Chapter 21 Taylor #2
PopPop’s got an arm around Grammy, and he’s grinning at me.
“We’re just fine,” my mother says. “So happy to see you.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” Dad says with a smile.
“Well, I have a feeling you all might have already met,” I say. “But this is Ellie Connelly and her husband, Phil, and their sons, Buck and Roan. And this is their granddaughter, Meg.”
Everyone greets each other and it’s really wonderful. Not as nice as all being in the same room for real, but I can see the plastic palm tree with the Christmas lights in the background at my grandparents’ place, just like always, and the crumpled wrapping paper all over the floor.
“This was the best gift ever,” I say, turning to Roan. “Even nicer than my coat…”
But I stop mid-sentence because when I turn, my formerly grumpy giant is down on one knee, a small box in his hands and hope in his eyes.
“I know our relationship is new,” he says, his voice gentle but deep with certainty. “But it feels like we’ve known you forever. You’ve made me a better man, Taylor. And Meg and I can’t imagine letting you go.”
“We want you to wake up in our house next Christmas morning,” Meg puts in with a big smile.
“It can be as long an engagement as you want,” Roan says. “But will you marry me, Taylor? When you’re ready?”
He’s not wrong. This is sudden. My life has been turned completely upside down, and now he wants to get married?
But even with all the chaos, this still feels right in a way I can’t explain. The drastic changes that have happened since we met have all turned out to be perfect—sudden and unexpected maybe, but so amazing, they’ve taken my breath away.
So why not this?
Why not a ring and a wedding?
I glance at the screen, where my parents and grandparents are on the edges of their seats.
“Your mother and I married after knowing each other for just a few months,” Dad says.
“When you know, you know,” Mom adds. “But that’s no reason for you to hurry.”
“He’s a keeper,” Grammy says and winks at me. “If nothing else, now you know right where he stands.”
Roan barks out a surprised laugh and I look down at the man who makes me so happy. He’s smiling at my grandmother and looking like he doesn’t even care what my answer is right now. He’s just happy because he knows what he wants.
“Yes,” I say softly.
All eyes move to me, but it’s Roan’s blue gaze that makes my heart forget how to beat.
“Really?” he whispers.
“Yes,” I tell him, feeling certain to my bones. “Yes.”
His hands are shaking as he pulls the little ring from the box, and I’m amazed when it slides onto my finger perfectly, like it was always there.
The diamond is tiny, but it sparkles like a chandelier.
“Wow,” I say softly.
“She said yes,” Meg yells and suddenly the whole room erupts in cheers and chatter, including shouts from my family and howls from Foghorn.
But Roan stands and pulls me close and I lose myself to his gentle kiss. I know both our families are watching, but I can feel his heart thundering and I know he wants to kiss me like he did after the Mingle.
“Maybe a quick wedding?” I murmur against his lips.
“Good,” he growls. “I know I said I’d wait, but I really, really don’t want to.”
“Let’s heat up some apple cider,” his mom yells, and I know it’s to remind us that we have an audience.
Roan lets me pull away, but keeps a hand on my waist. And when I glance up at him he’s smiling and his blue eyes are twinkling. He looks happier in that moment than I’ve ever seen him.
His dad shakes his hand and Buck slaps him on the back.
Meg comes up and hugs me so tightly that I almost can’t breathe.
“You’re going to be my stepmom,” she tells me, wide-eyed.
“I’ll try my best to be a good one,” I assure her. “You might have to give me feedback.”
“I doubt it,” she says, shrugging.
My grandmother gets Meg’s attention, and when they start talking books, I feel like I could walk on air.
Eventually, we sign off the video call, and the rest of the day is filled with fun and good food. We sing some Christmas carols and Ellie reads the nativity story to us while we drink hot cocoa at the end of the night.
When it’s finally time to leave, everyone hugs me goodbye, and then Roan and I are alone again, heading out to his truck.
“I hate that I have to take you back to your apartment,” he says as we wind our way down the mountain.
“Not forever though,” I remind him, admiring my little ring in the dim light of the car.
When we get back to the bookshop, he walks me all the way to the door.
I left the light on, so there’s a soft glow on the ground and the snow-frosted greenery around the door.
Looking down the street at all the lights and the beautifully decorated shops, I know that this is where I’m meant to be.
“What are you thinking about?” Roan asks.
“This little town,” I say, shaking my head. “I think there’s something almost magical about it. It’s made all my dreams come true.”
“You did that yourself, Taylor Greer,” Roan says, his voice deep with emotion. “And you made mine come true while you were at it.”
When he pulls me close, I can tell by the passion in his kiss that he means every word.
And I know that not every day will be as fun or as easy as today. But I also know that we have what it takes to get through hard times.
And we’re going to be very, very happy.
***
Thanks for reading Oh Little Town!