We eased into our new life. Remy had someone working for him that allowed him a normal life and that he loved teaching. I was loving writing and having my own house on my little beach and creating a life with my first crush. We cooked every night, learning as we went and ordering out a lot when we messed up. I learned his grandma’s favorite recipes since she died when he was ten and I worked hard to copy them. I got a hold of my mom’s cookbooks and her mom’s, working on making them during the day to give me a break from writing. I realized that as much as I loved Remy’s parents, I felt at home now. My family pictures were all over the place and I felt them here most of the time. I was grateful to everyone that gave me a home when I needed one, but I was meant to be here with Remy.
We were in the house for five months when we bought our first Christmas tree. He set it up and strung it with colorful lights as I unpacked my family ornaments from the garage. Mom stopped using them after Dad died, opting to make the holiday a much smaller event. I told Remy the stories about them as I hung them, laughing at the memories I didn’t realize I suppressed. When I was done, I stepped back and was taken to Christmas in my house when I was little. I threw myself into Remy’s arms crying and he held me tight on the couch. The light from the tree was beautiful as I took it in, pressed against him.
“I’ve never been happier than I am with you, Celia.” I smiled at his words and looked into his face. “This life, this house… it’s my dream that I didn’t know I had. Everything has changed so much, and I want to see what is going to happen during the day. I am looking forward to Brin having her baby. I can’t wait to host our first Christmas Eve this year. There’s so much to look forward to now.”
“I know. There will be a kid here visiting us and playing on the beach. We’re having a baby shower in two weeks. Everything is happening so quickly.” I felt drowsy thinking about all of it.
“It seems like my sister and I are good at going out of order. That being said, I waited to do this until we were in our own place.” I stared at Remy as he moved his hands into his shorts. “I want you to be mine forever, Celia. I want to wake up with you and go to sleep with you every night. I want to have a family with you and watch them grow up together the way we did. I want it all.” I looked at his hand and saw the shimmer of a diamond in the lights. “Will you marry me?”
“Remy, yes. There’s nothing I’d rather do.” I kissed him, knocking the ring to the floor with my enthusiasm. We kissed hungrily, rolling to the floor as I laughed.
We made love by that tree, under the lights. I looked around to see our house and our furniture surrounding me as Remy got up to look for the ring. When he brought it to me, I took a closer look and started to cry. It was my mom’s ring, and I watched as he slid it on my finger. “How did you get this?” I asked as he smiled at me.
“She gave it to my mother when she decided to move. Mom cleaned it up when I knew I was planning this and swears that your mom knew I’d be the one putting it on your finger.” I kissed him softly, and he pressed his mouth to mine.
“I think she did.” I agreed as he pushed me to the soft rug again. We made love again, and I stared down at him as I rode him, seeing the sparkle of my mom’s engagement ring on my finger.
We hosted the baby shower the weekend before Christmas and I met more of their family. They congratulated us on our engagement and hugged me, telling me they remembered me what I was a kid. I helped Melinda set up the food and start the games, laughing as the twenty women tried so hard to win the prizes. Brin was glowing as she opened the gifts for her daughter, crying several times.
They were living in a small house nearby now. It wasn’t on the beach but close enough to all of us. It had three bedrooms and a larger living room than the apartment. The nursery was well on the way to being finished and she got so many more things to decorate for May’s arrival. We helped her, and Ryan take everything over after the party and I helped her get the clothes ready to wash and put away.