“Where is Josephine? She said she'd be here tonight.” Danny paced back and forth in Daniella's kitchen as they prepared for the onslaught of holiday party guests.
“It's still early. Calm down. Why didn't you just pick her up? Are you sure she has the right address? You know how you are with directions.”
“I know, that's I used Google maps directions after she said she would rather meet here because she had some things to do before the party.”
“See? So stop raising my blood pressure with your pacing. Go make sure Gwen's dressed and ready to come downstairs when the doorbell rings.” Daniella admonished as she opened the oven.
“Fine, but I'm pacing upstairs now.”
“Whatever, I don't care. Just go away, you're ruining my vol-au-vent mojo.” she said, waving him off, impatiently.
Danny forced himself not to call to check on Josephine, but he was buzzing with nervous energy. It had only been a week since that first date with her yet he wanted to tell her how he felt, how he'd felt from the first day she'd wandered into his small bookstore two months earlier. It was love at first sight for him.
Danny knew then and there that she was the woman he wanted to marry. After that realization however, nerves had taken over and he became a muted mess whenever she approached the checkout counter. Josephine would thank him with a lingering smile and that would be the highlight of his day. No matter how much he pep-talked himself, he just couldn't work up the courage to actually speak to her. He caught her glancing at him from the corner of his eye sometimes when he'd be busily chatting with his employees or other customers, but no words would come when she stood before him.
However, now because his bossy boots sister couldn't watch him fester any longer, Josephine was in his life and like magic, he could breathe again. He knew Daniella would be expecting amazing gifts for every birthday and Christmas for years to come because of his newfound happiness, but he didn't mind one bit just as long as he could see Josephine walk through that overly decorated threshold all glammed up for the Holiday party.
“Uncle Danny, why are you smiling at the wall?” Gwen asked, tugging on his dark red Christmas sweater to get his attention.
“Huh? What? Oh, no, sorry, I was just daydreaming. I think I heard the doorbell ring like fifty bazillion times since I came up here to get you.” He teased.
“No way, it only rang five times. I counted!”
“What? Are you serious? And we're still up here! Let's go see who it is, then!” Danny pretended to race her down the steps, but stayed one step behind to let her win.
He heard the front door open when he reached the bottom step. His heart quickened with hope that it might be Josephine but it was only Marvin and Alberta, the slightly obnoxious neighbors from two houses down.
“Daniel?” Josephine's voice came from behind him. He spun around to see a vision in burgundy that took his breath away. Her gauzy knee length off the shoulder cocktail dress fit her like a dream.
“You're here! I was upstairs. If I knew you were here, I would have been down sooner. Why didn't anyone call me?” His wide grin matched hers, as they stood staring goofily at one another.
“I snuck in with a group of people. I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well you did. You look gorgeous. Hmm I wonder...”
“What? What is it?” Josephine asked. Danny took several long strides towards her, pulling her into an abrupt hug while nuzzling her ticklish neck. She giggled loudly. He let her go and stepped back, putting his hands into the pockets of his black slacks, nonchalantly.
“Yup, I was right. You smell incredible.”
“Danny, stop harassing the guests.” Daniella called out, followed by a flash and click.
“Oh my God, you two look so adorable staring at each other in this photo. You should use it in your engagement announcements.”
“Let me see!” Danny said reaching for the camera
“No, you'll see it tomorrow with all the other pictures. Now go mingle.” she admonished, hiding the camera behind her back.
“Daniel, we brought along a gingerbread house. Come see!” Josephine held out one delicate hand and he took it happily, as she led them into the kitchen where Oliver awaited them.
He was sipping eggnog out of a Santa's face mug, trying to keep a serious expression on his face as Gwen talked his ear off.
“Whoa, did you make this? It looks amazing.” Danny said, staring at the elaborate two story Victorian mansion made out of gingerbread cookies and icing.
“I wish. It was Oliver. He worked tirelessly on it all day. Isn't it wonderful?”
“Yes. Very! Hey Oliver, those are some skills you have there.” Oliver begrudgingly nodded his head in response.
“Aunt Josie, Aunt Josie you're here!” Gwen squealed, she ran and launched herself at Josephine who opened her arms in time to catch her. She picked up the little girl with a puzzled expression. She looked to Danny for answers while Gwen made herself comfortable by wrapping her long gangly legs around her waist.
“She decided she likes the idea of having a real-life princess in the family. Apparently, you're Aunt Josie now.” Danny shrugged, hiding his smile behind a chocolate covered pretzel stick.
“Is that true, Gwen? But we've only just met.” Josephine asked she felt small arms wrap around her neck. Gwen buried her face into her hair and nodded, vigorously.
“I think she's feeling a little shy now that you know.”
“No! I'm not shy, she just smells nice.”
“Oh, well excuse me. How about answering Josephine then?”
“I want you to be my aunt. I don't have any aunts because Daddy doesn't have any sisters. Neither does mommy. Also Uncle Danny loves you, so when you get married, you'll be really family then, right?”
Josephine's eyes grew large and sad as she stared at Danny's hopeful face. She chose her next words carefully.
“I'm honored that you would like to call me Aunt Josie, and I like your uncle very much, too.”
“Yay! So I get to be flower girl at your wedding, right? Are you two going to kiss under the mistletoe?” Gwen squirmed out of her arms, pulling them both to the center of the living room where the mistletoe hung above dancing guests.
“Okay, now kiss.”
“Um, Gwen, I don't think that’s how it works.”
“I've seen it on TV. If you stand underneath it, you have to kiss someone. So kiss.” She insisted pushing them closer together.
“I am so sorry about this. She's just as bad as her mother.”
“I see this.”
“We don't have to do this, you know.”
“I am aware of that.”
“Okay so...”
“So kiss me th-” Josephine's words were cut off midway by the press of Danny's lips against hers. She smiled and deepened the embrace as she wrapped her arms around his neck. It was the sweet, melt your insides kind of kiss that she'd hoped it would be.
Pretending to care about buying books for two months straight so you can see the man of your dreams can become tiresome while you wait for him to gather the nerves to ask you out, but it was all worth it for a kiss like this one.
The kiss ended with a breathless sigh and a round of applause.
“Oh God, why is everyone I know so embarrassing?” Danny groaned, resting his cheek against hers.
“I was starting to wonder that.” she mused, glowing with love.