Aleksandr
One Year Later
I paced around the outside of the house, ignoring the snow. My palms were sweating, and I couldn’t stand still.
This was it. It had been one year since Cate Morgan marched up the walkway of the Christmas Village and asked Santa for her Christmas wish.
Since Santa—that is, me—had been a complete moron about a lot of things, I’d spent the last year showing her that not only did Santa grant her wish (and all her naughty wishes to boot), but that he didn’t want anything more than to be with her any way she’d have me.
And it had been an amazing year. Cate’s job at the Audubon Society was ten minutes from her house. It was her house now because her parents had moved to Florida. I spent more time here than my own little house. Cate had made this a home for her, and I hoped, for us. Her parents were back now for Christmas, and the house was decorated within an inch of its life. I’d been on decorating duty since the day after Thanksgiving.
We’d had dinner, and Cate and her mom shooed us all out of the kitchen. I knew Cate wanted some time with her mom—she’d missed her a lot this year. My family, even my brothers were here too, and it was perfect.
Almost.
I was about to either make things absolutely perfect, or be the ultimate party foul. I didn’t know what would happen, and hence, my palms wouldn’t stop sweating.
“Fuck it,” I said. Last year, Cate had taken a chance. It had been hard, and really brave of her. I was at least as brave as she’d been.
I ran my hands through my hair and strode back into the house. I came into the kitchen where Cate and her mom were laughing near the sink.
“Hey, babe, can you come here?” I asked, holding out a hand.
“What? We’re almost done.”
I smiled. “The dishes can wait. I want to give you something.”
She smiled, happy and surprised. “What?”
“It’s a surprise. Come on. It’s Christmas Eve.” I took her hand and tugged her to the big family room.
Our two families were sitting with coffee and dessert, talking, and everyone looked up as we came in. Cate’s mom followed behind her and went to stand with her husband. I saw the picture of Cate and I on the mantle—the one my mom took a year ago, when she’d come and asked Santa for her wish.
“Thanks for being here. I don’t love the decorating,” I rolled my eyes exaggeratedly, “But at least Cate has good taste, so everything looks great.”
“At least one of you has it,” my brother Nicolai said.
I waved him off and continued. “You all know how this happened. Cate took a hell of a chance last year, a year ago exactly, and gave me the opportunity to build a life with her. It’s been the best year of my life,” I added, looking at her.
She nodded, coming to wrap an arm around my waist. Her eyes were bright.
“I figure, why ruin a good thing? I may be slow, but I’m not stupid. I love you, Cate, and I am so glad you decided to ignore me in a bad mood.”
There was laughter and clapping from both our families, who all knew the story. As if there was any chance of ever keeping that quiet.
“I like the idea of taking chances on Christmas Eve, just in time for the new year, and this year, it’s my turn.” I reached into my pocket and stepped away from Cate. Still holding her hand, I knelt in front of her. “Cate, will you give me another year, and the next one after that, and as many after that as there are? Marry me, Cate.” I held up a ring.
Her hand went up to her mouth, and the brightness in her eyes spilled over into tears. “Yes,” she whispered.
I slid the ring onto her left ring finger, and then pulled her to me, kissing her. It was probably more intense than necessary given our audience, but I didn’t care.
“Merry Christmas Cate,” I said into her hair.
“Merry Christmas, Santa,” she said. “I didn’t think it was possible, but this is even better than last year.”
“For the rest of your life,” I whispered.
The End