Epilogue
Melinda opened the door and grinned. Adam was standing on the front steps holding a paper bag in one hand and a bottle of wine from the vineyard in Newport in the other.
“Hello, beautiful. Dinner is served.” He stepped inside out of the falling snow. The grass was covered with a thick white blanket.
Melinda took the bag and wine and headed toward the kitchen. “I thought we’d eat in the living room. I started a fire.”
“Sounds romantic.” He called after her, “I forgot something in the truck. Be right back.”
Melinda set out plates and glasses on the kitchen counter and wondered what on earth Adam could have forgotten. She heard the front door close and she peeked down the hallway. He carried a pastry box and a bouquet of flowers.
“These are for you.” He presented the flowers with a smile and a kiss. “And I brought dessert. We might get snowed in and will need extra sustenance.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. “It’s going to be a white Christmas.”
Melinda laughed. “I’ll uncork the wine.”
Adam poured and picked up the glasses. “I’ll take these into the living room.”
She scooped up the lasagna and salad and added slices of crusty bread to their plates. Adam came around the corner and slipped his arms around her waist. “Everything smells and looks delicious.”
Melinda noticed a mischievous grin on his face. “What are you up to?”
“You’ll see.”
Melinda followed him curious to see what was going on. Soft guitar music filled the room, adding to the romantic ambiance. But she didn’t see anything different. The room looked exactly the same other than the wine glasses were on the table near the fireplace. She placed the napkins and silverware down and Adam took her hand.
“Come here.” He twirled her into his arms and danced with her. She was captivated by his charm. They swayed together for several minutes until the song ended.
Adam stopped and said, “Look up.”
Hanging from a red ribbon on the archway was a spray of mistletoe.
“Do you remember the last time we stood under mistletoe?”
“It was the only time,” she teased.
He leaned in and kissed her tenderly at first and then deeper until she felt her blood hum.
“Mel, I hope you don’t think this is too soon, but it’s almost Christmas and I have a wish.” He stopped and tilted her chin up so he was looking into her eyes. “At the beginning of the year, I prayed for a miracle. I found one in you.” He let his finger trail down the curve of her cheek. She felt herself melt inside. “Now I’d like to make a special wish, that from this day forward you’ll only kiss me under mistletoe, or anywhere, for that matter.”
Melinda stood on her tiptoes and laced her hands around the back of his neck. “I too have a wish, and you just made it come true.”
“I love you, Melinda, and I always will.”
She looked into his deep brown eyes and sighed, “Oh Adam, I love you.”
* * *
The End