Gloria

Not even a little. Gloria had thought she’d have until after dinner—maybe even after they shared some wine—before she would give him his special present.

She shook her head.

“Okay. Stay here.” Then, before she could suggest that maybe they should wait, Franklin left the kitchen. He returned less than a minute later, carrying a manila folder in one of his large hand. “Merry Christmas, sweetheart.”

Gloria accepted the folder he offered her. She opened it up, revealing a stack of papers. The top sheet had a single address printed on it. It was a Hamlet address, but she didn’t recognize it.

Wearing a puzzled frown, she asked, “What’s this?”

“It’s yours. I mean, if you want it. That’s the address. The paperwork shows that everything’s in your name, even the deed. That’s the second page. Go on. Look at it.”

Gloria’s stomach went tight. Even as she flipped the top page over, she couldn’t stop her mind from racing. Did Franklin buy her a house? What the heck was that supposed to mean? He knew she was selling Great Aunt Patti’s cabin. Was this way of kicking her out?

And that’s when she saw what the deed was for.

A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed roughly, trying to force it back. “‘Gloria’s Sundae Shoppe’,” she read out loud.

“It’s in the heart of town, near the beauty salon. Harrison decided to move his antique shop and, since I was working on helping repair one of his pieces, I was one of the first who knew. He sold me the spot for a good deal. And I thought… I mean, it’s just the space. If you want to turn it into your ice cream parlor, there’s nowhere better in Hamlet to have a shop. I know your dream is to own your own shop and I thought this might make it easier for you to start. The rest is up to you, but I know you can do it. I still have faith in you.”

She was speechless. Absolutely speechless.

For the first time in her life, she didn’t know what to say.

Franklin obviously didn’t know how to react. He reached behind him to scratch his neck. “I understand if you don’t wanna. No pressure, sweetheart, okay? It’s yours to do whatever you want with it. You can use it or sell it, whatever makes you happy, Glo. I just… that’s all I want. To make you happy.”

Whether he realized it or not, he did that by just being himself. He made her happy every day, which was precisely why she went out and bought her gift.

She was shaking. She still couldn’t find the right words and, in a burst of inspiration, she decided she could be the quiet one for once. Folding the manila folder carefully shut, she placed it on the kitchen table, then, without a word, she went back toward the couch.

Palming the jewelry box she kept secured in her pocket, Gloria went back to the kitchen. She let it nestle in the center of her hand, making sure Franklin got a good look at it, then popped the lid open.

“You make me happy, Franklin. You know me, and you love me anyway. Of all the gifts in the world you could’ve given me for Christmas, you gave me a way to see my childhood dream come true. All I’ve ever wanted was to own an ice cream parlor. Now, though? I’m greedy, babe. I want it all. My shop,” she said, holding the box out to him. “And you.”

“Gloria?” His voice was gruff, his dark eyes narrowed on the polished black band resting in the jewelry box. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t want a business partner. I want a life partner.” Gloria winced. “That came out way cheesy. Can I get a do-over? Hang on. I almost forgot this part.” She sank down to her knee. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right. “Marry me, Franklin.”

To her surprise and delight, Franklin stared down at her for a heartbeat before laughing.

She loved it when Franklin laughed. Because, no matter what, he was never, ever laughing at her.

“I guess it’s only fair. You always said I had the better gift last year. This year? You win. You definitely win.”

Her heart swelled. Keeping her tone light, knowing what a big moment this was for both of them, she teased, “It’s tungsten. How could you beat that?”

“I couldn’t. But, believe me, I’ll spend the rest of my life trying.” Franklin dropped to his knees so that they were much closer in height. The ring was between them. He plucked it out of the box, sliding it on the ring finger of his left hand. “That’s a yes, by the way.”

Gloria launched herself at him. She threw her hands around his neck, pressing her lips to his. She felt the steel band of his arms as he wrapped them around her.

When she drew back enough to get a go

od look at his face, she watched as Franklin completely dropped his guard. All she saw was love in every line of his hard face, total adoration in the depths of his dark eyes.

“Just so you know,” he said, barely contained the grin she knew she mirrored on her face, “I have a ring I’m working on down at the garage. If you liked your Christmas gift, I was gonna give it to you for New Years’.”

Gloria giggled. “You’re not mad that I beat you to the punch?”

“Mad that you saved me another week terrified that you’d say no and that you were leaving Hamlet in January? Gloria, sweetheart, that might have been the best part of your gift.”