He’d moved into Rory’s apartment with her for the first few months, but they had decided they needed more space and were now living in a house not far from Tori and Josh.
Drew’s brother and cousin were doing great back home running the farm in Iowa without him and his mom had finally gotten over him moving so far away after Rory had visited Iowa and won her over. Then Linda had taken her first trip to Autre and met the Landrys for herself. Now she, and Drew’s father, were huge fans of everything having to do with Louisiana, the Landrys, and the bayou. They were on their way to Louisiana for the holiday, in fact. They’d be here tomorrow.
Rory rubbed her stomach where the butterflies were kicking up. She wanted this Christmas to be perfect. She loved the life they’d made together and something about bringing everyone they loved together for the anniversary of when everything had started seemed hugely monumental.
“So…”
She looked up at Drew. “So?”
He took a breath and met her eyes. “Your dad’s getting out the day after tomorrow.”
She processed that. Roger was getting out of jail on Christmas Eve.
Huh.
He’d messed up not long after starting the job at the casino. Of course. He’d been in prison for six months, so he must be getting out for good behavior. Which was hilarious.
“Well…how nice. The whole family can be together,” she said dryly.
Drew squeezed her. “He’s not coming down here for Christmas.”
“How do you know?”
“Ellie went and visited him.”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
Drew nodded. “I actually ran into her in the parking lot.”
“What parking lot?”
“The prison parking lot.”
Rory pulled away so she could turn to look at him more fully. “You were going up to visit him?”
“Yep.” Drew frowned. “I had a few things I wanted to say and figured that was the best way to make sure I’d get to say them.”
She wasn’t sure what to do with that information. “That’s… a strange coincidence.”
“Apparently she’d seen him several times. And I think she knew I was headed up there that day and made a point of getting there first.”
Rory shook her head. She wondered if she’d ever get used to the way Ellie Landry was always three steps ahead of everyone else. “What did she say?”
“Neither of them would tell me exactly, but Roger is…different.”
“Different how?”
“He wants to come to dinner at Ellie’s. Not for Christmas. Nothing important like that. Just a regular dinner when everyone is around.”
Rory felt her mouth drop open. “Are you serious?”
“I am. And I think it’s a good idea. I want him to see the force you have behind you. The family you’re a part of. What he’s actually taking on if he decides to mess with you again.” He paused. “But it’s totally up to you.”
She chewed on her bottom lip and studied Drew’s face. “You think Ellie got to him? Like converted him or something?”
Drew shrugged. “If anyone could, it’d be her.”
Rory wondered if Ellie had threated Roger with becoming the main part of her famous, secret-recipe gumbo. But, she’d put time into going to see Roger. That had to mean something.
“I’m not afraid of him. Or intimidated by him anymore,” Rory said, reaching for Drew’s hand. “Being loved by you, and the Landrys, for this past year has taken that all away. He doesn’t have any power over me anymore. Just like you said.”
He frowned slightly, then understanding dawned. “You heard me say that?”
She nodded and stepped close. “It was the best thing I’d ever heard.”
He cupped her face. “I meant it.”
“And you were right.”
“I’m glad.”
“And now you’re being a good guy again,” she said, with a smile that came from the very depths of her heart. “You want to give Roger a chance to reconcile.”
He frowned. “I actually don’t. I want you to have a choice in what happens next with him out and on the prowl. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do.”
“No. I don’t. But I will. Because your good guy stuff has rubbed off.”
He leaned in with a little growl. “You’re poking at the good guy stuff because you know that makes me get the nipple clamps and chocolate sauce out to remind you I have another side.”
She grinned. “Yep.”
“Well, before I do that—” He shifted back and reached into his pocket. “I have one more really sweet, good guy thing to do. And I figured this barnyard, where it all started, was the perfect place for it.”
She frowned, but as soon as he dropped to his knee in front of her, her stomach swooped, her heart leapt, and her eyes filled with tears. She covered her mouth with her hands and started nodding.
He chuckled. “I haven’t even asked yet.”
“If you don’t ask me, I’m going to ask you,” she told him, dropping to the ground with him.
He popped the ring box open and the twinkle lights overhead made the diamond sparkle.
“Rory, would you—”
“Beeehhh!”
A goat ran past. Then another came skidding around the corner of the barn.
Through her happy tears, Rory started laughing.
“Yes.” She nodded her head, making the white pom pom on the end of her red Santa hat bob. “Yes, yes, yes.”
Drew slipped the ring on her finger and gathered her close, kissing her deeply.
When he lifted his head, he said, “You don’t even know what you’ve just agreed to do. I didn’t finish the question.”
“Well, I’m wearing a wedding dress to it, whatever it is, so I hope that’s okay.”
He laughed and cupped her face. “That’ll work.” Then he kissed her again as goats dressed as sheep ran in circles around them.
Christmas in Autre was most definitely merry and bright…and crazy and chaotic and unexpected and fun and full of love.
Like every other day of the year.