Page 79 of Meet Me at Christmas
“Well, when she isn’t traveling, she wants to live in the cabin out back.”
Stella threw her arms around Henry. “We really get to live here?”
He kissed her lips. “If you want to. And, since the first time was annulled, I’ve also got that gold band and will make good on it anytime you want me to.”
Pop’s voice blew in on the wind.“Go on, Kiddo.”
Stella couldn’t think of anything better. “First Lily and now this… It’s the best Christmas ever. If only Pop were here to see it.” She tried to channel his voice once more, hoping for another cardinal or some other sign, but nothing came. “I wish he’d show us if he’s here,” she admitted.
“Maybe he’s busy planning some grand way to do it—that would be his style.”
Stella smiled at the idea.
Henry moved behind her and wrapped her in an embrace as they stared up at the home that would soon be theirs. Everything she’d ever wanted was right there in her grasp.
She turned to face him. “I want to wear the gold band, but this time, I want to do it right.”
“Okay.” He kissed her again, and she couldn’t believe she’d get to feel that for the rest of her life.
* * *
When they got back home, Stella asked Henry to stay, and they started preparing for Mr. Ferguson to arrive. Stella had called Mr. Ferguson to ask him to Christmas dinner and then stay the night. She’d offered to come get him, but he’d said he could get a ride over with a neighbor, heading in that direction. From that moment on, they all were busy preparing the guest room, setting out dishes of cookies and little hors de oeuvres, and placing crystal bowls of candy on the tables in the living room. While they prepared, Stella and Henry told Mama, Lily, and Mateo about Henry’s Christmas gift.
Mama blinked, her eyes glistening. “I remember after you left for Stanford, your dad sat down in this chair, baffled.” She ran her hand along the wingback chair next to the fire. “He said, ‘I always imagined her married to Henry and living in a farmhouse nearby. I’m going to miss her so much.’ He’d be beside himself with happiness.”
“Well, we’vealmostgiven him his wish,” Henry said. “Stella and I have decided to get married and have it be legal this time.”
Lily gasped. “Oh, my goodness!” She drew both Henry and Stella into a big squeeze of a hug. Then she pulled back. “You could get married with us on the porch at Christmas—like we always planned!”
“As in tomorrow? Christmas Day?”
“Got anything white to wear?” Lily asked with a giggle.
Stella’s mind went back to the satin dress in her closet. She was still about the same size. “Actually, I might.” She turned to Henry. “Any chance you can get those space heaters over to the porch by tomorrow?”
“If I get to marry you, yes.”
Mama clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, my! We’ve got a double wedding to plan!”
* * *
By the time Mr. Ferguson arrived, they were all around the kitchen table jotting down notes for the quick country wedding they were having tomorrow.
“You all look very involved,” he said, leaving his walker and hobbling over to the table with Mama’s help.
Mama pulled out a chair for him. “Love is in the air! This is my other daughter, Lily, and her new husband, Mateo. Lily’s surprise homecoming wasn’t all that was in store for us. We’re planning a double wedding for both my girls tomorrow.”
Stella piped up. “You’re invited.”
“My goodness.” Mr. Ferguson’s eyes rounded. “Nothing like a spur of the moment occasion.”
Lily gave Stella a deviant smile. “Oh, we’ve been planning this for years.” She leaned over to Stella. “I think we both have the old and new covered. But we need something borrowed.”
Henry was searching on his phone. He had already managed to convince their original officiant, Waylon Evans, to come over and marry them tomorrow, once he determined that he was, in fact, ordained. He looked up and greeted Mr. Ferguson.
Just then, Stella’s phone rang. Curious as to whom it could possibly be, she answered it.
“This is officer Miller at the Atlanta police department. I was leaving to go home for the holiday, but I wanted to give you some news on your necklace—it couldn’t wait.”
