Snow began to fall as Valerie drove the car toward Wade’s house. She and Hailey had left her mom at home for the evening, but she said she was happy to stay behind with a good book and some tea. She had encouraged Valerie to take Hailey to the Griffins’, because she could see how miserable both of them were.
The days since her mom’s arrival and Wade’s reaction to the news had felt endless. The Christmas break that Valerie had been anticipating for weeks now felt hollow. She had enjoyed her time with her mom and daughter, but she had missed Wade more than she expected. Every time she thought of him—and it was often—she ached with longing.
But his phone call hadn’t been promising. He’d said that Issy wanted Hailey to come over. He hadn’t said that he wanted her to come over. He’d invited her to join her daughter, but had it been out of obligation? Part of her tried to rationalize and admit that he hadn’t needed to call at all. But the other part felt completely irrational.
Hailey was grinning in the back seat. She’d been so excited all afternoon, counting down the hours until they could leave for Issy’s house.
Valerie had almost dreaded it. Not because she didn’t want to see Wade, but because she was afraid it would be awkward when she did. How long could she bear awkward silence before it was appropriate to leave?
They pulled into his driveway, admiring the red-and-white Christmas lights he had used to line the eaves of his house. A bright green wreath hung on the side with a red bow.
Darkness had fallen almost an hour ago, but the glow of the lights brightened the snow around his house.
Valerie took a deep breath, second-guessing this plan. She had so much to say, but would Wade be willing to listen?
Hailey didn’t hesitate. She jumped out of the car and ran to the front door where she pressed the doorbell before Valerie was even out of her vehicle. She had brought Annabelle—even though the dog hadn’t been invited—and she had to take her out of the back seat.
Issy answered the door in seconds, apparently just as excited to see Hailey. The two embraced, as if they’d been separated for years instead of days.
Valerie approached the house carrying Annabelle as Wade appeared in the foyer. The girls ran off and Brayden rounded the corner. Wade had to lift an arm out of his son’s way.
“You brought Annabelle!” Brayden said.
The little dog wiggled and squirmed to be let down, so Valerie obliged. She ran up to Brayden, barking with excitement.
Apparently, she had missed Brayden as much as Hailey had missed Issy and Valerie had missed Wade.
“Annabelle!” Brayden said as he giggled. “You came!” He took the dog and went into the house without another word, leaving Wade standing at the door and Valerie standing in the snow.
They studied each other and Valerie held her breath. Whatever was said in the next couple of minutes could determine the course of the rest of her life—for good or bad.
“I’m sorry,” Valerie said, her breath puffing out from her mouth. She tried not to cry as she said, “I didn’t intend to hurt you or anyone else. I wanted you to know—every day I wanted to tell you. But I had to honor Hailey’s wishes, too. She had just told me the night before the pageant that I could finally tell you—but things happened beyond my control. I didn’t want you to find out the way you did.” She wiped at the traitorous tear that had escaped and trailed down her cheek.
Wade slowly stepped outside and closed the door behind him. He was wearing shoes, but not a coat or hat. He looked dear—so very dear—as he walked down the steps and met her in the driveway.
The lights from the house illuminated behind him, but she could still see his handsome face. His blue eyes were so intent as he stopped in front of her.
“I’m sorry, too, Valerie,” he said. “I handled the situation poorly and brought past pains to the current situation. That wasn’t fair to you.”
More tears fell, and this time, she didn’t bother to wipe them away. She wanted him to know everything. “I’m not proud of the past mistakes I’ve made. I got pregnant with Hailey while I was a senior in high school, and I thought it would be easiest to have my mom raise her as her daughter. At the time, it was—but over the years, the pain grew so intense, I worked harder and harder to try and push it away. I felt guilt and shame and I longed to know my daughter. I had no idea my mom was going to drop her off at my house out of the blue. Looking back, I wish I could have changed how it happened—but I’m not sorry it did happen. I love having Hailey in my life and I will never turn my back on her again.”
He lifted his hand and paused before he gently wiped away her tears. His thumb was warm and soft as it caressed her skin.
She placed her hand over his, never wanting to let him go again. “Will you forgive me, Wade?”
“Of course, Valerie. But I’m asking you to forgive me, too.”
“You didn’t even have to ask.” She knew she was risking everything by whispering the next words, but she’d already laid bare her soul. “I love you.”
He caught his breath as he gazed deeply into her eyes. “You love me?”
She nodded, swallowing the emotions racing up her throat. “With all my heart.”
He stepped closer to her and put his free hand at the small of her back, drawing her near to him. “I love you, too, Valerie.”
