Chapter 28 Nate
NATE
"It's going to be okay," I whispered from the side of my mouth, bending to make sure Ember could hear me under the roar of celebratory cheers and holiday music.
I'd been trying, without success, to coax her out of the ball of fear and anxious tension she lived in since the second she woke up this morning.
My hand was firmly locked in her grip, something she almost refused but I told her was necessary.
I knew she needed the grounding, and it helped me too.
I was about to take on this entire crowd and all their nasty opinions of me in a speech I'd prepared for just this moment.
For months they tried to chase me off this pedestal, and I'd held my ground, and today was the day I intended to put my foot down.
I may have been naive in the beginning concerning Ember and what the media attention might do to us, but I was walking into this with eyes wide open.
I knew how to speak to a crowd, and I fully intended to walk her through this and show her that more people could have a change of heart just like my father if we both took this bold stand.
"Nate, I don't know." She tried to turn away, especially when the committee leaders took the stage next to us, but I held her hand tightly.
"Baby, it's now or never. I'm not going to let them keep hounding us. Please," I whispered, this time directly in her ear, "trust me."
Ember nodded, but she chewed the inside of her lip.
I could see her jaw working and watched her hand flutter to her belly unconsciously.
Her eyes darted up to meet mine when the jeers started, chants of "Daddy Claus" and other worse insults until someone outright booed us, probably expecting us to leave the stage.
But I stood there with my hand in hers and my shoulders squared.
They weren't scaring me off and I wasn't going to placate them by even appearing anxious.
I kept my broad, toothy smile and reached into my pocket to produce the key of light as Thomas Reed took the microphone and the crowd started to quiet.
"Thank you all for coming," he started, clearing his throat before continuing.
He opened with the history of the town’s tree-lighting ceremony, then dived into the representation of lights on Christmas.
His voice was stiff, and I could tell he held less enthusiasm this year than in previous years, but I kept my composure and waited for my moment.
And there, before I even stepped forward to light the tree and see the town's celebration of the holiday season begin, I felt pride swell.
I was so proud of Ember for not giving up, proud of myself for standing strong in the face of everything.
And I knew before I even took the mic that everything was going to be okay.
"And now, Dr. Nathan Bradley, this year's Lightkeeper," Reed said with a hint of distaste in his tone, "will you please step forward with the key of light and light this year's Christmas tree?"
Ember and I moved as a unit. I refused to let go of her hand as I moved to my position on the stage and put the key into the prop shaped like a lock.
When I did, the lights shot up the tree and across the courtyard, drawing a gasp from the audience, followed by oohs and ahhs.
It was spectacular the way such a small gesture could unify an entire community, and I seized the moment to step to the mic and adjust it to my height.
It wasn’t time for my speech, but it was the perfect time to say exactly what I had on my heart.
"This is a little unorthodox, but I want to take a moment today to thank you all for coming out tonight." I squeezed Ember's hand and pulled her closer. "And I also want to say a few words." Tom Reed glowered at me for crossing the line, but I'd been pushed far enough. This needed to be said.
"These past few months, I've remained quiet on something that I should've spoken up about and I would like to take a moment now to do just that." I waited as the crowd hushed.
I knew there was supposed to be a band playing and carols, but this moment was too important to let pass me by.
"For months, Ember Harrison and I have represented the community as your symbols of hope and family and home.
"For months, we've suffered ridicule and often outright hostility from members of this community who based their gossip and slander on suspicions and rumors."
I felt her trying to shrink away and I held her tighter still. "Today, I want to tell you all that I've been ashamed at times to represent this community, not because I felt like I was a failure at this position, but because of the citizens and their behavior."
"Nate," Ember whispered harshly, but I'd finally chosen to speak my mind.
"Ember and I are dating," I said, pausing as a few hushed gasps danced over the crowd.
"And I'm proud of your nickname you gave me. Daddy Claus is very fitting for me this year, because the woman I love more than anything in this world has announced to me that I am going to be a father, and I couldn’t be more grateful. "
We didn’t plan any of this, and Ember couldn't have known what I would say or do, other than I told her I'd planned to set the record straight.
So when I turned to kiss her full on the lips in front of everyone, she was as shocked as they were.
I heard audible gasps and whispers, and then applause that rose and cheers as the crowd celebrated with us.
Not everyone was smiling, and not everyone was clapping, but I saw my father and mother there.
Mom was hysterical, happy and in tears, and my father stood stoic, but with pride in his expression and his chest puffed out.
That, more than anything, was what hit me.
That my father had become my corner guy, proudly standing behind me when it mattered most.
"And I am happy to have stood for what is right and noble and true this entire time! Merry Christmas, Beacon Hill! Now, where were we?" I turned to see Thomas Reed now glaring at me, but he had no footing anymore, and he'd been removed from his high horse.
The community was speaking loud and clear that they supported this relationship even if the committee elders hated it.
And with only a few last duties as Lightkeeper, I knew they had no reason to remove me or Ember.
"Nate," she whispered again, now with cheeks the color of holly berries and a beaming grin.
"I am in love with you, Ms. Harrison," I whispered as I kissed her warmly on the cheek and guided her to the edge of the stage.
I was sure there would be more trouble, that the town wasn't yet done gossiping about us, but I'd made it known to the town, and my parents, and most importantly, to Ember, that never again would I let them push me around.
Ember and I were going to be together no matter who approved or disapproved, and I would fight to make that a reality down to my last breath.