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“I’d like to thank you all for attending tonight’s Jubilee.” Anthony’s voice boomed over the crowd. The mayor looked sharp in a tailored black tuxedo. “Before we kick off this year’s ball, we have a few other folks to thank. I’d like to start with Mona and my lovely wife, Natalie, who co-chaired this year’s planning committee.” He paused and smiled as the room applauded.
Max yanked at his own bow tie, remembering why he preferred flannels and T-shirts to formal wear. He felt like a fish out of water. Mona materialized at his side, looping her arm through his and whispering, “You look very dapper tonight.”
Turning, Max found Mona in a green dress with little glass ornaments dangling from the neckline. “Thanks, Mona. You look gorgeous. I’m sure Harold is devastated he couldn’t make it tonight.” After texting his friend, Max discovered Harold didn’t have the energy to leave the house, but he’d insisted Mona attend.
“He’ll get an eyeful later,” she teased. “Recovery is key right now; romance can wait.”
“Still,” Max agreed on a laugh. “I’m sure he wishes he was here.”
Mona nodded. “He’s at home with the Cavs and a bowl of cheesy bites. He’ll survive.”
Just as Mona was about to continue the reasons why Harold would survive, Anthony’s speech continued. “And finally, I would like to thank Max and CeCe and the team at the diner for catering tonight’s festivities. I know I speak for all of us when I say I cannot wait to dig in.” Everyone whooped and clapped at the mayor’s words, giving Max a warm feeling of accomplishment. He knew Anthony was being diplomatic, but it still felt good to have his neighbors support him and his team. All his time toiling away in the kitchen, all his dedication to making the diner his were worth it.
Max leaned toward Mona. “Is it bad that I’m enjoying this year’s remarks?”
Mona smiled and said, “Just you wait. It’s only going to get better.”
Max was intrigued, but he didn’t have time to respond. His words escaped him when he saw who was taking the microphone from Anthony. “Gin.” Her name came out as a breath, and Max felt his heart rattle in his rib cage.
Ginny was transformed and practically glowed from the makeshift stage. Her red gown sparkled, catching every scrap of light in the crowded venue. That dress waited two years for her to come home, but it was worth the wait. It hugged every curve and made her look like a Christmas Princess. Whether it was her big-city weight loss or her recent dive back into Midwestern fare, the dress looked like it was made for her. Tendrils of her chocolate brown hair framed her face, with the rest piled in curls on top of her head. Her makeup was tasteful, yet bright, with her eyes popping and her lips a delectable shade of apple red. Max’s mouth watered.
Reaching out with a shaking hand, Ginny took the mic and smiled nervously at the crowd. It could have been Max’s imagination, but he felt her gaze combing the crowd for him. “Thanks, Anthony—I mean, Mayor Snyder. You’d think I’d be used to calling you that by now.” She laughed and the room joined in. “Some of you know me. I’m Ginny Meyer. I’ve been back home in Buckeye Falls to help my dad.” She paused and added, “Who is home and recovering well.” A few folks clapped at the update on Harold’s health, and Max saw Ginny gulp in air before continuing. “When I came back, I didn’t expect to do much beyond playing nurse while Dad recovered. But when a few friends mentioned this event, I had to jump in and help. I’m so happy that I did.”
Ginny glanced off stage to where Natalie and Madeline were waving and grinning like goofballs. Both wore red dresses, matching their counterparts’ red ties. Anthony held Otis, who looked bored with the festivities but pleased to have a cheesy bite in his mouth. A trail of drool slid down his chin as he chewed. Very few people could pull off that look, but Otis mastered it.
“Doesn’t she look lovely?” Mona asked, pointing to Ginny, who had continued her thanks to the planning committee.
Lovely didn’t even start to cover how Ginny looked. For the first time in years, she looked at ease, at home in her surroundings. Her usual smile was firmly in place, lighting up her face brighter than any Christmas tree. “Sh-sh-she looks st-stunning,” Max finally offered.
Mona patted his hand. On his other side, CeCe and Evan joined them. CeCe wore a simple black dress with jingle bell earrings. Evan cleaned up nicely in a suit that might have been his dad’s, but Max was not about to ask. True to CeCe’s date-date rules, he stood a respectable six inches apart and didn’t touch her, but the look he gave her spoke volumes. He was beyond smitten with CeCe. Max said a prayer to Saint Nick that they would find their own happily ever after, regardless of what happened with his own love story.
Ginny’s voice pulled him back to the moment. “In addition to thanking all our supporters and sponsors tonight, I would like to thank you, Buckeye Falls. You showed me the true meaning of the holidays again. It’s about family and being surrounded by the people you love.” Her gaze swept across the room until it finally landed on Max. Her voice didn’t falter as she continued. “And there’s someone else I’d like to thank tonight. Max Sanchez.” It could have been his imagination, but Max felt a hush fall over the room. “Max, you have shown tremendous patience, love, and understanding with me. I apologize for how I behaved, because I truly am sorry.” Her voice caught on the last word, and Max’s feet propelled him toward the stage.
