Page 27 of Saving Luke

"I love Brooke. She’s it for me. I feel it in my bones. I'd like to ask her to marry me." I watch her reaction.

She does very well at keeping her emotions under control, but she runs her eyes over my face like she’s waiting to see if I'm joking. She bites the side of her cheek before she speaks.

"Brooke and I talked the other night at her house. Watching you interact with her family, I finally got it. You two together? I wasn't losing you, but I was gaining a family. I would be getting a brother, sister, grandma, niece, and nephew all to spoil." She smiles, "When do you plan on asking her?"

"I'm not sure, honestly," I tell her.

We spend the next hour eating brunch and talking about different ideas. Together, we look online and find everything from extravagant to the simple. But I know the idea, and when I see it, Gabbie agrees.

We decide to exchange gifts tomorrow, since Brooke says the adults will do a gift exchange, once we get there. Then, we head back to my room with some hot chocolate and watch some Christmas movies, and it reminds me a lot of the days, before I left for boot camp, and how easy going things used to be.

"Savannah has some good schools," I tell Gabbie as she’s getting ready to leave.

"I had a feeling you were going to stay in the area, so I already put in a transfer for next year. I have to finish this year out, though."

I hug her. "We will make it work. Come down for spring break, and I will go up for weekends here and there."

"Yes, we’ll make it work," she repeats.

"Now, go get some sleep and be here tomorrow at seven a.m.," I tell her.

"It's a holiday! Don't people sleep in anymore?" She grumbles as she heads out the door.

Tomorrow is going to be a day for the books. Brooke and Gabbie are getting along, and there is some big news. I can’t wait to see the look on Gabbie's face when she opens her gift.

Chapter 10

Brooke

I slept at my brother's house last night, because his kids get up at the first crack of dawn on Christmas day, and I didn't want to have to drive that early. I’m woken up by them jumping on the bed.

"Auntie Brooke, Santa has been here!" Clark says.

"We were really good this year! There are more presents than last year," Cassie squeals.

"Did you wake your parents already?" I ask without even opening my eyes.

"Yes, Mommy said to tell you she’s starting coffee," Clark says.

"Your mom is my favorite person. Go help her with coffee, and I will be there in a minute." I tell him.

They bolt from the room, and I want to go back to sleep, but sure enough, the smell of coffee starts to fill the house. So, I drag myself from bed, throw my hair up in a messy bun, and go out to get some coffee, while calculating my chances of getting a nap in today. They look pretty darn slim since Luke and Gabbie will be here in a few hours to spend the day with us.

The next hour is spent watching the kids unwrap gifts that include everything from clothes and books to the latest video games they wanted, and even gift cards to the ice cream place they love.

I remember what it was like to be a kid like that, and when I catch my brother's eye, I know he's remembering it, too. Back when life was simple, nothing bad happened, and our biggest worry was making sure we didn't get grounded, so we could still go to our friend’s house.

After all the kids’ gifts are opened, they run to their rooms to start playing, and the adults get ready and presentable for company.

As I am just getting out of the shower, I hear my grandma yelling, "Looks like a herd of hyenas got to your gifts!"

"Grandma!" The kids yell running to her.

By the time I make it to the living room, she has the kids cleaning up the mess, and David and Jill are in the kitchen starting brunch.

We are just setting the table when Luke and Gabbie show up, and the kids run to greet them, much the same way they did Grandma. Luke's eyes zero in on me and pull me like a tractor beam to him. The moment I'm in front of him, he pulls me in for a hug.

"You look beautiful." He whispers in my ear.

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