Beth shrugged. ‘Nothing.’ His brow darkened. ‘I didn’t want you to think that I was on my own.’
‘Well, there’s an answer to that. Can’t you see how much Jack loves having you here? Don’t you know how much I want you with me? Stay tonight. Stay tomorrow. We’ll come carol singing with you and then I won’t have to let you out of my sight for a moment.’
It all sounded too perfect. Beth was about to ask him if he really meant it, but she could see from his face that he did. Those kinds of doubts were a thing of the past now. ‘Okay. Yes, if you’re sure that it’s all right with your parents, I’ll stay.’
‘I don’t really care if it isn’t. But since you ask, if Dad ever finds out that I let you spend Christmas on your own, he’ll take a leaf from Marcie’s book and shoot me. That’s if Mum doesn’t get her hands on me first.’ He jumped to his feet, reaching for a padded envelope that stood on the mantelpiece. ‘And I have something for you.’
‘Oh! Matt, I didn’t get you anything…’ When had he had the time to go out and buy her something for Christmas?
‘You’re not supposed to. This isn’t a Christmas present. You have to stand up, though—here by the tree.’ He took her shoulders and positioned her carefully in front of him.
‘What’s all this?’ She looked at the ceiling. ‘You haven’t got a bucket of fake snow waiting to tip on my head, have you?’
‘Nope. Jack and I planned that for later. Here.’ He slid a small roll of tissue paper from the envelope and put it into her hand, closing her fingers around it to indicate that it wasn’t to be opened yet.
‘Beth, my gran gave this to me just before she died last year. I never believed I’d get the chance to do as she asked with it.’
‘What did she ask?’ There was something about his manner that stilled Beth.
‘Gran said that when I found someone I could love, and when the time was right, I should give this to her. And I have, Beth.’ He fell to one knee in front of her, so suddenly that she almost took a step backwards. ‘Will you marry me?’
‘Matt!’ Had he completely taken leave of his senses? Of course she wanted to marry him, she’d never been so sure of anything in her life, but…‘This is too much…’
‘You don’t have to say right now. But will you think about it? I know it’s a lot to take on.’ He stopped as she laid a finger over his lips and looked at her in agonised silence.
‘Too much happiness. It’s too much.’
If his grin had been any wider, his face would have split in half. He let out a long sigh and Beth realised that he had been holding his breath. ‘Okay, then. Let’s take it in stages. I love you, Beth.’
‘I love you, too, Matt. More than anything.’
‘Good start. And do you want my children?’
‘Yes. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed babies, just like their father…’
‘Well, there’s a problem, because I want them to be just like you. But we can discuss that later.’ He reached up and cupped her face with his hand, his eyes tender. ‘So will you marry me?’
‘Yes, I will.’
He stared at her, as if he had never truly believed that she would say yes. ‘Open the package.’
Beth’s fingers were trembling so much that she almost dropped it. Somehow she managed to get the ribbon off and unroll the paper, and a heavy gold ring dropped out into her palm.
‘Matt! This is beautiful!’ The ring was art nouveau in design, gold tendrils wound around three diamonds, which flashed in the glow of the Christmas-tree lights.
‘It was Gran’s engagement ring. She said that there was a lot of love in it already.’
‘And we’ll add even more. I’ll wear it for her, as well as you. Because she had the sense to believe in you even when you didn’t believe in yourself.’ She gave him the ring and held her left hand out to him, and he slid it carefully onto her finger.
‘Well, how about that? It even fits.’ He grinned. ‘What more can we ask for a perfect Christmas?’
‘Apart from Jack, you mean? And your family?’
‘Quite apart from Jack. I don’t think he’ll give us a moment’s peace. Mum certainly won’t.’
‘Well, as long as he doesn’t lose that piece of mistletoe.’ Beth giggled. ‘That’s what I’ll have. Some mistletoe, so you’ll have to kiss me whenever I want.’
‘One piece of mistletoe coming up. Even if I have to trudge all the way down to the local pub and steal some.’ Matt got to his feet and put his arms around her waist. ‘Anything else?’