Pushing through the crowd, Max kept his eyes locked on Ginny as her bottom lip trembled. “I’m coming,” he said as he passed his friends and neighbors. When he got to the stage, he took the stairs two at a time. “Gin, what are you doing?” he asked when he was by her side.
Ginny blinked back tears and said, “Making a grand gesture.” Max shook his head, trying to take in every detail in front of him. From the look on Ginny’s face, to the way she reached out for him, clutching his hand in hers, Max wanted to catalog every minute detail. Continuing to speak into the mic, Ginny said, “I’m so sorry for everything. You’ve shown me nothing but patience, kindness, and love since the day we met, and I haven’t always returned the favor. Now that I’m back, I’d like to make it up to you.” Collected murmurs threatened to drown out Ginny’s speech, but she carried on. “Will you let me make it up to you?” She squeezed Max’s hand at the question, her gaze hopeful.
“You’re back?” It was near impossible to believe what he was hearing.
“Yes, if you’ll have me. I don’t think I can live without you another second, Max. We will still have a lot to talk about, but I’d like to—”
Ginny’s words were cut off when Max pulled her toward him for the best kiss of their lives. The feel of holding his wife in his arms nearly brought Max to his knees. He was faintly aware of the cheers from the crowd, but he was focused on Ginny. Ginny, who was real and in his arms. Ginny, who said she was not leaving Buckeye Falls. Surely, this had to be a dream, a candy-cane-induced hallucination.
“Can we continue this somewhere else?” Max asked in between kisses. He cradled her face in his hands, afraid to pull back for even a second.
“You mean outside Buckeye Falls? I think it’ll be hard to have our privacy after this.” Ginny laughed as Max scooped her up and placed the mic back on its stand.
Before he stole his wife away, Max stopped and said, “Thank you all for a wonderful Jubilee. I’m selfish enough to say this is, by far, the best one yet. Now, let’s party!” He heard the audience erupt into cheers as they poured out into the wintery night.
Big, fat snowflakes fell, clinging to the grass, making the town look like a snow globe. When they were outside and out of sight, Max eased Ginny back to the ground. Her heels slid on the concrete, but he had no plans of loosening his hold. The town was deserted. Everyone was at the Jubilee, leaving them in peace. The falling snow dampened the sounds around them, and all they could hear was each other breathing.
Ginny held on to his forearms as she steadied herself. Once she was on terra firma, she reached up and swiped a lock of hair off his forehead. The familiar gesture sent a charge through him.
“I meant every word I said back there, Max. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean what I said to Dad at the hospital, and I hate myself for taking your words. I know it’s going to take more than me continuously apologizing ...” Her words faltered, but she looked determined. This was clearly hard for her, but he was proud of Ginny for making this right—he was proud of her for saying what she needed to say. “I’d like us to try again.”
Max took her hand in his and tugged her closer. “Are you sure this is what you want? Because I won’t be able to let you go again, Gin. This is it for me.” Ginny smiled and nodded, her hairdo bobbing on top of her head. Max cupped her face and kissed her gently. She greedily returned the kiss, and he felt his heart swell. “Gin, this is all I ever wanted. You are all I ever wanted.”
Ginny’s hands glided up to his shoulders where she smoothed his lapels. “You are all I’ve ever wanted, Max. I am sorry it took me this long to realize that.”
Time had no meaning now that Ginny was back in his arms. Max knew he would have waited until his dying day for her. There had been a million scenarios in his head on how he’d ask for her hand again. Each was carefully planned and crafted, but none of that seemed relevant now.
Ginny was here and ready to give them another shot. Throwing caution and the best laid plans to the wind, he reached into his tuxedo jacket and retrieved a small black box. It was a box he’d had at the ready since the day the moving truck pulled away.
“What’s this?” Ginny asked, holding the small box in the air.
Clearing his throat, Max collected himself. Emotion clawed at his throat, but he wanted this to be perfect. Despite having practiced this moment in his head countless times, he felt completely unprepared. She stepped closer, their toes touching, and looked up into his eyes. Her expression was bright, and a smile cracked her lovely face.
“Max?” She twisted the box in the air, careful to keep it in his line of sight.
Max reached out and took her hand, clasping it gently in his. “Gin,” he said clearly, his mouth and brain in sync. “I’m not going to pressure you into anything. But when you’re ready, I’m going to put this back on your finger.”
Max pulled one of Ginny’s hands free and kissed her knuckles. Like always, she’d forgotten her gloves, and her fingers were little icicles. She shivered, from the cold or Max’s kiss, he wasn’t sure. Leaning closer, she placed a kiss on his cheek. The tender gesture nearly brought the man to his knees. “Max,” she whispered into his ear. “What happens if I want that ring now?”
Max stilled, not even breathing in case it broke the spell. Even in his wildest dreams, he never expected a reconciliation to be this simple. “If you want it now; it’s yours. It’s always been yours.” Opening the box, he held it closer so she could see it in the fading light.
