“Deal.”
She inhaled a deep breath and then blew it out. She told him about running into her family and how her father’s actions and her stepsisters’ words had ripped the scabs off her insecurities. “I know that’s not a good excuse, but it’s the truth. I’ve spent most of my life swearing that I would never end up like my mother—that I’d never blindly trust a man.”
“And then you ran into my ex and found out I’d left out some important details about my life.”
Holly shrugged and glanced away. “I just let it all get to me.” She lifted her chin until her gaze met his. “I know you’re not my father. You are absolutely nothing like him. I trust you.”
“You do?”
She nodded. “I can’t promise that every once in a while my insecurities won’t get the best of me, but I promise to work on them.”
“I love you, Holly.”
Her eyes grew shiny with unshed tears. “I love you, too.”
He cleared his throat, hoping his voice wouldn’t fail him before he got it all out. “I would never intentionally hurt you or our children. You and those babies mean everything to me. I’m really excited to be a father.”
“I noticed.” She reached in his jacket pocket and pulled out the pacifiers. “I found these. And they’re so sweet. Our babies’ first gifts.”
“You like them?”
She nodded. “How could I have ever doubted you?”
“I promise you here and now that I’ll work on being more forthcoming. I’ve spent so many years keeping things bottled up inside me that I might slip up now and then. Will you stick by me while I work on this partnership thing?”
She nodded. “As long as you’ll stick by me while I learn to let go of the past.”
“It’s a deal.” Then recalling the flowers, he jumped to his feet. “I have something for you.” He moved to the bookcase and retrieved the flowers. “I got these for you when I went to the pharmacy earlier.” He held them out to her.
She accepted the bouquet and sniffed them. “They’re beautiful.”
This was his chance to make this Christmas unforgettable. He took her hand in his and gazed up into her wide-open eyes. “Holly, the most important thing you need to know about me is that I love you. And I love those babies you’re carrying. I want to be the best husband and father, if you’ll let me. Will you marry me?”
A tear splashed onto her cheek. She moved his hand to her slightly rounded abdomen. “We love you, too. And yes. Yes! Yes! I’ll marry you.”
His heart filled with love—the likes he’d never known. And it was all Holly’s doing. She’d opened his eyes and his heart not only to the spirit of the season, but also to the possibilities of the future.
He leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers.
This was the best Christmas ever.
EPILOGUE
THERE—THAT SHOULD do it.
Finn stepped back from the twelve-foot Christmas tree that stood prominently in front of the bay windows of his new house—correction, their house...as in his and Holly’s home. This was the very first Christmas tree that he’d decorated since he was a child. Surprisingly it didn’t hurt nearly as much as he’d thought. The memories of his brother and parents were always there, lingering around the edges, but now he was busy making new memories with Holly and their twins, Derek, in honor of his brother, and Maggie, in honor of his mother.
“How’s it going?” Holly ventured into the room carrying a twin in each arm.
“I just finished putting on the lights. And how about you? Is Project Santa a go?”
Holly’s face lit up. “Yes. And this year will be even bigger than last year, which means we’re able to help even more children.”
“I knew you were the right person to put in charge.”
Maggie let out a cry. Holly bounced her on her hip. “Sounds like someone is hungry.”
“Did I hear someone cry out for food?” Holly’s mother strolled into the room, making a beeline for Maggie.
Finn glanced over at his mother-in-law, Sandy, who now lived in a mother-in-law apartment on the other side of their pool. When Holly had suggested her mother move in, he had to admit that he’d been quite resistant to the idea. But when Holly really wanted something, he found himself unable to say no.