Chapter Forty-three

Weston

I put my arm around Scarlet, smiling as we watch Jackson tear into his Christmas presents. The three of us are wearing matching pajamas, which was Scarlet’s idea. Not mine. She said she bought them as a joke, but was rather insistent on all of us wearing them and taking a picture together last night on Christmas Eve.

No sooner than Scarlet gets comfortable against me, she jumps up.

“Salsa, get out of the tree.” She grabs the black kitten and brings him to the couch with her. He stays for half a second and jumps down, pouncing on the pile of discarded wrapping paper.

Midnight, the mother cat to all the kittens, curiously walks over, batting a plastic bow across the living room. We were only going to take the kitten, but the mama cat really likes me for some reason. She’s a bit annoying, really, and rubs her head all over me purring almost every night when I go to sleep.

Scarlet laughs, watching the cats have almost as much fun as Jackson with the presents. I take her in my arms again, stealing a kiss before Jackson moves onto the next present.

“I love you,” she whispers, running her hands through my hair.

“I love you too,” I tell her, and we settle back against the couch as Jackson finishes opening his presents. It doesn’t take long. That kid could win an award for fastest present opening.

Once he’s done, I deal with the aftermath of the wrapping paper, torn boxes, and toys scattered throughout the living room. Jackson plays with a new remote control dump truck, “helping” me clean up the mess.

The smell of cinnamon rolls fill the air, and Scarlet turns on Christmas music. She comes back into the living room with a cup of tea in her hand, stopping in the threshold of the room with a smile on her face.

“Breakfast will be ready soon,” she says, taking a drink of tea. She sets her cup down and pulls Salsa from the tree again. I stashed all our breakable ornaments when Jackson was a baby, replacing the pretty glass balls with shatterproof plastic ones that actually look just as good as the others. I almost dug them out of the basement this Christmas, and I’m glad we didn’t.

“Then I need to shower so we can get ready to leave.”

I scoop up another armload of wrapping paper and add it to the big gift bag a toy came in. We have a lot of stops to make on the way to my parents’ for their big Christmas party.

The first stop is to Eastwood’s Senior Care Center, where Mr. Cooper now lives. We were able to get him a room there around the first of the month, and it’s been a big weight off Scarlet’s shoulders. The old nursing home was a dump. I didn’t want to say anything and make Scarlet feel worse, but I was shocked when I walked in, and not in a good way.

The second stop we have to make won’t be fun. It’ll be awkward and uncomfortable, but it’s something I couldn’t rightfully refuse to do.

Daisy’s parents want to see Jackson on Christmas. They got him presents and asked if he could come over for lunch. Scarlet and I are going with, and I’m not sure if Daisy will be there or not. The judge let her off easy, and she’s going to court-ordered therapy. I haven’t seen her since she left the last time, and now all the paperwork is official and filed.

I’m not married to her anymore. I’m free to remarry anyone I want, and that person is standing in the living room with a squirming kitten in her hands. Quinn suggested I propose while we’re all at Disney World together after her wedding. Scarlet’s never been and is just as excited as Jackson to go.

It’s a damn good idea and would be magical and fitting for Scarlet, but I don’t know if I can wait that long. I love her, and I know there will never be another who fits with us as well as she does.

Things were awkward for a while after we told the rest of my family the truth. I was good with not ever bringing it up, but Scarlet insisted she come clean and start with no secrets. Dean and Archer had the hardest time with it, convinced she wasn’t trustworthy. Owen already knew, of course, and told Logan later that day after I left the bar. And Mom and Dad didn’t know what to say, though I think they were both so relieved to hear that I was finally free of Daisy they didn’t care who I was dating now. Dad didn’t understand how I could be so understanding and forgiving, and when I tell the whole story, it surprises me too.

But Scarlet isn’t that person anymore. I don’t think that’s ever who she really was in the first place. She’s a good person, and I know one day soon she’ll make a good wife.

*

“Merry Christmas!” Jackson shouts, running through the kitchen. He’s on the lookout for more presents.

“Hey, Sheriff,” Owen says, piling more cookies on his plate. Ever since I won the election, that’s all he’ll call me. He knows it annoys me.

“Hey,” I say back, letting it go this time. “Save some for the rest of us.”

“You should have gotten here sooner.”

Mom comes in, shooing Owen away with her hand. “Those are for dessert. We haven’t even had dinner yet.” She gives me a hug and moves on to Scarlet.

“You look lovely, dear. And I love your necklace.”

