Chapter 60
Eleanor
It had been almost a year since Greyson and I decided to let our love story grow, and it was a beautiful story to partake in. Our words intermixed as if they were made for one another.
On Monday nights we ate spaghetti, on Tuesdays we watched Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and then we formed new traditions for our future.
Life became easier. Even though my father went back to Florida, he checked in more often. We talked more, and when he said he would visit, he actually came. He was putting forth the effort, and I was more than thankful for that.
When months passed and he showed up for Christmas, I was amazed.
“Can we open gifts?!” Lorelai shouted, darting into the living room on Christmas Day.
Claire, Shay, and I had just finished preparing brunch together while the guys all sat in front of the television, watching sports.
Landon even stopped by for Christmas brunch, stating that he was simply in the neighborhood again.
I knew how much it meant to Greyson for his best friend to be there, and if there was anything Landon was excellent at, it was showing up.
He always showed up whenever Greyson needed him.
Even though he wasn’t great for my cousin, he was the best kind of best friend.
“After we eat and make our wish ornaments,” Claire told Lorelai, who groaned about not being able to rip open her presents yet.
Shay walked past me in the kitchen after peeking her head into the living room to look at the guys for the fifteen hundredth time. Or mainly to look at Landon.
“You know what I hate most in this world?” she asked me.
“What’s that?”
“Landon Harrison. I mean, can you believe that? When I showed up today, he had the nerve to say ‘Merry Christmas’ to me. Can you believe that asshole?”
I snickered. “How rude.”
“Exactly! It’s like he’s trying to play some crazy mind games.” She huffed as her cheeks reddened. She was so flustered around him. It was actually pretty cute.
“Or maybe he simply meant Merry Christmas,” I offered.
She lowered her eyebrows, going deep into thought. “Yeah, maybe. Maybe that’s it. OK, yeah. It was just a Merry Christmas. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Just then Landon popped his head into the kitchen and gave a big smirk. “Need any help in here, ladies?” he asked.
“You cook?” Shay asked sassily with her hands against her hips.
“Yeah, sometimes.”
“Why do I find that so hard to believe?” she mocked.
“I don’t know, but if you give me a few minutes, I’m sure I can bring some nice sausage into your life.” He winked her way, making me chuckle.
Shay groaned. “You’re disgusting.”
“I’m just saying, it will probably be the best meat you’ve had in a while. And if memory serves me right, which it does, you kind of already told me how much you loved my sausage.”
“Shut up, Landon,” Shay hissed, turning redder than ever. “You’re so cocky.”
He smirked, pleased with how he was getting under her skin. “I know, right?”
“Oh, piss off, Landon,” she breathed out, hitting him with a dish rag, making him hurry away.
She stayed flustered as she combed her hair behind her ears. “What a dick,” she muttered. “I can’t wait until he goes back to California.”
“I can’t wait for season one, episode one of the Landon and Shay show,” I joked. “I love a solid second-chance romance storyline.”
She pointed a stern finger at me. “That will never in the history of ever happen. Never.”
A part of me knew she was lying, though. Shay and Landon had this intense game of cat and mouse they played together, and for some reason I felt as if the story between the two of them was just beginning.
Once the food was prepared, we all gathered around the dining room table and feasted on the meal. There was so much chatter, laughter, smiles, and peace going around the table, and it warmed up every part of me. After the meal, Claire handed out pieces of paper and clear glass ornaments.
She had the idea of making wishes for the upcoming year.
In the clear glass spheres, you were supposed to place a wish for the year to come.
Then when the year was over, you opened the ornament, and you’d be able to see how your wish had come true.
Then you’d use paint to decorate the ornament however you wished.
As everyone sat there decorating with looks of joy on their faces, I sat back in my chair, in complete awe. This was it.
This was all I’d ever wanted. All I wanted was this moment. All I wanted was this family. All I wanted was us.
As I put my wish for the coming year in place, I thought about the words I’d written down about what I hoped for. I looked around at the happiness surrounding me, and I felt beyond blessed.
This was all I wanted for the upcoming months.
More.
More happiness, more laughter, more smiles.
More of him, more of me, more of us.
Greyson pushed his chair away from the table and cleared his throat as he stood up.
“Hey, everyone, I just wanted to take a moment to thank you all for coming out today. You have no clue what it means to me and the girls to have each chair at this table filled. There was a time when I thought we’d never get this back.
There was a time I thought happiness was gone forever, but then a light came back into my life, and everything changed.
So I just wanted you all to be here when I show my gratitude to the woman who saved my family, to the woman who saved me. ”
My heart skipped a beat as he turned toward me and reached into his back pocket, pulling out a small box. He then lowered himself down to one knee.
“Greyson, what are you doing?” My voice shook and tears flooded my eyes.
“Ellie, you are everything good in this world. You’ve treated my daughters with nothing but love.
You’ve respected the time we needed to heal.
You showed up whenever we needed you. You’ve always been there, even when you had every reason in the world to walk away.
You stand for peace in the chaos. You are the sunbeams breaking through the clouds.
You are the definition of happiness, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.
I wanted to be happy. Which is why I want to spend the rest of my life with you in my arms.” He opened the box, showing me a beautiful engagement ring.
I gasped as I studied it. Tears began falling down my cheeks as my emotions became unsteady.
The ring was a series of small diamonds shaped like a dragonfly.
As I looked over at Greyson, he smiled.
I loved it.
Whatever.
“Eleanor Gable, you are my heartbeats, my laughter, and my love. Will you marry me?” he asked, but before I could reply, my heart began to cry even more as Lorelai hurried over, holding a small box in her hands too.
“And me?” she asked, getting down on one knee. She opened the box and showed me another dragonfly ring.
Karla walked over next and got down on one knee beside her sister. She opened her dragonfly ring box next. “And me?”
My heart was exploding into a million pieces. The three of them and their love was what made this life of mine whole.
With ease and so much love, I replied to each of them. “Yes, yes, a million times yes,” I cried as the room burst into celebration.
Greyson placed the ring on my finger, and then he pulled me into a tight embrace, holding me closer than ever. He kissed me deeply, and I felt forever against his lips.
Forever.
This kiss means forever.
As he pulled back, he smiled, and I smiled back.
“More of that, Ellie,” he said as he leaned in and kissed my lips once more.
Yes, exactly.
More of that.