Epilogue
ALEX
The Christmas tree lights sparkle in the early morning sun as the aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls fills the air of our bungalow.
Although it’s our second holiday season together, it’s our first in the new house—the one we spent months trying to find in a specific area of Nashville that we both adored.
My mind flashes back to Chelsi’s overwhelming excitement when this house came on the market.
How insistent she was that we drop everything we were doing to go see it immediately.
It has all of the character she wanted, with an expansive front porch, large wood beams throughout the interior, and the stained-glass window in the kitchen.
Plus, it had been recently renovated, so it was modernized with a brand-new kitchen and bathrooms. We both knew the moment we stepped inside that it was meant to be our forever home.
The place where we’d build a life together and eventually raise our family.
“When did you get up?” Chelsi asks, slowly walking into the room and wearing pajamas that match mine.
“I was about to come wake you,” I reply, handing her a cup of coffee, exactly the way she likes it. “I wanted to get a start on the morning.”
She chuckles, then takes a sip of her hot coffee as steam floats up from the cup. “You’re acting like a little kid on Christmas morning. What’s got you so excited?”
I shrug, trying to calm my emotions before she becomes more suspicious. “Who doesn’t love Christmas? Plus, I wanted to see how the tweak to my cinnamon roll recipe turned out. We spent a couple of hours making them last night. I wanted to see whether the effort paid off.”
“Hmm…” Chelsi squints, appraising me like she knows there’s more to the story than I’m letting on. She drinks her coffee, never taking her eyes off me.
It’s impossible to keep a secret from this woman when it comes to gifts.
She loves surprises, but her sleuthing skills are top-notch.
I swear, she could’ve been in the CIA with the way she can ferret out information from anyone.
It’s ten times worse if she gets Anna involved.
The two of them will find out everything you’ve planned in less than twenty minutes.
It’s equal parts impressive and terrifying.
That’s why I’ve not told a single soul about what I’ve got her for Christmas.
Can’t trust anyone in our group to keep it quiet, especially Kate.
She has the best intentions and the biggest mouth when it comes to Chelsi.
Plus, once you tell Kate, you have to assume Jake knows or vice versa.
Definitely learned that lesson the hard way during our first holiday season together, when Chelsi knew all the gifts she was getting from me before I even had a chance to wrap them.
Not this year.
I will surprise her.
“Want to have breakfast first or gifts?” I ask, trying to hide the nervousness in my tone.
“Presents, obviously. I can’t wait for you to see what I got you,” she says excitedly, hurrying into the living room and sitting on the floor beside the Christmas tree.
The glow of the lights around her creates an angelic image, and I feel inclined to take a picture of it. To capture this moment, ensuring it’s documented as part of our journey together.
During the next few minutes, Chelsi and I open stockings from each other and a handful of presents, saving the best ones until last. With each passing minute, my hands become sweatier as my skin flushes. She’s going to pick up on these tells at any moment, which will ruin the surprise.
“Okay. Time to open up your final gift,” Chelsi says, handing me a thin wrapped box. “I hope you like it because I can’t take it back.”
I scrunch my brow, curious what she could’ve gotten me that isn’t returnable. After tearing through the wrapping paper, my mouth drops open when I see what’s inside. Two plane tickets to Hawaii for after the New Year. “How did you do this?”
Since she started working for Addison full-time about a year ago, Chelsi has improved her financial situation, but she’s definitely not making enough to spend the holiday season in Hawaii. Especially not after how much we spent on the down payment and turning this house into a home.
She smiles and chews on the corner of her bottom lip.
“One of the perks of having needy clients is airline miles. I had enough for the flights and a significant number of hotel points to cover a large portion of the accommodations.” She pauses, reaching for my hand and lacing our fingers together.
“I wanted you to have some time off to relax after the long year you’ve had.
Thought this might be a good way for you to celebrate retiring from the Marine Corps, too.
I know it happened a few months ago, but we never took the time to celebrate properly. ”
“It’s too much, Chelsi. Incredibly thoughtful, but too much,” I reply, my voice cracking at the extremely meaningful gift.
“You’re worth it, Alex. We’re worth it. Plus, who doesn’t want to see me prancing around Hawaii in a string bikini?”
Yep. Definitely want to see that. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of her. She’s embedded in my soul and tied to the very fabric of my being. Every cell in my body wants her. Worships here. Loves her.
Now there’s only one thing left to do—show everyone else that she’s mine.
After taking a deep breath, I stand up and kneel in front of Chelsi.
“What are you doing, Alex?” she asks, tears brimming in the corners of her eyes.
I glance at the promise ring on her right hand, the one I gave her after we committed to being together forever.
She’s worn it every day, never taking it off unless we go to the jewelry store to have it cleaned.
It symbolized the promise of the future we would have together. The life we’re building.
And now I get to finally upgrade it since my divorce from Claire was finalized earlier this month.
“I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you the first time I laid eyes on you.
We only exchanged a few words, but your face was imprinted on my brain.
You appeared in my dreams and occupied so many of my thoughts.
When you moved to Nashville last year, I thought you were completely out of my league.
That I would have the opportunity to fawn after you from afar, but I never imagined a world where you would be mine.
Thankfully, Jake saw it differently and knew we were perfect for each other. ”
“We’re still not giving him full credit for that, right? He would be unbearable,” Chelsi jokes as tears softly flow down her face.
“Definitely not. But I am grateful to him for pushing us together so many times. It gave me the courage to pursue you. To let you into my life and my heart.” I pause, pulling out the black box from the pocket of my pajama pants.
“You are the love of my life. My true north. My lighthouse in a storm. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and so much more.
It would be the greatest honor of my life if you would give me the privilege of becoming my wife. Will you marry me, Chelsi?”
She leaps into my arms, knocking me onto the ground as she smothers me with kisses. “Oh my God! Yes, I’ll marry you, Alex!” She wraps her legs around my waist and threads her fingers through my hair. “A million times yes!”
And Anna’s up next…