23. Dulcie #2
After a few minutes, the trail widened to reveal a rustic log cabin. Warm light glowed in the windows, and lanterns hung from the eaves lit the wide front porch. A plume of smoke swirled from the chimney.
“This is Mia’s,” Samuel announced. “Mia has prepared a beautiful meal for the two of you. I know you’ll have a memorable night.”
The name sounded familiar, but Dulcie couldn’t place it. Anyway, it was unlikely she would know a former chef who had opened a fancy restaurant in a log cabin in the hills of Vermont.
West hopped out first, landing as gracefully as a big cat on the snowy path below.
“Thank you,” Dulcie said as Samuel handed her out.
West took her hand again and they climbed the stairs to the restaurant.
The door opened for them, and a man who introduced himself as Remi ushered them into the warm space that was filled with the savory aroma of roasting tomatoes, bacon, garlic, and fresh bread.
Dulcie took in the high, beamed ceilings as they were led to a table with a red-checkered cloth beside a roaring fire.
As West listened to Remi speak a little about the restaurant itself, Dulcie found herself lost in the black and white photographs of Italian scenes from long ago. There was something special about this place, so hidden away, and so new and old at the same time.
When Remi excused himself, West looked over at Dulcie, who was gazing at a photo of a man riding a bicycle down the quaint street of a village.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said softly.
A striking, dark-haired woman entered and smiled warmly at the two of them.
“Welcome,” she said. “I’m Mia.”
“You’re the Christmas Star,” Dulcie realized out loud, recognizing the woman who had been honored for her contributions to Sugarville Grove at the tree lighting ceremony.
“I didn’t think that would make me a real celebrity,” Mia said, chuckling. “But it was very kind of the mayor to make such a fuss, and hopefully it drew more attention to the food drive.”
“Thank you so much for having us tonight,” West said.
“It’s my pleasure,” she told him. “I’ve prepared something special for the two of you. In Italian families, we like to open our homes on Christmas Eve to friends and family, to celebrate the feast of the seven fishes. Tonight, the two of you will share a version of the feast, in miniature.”
“Incredible,” West said, shaking his head.
“Remi will be out in a moment with bacon-wrapped scallops to begin,” she said with a smile.
Mia was beautiful and sophisticated, but Dulcie couldn’t help noticing that there was a hint of sadness in her smile.
Maybe there was something to Tripp’s gossip.
Or maybe she was just lonesome. It must be strange for a New York chef to find herself so far out in the woods, even if it was by choice.
“Do you like seafood?” West asked Dulcie, his brow furrowed.
“I love it,” she told him right away. “Sorry, I was just lost in thought.”
He nodded.
“It’s a luxury,” she realized out loud. “Having the time to lose yourself in your thoughts.”
So much of it had to do with the feeling of safety she had with West, knowing she could relax and let him lead if she wanted, because he would never let her down.
“I’m glad you have a little time to think,” he told her. “Have you decided what you want to do next?”
“What do you mean?” she asked.
“Well, you’ve spent most of your life worrying about your sister,” he said. “Now she’s safe, and you know you can keep her that way. So, what are you hoping for?”
“Well, she’ll start school in the New Year,” Dulcie said. “I’m hoping that she makes friends and that she can keep up, though I’m not sure how much school she missed back home.”
“I’m sure she’ll make friends,” West said with a fond smile. “That kid lights up a room. And wherever she is with school, it’s just a starting point. Olivia will help her out, and Zane’s wife Becca is a teacher. We’ll have her at the top of the class in no time.”
“Your family is incredible,” Dulcie said, shaking her head in wonder.
“They are,” he agreed. “But what I was really asking, Dulcie, is what do you want for yourself? What do you want to do next?”
“I… I’m not sure,” she admitted.
Maybe West was putting it kindly, but he wasn’t wrong—she had really never taken her eye off the ball when it came to Delphine. And it meant that she was probably pretty far behind when it came to her own life.
“There’s no rush,” he said gently, as if he had read her mind. “You have all the time in the world to decide. Although my family will hit you up for everything under the sun if they think you aren’t busy.”
She smiled at that. After just a few weeks with the Lawrence family, she could easily see them keeping her occupied for the rest of her life. There were so many of them, and they all kept so active.
“I wouldn’t mind that,” she told him, meaning it.
“Good,” he said, nodding. “Then you won’t rush into something you don’t love. You’ll give it some thought, maybe even go back to school yourself, if that’s something that interests you.”
Dulcie nodded, the idea of going back to school suddenly taking hold of her imagination. She had never considered it, and she had no idea how she would pay for it. But suddenly, she did have an idea of something she might like to do.
“I hope you’ll give this some thought too,” West said. “And there’s no rush on it either. But when you’re ready, if you’re ever ready…”
She watched in wonder as he slipped out of his chair and knelt beside hers.