“Thanks,” Scarlet says, hand going to her neck. “Wes got it for me for Christmas.”

“He has good taste.” Mom smiles and goes to the stove to check on dinner.

“Yeah,” Scarlet says with a smile. “He does.” The necklace is a little star, encrusted with diamonds. I know how much she loves to look at the stars. I fill a plate with appetizers and take Scarlet’s hand, going into the living room to find my other siblings. We’re early, but soon my extended family will shuffle into the house and things will get loud.

“Logan brought Danielle?” Scarlet whispers, slowing before we get into the living room. “I thought they were just friends?”

“That’s what he tells us.”

No one believes them, and if they really are just friends, then they’re both missing out. I don’t know Danielle well, but she seems nice enough and gets along with Logan better than anyone I’ve seen him with.

He brought her to Thanksgiving too, which threw us all for a loop. He’s never brought anyone home for a holiday. He claims it was because Danielle’s at odds with her family right now. They’re rather conservative and had a whole plan laid out for the rest of her life that she had no say in. She basically ran away from it all last year, coming to live at her grandfather’s farm here in Eastwood.

“Quinn and I had an idea and we think—”

“No,” I say with a laugh. “We shouldn’t get involved. And you know by now how much my sister likes to play matchmaker.”

Scarlet smiles and gives my hand a squeeze. “Maybe just a little push?”

I shrug, not seeing how any harm can come from that. “Fine. But nothing more than a little push.”

I don’t see how the push can hurt, and if one of them confesses how they really feel they finally won’t be able to deny it anymore. I want my brother to be happy, and I know he’ll be happy with Danielle.

A push could be a good thing.

Unless they’re pushed too far.

“Merry Christmas,” Quinn says, coming into the room. She’s holding Emma, who’s dressed like a little elf.

“Oh my God,” Scarlet coos, going over. “This is the cutest thing I’ve ever seen!”

“She’s adorable!” Kara agrees.

“Does it make you want one?” Quinn teases.

“Nope. No way.”

Scarlet takes Emma from Quinn’s arms, cradling her against her chest. Her eyes meet mine and I know what she’s thinking, because right now I’m thinking the same thing.

It’s making us both want a baby.

“Did you get everything you wanted for Christmas?” Archer asks Jackson, scooping him up.

“I did!” Jackson says excitedly and goes on to list all the new toys he got. I step next to Scarlet, putting my arm around her shoulder. I got everything I want too.

Scarlet’s phone rings, and she scrambles to get it from her purse. Her brother is supposed to be calling today and was trying to call around this time. He’s stationed somewhere new and it’s looking like he’ll come home in January.

I go into the kitchen, finding Owen stealing more cookies, and take one too.  Mom comes in and shoos us both away. Scarlet is in the dining room, and I want to give her some space while she talks to her brother. I go back into the living room with the rest of my family, hanging out and talking until it’s time for dinner.

Scarlet, Jackson, and I are stuffed and tired by the time we get home several hours later. I changed Jackson into his PJs and brushed his teeth at my parents, knowing he’d fall asleep on the short ride home. I carry him upstairs and lay him in bed.

“Dad?” he grumbles, eyes fluttering open.

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too, buddy.”

He closes his eyes and reaches for the yellow unicorn. “And I love Scarlet.”

“That’s something we both have in common.” I run my fingers through his hair and kiss his forehead. The kid is wiped out and falls asleep within minutes. I tuck him in and go downstairs to find Scarlet.

Only, she’s not in the house. This time, there’s no panic or worry. I know exactly where she is.

Grabbing a blanket from the couch, I find her on the back porch steps, looking up at the clear sky above us. I sit next to her, draping the blanket around our shoulders.

“This is perfect,” she whispers, wrapping her arm around me. “I’m kind of sad Christmas is over.”

“We’ll get to do it again next year.”

She looks at me with a smile. “Are you sure you want that?”

“More than anything. I want you next year. And the year after that. And the one after that. Actually,” I start and get up, extending a hand. Scarlet takes it, eyes sparkling with amusement. “I love you, Scarlet Cooper. This isn’t how I planned it, because I don’t even have a ring yet, but you’re right. This is perfect.”

“Wes, what are you—”

I get down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”

The blanket slides off her shoulders and tears fill her eyes. She stares at me in disbelief, and for a moment I think I asked too soon.

Then the biggest smile takes over her face. “Yes! Yes, of course I will marry you!”

I get up and pull her into my arms. “I love you. Today, tomorrow, and every day after that. I will always love you.”