25. Epilogue
Epilogue
Lorelei
I am rushing around the kitchen. This will be the first Christmas that I'm not hosting.
I need to get all of the gifts out to the car, and all the dishes I have made . I mutter to myself as I check things off my to do list.
"Honey, come here," Scott holds out his arms.
"I don't have time. I need to -" His strong arms wrap around my back, my face pushed into his chest.
"You need to breathe. Everything will be okay. And if we forget something I'll come home and get it. Easy Peasy," he says before placing a kiss on the top of my head.
This summer, after Scarlett & Preston's wedding Scott moved into my house, and gave the boys his house. His mortgage was paid off, and the boys' roommate wanted to move his girlfriend in to the house. Everyone is happy with the new arrangement, most of all me.
My bed is never lonely anymore. I was so nervous being with another man, but now I know I couldn’t live my life without Scott. He spent all of December upholding Andrew's 25 Dates of Christmas tradition for a second year in a row.
But this year, Lacey and Colton are in their new home so they offered to host Christmas. They want Oliver to be home with his toys.
Scott takes the last bag from me and brings it out to the car, "Is this all?" He asks.
"Yes. That's the last of it," I say looking around the house.
"Great, let's go." He hands me my coat, gloves, and hat.
"Go where? We don't need to be there for another three hours, Scott," I say looking at my watch to make sure I don't have the time wrong.
"I have one more surprise." He leads me to the car and blindfolds me before he gets in the driver's side.
"Scott. Where are we going?" I ask.
"You'll see in just a few moments. It’s your twenty-fifth date," he says.
We drive for about ten minutes before he puts the car in park, and gets out. I fumble around trying to find the door handle before Scott opens the door for me. Once I'm out he pulls the blindfold off, and I'm met with a gorgeous view of the mountains, surrounding a field, with a horse drawn sleigh in front of me. The same one we rode in last year.
"Oh, Scott! This is perfect!" I squeal with excitement. Andrew never took me for a sleigh ride and it was my favorite memory with Scott last year. I was a little disappointed we didn't go this year, but now I know he was waiting for this moment.
Scott walks over to the sleigh with an armful of blankets and helps me up. Once we are situated the driver starts pulling us around the trail in the field.
"You know, Lorelei, I was really happy that you'd never been on a sleigh ride until last year with me. I'd never been either and I love that we get a special memory just for us, even though both of us had full lives before we found each other." He takes my hand in his.
"And, if you let me, I'd like to spend the rest of my life making special memories with you." He pulls out a red velvet ring box from under the blanket on our laps.
"Oh my gosh!" My hands cover my mouth, I can't believe this is happening!
"Lorelei Harper, you came into my life and showed me and my boys everything we have been missing. You completed a part of me that I didn't even know was missing until you showed me. Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife?"
"Oh, Scott!" I throw myself onto his lap and crush our lips together.
"Yes, yes! Of course I will be your wife!" I say between kisses. He pulls back and I hold out my left hand. He places the most gorgeous three stone ring on my finger.
As we near the end of the trail I can make out a group of people. "Scott? Is everyone here?" I ask in shock.
"They are. I knew the only way I'd get you out of the house was if you weren't hosting. So I owe Lacey," he smirks.
"Did she say yes?" Keith yells.
I see Addy smack his arm. "Of course she did!" She yells at him.
"Hey! Don't hit me! Mom! She hit me!" Keith jokes.
As the rest of the kids banter, and Scott climbs down to help me out, a feeling of happiness sweeps over my body.
These three boys were everything my family and my heart were missing. And I'm so glad they are the rest of my future.