Faith moved up the steps to her mother’s front door as fast as her silver heels would allow. She juggled two cans of cranberry sauce in one hand while the other clutched her black wool coat tightly closed to ward off the arctic December wind. She would catch hell for being late for Christmas Eve dinner, but even the thought of her mother’s wrath couldn’t keep her from standing still for just a moment on the doorstep. Had it only been a month since she walked through this door to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Amazing what a difference a month made.

Faith’s gaze took in the boughs of greenery and white twinkle lights that had replaced the corn stalks and the wreath of fall leaves that graced the door for the last holiday. She’d felt like the family screw-up that day, the black sheep. She had believed everything about her life was wrong.

Some of her family might still feel that way. Maddie must shake her head wondering how Faith got away with wearing her funky shirts and shaggy hair in her new position as music director at St. David’s. Faith smiled and fought the urge to pinch herself.

St. David’s. Since the moment she and Michael shared their first kiss in his office, St. David’s had felt like home. And the feeling got stronger when they found out the reason the old music director had called out over Thanksgiving was because he’d eloped with his long time, long distance girlfriend and relocated to the west coast, and Michael and the church committee offered her the job.

Best of all, Michael really did seem to accept her for exactly who she was. Her first day of practice with the adult choir, she decided to dress a little more conservatively, wanting to make a good impression on the church members, especially since it had quickly gotten out she and Michael were dating. She didn’t want to embarrass him in front of his congregation.

The moment Michael saw her that evening, his face broke into the intimate smile he seemed to reserve just for her. But then his eyes dipped down and a furrow appeared between his eyebrows.

“Something wrong?”

His head titlted to the side and a few long beats passed before he opened his mouth. “At the risk of going somewhere no man should ever go…what are you wearing?”

“Clothes.” Faith shrugged and looked down at herself. The dark pants and matching jacket didn’t look too bad.

“Faith,” the quiet, rich tone pulled her gaze back up to his, “you know I think you look great. You just look more like you were raiding Maddie’s closet than your own.”

“I thought I should look more professional.” She plucked the sleeve of her navy blue jacket and looked down at her sensible shoes. “I didn’t want you to be embarrassed by me showing up looking like….”

“Like the wonderful, interesting, original, talented woman you are?”

Faith didn’t care who was looking. She flung herself into Michael’s arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his, hard.

When they finally pulled away from the kiss, Michael kept his arms looped around her waist. She looked up at him and couldn’t help her silly grin. She never thought she’d find someone who appreciated all the things she’d been criticized for her whole life.

“I knew you were perfect.”

And since then he’d proven it over and over again.

Faith pulled herself out of her thoughts. After all, Mr. Perfect should be here already. He told her he’d meet her here because he had a few last minute errands to run. What was she waiting for?

She raised her hand toward the door, but it was yanked open before she made contact. In a blink, she was pulled out of the cold and into her mother’s powder room.

She plunked the cans of cranberries down on the vanity and turned to face her brother. “Who’d mom invite to dinner this time?”

Frank gave her a grin and then moved forward to grab her in a hug.

Weird, but Faith went with it, giving her brother a quick squeeze. But Frank didn’t seem to want to let go.

“Well, Merry Christmas to you, too, big guy.” She patted him on the back, scrunching her face in confusion as she stared at the pink-tiled wall over his shoulder.

He finally pulled back and took a deep shuddery breath. The sheen in his eyes looked an awful lot like tears. What was going on here?

“Frank,” she started, worried now that something was really wrong. But she didn’t get another word out before Frank cleared his throat and pulled himself up straight.

“Wait. Just wait. Wait until you see the yummy morsel Mom invited to dinner,” he said.

Faith immediately recognized the words Frank had spoken to her when he pulled her in here on Thanksgiving. But the look on his face was totally different, a shaky smile replacing the irrepressible grin.

“What’s…?”

Frank moved forward, and again, just as he had on Thanksgiving, slid her coat from her shoulders and slipped it out to hang on the hall coat tree. He held a finger to his lips and led her out of the bathroom.

This time around Faith managed to grab the cans of cranberries before they left the bathroom, shaking her head over her brother’s odd behavior.

Frank pulled her to the living room and snuck over to the opposite side of the doorway. He gestured for Faith to look into the room.

