Chapter 35
Dax
T he bushes outside our home are lit with colorful lights and there’s a freshly cut large tree in the living room. Every day, Molly makes more decorations, and I may have gone overboard on the presents that will be under the tree on Christmas morning.
“I think I’m going to be sick to my stomach,” Kandace says as we wait for our guests to arrive.
“You’re fine,” I say. “They’ll love you and Molly.”
“We’ve been living here since early November. If your parents really wanted to meet me and Molly, they would have been here sooner, before the holiday.”
Taking a deep breath, I confess. “Mom has wanted to come to Riverbend since I first told her. I told her no.” I shrug. “I wanted time with you, Kandace. I didn’t want them to interrupt what I wanted to build.”
“She wanted to come?”
I nod.
“She doesn’t hate me?”
“No, of course she doesn’t hate you.”
“Your dad?” she asks.
“He’s good.” I reach for her cheek. “They know I’m happy.”
Her blue eyes shine as her head tilts to my touch. “So am I. I’m so very happy.”
The doorbell chimes.
“They rang the doorbell,” Kandace says.
“It’s what people do.”
“My parents don’t.”
I laugh. “No, they have our garage door code programmed into their cars.”
“Well, usually that isn’t a problem.”
Yeah, I’ve tried to block out Randy’s visit while Molly was at school, and Kandace and I were… occupied.
Kandace smooths the skirt of her dress and looks up at me. Taking her hand, I brush her cheek with a kiss.
Together, we go to the front door.
As soon as I open it, my parents step inside as the cool air mingles with the heat. I barely have a chance to do more than welcome them before Mom comes forward and hugs Kandace. The embrace lasts longer than I would have thought, but when Mom pulls back, she has tears in her eyes.
“Kandace, thank you.”
Her eyelids flutter. “For…?”
Mom looks at me and back to Kandace. “Making Dax happy. It’s the best feeling as a parent to know your child is happy.”
Kandace grins. “He makes me happy. He always has.”
“When do we get to see our granddaughter?” Dad asks and he shivers. “Next Christmas, you should all come down to Florida. Hell of a lot warmer.”
“Let me take your coats,” I offer. “Where are your suitcases?”
Mom shakes her head. “We have a room in Washington. You don’t need us here.” She turns to Kandace as she shrugs off her coat. “Dax says you’re busy at Quintessential Treasures and that you’ve made some changes. I’d love to see the store.”
“I’d love to show you.”
It’s at that moment that Molly comes down the stairs with a tentative smile.
Mom’s fingertips go to her lips as my dad’s smile grows.
“Come on down,” Kandace says. “Remember we told you that Daddy’s parents were coming. Molly, this is your other grandpa and grandma.”
“Hi.” She’s still a few steps up and holding tightly to the banister.
Mom steps forward. “You’re as beautiful as your pictures.”
Molly’s head tilts as a smile begins to form. “You have eyes like me and Daddy.”
Mom nods. “I do.”
Molly comes the rest of the way down and Mom gives her a hug. She reaches for my hand and looks up at me. “Daddy, are we going to go to Grandma and Granddad’s house?”
“We are.” I look at my parents. “Family dinner.”
“You’ve been warned,” Kandace says.
“I remember your parents,” Dad replies. “Randy was a few grades behind me.”
My brow lengthens. “I didn’t know that.”
“How’s he doing?” Dad asks. “Dax told us about the health issue.”
“Granddad is good,” Molly volunteers.
We drive out to the farm in two cars, and I can sense that Kandace’s nerves are calming.
Snow swirls in the air as we make our way up to the porch.
Inside, I introduce my parents to Bridget, Randy, and Justin as Molly runs upstairs to her old room.
She inspects it each time we visit and finds one or two more things to take to our home.
Soon, everyone is talking. Dad is in the living room with Randy and Justin, while Mom is in the kitchen with Bridget and Kandace.
There’s a fire in the fireplace and the tree in the living room fills the house with the scent of pine.
That’s not completely true. The aroma of turkey is making my stomach growl.
The dining room is set for the eight of us.
Just before dinner, Kandace comes out to the living room and whispers in my ear, “Everyone is getting along. Your mom is friendly.”
Not always, but I’ll go with it.
It’s as we finish our meal with too many side dishes that I stand and reach for Kandace’s hand, encouraging her to stand.
“You’re not going to kiss, are you?” Molly asks.
Kandace grins at me.
My voice is suddenly shaky as I fall to one knee, and Kandace’s eyes fill with tears. “I love you.”
She is nodding as her hand in mine begins to tremble. “Dax?”
I go on. “I have loved you since we were young. I never knew happiness like I did here with you. Kandace Sheers, I love you and our daughter, but never think this isn’t about you.
It is. You are the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with.
I’m so proud of your dreams and your strength.
I want to share those. I want to lean on you when I feel weak, and have you lean on me when you need a shoulder.
I want to be a couple in all things…partners. ”
I clear my throat as I reach into the pocket of my jeans and pull out a diamond engagement ring. It’s a two-carat round diamond surrounded by smaller diamonds and sapphires.
“The woman at the store said that April’s birthstone is both diamonds and sapphires. “You and I are the large diamond, and the smaller stones are for Molly’s birth month.”
Tears make their way down her cheeks.
I stand and offer her the ring. “Kandace, will you marry me?”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”
It’s then that the rest of the room comes into focus. Molly is now on Bridget’s lap and both Bridget and my mom are dabbing their eyes with napkins. Randy is the one to stand and lift his glass of water. “A toast to Dax and Kandace.”
Everyone raises their glass except Justin.
Finally, Kandace’s brother grins and lifts his glass. “Welcome to the family,” he says.
Everyone cheers.
I go to Molly and lift her from her grandma’s lap. “How about it, Molly? Are you okay with Mom and Dad getting married?”
“What took you so long?”
The room fills with laughter as Bridget brings two homemade pies into the dining room.
Sitting at my side, Kandace looks down at the ring and back to me. “I love the ring. It’s beautiful.”
“I had some help picking it out.”
“Who?”
“Your mom.”