Christmas in Bayberry

“But without you, none of this would have been possible.”

With great reluctance, she pulled back, the smile still on her lips. Wes took her hand in his and led her away from the podium.

“Wait, everyone.” Fred stepped back up to the mic. “Before we get to celebrating, I have something to say.” He looked around for Penney, who was chatting with Martha off to the side of the podium. “Penney, could you join me?”

Aunt Penney looked confused, but stepped up next to him. “Fred, what are you up to?”

He took her hands in his. “I’ve been meaning to say this for a very long time, but it was never the right time. I’ve already waited too long, and I can’t put it off a minute longer.”

Kate stifled a gasp, pressing a hand to her mouth. This was it. He was going to do it. Happy tears blurred her vision and she blinked repeatedly.

Fred dropped to his knee and held up a red velvet box. “Penney, I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember. I’d love to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?”

All eyes turned to Penney, who had tears of joy in her eyes too. “Yes. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

Fred stood and swept her up in his arms and kissed her. All the while, the crowd clapped and cheered, Kate more loudly than anyone. This had been so long coming, and she couldn’t be happier for them. She rushed forward and congratulated both of them.

When things calmed down, Wes leaned toward her. “May I have this dance?”

Kate couldn’t think of anything she’d like better. “Yes.”

On the way to the dance floor, Mrs. Johnson came up to Wes and clasped his hands in gratitude. “Thank you for all you’ve done.”

“You’re very welcome,” Wes said. “Hey, I was wondering. Do you still have Rascal?”

“We do! I was hoping you’d want him. You two were meant to be together.”

“Wonderful,” Wes grinned. “I’ll come find you later. We were just about to dance.”

“Oh certainly. Go. Go.” She shooed them away. “Merry Christmas.”

As Wes led Kate to the dance floor, she just couldn’t help thinking Wes had more up his sleeve. If he was adopting Rascal, it meant he was moving.

Her heart leapt with joy. But she immediately doused the excitement. His moving didn’t mean that his destination was Bayberry. It just might be an apartment in New York that allowed pets. Inwardly she groaned. He was so close, and yet he might be so far away tomorrow.

Part of her longed to ask him his plans. But another part didn’t want to ruin this magical evening. Torn between knowing and not knowing, she decided to broach the subject later.

In the background, “All I Want for Christmas is You” started to play. Wes held his hand out to her. Wordlessly, she stepped into his arms. If they only had tonight, she wanted to make the most of it. Their bodies swayed to the music. It felt so right to have her hand resting on his shoulder and his arm wrapp

ed around her waist. She was so thankful for all of the blessings of Christmas, both big and small.

As they danced, Kate said, “Thank you so much for going out on a limb for me—for the company—for Bayberry.”

“My boss wasn’t too happy about it. He had someone else in mind to buy the company.”

“I’m sorry. I hope it didn’t hurt your chances with the promotion.”

“Well, that’s the thing. It took all this for me to figure out that I’m not cut out for a lifetime of climbing the corporate ladder. I turned down the promotion.”

Kate stopped in the middle of the dance floor and stared at him as couples twirled all around them. “I don’t understand. You wanted that promotion so much. You wanted to stay with Watson & Summers for the rest of your career.”

“I was wrong. There’s only one place I want to spend the rest of my life, and it’s right here in Bayberry. I flew back to New York to turn in my last report and resign.”

Her heart beat so loud that it was hard to hear over it. “Really?”

Wes stared into her eyes. “Really. I’m here to stay.”

This was so much information to take in at once, but she reveled in it. But then a bothersome thought intruded. “I hate to tell you this, but on the way to the dance I saw that your old house was sold. I’m sorry.”