Chapter Thirteen – Ladd #2
Then it was time for Vivianne to open her gifts. My father gave her a teacher’s planner, along with pens and pencils. My mother bought her a sweater, a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and a pair of riding boots. Grandma gave her a necklace with her birthstone, and a blanket that she’d knitted.
Mike gave her an apple knickknack that said World’s Best Teacher.
Jason bought her a sweatshirt that said “River Falls” on the front, and on the back, “Team Wilde”—with his football number.
David gifted her a backpack she’d seen a few months back and said she liked.
Everyone gave him kudos for such a thoughtful gift.
My mother was especially impressed he’d remembered it.
Then it was my turn…and this is where our plan kicked in.
My entire family stared in my direction, and I shrugged. “Why is everyone looking at me?”
“You didn’t buy your girlfriend a gift?” my father asked. “Even your brothers got her gifts!”
Vivianne took my hand in hers. “We made a pact not to get each other gifts, and the things I got him were just small things. My gift from Ladd was getting to spend the holidays with his family.”
My father rolled his eyes. “The boy should have gotten you a gift.”
“Now, Gus,” Mom started as Jason stood.
“I think I’ll go see if there’s any more apple pie,” he said, retreating hastily.
“I’ll join you,” Mike said, followed by David.
“Ladd. Tell me you’re joking,” my father pleaded.
I had to give it to my father; he certainly could put on a show. I had an odd thought. Did he ever act in any plays before? He was damn good at it. My mother, on the other hand, was on the verge of laughing. She had to turn away.
Luckily, my grandmother stepped in. “Gus, why are you making such a big deal about this? They agreed not to get each other gifts.”
Which, in all honesty, we had.
“She got him gifts, Mother. Did you not see him open them?”
Vivianne pressed her lips together and tugged on my arm, whispering, “Do something, Ladd.”
“Dad, I do have a gift.”
All eyes turned to me. All of them but Vivianne looking horrified. This wasn’t part of the plan.
“I left it back at school, though.”
My mother, father, and grandmother all breathed a sigh of relief.
“Honestly, it’s okay,” Vivianne started to say. “It’s more about family and spending time together at the holidays.”
My father nodded. “That’s true. I…I lost my head there for a moment.”
My mouth fell open. “You lost your head?” I asked slowly.
Mike rushed into the room. “Apple pie was perfect, Mom. It’s good to go! I mean, it was good. We’re all good. It’s all, um…oh!” he said, as he snapped his fingers. “The kitchen is clean! I repeat, the kitchen…is clean.” Then he looked at me and gave me a thumbs-up.
Closing my eyes, I let out a low groan.
When I opened them, my mother was ushering Mike out of the room while my grandmother held up the camcorder. “Well,” she said. “I think I got some good footage. Would anyone like to go into your father’s office and watch it with me?”
“I would!” Dad exclaimed, his acting skills suddenly tanking.
Vivianne cleared her throat and whispered, “What is happening?”
“I’m not sure. But I think I need to step outside and get some fresh air. Do you want to come? We’ll only be a second, so you don’t need your coat.”
My mother and father both moved at once and ran into each other. I grabbed Vivianne’s hand and pulled her out of the room and toward the back porch.
“The kitchen is clean!” Jason shouted.
“We heard! Thank you!” I called out.
“Didn’t we clean it before we opened gifts?” Vivianne asked as she looked behind her at what I could only imagine was my crazy family, running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
“Ignore my entire family, Viv. They’ve all lost their damn minds.”
Before we got to the door, I turned her to face me. “Close your eyes.”
With a laugh, she asked, “You want me to close my eyes to go outside in the dark?”
I nodded.
“What got into the eggnog this evening with all of you?”
“Please, Viv.”
Her smile faded somewhat when she saw I was serious, and she nodded. “Okay.”
“I’ll guide you out, you just keep your eyes closed.”
Not saying a word, Vivianne allowed me to guide her out and onto the back porch. I was so nervous that the cold didn’t even faze me.
Thank goodness there wasn’t any wind to blow out the plethora of candles that were out here.
It looked beautiful, and I had to hand it to my family; they outdid themselves with this one.
Not only had they placed candles, but someone had strung white lights across the ceiling of the back porch.
They’d also made a fire in the firepit just below the porch, which added to the romantic feel, with the sound of popping wood.
The light snow falling added the perfect final touch.
I knew that was Mother Nature’s doing, but I wouldn’t be surprised if my mom had ordered it up.
Looking behind me, I saw my grandmother holding the camcorder, with my parents and brothers standing behind her. Each wearing a smile bigger than the next.
