“Mr. Riley!” Rosie squealed, her coat billowing in the kiss of breeze. Riley dropped his goods and caught her as she leapt into his arms. Laughter filled the air as he swung her around once, twice, before setting her down at his side.
“Hi there, sweetie.” Riley’s voice carried over the meadow. “What do you think of the porch?”
“The flowers look like little suns.” Rosie patted his scruffy cheek with her tiny palm. “So pretty.”
“It’s lovely, Riley, all of it.” Kaylee cut in, crossing the yard to them. “But, how did you manage? Where did you find all those blooms?”
“He’s Santa’s helper, Mom.” Rosie tugged at Riley’s jacket. “But I didn’t know Santa made deliveries
after
Christmas.”
“Why do you say that, Rosie?” Kaylee began, and then it dawned—her Christmas wish. After everything—every gift—was opened, the child still claimed something was missing. Kaylee and Riley grilled her, but she asserted Santa would bring it when he was good and ready, even if it meant waiting another year. “Is this what you asked for from Santa, that day at the mall?”
“Uh huh.” Rosie’s blonde head bobbed beneath a pink knit cap. “More yellow flowers that smell pretty and aren’t all flat, like the ones you squashed in your Bible.” She wrapped her arms around Riley’s mid-section and squeezed tight, her radiant face turned up toward the sun. “You brought them, Mr. Riley, didn’t you?”
“I sure did. Took me a few extra days, but your order’s finally filled, sweetie.”
“’Cause you love Mom, right?”
He squatted to murmur against her ear. “That’s exactly right.”
“And she loves you, too.” Rosie cupped Riley’s ear and leaned in to whisper, “Did you bring anything else?”
“Maybe.” He winked and patted his right pocket. “I feel
something
in there.”
“What is it?” Rosie bounced up and down. “Let me see.”
Ruth stepped onto the porch just then to investigate the commotion. She swept the flower pots with an outstretched arm. “Gorgeous, aren’t they?”
“I’m…speechless.” Kaylee felt the ground sway. Tears pooled in her eyes, turning the marigolds to fingers of gold. “First Rosie’s adoption, now this. It’s too much, Riley. Really, it is.”
“I think it’s just right…well, almost.” Riley brushed soil from his fingers before dipping his hand in his pocket and withdrawing a small, black velvet box.
“Oh, Riley…” Kaylee’s tears spilled over to race down cheeks lit by the sun as he opened the lid, exposing a brilliant diamond solitaire bound by a yellow-gold band. “You didn’t…oh, my…”
He took her hand as he dropped to one knee in the melting snow. “Kaylee, I’ve loved you my whole life, through heartache and laughter and everything in between. I can’t imagine spending another day without you…without Rosie.” His voice hitched as his gaze held steady. “Will you trust me with your heart and share the rest of your life with me?”
“Yes.” Kaylee nodded as her tears dripped onto the pot of marigolds on the ground between them. Riley lifted the ring from the box and the diamond captured the light, refracting into a rainbow of color.
“Are those happy tears, Mom?’ Rosie lifted a hand to pat her cheek. “Are you gonna burst with happy?”
“Yes.” Kaylee sniffled. “Oh, it’s just perfect…all of this. Perfect.”
And it was…with help from above they’d been brought all the way ’round again—full circle back to one another. Riley drew Kaylee in, wrapping his arms around her as he claimed Rosie close to his side, as well. Ruth clapped from the porch, where she leaned against the rail with a contented sigh. “You make a beautiful family, the three of you.”
“Gran’s right, as always.” Riley slipped the ring on Kaylee’s finger, nodded at the perfect fit. “And it’s finally official. We’re a family now.”
“So I can call you daddy?” Rosie murmured.
“Yes. That’s perfect, sweetie…forever and always.” Riley lifted her into his arms. “Merry Christmas.”
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White Rose Publishing
Where Faith is the Cornerstone of Love™
an imprint of Pelican Ventures Book Group
www.PelicanBookGroup.com
May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG