Page 64 of A Christmas Duet

“I can do that, if this is what you truly want. You should know that he claims he’ll remain on the porch until you hear him out, even if it means he’ll freeze to death.”

Daisy covered her mouth with both hands.

“He’s been on a search to find you ever since you left,” Hailey continued. “He’s miserable without you, and frankly, even though you try to hide it, you’re just as miserable without him. The choice is yours, Daisy. I’ll do whatever it is you want me to do.”

Swallowing hard, Daisy locked eyes with Hailey as if she were cast adrift and unsure what to do. After a moment, she dried her hands on the apron, then decided to remove it entirely before heading to the front door. Shebarely had it open when Charles all but charged into the cabin. Before her sister could utter a single word, Charles had her in his arms, holding her against him, as though he intended to never let hergo.

“Don’t say a word,” he insisted. “I want to do the talking this time.”

“Ah…” Daisy appeared too taken aback to speak, anyway.

Charles drew in a deep breath. “I love you, Daisy Morgan, and I hope you love me, because I want to marry you.”

Her sister remained stock-still and seemed to be stunned into silence.

“She loves you,” Hailey felt obliged to assure him.

Charles stared intently at Daisy. “Do you?”

With tears brightening her eyes, Daisy nodded. “But…I’m not smart like you. I’m terrible at math, and can’t spell worth a hill of beans, and never have been able to hold down a job for more than a couple months…I’m useless, and…”

“Do you think any of that matters to me?” he cried in protest. “I wouldn’t change a hair on your head. Stay exactly as you are. You’re my sun and moon and earth and everything in between. If you turn me away, I won’t ever be the same, because I need you in my life. You make me happy…I’ve always been too serious and something ofan oddball, but when I’m with you, I feel like I’m on top of the world and nothing can stop me.”

Hailey had the impression this was probably the longest speech of Charles’s life.

He paused as if he didn’t know what more to say, then knelt on one knee in front of her. “Will you marry me? Please.”

Daisy’s hands gripped his shoulders as if his proposal had completely knocked her off-balance.

“Daisy?” Hailey urged her sister to respond.

Daisy turned her attention to her sister, as though seeking her advice.

“I can’t make the decision for you,” Hailey told her sister.

Charles remained on his knee and gazed lovingly up at her. “Do you really mean it?” Daisy asked, returning her attention to Charles. “You honestly love me and want me to be your wife?”

It was all Hailey could do to keep from shouting:He meansit!

“If you’re sure,” Daisy said, grinning broadly, with tears shining in her eyes, “thenyes,I’ll marry you.”

Charles leaped to his feet and wrapped Daisy in his arms. He kissed her as if it had taken every restraint he possessed to have waited as long as he had.

Their mother came halfway down the stairs to findDaisy and Charles absorbed in each other, oblivious to anything going on around them.

With one hand on the railing and another on her hip, she demanded, “Exactly who is that young man, and what is he doing kissing our Daisy?”

“That man,” Hailey informed her mother, “is about to become your son-in-law.”

Chapter Twenty-one

“My son-in-law?” Hailey’s mother repeated. “He wants to marry our Daisy?” Her hands flew to her mouth and then to her heart. “Welcome, welcome. Oh my goodness, I don’t even know your name.”

With his arm around Daisy’s waist, Charles nodded politely and said, “I’m Charles, Mrs. Morgan. Charles Moody.”

“I’m Julia, and that’s my husband, Rich,” her mother said, nodding toward where Hailey’s father stood, directly behind Julia.

“We couldn’t be more pleased. Daisy, Daisy, my sweet Daisy.” Her mother hugged Daisy and sniffled with tears of joy. “This is the most wonderful Christmas present of my life.”

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