Chloe pulled a face at her father. ‘That’s not very romantic! You’re supposed to go on one knee, Dad. Put the ring on her finger.’ She shook her head in disbelief. ‘You’re a grown-up! You’re supposed to know all this stuff!’
‘Am I?’ Christian was still watching Lara. ‘Do you want me on my knees? Because if that’s what it takes, I’ll do it.’
Chloe groaned. ‘Don’t ask, Daddy. Just do it!’
Lara glanced at Chloe and saw the yearning in the girl’s face.
‘We can’t—It’s too much for—You’ve had so much disruption and insecurity—You don’t need more change.’ She was nearly incoherent and Aggie peered at her.
‘You sound a bit like Nanny Bottle when she was thirsty. Her words came out in the wrong order, too.’
Lara gave a strangled laugh and hugged Aggie. ‘I’m not thirsty, I’m just…shocked. I wasn’t expecting…this. I just don’t think you need any more change in your lives.’
‘If you leave, things will change,’ Chloe said quietly, sliding onto the sofa next to her. ‘And that’s not a change that any of us want. Will you stay? Marry Daddy? I know he still hasn’t got round to telling you, but he loves you. That’s what the presents are. The key is to our front door, it’s yours for ever.’
‘And the magazine is so that you can pick a holiday to go on when we’re all married,’ Aggie intervened, and Chloe sighed.
‘It’s called a honeymoon. And she isn’t marrying all of us. She’s marrying Daddy.’
‘She is marrying all of us!’
Lara looked at Christian, unable to believe what was happening. ‘A honeymoon?’
‘I know you need to go to Australia to see your brother, but will you come straight back, instead of travelling? And then we’ll have a honeymoon.’
There was a long silence and Lara swallowed. ‘I—I didn’t think this could possibly happen. I thought it would be too much for the children.’ It was so enormous—so perfect—that she didn’t dare believe it. ‘We agreed that it would be best if I just left.’
‘I was wrong about that. The girls love you, too, Lara. As much as I do.’
His words made her heart skip several beats. ‘You love me, Christian?’
‘Of course he does.’Aggie beamed at her. ‘And we love you, too. You make great mince pies and you taught us to skate backwards. And you make more mess in the house than we do.Your only bad thing is that you cook me broccoli.’
Half laughing, half crying, Lara looked at Christian. ‘You love me?’
‘Do you doubt it? All right, enough of marriage proposals by consensus. Move over, Aggie, it’s my turn.’ Lifting his youngest daughter off Lara’s lap, he put her gently on the floor. Then he pulled Lara to her feet. ‘Girls, go and make your beds.’
Aggie frowned. ‘I already made my bed.’
Christian’s eyes were on Lara’s face. ‘Then go and unmake it.’
‘But I want to watch—’
‘Aggie, come on!’ Chloe dragged her protesting sister from the room and Lara dragged her gaze away from Christian’s and glanced after them.
‘I don’t want to throw them out of the sitting room on Christmas Day.’
‘It’s only for a minute.’ He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. ‘This has to have been the most unconventional proposal of marriage ever. But I suppose it’s a reflection of what I’m offering you. You’d be marrying more than just me, Lara. It’s a lot to take on. If you’re going to say yes then you have to know what you’re saying yes to.’
‘I love you, Christian, and I love your girls.’ She flung her arms around his neck and tears spilled down her cheeks. ‘Our girls. I know what I’m saying yes to.’
His grip tightened. ‘You’re saying yes?’
Her voice was clogged with tears of happiness. ‘Did you really think I wouldn’t?’
‘You were excited about your trip to Australia.’
‘That was until I fell in love with you. Then I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving you. I’ve been so miserable.’