Page 78 of Maybe This Christmas
He had to show her.
He walked around so he was facing her.She wiped at her face.There was no mistaking the tears staining her cheeks.She looked up at him.“You should go.If you leave now, you can maybe make the tail end of your family celebrations.”
His phone dinged with a series of texts.“I’m not missing anything.”He showed her his phone.“Everyone is invested in this…inyou,Emma.We’ve only known you a couple of weeks, but that’s long enough to know we love you.”
Her mouth parted.“Love?Like…for real?That just doesn’t seem possible.”
Maybe his mouth told a truth his heart wasn’t quite ready to hear.But he didn’t regret his words.“I’ve never felt like this before, Emma.I’m not the type to make bold declarations like this.You can ask the biddies if you want.They’re probably on their way up here, anyway.”
She let out a noise that was halfway between a laugh and a cry.“You really mean it, don’t you?You want me to stay, even if things didn’t work out between us?I’d be right next door, Caleb.”
He took a step toward her, his hands coming to her face.“I’m not saying it would be easy.But you deserve this chance, Emma.And I’m not so selfish that I wouldn’t want you to have it if things didn’t work out between us.”
The thing was, he had that feeling in his gut that told him Emma was it.He could see a life with her by his side, sprawling out ahead of him.
But he couldn’t, no,wouldn’tforce her to do anything she didn’t want to.
She rested her head against his hand.“It just seems too easy.When Davis showed up, it brought me back to reality.Reminded me that I didn’t deserve to have this kind of dream come true.”
“Fuck Davis,” Caleb said.“You deserve this, Emma.You deserve the whole world.”
Their eyes met.She placed her hand on top of his.“So, you’ll have me?Even though I’m a mess?”
“It’ll be our mess, then.I meant what I said, Emma.I love you.I’m here if you want me to be.The rest will come later.The business, our relationship, melding our families… This is the hardest part, Em.Once you say yes, I have a sneaking suspicion everything else is going to fall into place.”
She closed her eyes, keeping her hand on top of his.Caleb’s heart thrummed in his chest.It hadn’t been more than a few seconds since he’d stopped speaking.It felt like years.Like time had slowed down, because she was with him.
She was home.
After a long moment, her eyes reopened.“I’m in it if you are.”
Before she could utter another breath, he swept her into his arms.Their mouths found each other just as the doorbell began to ring.
They broke apart, laughing.“I swear, they’ve got to be psychic or something.”
“I guess if I’m choosing you, the biddies are part of the deal?”
He rolled his eyes.“I promise they leave me alone most of the time.”
She stole another kiss.“Better let them in, then, huh?”
He held her close for just another moment.“In a minute.”
As they stood intertwined, Caleb had never been surer about anything in his life.This woman was his future.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Once the biddies made their way inside, a chaotic whirl of Christmas cheer took over Davis’ apartment.
Oh, Emma could only imagine how his shriveled, Grinch-like heart would hate the laughter and joy filling his sterile space.She chuckled to herself, picturing him sniffing the air dramatically once he returned from his trip.He would drive himself insane trying to recognize the smells, and then he’d bathe the place in bleach.If he even knew where to find it.
Of course, somehow, they’d managed to bring an entire turkey dinner along with them.Inez, Lainey, and Eleanor kept busy in the kitchen while the rest of the biddies began to tackle the packing with Emma and Caleb.
It all felt right, except for the little issue about Davis’ requested payment.But, of course, they’d thought of that, too.
“Look, if you want just to be done, you can pay him a fuck-you payment if you want.I suggest going to the bank and paying it all in pennies.Then, leave the wheelbarrow in front of the door on the way out so he has to crawl over it on his way back inside.But I’ve been known to be petty,” Eleanor said.
“You don’t have to pay him a dime,” Inez called from the kitchen.“Let him sue you!We’ll take care of him.Rich boys like that need to learn they can’t push people around.You’re not alone, Emma.We’re your backup.”
