It’s amazing how much can happen in a year. Some people can look back and say that they are the same person they were twelve months ago. I can say no such thing—and the woman I’m hoping to spend the rest of my life with is the reason why.
I moved in with Paige immediately after the incident with her mom and Paul. Well, I stayed the night and never left. I already had everything I wanted out of my house from when I left Annika. I let her keep the house and the furniture. All it was to me was a reminder of a life I didn’t want anymore.
I still have to attend society functions, that is a part of the job, but doing it with Paige makes it not seem like a chore anymore. The way she talks with the donors is amazing and our donations have doubled since she came into my life.
I also love seeing her in a beautiful dress.
I also love taking that dress off her at the end of the night.
Whether she is in a formal dress or her ripped jeans she wears to pick up trash on a Saturday afternoon, she is the most beautiful woman in the world. Even right now, as I peek from the curtain and watch her on stage with her class, mouthing the words of the song to help them along, she takes my breath away.
When I watched her then, I was struck by her beauty. This year? I know that she has spent weeks practicing with the kids and was just as nervous as they were tonight. She cares so much about them. This year as I watch her, though, I’m seeing her heart.
And it’s the part of her I love most of all.
“You ready, Uncle Garrett?”
I nod. “Let’s do this.”
As the kindergarten class exits the stage, Cullen, Anthony, and Penelope lead the group of students I asked to help me onto the stage. Thank God for Cassie and Mr. Arthur, or this wouldn’t be happening.
“Mr. Arthur. We’d like to sing our new song,” Anthony announces.
“It’s one especially for Miss Blackstone,” Penelope follows.
“And we hope that she likes it… and that she will say yes,” Cullen says before Mr. Arthur begins the first few notes of the newest Christmas carol.
“All I want for Christmas is for you to say yes.
For you to say yes.
For you to say yes.
Gee, if I could only have you say yes.
Then I could wish you “Congratulations!”
I come out on stage, where Paige is now laughing and trying to hold back tears. From the corner of my eye, I can see Mark with Makenna, Boomer and Kelly, Trevor and Rebecca standing in the back. I can see random cell phones in the air likely recording this—I know for a fact Charlie is doing that very thing in the front row—but all I can see is the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.
“Paige,” I begin, taking her hands in mine. “When I met you here a year ago, I didn’t like the man I was. I didn’t even know that I didn’t like me. I thought life had dealt me the hand I had to play. Then I met you. You make me want to be a better man. Every day I strive to be the man who makes you proud, who makes you feel loved, who makes you happy. Because God knows you do all of those for me every day.”
I take a breath and lower myself to one knee, flipping open the jewelry box I have been holding on to for the past few months. “Paige Blackstone, will you make me the happiest man in the world and be my wife?”
I have never heard such deafening silence. All I can hear are the words that Cullen and Anthony said earlier about her being too nice to tell me no.
Then I see the happiness in her eyes. The frantic nodding of her head. And just like that, my world falls into place.
“Yes. Yes, Garrett, I will marry you.”
Applause roars as I slip the ring on her finger. As soon as it’s on, her arms are around my neck and I pick her up to bring her lips to mine. I know we’re at a school function, but this woman just said that she’d be my wife and dammit, I’m going to kiss her.
“Did you really just propose to me at an elementary school Christmas program?” she asks, a smile taking up her entire face.
“I did. Though I have one more question for you.”
She cocks her head to the side. “And what would that be?”
“I was wondering if you had a last name? If you don’t, you can have mine.”
Usually when I give her a cheesy line, I’m given an eye roll and a smack across the chest. But this time? This time I’m given a kiss that I can feel in every cell of my body.
“I love you, Paige. Thank you for saying yes.”
She gives me one more kiss. “I love you, Garrett. Thank you for being everything I could have ever asked for and everything I never knew I needed in my life.”
THE END