With her hand in mine, Sasha and I dash out onto the grounds. It’s overcast and there is the promise of rain – or more – on the breeze. It’s getting colder out, so I slip my jacket off and wrap it around her shoulders.

“Thank you,” she says as she pulls the jacket around her a little tighter.

“You’re welcome,” I say. “So, it seems like Neal and Sarah are hitting it off pretty well.”

She nods and laughs. “They do. Color me shocked.”

“You okay with that?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” she asks. “You Churchill boys seem like a decent lot. I mean, Christopher didn’t blow my cover with Alice in there. He was absolutely gracious.”

I laugh. “At heart, he’s a good guy.”

“He is,” she says. “As are you.”

“You make me even better,” I say.

“We make each other better.”

I kiss the top of her head and smile down at her. “I think we do,” I say. “So, what did you and my mom talk about? You didn’t pepper spray her, so I’m assuming it didn’t go that badly.”

Her laughter is a high, rich sound that instantly fills me with joy. “Are you ever going to let that go?”

“Maybe when we’re old, fat, and gray.”

“Oh, you’re assuming we’re going to make it to be old, fat, and gray?”

“I’m cautiously optimistic.”

I pull her into the gazebo, which is thankfully heated. We sit down as the warmth of the heaters starts to remove the chill from our bones.

“Your mom was just welcoming me to the family,” she says. “She really is the sweetest woman.”

“She likes you a lot,” I say. “She thinks you’re good for me.”

“She’s definitely not wrong about that,” she teases. “I am.”

I lean forward and press my mouth to hers, kissing her with passion before taking a deep breath to steel my nerves.

I sigh. “Sasha, I have to tell you something.”

She looks over at me, a concerned look on her face. “What is it?” she asks.

Now or never.

“I love you, Sasha.”

She looks at me as tears begin spilling down her cheeks. I reach up and wipe them away before she gives me a smile that melts my heart.

“I love you too, Miles,” she says. “I love you so much.”

We walk back into the house as the first, fat flakes of snow begin to drift lazily from the sky. The party is in full swing and it seems like everyone is having a great time. There are people dancing on the floor in the hall as the band plays some upbeat songs. The entire night has been perfect. I walk Sasha out onto the floor and she smiles, dancing with me as much as her dress will allow.

My stomach is churning, and my heart is in my throat. The time is coming, and I know it. This has been my plan the whole night and I can’t back out now.

When the song ends, I check my watch. It’s time. I look over at the string quartet and give them a nod. They break into the opening of Sasha’s favorite song as I step to the very center of the dance floor. I wave the other guests back.

“May I have the floor for a moment, please?”

I beckon Sasha to me. She looks awkward and a little scared, but she’s soon standing in front of me.

“What are you up to?” she whispers.

I give her a smile and then speak loud enough for the room to hear. “Sasha Gates, you are an amazing woman. You have changed my life in more ways than I can count – maybe the biggest of which is giving me a reason to actually like Christmas for a change.”

A ripple of laughter washes over the crowd, but Sasha stands there looking at me, eyes wide, a look of stunned disbelief on her face. I have an idea that she knows what’s coming, but I can’t tell if she’s excited about it or not. For the first time in my life, I can’t read someone, and it makes me nervous.

But all I can do is press forward.

“Although the start of our relationship was – unconventional – that’s only made it all the more special to me,” I say. “You’re special. And you make me want to be a better man. Eventually, a better father.”

A curious buzz passes through the crowd. Let them talk if they want to – I don’t care at this point. Sasha’s eyes grow even wider when I get down onto my knee and a profound hush falls over the crowd.

I slip the small black box out of my pocket with the intention that this is no longer a promise ring. It’s a promise – a promise to love this woman, and only this woman, the best that I can for the rest of my life.

“Sasha, I can’t imagine life without you. I never want to,” I say. “Would you do me the honor of marrying me?”

She claps her hands over her mouth and the tears start to flow again. She doesn’t say anything at all, but just stands there with wide eyes and tears streaming down her face. I clear my throat, feeling a little awkward.

“It’s traditional to give an answer,” I whisper softly.

She laughs out loud and nods. “Yes,” she cries. “A thousand times yes.”

As I stand and slip the ring on her finger, the crowd erupts with enthusiastic cheers and applause. I pull Sasha to me and hold her tight.

“I love you, Sasha,” I say. “It’s time we both start making good memories –Christmas memories – together.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” she says. “I love you, Miles. I really do.”

I look up to see Christopher laughing as he holds a sprig of mistletoe over our heads. Sasha laughs and looks at me. I shrug.

“Some traditions can’t be broken,” I say.

We press our lips together and our kiss is filled with unadulterated joy and love.