His words felt like a sweet balm to her broken heart, soothing and healing. She was overcome with a sense of awe that this man, this good, kind and thoughtful man would love her.
“I’ve wanted to kiss you for weeks,” he whispered as he drew her closer still.
“I’ve wanted to be kissed,” she said, smiling as she lifted her face to his.
He lowered his lips to hers, enveloping them in a sweet, passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around him, savoring every moment, in wonder that this was the first of countless kisses to come. She loved Wade Griffin and didn’t want to be parted again.
He deepened the kiss, sending shivers up her spine, and she responded, so hungry for his love and affection that she didn’t notice the cold or the snow. She was warmed by his touch, by the gentleness in his kiss and by the passion that reverberated between them.
When he finally pulled back, he offered her the most beautiful smile she’d ever seen. “I made two big mistakes the other night. One was walking away from you and the other was resigning my position as the music teacher. Is it too late?”
She shook her head, returning his smile. “Consider the resignation rescinded. I want you to teach at the school for as long as you want to be there. It might not always be easy to work together, but there are other couples who do.”
Wade leaned his forehead against hers. “Does this mean we’re a couple?”
“Do you want to be a couple?” she asked.
He kissed her again, this time with more passion and depth, and she was breathless when he was done.
“Is that a yes?” she asked with a laugh.
He drew her into his embrace and held her tight. “It’s a yes.” Then he took her hand and led her into the house. “I wish it wasn’t so cold. I’d stay outside all night with you and keep you all to myself. I’m not sure how the kids will feel if they see me kissing you—which I intend to do several more times before you leave tonight.”
Her cheeks felt warm as she grinned. “They’re going to have to get used to it.”
He closed the door behind her, and they stood in the dark foyer for a moment. “They might think it’s strange that their dad is kissing their principal.”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him this time. “Not as strange as their principal kissing their dad.”
He laughed as he hugged her close.
The air smelled like garlic and basil and when they finally entered the kitchen, all three kids were busy getting the supper dishes out of the cupboard to set the table.
“We saw you kissing in the snow,” Issy said with a giggle.
“You saw?” Wade asked as he took Valerie’s hand in his. “And what do you think? Are you guys okay if Valerie is my girlfriend?”
“Girlfriend?” Issy asked. “I want her to be your wife!”
Brayden and Hailey cheered at that idea and Valerie stepped close to Wade, wrapping her free hand around his arm.
“I think that means they’re okay with their dad kissing their principal.”
“Good,” he said and he kissed her again. “Because I’m going to be doing it all the time.”
The kids laughed and Brayden made a face—but Valerie knew that they were happy to see their dad and Hailey’s mom together.
“Let’s eat,” Wade said. “I’m starving.”
He let go of Valerie’s hand to help the kids. She placed her hand over her heart, knowing that she would never be the same again. And she was overjoyed.
The week slipped by with incredible speed. Wade woke up each morning with a grin on his face and he didn’t stop smiling until he closed his eyes to sleep at night. Christmas morning, he and the children had gone to Valerie’s to eat brunch and he had spent time getting to know her mom, Pam. When it was time for Pam to return to the Twin Cities to catch her flight, so she could be back in Arizona before night’s end to spend part of Christmas Day with her husband, Wade invited Valerie and Hailey to have Christmas dinner with his parents and sister.
The evening had been full of laughter, food and games. And when it was time to leave, he didn’t want it to end. He and Valerie made plans to take the kids sledding the next day, and the day after that, they went ice-skating. Each day that week, between Christmas and New Year’s, they spent together. And with every passing day, he was more and more certain that he’d found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
As he drove up to her house on New Year’s Eve with the kids in the car, his heart was beating hard with excitement.
“Did you bring the ring, Daddy?” Issy asked from the backseat.
“It’s in my pocket, Bug,” he reassured her for the third time since leaving the house. “But don’t say a word. Promise?”
“We promise,” both kids chimed in.
Wade knew telling his children his plans to propose to Valerie was a risk—but he had wanted them to feel like they were part of the decision. He had taken them to the jeweler, and they had helped him pick out the ring that very afternoon. He knew it was fast—and that he and Valerie had only really known each other for a couple of months, but he knew everything he needed. He loved her more than life itself, and they had spent hours talking about their pasts—and discussing their hopes and dreams for the future. She had been open and honest about everything, no matter how painful, and he had done the same. He knew, deep within, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Valerie Wilmington, and he couldn’t wait for the rest of his life to begin.
They pulled up to Valerie’s house as the sun was just setting on the horizon, causing the entire sky to turn a soft shade of pink. The snow was piled high on the edges of the sidewalk, and more was forecasted for overnight.
Wade’s pulse was beating hard as he stepped out of his truck.
