They went outside and Lily locked the door behind them.
“Have you decided what you want to get him?”
“It took me a while to figure it out, but yes, I know what I want to get him,” Lily said, unable to hold back her smile.
*
A knock sounded on the door.
“Come in,” Pastor Dean said, setting his pen down on the desk.
Shade walked into the room, dressed in slacks and a button-down shirt. His expensive shoes were shiny and new.
Pastor Dean sat, uncomprehending exactly what he was staring at. As understanding dawned, an unholy grin came across his face, and he sat up straighter in his chair.
“Before we start, I’m warning you that if you make one wisecrack, you’ll be giving your own eulogy.”
“Shade, you have to at least give me one.”
A warning gleam appeared in his deadly eyes. “Like I said, it’s your funeral.”
“It might just be worth it,” Pastor Dean replied, hastily raising his hands in surrender when Shade took a step forward. “I promise I will behave to the best of my ability.”
“You do that,” Shade said, still not relaxing his threatening manner.
Pastor Dean stood up, coming from around his desk. He reached out his hand for Shade to shake. “I told you I didn’t think you deserved Lily. Let’s see if you can change my mind, John.”
*
Lily woke on Christmas Eve filled with excitement. She had always loved Christmas and this one was no exception.
The day before, she had finished her Christmas shopping and had come home to find Shade still gone. She had eaten dinner and gone to bed all alone, wondering where he was, and had only woken briefly when he had finally slid into bed with her, pulling her to him.
Excitement infused her as she jumped out of bed, going to the window and pulling the curtains back. “It snowed, Shade.”
“I know. It started getting heavy last night,” he grumbled from the covers.
Lily jumped back on the bed. “I love snow.”
“I know. You told me.” Shade grinned, pulling her back down. Lily circled his neck with her arms.
“Does your family open presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?”
“What?” Shade asked, not understanding what she was getting at.
“Each family does it differently. Some families open their presents on Christmas Eve, others Christmas Day. We always opened them on Christmas Eve because I couldn’t wait.”
“We opened ours on Christmas Day.”
“Oh.” Her face fell in disappointment.
“But I can open it on Christmas Eve.”
“No, I’ll wait until tomorrow. I don’t want to break tradition. It might be bad luck.”
“I don’t believe in bad luck.”
“I’m still not giving you your present until tomorrow,” she taunted.
Shade got out of bed, going to the bathroom to shower and dress, telling Lily she took too much time, so he was going first. Lily lay on the bed, waiting for him to come out.
He came out of the shower cleanly-shaven, wearing a nice pair of jeans she hadn’t seen before and a dark blue muscle shirt.
He went to look out the window. “It’s supposed to quit snowing this afternoon. Come here, Lily.”
Lily climbed out of bed, determined not to let his bossiness on Christmas Eve bother her. She stood by him in front of the window and then Shade went to the bedside table and opened it, removing an envelope before coming back to her and placing it in her hand.
“This present isn’t technically for you. Open it.”
Lily tore the envelope open, reading the words on the paper. She looked back at him with pure joy.
“Look at the date.”
The paper signing over the land that Beth and Razer’s property was built on had been signed the day after she had visited Diamond at her home.
“I don’t know what to say, Shade. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Taking the papers away and setting them on the chair by the window, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny box, placing it in her hand.
“This present is for you.”
Lily’s fingers trembled as she slid the ribbon off and then opened the box. Inside, a diamond ring lay on a bed of velvet.
“Will you marry me?” Shade was down on his knees in front of her.
She began crying, telling herself this time didn’t count because it was so special. For once, she didn’t have to think about her answer. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”
Shade stood up, kissing her so passionately that it had her arms circling his neck. He raised his arms, pulling her away. “Good. Now you need to get showered and dressed. We’re getting married in two hours.” He walked to the door and started to open it.
“Wait. What are you talking about? We can’t get married in two hours. Weddings have to be planned and—”
“I’ve already planned everything and what I couldn’t, Beth and Winter took care of. You want a snowy, winter wedding. Look out the window. You know Kentucky weather, it could be another year before it snows again. I’m not waiting a year to get married. Besides, how do you schedule snow?”