I turned Vivianne around so that we both faced one another, and our sides were facing everyone else, allowing my grandmother to have the perfect view. Dropping my hands, I said, “Okay, open your eyes.”
The first thing Vivianne did was look around. “Oh my gosh, this is beautiful!” she declared, turning in a circle to look at everything. She somehow missed everyone packed together like sardines at the door, watching us.
When she finally turned back around, she looked down…and a sob escaped her. Her hands flew to her mouth as she stared at me, before her on one knee.
I opened the box and held it out. “Vivianne, the time I’ve spent with you has been some of the happiest moments of my life.”
She quickly wiped her tears away as she nodded.
“I knew the moment I first saw you that I wanted to live out the rest of this life with you by my side. Will you make me the happiest man alive, and do me the honor of making more happy memories by becoming my wife?”
Vivianne dropped to her knees. “Yes! Yes, I’ll marry you!”
She threw her arms around me as everyone cheered. When she drew back, she cupped my face and kissed me. “I love you so much,” she said softly against my lips.
“I love you too…but don’t you want to put the ring on?”
Laughing, she dropped her hands and sat back on her heels. She looked at the ring in the box and drew in a sharp breath. “It’s stunning!”
I carefully took the ring out before setting the box aside. Taking Vivianne’s left hand, I silently said a prayer that I’d gotten the ring size correct and slipped it onto her finger.
It was a perfect fit, just like we were.
She stared at it in awe. “Ladd, this is the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.” When she looked up, she was crying again.
I reached up and brushed her tears away. “I’m just relieved it fit!”
She laughed and flung her body against mine. As she hugged me, I stood, taking her with me. I could see flashes going off from the other side of us and turned to see a photographer taking pictures. Vivianne looked at the same time I did.
“You thought of everything,” she giggled.
“Actually, it was my parents and grandmother who did all of this, including remembering to hire someone to take photos!”
Vivianne and I both turned to look at my family.
My mother was crying, my grandmother was also crying, and must have given up recording because David was holding the camcorder now.
My father was smiling as if he’d just come into a million dollars.
And my two younger brothers both gave us the thumbs-up.
“Thank you, everyone! You’ve made this the best day of my life!” Vivianne said as she made her way over to them, hugging and kissing each of them as the photographer continued to take photos.
Walking over to my mother, I leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Thank you, Mom. You made this night so special. And thank you for the photographer. I wasn’t even thinking about that.”
She smiled. “Truth be told, neither did I. It was Mike who thought of it.”
My head drew back before I turned to look at my younger brother, who was hugging Vivianne. “Mike?”
Mom laughed. “I know! When he mentioned a photographer, your father and I were like, why didn’t we think of that? Luckily, Mike’s best friend, Ted—you remember him, right?”
“Yeah, I remember him.”
“His mother’s a professional photographer here in town.”
“That’s right! She always does the high school senior portraits.”
“Yep,” Mom said, once again laughing. It was clear she was beyond happy. “I called her, asked her for a huge favor, considering it’s Christmas Eve, and she said she’d be honored.”
I looked around at the candles, the lights, the flowers. “Mom, you guys outdid yourselves.”
She exhaled. “It was a group project, and to be honest, it was so much fun doing it all while trying not to let you or Vivianne see any of it.”
When Vivianne had made her rounds with everyone else, she came up to my mother. The two of them exchanged a hug. Mom drew back and looked at Vivianne, tears in her eyes. “I’ve always wanted a daughter, and I couldn’t have asked for a more precious one.”
Vivianne started to cry again, and Mom drew her into another hug. The two of them stood there for a few moments just embracing.
Dad walked up and hit me on the back. “Good job, son.”
“Thank you, Dad. Thank you for everything.”
He waved his hand as he said, “It wasn’t that much, and we all enjoyed doing it and being able to be a part of your special moment together.”
Turning to face him, I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant. I mean, yes, thank you for all of this, it’s beautiful. But thank you for being the best father anyone could ever ask for. You’ve allowed me to follow my dreams, and I don’t think you realize how happy I am.”
He put his hand on my shoulder and squeezed. “I do, Ladd. All anyone has to do is look at you right now, and it’s clear as day you’re the happiest man on Earth right now.”
I felt the sting of tears at the back of my eyes.
Dad leaned in and said quietly, “There’s nothing wrong with showing your emotions, Ladd. Never hold them back. Ever.”
As if on cue, a single tear slipped free and rolled down my cheek.
Dad smiled. “I love you.”
“I love you too, Dad. I love you too.”