A Family Made at Christmas

She gulped as her eyes filled with tears.

He leaned his face close to hers. She could see every part of his green eyes. ‘Tell me that you don’t love me. Tell me that you don’t love Finn. Tell me that you don’t wonder about the life we could all have together.’

‘Of course I do, Riley,’ she whispered. She couldn’t lie. Not when he was looking at her like that. Not when his love seemed to envelop every part of her.

He slid his hand into hers. ‘We have a life. Let’s live it, April. Let’s live it together. You, me and Finn. This Christmas will be hard for Finn. But let’s get through it together. You, me and him. Let’s start something new. Let’s create some memories together. As a family.’

She hesitated for the briefest of seconds as her heart swelled.

His eyes widened. ‘Is that a yes?’ Then he muttered under his breath, ‘Please let that be a yes.’

She gave the surest nod she’d ever given. ‘It’s a yes,’ she managed before his lips met hers.

EPILOGUE

IT HAD TAKEN HOURS, but Finn was finally sleeping. He’d crept back downstairs four times, asking if Santa had been yet, and each time Riley and April had laughed and chased him back upstairs.

But she’d just checked. He was now slightly snoring in bed, wearing his superhero onesie.

‘At last,’ groaned Riley as they flopped down on the sofa in front of the flickering fire. The tree with blue lights was in front of the main window, decorated with a mishmash of coloured baubles and topped with a golden star. April thought it was the most magnificent tree she’d ever seen. The decorations that they’d brought from Isabel’s house had joined the new ones on the tree. It was just the way it should be—a mixture of the past and the present.

It had been a big day. She’d lived here since her discharge from hospital. Riley had insisted, and it had felt right. But today Finn had experienced a bit of a meltdown. She’d found him crying in the morning as the whole momentum of Christmas just seemed to overwhelm him. ‘I miss my mum,’ he’d whispered.

‘I know, honey,’ she’d said as she hugged him. ‘I miss my sister too. But I think I know something we can do today that will help.’

Riley had been in complete agreement and they’d all gone shopping together in order to find something appropriate for Finn to take to his mother’s grave. In the end he’d picked an ornament in the shape of a robin with a bright red breast. It was perfect. And they’d taken him to the cemetery and let him talk to his mother for a while and leave her the gift.

His mood had seemed easier after that, and April had gone and bought flowers to leave at her sister’s grave too. ‘We need to make this a tradition,’ Riley had said quietly in her ear. ‘Not a sad one for Christmas Eve, more like a chance to take five minutes to acknowledge the people who aren’t here and are missed.’

And she agreed completely. It was something they would do together every year.

Now, it was finally time to relax. The presents were wrapped and under the tree, along with a tray with carrots, milk and mince pie for Santa. ‘Better remember to eat that or there will be questions asked in the morning.’

April sighed. ‘I’ve never been fond of carrots. Maybe we can hide it back in the fridge?’

Riley looked a bit odd. He stood up and walked over and picked up the little tray. ‘I think Finn counted them earlier; we’d get found out.’

He sat back down on the sofa next to her and put the tray on her lap. He then knelt under the tree and added a couple of small red parcels. April tilted her head and looked at the tray. ‘I think in future years, if I’m consuming what’s on the tray for Santa, we’ll have to negotiate its contents.’

‘What does that mean?’

She grinned. ‘It means that I think Santa might prefer a glass of wine and some chocolate cake.’

He nodded slowly. ‘Why don’t we just take things as they are right now?’ He nudged her. ‘Open your presents.’

She lifted the first one and tugged at the gold ribbon around the red glossy paper. She let out a gasp. It was the most perfect Christmas ornament she’d ever seen. A replica of her necklace. Two golden hearts joined together.

‘Where on earth did you get this?’ Her voice cracked slightly.

He smiled. ‘I got it made for you. Do you like it?’

She nodded as she tried not to cry. ‘I think it’s perfect,’ she sniffed.

He nudged her again. ‘Open the next one.’

She smiled. ‘I thought I was supposed to wait until Santa visited?’

He sighed. ‘I’m far too impatient to wait for Santa.’

She pulled the ribbon on the second present. The paper fell away to reveal the church from the Christmas village. She felt her heart swell in her chest.

‘I bought it for you after the Christmas Cheer Dinner. I wanted to remember how perfect that night was. And I thought we could add it to our collection.’

She hugged him. The way he said our collection just seemed perfect.

His face looked serious for a second. ‘Now, other traditions. It’s time to eat the contents of the Christmas tray.’

She looked at him strangely and picked up the mince pie, taking a nibble. He kept watching her with those green eyes. When she finally finished she licked her fingers then picked up the carrot with her other hand. ‘So what am I supposed to do with this?’

The carrot gave a wobble in mid-air then fell apart, one part bouncing onto the floor, the other part staying in her hand with something glistening at its core.

‘What...?’ she said as she turned it towards her.

She wasn’t seeing things. There, somehow stuck inside the carrot, was a gold band and a rather large sparkly diamond. She turned back. Riley was sitting with the biggest grin on his face.

‘Oh,’ he said quickly. ‘This is my cue to move.’ And he did, moving off the sofa and onto the floor in front of her.

He took the carrot from her hand and gave the ring a little tug. ‘Just so you know, the story is that Finn thinks Rudolph will leave the ring for you once he finds it.’

‘He will?’ She was mesmerised. She hadn’t expected it at all. Sure, he’d called himself her fiancé in the hospital. But he’d talked about next year, after her surgery was completed, for making future plans.

Riley held it out towards her. The diamond caught the flickering light from the yellow flames of the fire, sending streams of light around the room. ‘April, I love you with my whole heart. Even though you tried to avoid me, time and time again, I felt the pull from the first time we met. I know I haven’t sorted out my job yet. I know we’ve still to get through your surgery. But I can’t imagine a future with anyone but you. I don’t want to have a future with anyone but you. I know it’s soon. I know some people might think we are crazy. But will you marry us, April?’

Her heart gave a pitter-patter against her chest. Could she ask for any more?

She bent forward and slid her hands up around his neck. ‘Now, this is what I call a proposal.’

He pulled her down onto his knee. ‘Can I take that as a yes?’

She put her lips on his. ‘You absolutely can.’

And there it was. The best Christmas ever.

* * * * *

If you enjoyed this story, check out these other great reads from Scarlet Wilson

THE DOCTOR AND THE PRINCESS

A ROYAL BABY FOR CHRISTMAS

ONE KISS IN TOKYO...

THE DOCTOR’S BABY SECRET

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