Uncertain of what she’d find, Faith peeked around the doorframe. Michael stood in front of the fireplace, looking intently at the handmade stockings lined up on the mantel. Even with his back to her and just the colorful lights from the Christmas tree illuminating the room, she had no trouble recognizing him this time around.

Faith turned to Frank with a smile that felt a mile wide. She made no attempt to keep her voice to a whisper. “Dibs.”

Frank grinned back. “Oh, you were right, he is definitely taken.”

“What are you two doing skulking around out here?” Mrs. Leary’s voice made them jump, but when Faith turned, her mother graced her with a gentle smile. “I think there’s someone in there waiting for you.”

Back to being confused, Faith stepped into the living room. Michael had turned from the mantel and now stood next to the artfully decorated tree. The strains of her favorite Christmas song, I’ll Be Home for Christmas, reached her ears, and she looked over her shoulder to comment on it to Frank.

Only Frank wasn’t just a step behind her as she assumed. In fact, both he and her mother disappeared.

She turned back to Michael, wrinkling her nose as she tried to figure out why everyone was behaving so strangely.

“Merry Christmas,” he said, his smile gentle and almost solemn.

“Merry Christmas.”

“I know we planned on exchanging gifts tomorrow, but there was one thing I wanted to give you tonight.”

“O-okay.” Something about his tender look and quiet voice caused a flurry of butterflies to take up residence in her stomach. She hugged her cans of cranberries close to her chest.

He took a deep breath and moved to stand with just a few inches of space between them. “Faith, I know we’ve only known each other a short time, but in the last month, I’ve come to realize I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”

“I feel the same way,” she said, still uncertain about where this was going.

“I had almost given up on finding someone who saw more than the priest. But from the moment we first met, I felt like you really saw me.”

Faith’s eyes filled with tears. He’d done that for her, too. When he looked at her, she didn’t feel like the family screw-up. She felt cherished and like he saw her, flaws and all, and liked her anyway. She was amazed to hear she’d made him feel the same way.

“The truth is, I think I fell in love with you the moment I saw you scrounging for change that day in the grocery store.”

Faith swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “You love me?”

Michael nodded, staring into her eyes.

“I love you, too.” The words came out on a breathless whisper.

“I was hoping you’d say that.” With those words, he reached into his pocket for a small box and at the same time sank to one knee in front of her. He opened the box, but Faith’s eyes were fixed on his face. “Faith, I love you more than I thought possible. I know it’s quick, but I know in my heart you are the only woman I can imagine spending my life with. Will you please, marry me?”

Faith stood, cranberries clutched tightly. A few tears escaped from her eyes and a fine trembling took over her body. She tried to answer him, but no sounds came out.

“Faith?”

She nodded, his nervous question pulling her a little out of her emotional tumult, but still unable to push the words out.

“Yes?” he asked.

“Yes,” she finally managed, her voice small and shaky. “Yes. I can’t think of anything I would love more than to be your wife.”

Before all the words were out, Michael was on his feet and scooping her into his arms, cans and all. She stood in his embrace, tears of joy streaming from her eyes as they shared a kiss that expressed all the joy they felt at knowing they were loved.

Before they could get too carried away, a throat was cleared behind them. They broke the kiss, but remained standing together, foreheads touching.

“Hey, we all want to get in on the celebration,” Frank said. Faith and Michael moved only enough to take in the sight of Frank, Maddie, Mrs. Leary, and her grandparents crowding the entryway of the living room. Faith was shocked they’d given them privacy long enough for him to propose.

Unperturbed, Michael leaned back with a laugh. “Hang on. We’re not quite done here.”

He pulled the hand still holding the ring box out from behind her back. Faith gasped when she saw the beautiful ring winking up at her.

“It was my grandmother’s,” he said, emotion making his voice slightly husky.

“I love it.” She looked up at him and placed a lingering kiss along his jaw. They both looked down at her hands, still hanging on to the cranberries. Faith looked around for somewhere to put them down.

“Honestly, Faith.” Her mother saved the day, swooping in to relieve her of the cans.

Her hands now free, Michael pulled the ring from the velvet box. He tucked the box into his pocket and then picked up Faith’s left hand, sliding the ring into place.

Faith looked at the ring now adorning her finger, visible proof of the feelings they shared. Tears blurred her vision, and she looked up at Michael.

“It’s perfect.” She leaned in and they shared a tender kiss before Faith pulled back a little. “Almost as perfect as you.”