The ring had been his grandmother’s, and Max always knew it belonged on Ginny’s hand. A simple white gold band; it was studded with three diamonds that caught the light and sparkled like stars. During that first year of their marriage, Ginny would walk around their house at night, and Max could see her sparkle. He used to call her his little homing beacon. She gasped when she saw the ring again, as if she wasn’t sure it was real. Just as she reached out for the box, he pulled back a few inches.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, studying his face.
Max hated what he was about to ask, but he couldn’t help himself. He needed answers. Frankly, he deserved them. “You’re sure you want it? Like I said, t-this is it for me, Gin.” After thirty-plus years on this planet, Max had never felt so vulnerable. His future happiness was in Ginny’s ungloved hands.
Max watched Ginny swallow, then step back into his space. “I’m sorry, Max. I’m sorry for everything that happened with the divorce. I’ve been thinking about us a lot lately, and I wish I could ...” A tear slid down her cheek as she fought against a wave of emotion. He wiped the tear away with his thumb and kissed the trail it left behind.
Ginny wobbled on her heels a bit, so Max steered them toward a bench on the sidewalk. “If you’re not ready to talk about it, we don’t have to now. Tonight has been perfect, and I don’t need anything you’re not ready to give.”
Ginny pulled a tissue from her purse and blotted her eyes. The sequins on her dress scraped against the bench as she leaned closer and rested her head on Max’s shoulder. It seemed so natural, sitting with her in the cool night air, his arm pulled tightly around her. He knew things were shifting, but he didn’t want to get ahead of himself.
Finally, Ginny spoke. “I’ve been thinking about my mom since I’ve been back. Thinking about how she left, how I hated her for it, and how I vowed never to do anything so cold, so callus.” Her voice hitched on the last word, and Max felt her shudder. He pulled her closer to him but didn’t interrupt. Ginny didn’t often open up, and when she did, it was best to stay quiet.
After a moment, Ginny continued. “She left us without looking back. I never understood how she could do it, but then over a decade later, I did the same damned thing. When I got the call from the New York office, I felt like I’d made it. My career was so important to me. I wanted to get out into the world and make my mark. But the trouble was, when I signed the divorce papers and started my new job, it all felt wrong. I dove into projects, accomplishing my professional goals. All the while, I knew something was missing.”
“What was missing?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper, coming out in a puff of frozen mist. For a moment they were both silent, and Max feared his question was lost to the night.
Finally Ginny responded. “You were missing, Max. I was missing my support system, my best friend, my soul mate. I’d be walking home at night, starving since I hadn’t eaten yet, and I pictured you in the house. You’d be wearing that old blue apron with the elephant on it, and you’d be making me grilled cheese sandwiches. I knew you’d pull me into a hug as soon as I walked through the door.”
Now it was Max’s turn for waterworks. His eyes clouded over at all the wasted time, all the words they should have said years ago. “I never knew you thought about me, or that dumb apron,” he said. Hesitating a moment, he added, “I never meant to be so apathetic.”
Ginny snorted and covered her mouth with her crumpled tissue. “You always looked ridiculously adorable in that thing,” she mused, leaning back to meet his gaze. When she saw the tears glistening in his eyes, she took a deep breath. “And you’re not the only one who had blinders on in our marriage. I let a lot of things slide, but that was before. I want to come home, Max. I’ve been falling apart lately, and these last few weeks are the first time I’ve felt like myself in ages. I miss you, I love you, and I want to come home to Buckeye Falls.”
She gestured to the ring box, still clutched in Max’s hands. He shook his head, still absorbing her confession. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you, worrying about you, loving you since the day you left. You’ve always been the one for me, Gin. Always.”
“Max, I never meant to hurt you like I did. There’s no excusing it, but I want to make it up to you.” She swiped at her cheeks, her hands still bare to the elements.
Max stood and eased down to his knee in front of her. This was not where he’d planned to make his grand gesture, his bid for her heart, but it was going to have to do. Right in that moment, he couldn’t imagine a better place.
“Gin, I’m going to ask you something, and I want your honest answer.” He looked up and saw she’d lost the battle of tears, as her cheeks were damp and her makeup smudged. She’d never looked lovelier.
“It’s honesty from here on out.” She laughed.
Max nodded sagely. “Good, then we’re on the same page. Gin, I love you, and I want you back in my life. I want to go through life with you, be here to support the highs and lows. I promise to make you enchiladas and grilled cheese sandwiches and keep you smiling after stressful days. I promise not to let the diner take over and be mindful when you need your own space.” Max paused, the cold from the sidewalk seeping into his suit pants. “What I’m rambling on about is ... Gin, will you marry me ... again?”
Fortunately, she didn’t make Max wait for her answer. “Give me that ring,” she huffed impatiently, her lips tipped up in a gorgeous grin. Without breaking eye contact, she took the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger. Despite the cold, it fit perfectly. “Yes. Yes, Max. I will marry you again.”
He couldn’t wait. He pulled her to him and kissed her like his life depended on it. No matter what happened next, he knew he had Ginny back in his life. His girl had finally found her way home.