star together means they’ve found their soulmate.”
“This is better than snow,” she said.
“I’d follow you anywhere,” he said.
“You won’t have to,” Sheila said. “I’m going to be right here in Chestnut Ridge with you.”
“Well, that’s good, because even if it snowed three feet, I could snowshoe to come see you.”
She froze. “Wait a minute. You don’t really get that much snow, do you? Please tell me you don’t own snowshoes.”
“I don’t, and you won’t need any either.”
“Thank goodness, because that might be a little too much snow for me.”
“No such thing. We’d just have to build more snowmen to clear the sidewalk, and how bad could that be?”
“Not bad at all as long as it’s with you.”