Page 18 of Let it Snow
“Lucy Shaw, I started to fall in love with you from the moment you answered the door in your fuzzy sheep pajamas.”Lucy huffed a breath and covered her mouth with her free hand, her eyes glassy but filled with light.“Since then, I’ve been falling harder and harder each day and plan to never stop for as long as I live.You are everything I’ve ever wanted and everything I will ever need.I want to be snowed in with you, decorate for Christmas and every other holiday with you, and bake ginger biscuits until I can do it with my eyes closed.I want to build a life with you, here at Gingerbread Cottage.”Max took a deep breath and smiled, hoping she could see just how much he loved her.“I love you, Miss Lucy Shaw.Will you do me the very great honor of marrying me?”
Lucy’s hand dropped from her mouth to reveal a bright smile.Happy tears glistened in her eyes as she dropped to the floor next to him and nodded.“Yes, Max, I’ll marry you.”She cupped his cheeks and kissed him passionately.“I love you, too.”Too chocked up with emotion to say anything, Max simply smiled and slipped the ring over her finger where it would stay for the rest of their lives.Lucy took a moment to admire the ring before looking up at him again.“It’s beautiful,” she said, staring up at him before biting onto her lower lip.Her eyes lingered on his mouth for a moment while filling with heat.“Do you think we could celebrate our engagement now?”
Max jumped to his feet, nearly knocking her over in his haste.To make up for it, he scooped her up into his arms and headed toward the stairs.“If I have things my way, my darling,” he told her as he took the steps two at a time.“We’ll never stop celebrating.”
***
During the previousnight, Lucy and Max had forgone Brent’s invitation to his parents’ house in lieu of spending time together.Most of that time was spent celebrating their engagement with bouts of love-making, giggling down the stairs as they grabbed a midnight snack, and showering together.In between those things, Max laid out his plan for a home baking business to Lucy, delighted when she told him she thought it was a wonderful idea and that she couldn’t wait for them to get started transforming the basement for him.It would be a lot of work, but he had plenty of savings to get started and Lucy told him that as soon as the rest of the town found out about their plans, they would offer to pitch in wherever they could.He knew his family would offer their help as well, especially since it would mean he was back in England for good.
In fact, that very morning, his parents and the rest of his family showed up on the Inn’s doorstep with packed luggage, boxes filled with presents, and warm smiles as they greeted Lucy for the first time.His mother had crushed Lucy against her round body and gushed over how happy she was to finally have a daughter.Max had been worried the declaration might cause Lucy a bit of distress seeing as she had just lost her own mother, but Lucy beamed at his mum and held her tightly.
Max’s father had been far more reserved but no less welcoming to his son’s fiancée, offering his congratulations and inviting the two of them to their house for New Year’s Eve.Once his parents had stepped aside, his aunts, uncles, and cousins welcomed Lucy to the family as well.The sight of all of his relatives already falling in love with Lucy just as much as he had brought a smile to his face and filled his chest with pride, both for the family that was willing to let her in and for the woman who deserved as much love and attention as she could stand.
After they all shared a luncheon of tea and sandwiches, the rest of his family went upstairs for a nap while he, Lucy, and his parents sat in the family room, watching snow come down in soft waves.The addition of the white flurries helped paint an idyllic Christmas scene, but Max was far more focused on the sight of the woman next to him.Lucy’s body leaned against his, her head resting on his shoulder as she stared at her engagement ring, a dreamy smile on her face.When he glanced over at his mother, he saw an approving look on her face as she sipped from her tea cup.
When she placed it down, she gave voice to the one worry Max had since the moment he first thought of moving back to England.“Have you told Louis yet?That you’re not coming back.”
Max sighed heavily.Saying goodbye to working with his friend was going to be difficult, but he knew it was worth it for all he would gain from it.“Not yet,” he confessed, looking down at Lucy to see understanding on her face as she squeezed his hand.“I probably shouldn’t hold off for too long, though.”
Lucy leaned up and kissed his cheek.“There’s no rush,” she told him, a knowing smile on her face.“Take your time, and when you have to go back to get your things, I’ll come with you.”
Max smiled, feeling a weight lift from his chest.Lucy’s understanding and love made him feel like he could do anything.“I’ll do it now.I want to start our life together as soon as possible.”Rising from the couch, he pulled out his cell phone and walked toward the other room.Peering over his shoulder, the reassuring look on Lucy’s face gave him the courage to press the call button.
Moments later, the call connected and the loud sounds of what Max assumed were the Baker family Christmas celebrations sounded through the speaker.“Max!Joyeux Noël, mon ami.How has your holiday in your home country been?”
Max swallowed thickly.The sound of his best friend’s voice made him the slightest bit sad, but he had a new life to start living now.If anyone understood that, it was Louis.“It has been, well, the only word for it is fantastic.”He scratched his jaw while trying to find the words to tell Louis he wasn’t coming back, but of course the savvy Frenchman beat him to the punch.
A sigh came through the speaker, but it wasn’t an unhappy one, just knowing.“You are moving back there, non?”
Taken aback, Max stuttered his response.“How did you know?”Louis was a perceptive fellow, but his knowing Max’s plans before he did still astounded him.
“We were right, Hailey.Max is moving back home,” Louis shouted over to his wife in French, chuckling for a moment before slipping back into English.“I knew when you left you probably wouldn’t be back.You had that look about you, the same one that was on my face when I knew I needed a change.”
Max breathed out slowly as he absorbed Louis’ words.He needed a change, he just hadn’t known exactly what that change would be.Now that he did, he was looking forward to it with excitement, though he would always miss his best friend.“Well, I guess you were right.I don’t want to leave you shorthanded, though.”
Louis snorted.“Please.I knew this was coming and already offered Ken a full-time position and have another intern lined up.We will be fine.”Louis paused and when he spoke again, his voice was serious.“Though you must know that no matter how many other people I work with, no one could ever replace you.”
Max blinked, finding himself close to tears.“I know,” he sniffled before clearing his throat.“And don’t think you’re getting rid of me that easily, mate.We plan on visiting as often as we can and expect you and your family to do the same.”
“We?That is delightful to hear,mon ami.Now, tell me more about this ‘we’ while I avoid playing the spoon game with Hailey’s family.They are alarmingly competitive.”
Max chuckled and proceeded to tell Louis all about Lucy, how they met, and how rapidly they fell in love with one another.Louis wasn’t surprised when Max also announced they were engaged, instead offering nothing but the sincerest congratulations and calling his wife over to do the same.After many promises to bring Lucy with him when he came back to pack up the apartment and more wishes of a happy Christmas, Max ended the call with his friend, feeling lighter and more settled.
Making his way back to the family room, Max saw Lucy was now alone as she sat closer to the fire.Max joined her, taking a seat on the rug that he would forever associate with their first night together.“Where is everyone, my love?”
Lucy smiled mischievously.“Your parents went up for a nap as well,” she told him, running her finger up the fabric covering his leg.“I was thinking maybe the two of us could get one as well.”
Max’s chest rumbled with need as he grabbed onto her hand.“Definitely.”He met her gaze and saw the same deep need he felt reflected back at him.“Though I can promise you there will be very little sleeping involved in our nap.”
“That is definitely a promise I will allow you to make and keep,” she told him, pulling him up to stand along with her.And later as they lay next to one another in bed, sated and sleepy, Max smiled at the knowledge that it was just one of many promises in all the years to come.
