Epilogue
Four Months Later
“Merry Christmas,” Aileen said when Foster and Charlotte walked into his mother’s house.
Everyone from New York arrived yesterday afternoon via West’s jet.
“Merry Christmas,” she said. “Are we the last ones here?”
“You are,” Aileen said. “Foster is always last.”
“It’s my fault,” she said. “I slept in this morning longer than I thought I would.”
“It’s nice of you to take the blame for Foster,” Talia said. “But we know it’s him. He can’t stand all the big gatherings.”
“I’m not as bad as I used to be,” he said. “I even stayed for all of Braylon’s wedding two months ago.”
“Because you had me by your side,” Charlotte said, giggling.
“Shhh,” he said. “Don’t let them know that.”
“I’ve never seen Foster like this,” Rowan said. She’d met all of Foster’s family at Braylon’s wedding, then flew here for Thanksgiving and now Christmas.
It’s not as if she was going home for any holiday. Though she could have spent the holiday with Amanda like she’d been doing, she didn’t want to be away from Foster and he said he had to go home.
She didn’t want to get on Aileen’s bad side either. Not when the pep talk from Foster’s mother was what forced her to open her eyes and talk to Foster so they could clear the air.
“Maybe because he’s never been in love before,” Charlotte said. No way those words were going to make her doubt her boyfriend.
No more.
“That’s right,” Foster said. “I am.”
“Can we open gifts now?” Penelope asked.
“I’m sorry, Penelope,” she said. “Someone should have told Uncle Foster that you wanted to open gifts before he decided to make a second cup of coffee.”
“I knew you were covering for him,” Talia said, laughing.
“Can we stop busting my ass and open gifts?” Foster asked.
They gathered around the biggest tree she’d ever seen and let Penelope open her gifts first. Then more were passed around.
She’d never had a Christmas like this in her life.
There was paper everywhere, lots of talking and admiring of gifts and clothing.
Foster’s family was so generous with everyone, herself included.
“What’s that?” she asked when Foster handed over a tiny stocking to her.
“Your last gift from me,” he said.
“We opened our gifts before we left,” she said. They didn’t want to pack up gifts to bring on the flight only to return home with them. She hated even leaving Marco boarded again, but she didn’t want to worry about putting him on a plane either.
“This one is special,” he said.
He was talking louder than he normally did and the room started to get quiet with more eyes on them.
“What’s so special about it?” she asked.
“Reach in and find out,” he said.
Charlotte put her fingers in the small stocking and pulled out a ring box.
There was a gasp from Aileen and a few laughs from others in the room.
“Can I open this or do you have to do it?”
Foster laughed and pulled it out of her hand. “I should do it,” he said. He flipped the lid and got down on one knee in front of her. “You know I love you. I say the words, but I always felt actions spoke louder. Everyone in this room will understand my love for you that I’m not doing this in private.”
She heard the words and understood exactly what he was saying.
Her eyes were locked on the two-carat emerald-cut diamond sitting on a diamond band.
He wasn’t flashy and fancy, but this ring was sparkling enough to make her blink.
“Your actions have always said everything I’ve needed to know,” she said.
He smiled and pulled the ring out of the box and reached for her hand. “I’m just going to get to the point,” he said. “We’ve learned it's better that way. Will you marry me? Will you be my wife and make me the happiest man on this earth?”
“Yes,” she said. “You know, getting to the point and all.” He pulled her forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips, then leaned back. “Don’t be changing on me now!” She yanked his mouth forward and plastered her lips to his to the sound of clapping in the room.
The End!