Yours for Christmas

Chloe sat up and hugged him. “You’re going to be my forever dad, too. Okay?”

Kenny held her and nodded. He kissed her forehead. She lay back down and was asleep before they had left the room.

Back downstairs, Kenny drew Bailey into his embrace and kissed her.

“I love you,” he told her.

“I love you, too.” She tilted her head. “What brought you to your senses?”

One corner of his mouth turned up. “I tried to live without you. I couldn’t last two days. Whatever happens, it’s worth it.”

She touched his cheek. “Kenny, I want to spend my life with you. I’m yours. I’m hoping that you’ll consider adopting Chloe, so she’s yours, too. Not just in your heart, but in the eyes of the law, too.”

He stared at her. “You’d do that?”

“Of course. I love you. Not just for Christmas, but for always.”

He kissed her, then drew a small box out of his jeans pocket and handed it to her. She opened it and saw a sparkling diamond solitaire winking back at her. The beauty of the ring took her breath away, but the wonder of knowing this amazing man loved her was a feeling she wanted to hang on to forever.

“I love you, Bailey,” he whispered. “Merry Christmas.”

He slipped the ring on her finger and lowered his mouth to hers. Somewhere in the distance, bells began to chime. Christmas Day had arrived.