Issy’s eyes were wide with excitement, and she kept giggling.
“Not a word, Isabel,” he warned.
She sobered and nodded. He rarely used her full name.
They walked up the sidewalk and Valerie was at the door to open it for them. “Happy New Year’s Eve,” she said with a smile.
He kissed her, the weight of the ring in his pocket ever present. “Happy New Year’s Eve,” he whispered.
The kids ran into the house and Hailey was there to greet them. She said they were baking cookies and Issy joined her while Brayden started to play with Annabelle.
Wade hadn’t considered how he’d propose to Valerie—if he’d make it a big gesture or do something casual. He trusted that the moment would come when it was supposed to—as long as Issy didn’t spill the beans.
“Are you hungry?” Valerie asked as they stepped into the living room, and she closed the door behind him.
“Starving.”
“Good. I made some beef stew and fresh bread. Hailey wants to make popcorn later. She is begging to stay up for midnight, but I don’t think she’ll make it.”
“My kids, either. I had them bring their pajamas.”
Valerie had already invited the kids to spend the night, since they would be staying so late. Wade would go home alone after midnight, but he didn’t mind. He would come back early tomorrow for breakfast.
He hung up his jacket, conscious of the ring inside the box.
They spent the evening laughing around the supper table and then they played games with the kids. Hailey and Issy were determined to stay up until midnight, but Brayden made no such claims. He asked if he could sleep with Annabelle and was happy to go to sleep in the guest bedroom at the top of the stairs. Wade and Valerie tucked him into bed and Wade prayed for him as Valerie plugged in a night-light.
Brayden snuggled into bed with Annabelle happily under his arm.
“I could get used to this,” Wade said to Valerie as they closed the door and stood in the dark hallway.
“I could, too,” she whispered as she kissed him.
The girls managed to stay up until just after eleven, but when both of them began to fall asleep on the couch as they watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Wade sent Valerie a knowing glance.
“Come on,” Valerie said to Hailey as she lifted her daughter off the couch. “It’s time for bed.”
“No,” Hailey protested as she wrapped her arms around Valerie’s neck. “I want to stay...” Her words faded as she fell asleep in Valerie’s arms.
Wade scooped up Issy and followed Valerie up the stairs to Hailey’s bedroom. They tucked the girls into Hailey’s full-size bed and prayed for them before they left them to go back downstairs.
Valerie turned off the television and grabbed a blanket from a wicker basket in the corner while Wade went to his coat and slipped the ring into his hands.
His pulse had escalated again, but he knew that this was the moment he’d been waiting for. Their children were an important part of their life, but their marriage, if she was willing, would outlast their parenting. Once the children were grown, it would just be the two of them, and he wanted his proposal to be between them—and them alone.
She went to the couch, and he joined her, wrapping his arm around her as she pulled a blanket onto their laps. She laid her head on his shoulder.
The Christmas tree glowed as they sat next to each other. Wade kissed the top of Valerie’s head, savoring this beautiful moment. He’d never felt more secure in a decision he’d made, and he was eager to see if she felt the same way.
“I don’t want to leave,” he said.
“It’s not midnight. You don’t need to leave yet.”
“I mean, I don’t want to leave at midnight or any time after that.”
She looked up at him, studying him in the dim light. “I don’t want you to leave, either. I love how it feels to have you and the kids all under one roof.”
He kissed her and said, “It feels right—complete.”
Wade slipped his hand into his pocket and gently pulled out the ring. He held it in front of her and she slowly sat up.
He took her hand and met her gaze. “I’m in love with you, Valerie Wilmington, and I know I will be until the day I die. We’ve only known each other a short time, but in that time, I’ve found you to be the most amazing woman I’ve ever known. I want to spend the rest of my life getting to know you. I want to grow with you and explore this wonderful life God has given us. Will you become my wife?”
She stared at him, tears gathering in her eyes. “Yes,” she simply said, smiling with all the assurance he’d ever need.
He slipped the ring onto her left ring finger, and it fit perfectly.
“Wade, it’s gorgeous.”
“Issy insisted it’s the one you’d love.”
“She was right.” She leaned forward and kissed him. When she pulled back, she said, “I’m so thankful for you and the kids. I didn’t know what my life was missing until I met you—and now I can’t imagine it any other way. I love you, too, with all my heart, and I can’t wait to become your wife.”
She snuggled back into his side, laying her head on his shoulder as she lifted her hand and looked at the ring. It sparkled in the glow of the Christmas lights.
Wade admired it with her, loving how it looked on her finger—and loving, even more, what it meant.
He had found his happily-ever-after and he had realized it began the moment he met Valerie.