Elizabeth positively glowed. She hadn′t been this happy in years. She looked at the glittering ring on her left hand. She remembered her pledge to James and his to her. The diamond was only a symbol, but it was enduring, as enduring as their love. The geometric circles twisted back and forth with each movement of her hand. She knew she′d never look at it without thinking of the story James had told her.
Finally, the weight she′d carried so long regarding Claire and James was gone. He stood next to her, his arm around her waist, as he greeted his guests. He introduced everyone to her as if she held a place of honor.
Crowds formed in every room. Music played through the sound system. In the great-room couples danced on the temporary dance floor. Bursts of laughter came from the living room as someone said something funny. She could hear the faint sound of a Christmas carol from the direction of the music room. A couple sat on the fifth rung of the steps leading up to the bedrooms, engrossed only in each other.
Elizabeth knew how they felt. It′s how she felt about James. Two day ago, on the anniversary of his Claire′s accident, they had resolved their differences and James had made love to her through the night. Her stomach contracted, sensation pooled in her body at the memory. She smiled up at him and he kissed her on the cheek. Elizabeth directed her thoughts away from last night.
‶Why don′t we throw all these people out and spend the night alone?″ he whispered in her ear.
‶I′ll take the living room, you do the great-room and the library,″ she agreed.
Together they laughed and joined the singing crowd in the music room. Mark was seated at the piano playing as he led the crowd singing It′s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. They joined in playing the perfect host and hostess for a few minutes before making sure everything was all right in the other rooms.
As Elizabeth passed the foyer on her way to the kitchen, the front door was opened again.
‶Merry Christmas, Lizzie.″
‶Theresa!″ Elizabeth rushed across the room to hug her friend. ‶I′m so glad to see you.″ Theresa gave her coat to the hired maid and hugged Elizabeth again. Her dress was Christmas red with a brilliant white sash around her thin waist. Long earrings danced from her ear lobes to her shoulders. She′d swept her hair all to one side and anchored it with a glittering comb.
‶I hear you and James finally patched things up.″
Elizabeth smiled. ‶I hear we have you to thank for part of it.″ Elizabeth raised her hand displaying the shining rock James placed there a couple of hours ago.
Theresa whistled. ‶James really wants people to know you′re his. How many is that? Six-seven-eight?″
‶Seven,″ Elizabeth said, giving her the number of carats in the crowning stone.
‶It′s beautiful, Lizzie. Congratulations.″ Elizabeth hugged her again.
‶Thank you too, Theresa. James told me what you did to help him clear himself and keep Claire′s name out of the mess she created. I owe you a lot.″
‶Cut it out,″ Theresa stopped her. ‶I did nothing you wouldn′t have done. Now where is the bridegroom?″
James came through from the kitchen as if on cue. ‶Theresa,″ he called. ‶Did Elizabeth tell you our good news?″
‶She didn′t have to. The reflection off that stone,″ he pointed to Elizabeth′s hand. ‶was bright enough to lead me here. Now I know how the wise men found baby Jesus.″
James laughed and took both women by the arm. ‶Now that everyone is here, let′s go make the announcement.
James gathered everyone in the great-room. Before the huge Christmas tree he and Elizabeth took up positions like Christmas ornaments. The lights twinkled behind them, their friends stood in front. Mark and James′s parent′s stood to their right. The smile on Elizabeth′s face was wide and happy. She couldn′t ask for anything more to make her Christmas perfect. Then James gave it to her.
‶My friends,″ he held a fluted champagne glass in his left hand. The noise in the room reduced to a low murmur. ‶My friends, I′d like you all to know.″ The room was absolutely quiet now. ‶As most of you know, Elizabeth and I have been engaged before.″
Elizabeth smiled and the room laughed.
‶However,″ he continued. ‶We both know a good thing when we find it. Yesterday we decided to...″ he paused. ‶To try it again.″
From the side of the room Mark yelled ‶yeah″ and the room broke into applause. People rushed them, offering congratulations, asking if they′d set a date, kissing her and pumping James′s hand.
The tempo of the party increased after James′s announcement. Merry making went on into the early morning. Finally, they said goodnight to the last guest and collapsed on the sofa in the living room. Elizabeth slipped her feet free of her shoes and curled them under her. Party debris surrounded them on all sides, yet Elizabeth didn′t notice it. She took James′s arm and snuggled up to him, her head on his shoulder.
Suddenly the doorbell rang.
‶Now who could that be?″ James wondered.
‶Probably somebody who left something,″ Elizabeth offered.
He bent toward her and dropped a kiss on her mouth before standing up. ‶I′ll see who it is.″
James grinned at the door. It was a delivery man. The envelope he passed him had the familiar Invitation to Love logo on it. He didn′t have to ask Elizabeth how she got a man to come out this late on Christmas Eve -- correction it was now Christmas day. He tipped him handsomely and closed the door. Tearing open the letter he found a buff colored card inside. The message Marry the woman at the door was printed in Elizabeth′s precise handwriting. He smiled, turned and opened the door. There she stood.
‶This time there is no address mix-up,″ she said. ‶I′m the woman at the door.″
James grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into his arms. The door shut behind them.
‶Merry Christmas, Elizabeth.″
‶Merry Christmas, James.″
He kissed her and Elizabeth knew from this Christmas to her last, as long as she shared them with James, her memories would always be happy.