Dakota couldn’t believe her ears. She’d only expected to discover who her father was. She hadn’t expected to be welcomed with open arms, and then invited to a family dinner. It was a lot to digest. Her mind spun in circles. She looked at them both.
“Thank you. That is so kind of you to include me. I really didn’t expect this. I don’t know what to say. I’d loved to join you all, but I’m working the holiday. My mother is always more interested in her socialite friends than me, so I signed up to work that day.”
Dr. Withers smiled. “I think I might have some authority to change that. That is, if you’ll come spend the day with us. We have some catching up to do.” He chuckled. “About twenty-seven years, to be exact.”
Dakota jumped up and hugged him. “Thank you.” She cried through tears of joy.
He held her tight. “Now tell me what this messed up happily-ever-after is about. Perhaps I can start with some fatherly advice.”
Dakota released from their embrace. She sighed heavily.
“I wasn’t honest with my best friend.”
Marion interrupted, “Let’s get a drink and talk about it. Maybe we can help.”
Dakota smiled. Tears of joy filled her eyes. She couldn’t be luckier to have such caring friends in her life. Then she corrected herself. Not just friends, but parents. She followed them inside to the bar.
Chapter Ten
Tristan looked out at the light snowfall. Perfect, he thought and rinsed his coffee cup in the sink. His first and last thoughts every day for the past couple of months were always of Dakota. He remembered how excited she’d been about the first snowfall. Today would bring even more excitement. Tristan knew how much she’d dreamed of the perfect white Christmas. Today he hoped for all her dreams and wishes to come true. He loved hearing her tell him what she’d always wished for.
Their misunderstanding the week before had been just that, a misunderstanding. Dr. Withers found him after he’d left the dance and explained what upset Dakota. It had been a foolish reaction. He knew he should have stayed and heard her explanation. Once he heard what Dakota had told Dr. Withers, and how sorry she’d felt for not telling him about the Love List, he immediately apologized. He too believed their accidental meetings from the start were fate. The Love List had just been coincidence or what he’d told Dakota, just another hit of fate. He reached into his pocket for the little black box he’d carried with him all week.
I do hope I’m the one you’ve dreamed of spending the rest of your life with. Tristan thought to himself and then closed his eyes to make his own wish. He’d never been more certain Dakota was the woman for him. The thought of spending his life with her and their children had been the only constant thought since his decision to propose on Christmas Day. Thirty-five years to this day, his father proposed to his mother. She adored the holidays as much as Dakota did. She reminded him of his mom in many ways. The ring sparkled between his fingers as he admired its beauty. The brilliant-cut round diamonds gleamed in an heirloom diamond setting with alternating round-cut rubies. The vintage ring that was his mother’s was truly breathtaking.
“OMG! You’re gonna propose today?”
Becca’s surprised entry into the kitchen startled his thoughts. He turned to smile and nodded. “Yes, but you must keep it a secret.”
“What secret?” Chase entered a minute later.
Tristan laughed. “This.” He held the ring up and then sternly reminded them both to keep the secret.
Chase gave Tristan a little nudge on the arm. “Well, all right, Cuz.” Then he added, “No worries. I plan to keep her locked inside the house all day. Reece and the family are at Cindy’s family this year so we plan to have a private Christmas dinner.” Chase winked and then pulled his wife into an embrace which led to another show from the lovebirds as Tristan always referred.
“Okay, lovebirds, I’m off to propose to the woman of my dreams.”
“Wait a minute. You’re going to do it at her father’s? Isn’t this like the first time she’s getting together with her new family?”
Becca broke from her husband’s embrace with a shocked look on her face.
Tristan chuckled. “What better time?” he asked and then added, “I can ask for her father’s permission and do it properly.” He told them he planned to make all her wishes come true on the same day. “A white Christmas—he motioned toward the window that displayed the falling snow—“the father she’s searched for, a down-to-earth family, and the man of her dreams.” His last words he’d still had hesitation for but hung on to the hope he was the one. On that note, he left them speechless in the kitchen. By the time he’d reached the front door, he heard Becca call out.
“Stop by for drinks after dinner. I’ll have the champagne chilled.”
He agreed, and as he closed the door he said another silent prayer that she’d say yes.
“Are you nervous?”
She seemed hesitant as she waited a few seconds before her finger pressed against the doorbell.