“I want you to know that you and Delphine are everything to me and to Elizabeth too,” he said, his dark eyes serious. “You have my heart, and everything else of mine is yours too.”
He was holding a ring. A tiny diamond sparkled at its center.
“West,” she breathed.
He smiled up at her, his expression a study in patience and longing.
“Do you mean it?” she heard herself whisper.
“Of course I mean it,” he said, his eyes flashing.
A version of Dulcie last year, or even last month would never have believed that a man like West Lawrence could love her and want her to be his wife.
But as his proposal settled around her, she realized that it wasn’t just her circumstances that had changed. Everything was different now for Dulcie, including the way she slept at night, the way she saw the world and the people around her, and the way she felt about herself.
For years, she had seen herself through her father’s eyes—never good enough, never important, a drain on him and on the world. It had taken space and the support of someone who truly cared about her to give her perspective on her own worth. If someone like West could love her…
Yes, West was a doctor and an established member of his community. But more importantly, he was a good man with a heart of gold.
And Dulcie was a resourceful, loyal, and determined woman.
She deserved to be happy.
They deserved each other.
“Yes,” she said simply.
“Yes?” he asked.
She nodded.
West’s expression went soft with wonder as he slid the ring onto her finger. It was a perfect fit.
Just like us…
Dulcie jumped out of her chair and West stood, pulling her close and bending to kiss her gently.
“I’m the happiest man alive,” he murmured as he pulled back to gaze down at her.
“Me too,” she told him, feeling flustered. “I mean, not the man part, but… you know.”
“Oh, I know. But I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” he told her with a teasing smile. “I think you’re going to be battling your sister for second happiest person.”
“You told her you were doing this?” Dulcie asked, suddenly worrying that maybe Delphine wouldn’t like it.
“Of course,” West said softly. “I asked her blessing. And this wouldn’t have happened without it.”
A wave of love so strong it felt almost like pain washed over her until she couldn’t speak, and she had to blink back tears.
“I hope you don’t mind,” West said. “But I didn’t want her to feel like she didn’t have a say in things around here. And I don’t ever want anything to come between the two of you.”
“Oh, West,” Dulcie sobbed. “I’m so h-happy.”
He pulled her to his chest again, pressing his lips to the crown of her head.
“And Elizabeth?” she asked through her tears.
“Yes,” he said. “She also knows, and she’s very excited. And before you ask, I told my mother too. I’m sorry, I guess you were kind of the last to know.”
Suddenly, she was laughing, and he was laughing too. Remi stepped in with a tray of delectable looking scallops and a worried expression on his face like he wasn’t sure if he should deliver the dish when the customers seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time.
“Come on over,” West told him with a smile. “My fiancée needs to eat.”
By the time they got home that night, they had full bellies and full hearts.
West parked the truck and opened Dulcie’s door for her, taking her hand as they headed up the porch steps.
“This is the end of our first date,” he said when they reached the front door. “And the beginning of our engagement.”
She turned to him, her heart pounding as she waited for him to kiss her. But she spotted something over his shoulder that made her smile.
“We have an audience,” she told him, trying not to giggle as she pretended she didn’t see their friendly spies .
She moved slightly, giving him an excuse to turn so that he could catch a glimpse of Elizabeth, Delphine, and even Maggie peering avidly out the front window.
“Can I kiss you anyway?” West asked. “I’ll keep our fan club in mind.”
She nodded, feeling shy all of a sudden, even though they were engaged. West tugged her hand, pulling her close, and then his eyes met hers and all her shyness melted away.
When he cupped her cheek in his hand and bent to meet her lips, she felt like a thousand butterflies were taking wing in her chest all at once.
He kissed her gently and pulled back right away, his eyes dancing.
When they turned back to the window, the three watchers inside were all smiling. West pulled the front door open with a flourish and gestured for Dulcie to lead the way.
“Oh, you’re back,” Maggie said, pretending to be surprised as her blue eyes twinkled with merriment.
“ Did you ask her?” Elizabeth demanded, running to her father.
“Yes, did you?” Delphine echoed.
“You two are not very good at keeping secrets,” West teased them with a big smile so they would know he wasn’t really disappointed in them.
Dulcie lifted her hand to show off her beautiful new ring, and both girls squealed and ran over to hug her.
“This is really okay with you both?” she asked.
“ Yes, ” they both answered at once.
Dulcie turned to Maggie, but the older woman was already coming for her with open arms and tears in her eyes.
“I’m so glad it’s going to be official,” Maggie murmured in her ear as she squeezed her hard. “But I hope you know you’ve been part of this family since the day you got here.”
Dulcie squeezed her back hard, and the others all wiggled into the hug too, with West wrapping his big arms around them all.
When she stole a glance up into the face of the man who had shown her what love was, his eyes were glistening too.
“ Thank you ,” he mouthed.
Dulcie was so filled with joy it felt like light was radiating from her heart.
This is what real happiness feels like…