"Nick!!" Laura yelled as she saw him at the airport terminal. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him as he dropped his bags and did the same. "Oh my God, I've missed you SO much!" she said, kissing him deeply, then hugging him again.
"I missed you too, lovebug," Nick said, burying his face in her hair, which she had down. She wore it down quite often these days, especially knowing how much he loved it. He inhaled deeply, smelling the scent of the sweet fruity shampoo she used. Nick let his embrace go as Laura stepped back from him slightly. "God, Laura, I know it's only been a week, but I feel like I haven't seen you in forever. You are a sight for my sore eyes," he said, looking her up and down innocently, then turning seductively.
Laura blushed. "Niiickyyy, stop that," she muttered through her smile, pushing her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ear. She bent down to pick up one of Nick's bags as she continued. "There'll be plenty of time for that later, sweetie," Laura said with a wink as she turned to walk to the baggage claim. Nick just stood there and watched her body sway softly as she walked, her hair bouncing slightly with each step. After a few steps, Laura turned around slightly and looked at him. "You comin'' or am I leaving you here?" she asked with a wink as she started walking again.
Nick hastily grabbed his other bag and walked quickly to catch up with her. If only she really knew what she did to me, he thought as they walked to the baggage claim.
"So does she suspect anything?" Julie, Laura's mom, quietly asked Nick as Laura was catching up with her brother across the room.
"Nahh, I don't think so. Although I wanted to propose to her as soon as I got the ring a couple months ago. It took all the patience I had not to do it before now. Plus she and I have never even talked about marriage, so this is going to be the last thing she expects," Nick said as Laura looked past her brother and smiled at him. Nick smiled back, his heart pounding as he thought about asking her to marry him. Yes, he was nervous, but in a good way. He had no doubt in his mind, in fact, he had never been so sure of something in his entire life. "Yeah," Nick continued, not looking away from where Laura sat, "I have a feeling this is going to be one Christmas gift Laura will never forget."
"Proposing at Christmastime? That's so cliché, how could Mom not expect that?" Nick said, shaking his head.
Karen walked by and slapped her brother on the side of the head. "Where's your sense of romanticism, Nicky? The point is not that Dad proposed at Christmastime, but that he proposed at all. He knew he loved Mom, and that's what counts. The 'when,' the 'where,' and the 'how'... none of that matters, when you really think about it. Damn, Nicky, it's a wonder you even got married at ALL, the way you carry on!" In response, Nick just rolled his eyes at Karen as she shook her head and continued. "So tell us, what happened next???"
"Mmmm, good morning," Laura said, awoken by Nick kissing her. "Now that's what I call a wake-up call," she said with a smirk as she stretched her arms around Nick's neck.
Nick slipped his arms around Laura and pulled her up into a hug. "Good morning, lovebug. How'd you sleep??"
Laura sighed. "Eh... pretty good, considering I didn't have you to cuddle up with," she replied winking at Nick.
"Yeah, well, you're the one that said that we shouldn't stay together while we're here. I don't see what the big deal is, anyway. You're almost 25, Laura."
Laura sat up next to Nick on the edge of the bed, his arms still around her. "I know, baby, but they're my parents. I grew up in this house. I'd feel weird to share a room with anyone here, and the only way I wouldn't feel weird is if we were married."
Nick felt his breath catch in his throat. "M-married??" Why did she say "married?" Does she know?? Oh God, please tell me she didn't find out I'm going to propose tonight! I was so sure that--
"Nick??" Laura asked, sensing his tension. "You OK? You look freaked out about something."
"No... No, why would I be freaked out about anything?" Nick asked, standing up and beginning to pace nervously. His eyes shifted as he looked at Laura and away from her several times as he walked about the room.
Oh geez, he's freakin' out because I mentioned the "M" word! Laura thought to herself, Nick's actions suddenly becoming clear to her. She stood up and stopped Nick's pacing. "Look at you, you're definitely freaked out!" Nick avoided her stare, sure that she could see through to his conscience. "Nicky, c'mon, sit down," she said gesturing at the foot of the bed. Nick sat and Laura sat next to him and faced him. "Nicky, I know what you're flippin' out about."
Nick shifted nervously. "Y-you do?" he asked, scared that his plan to surprise her had failed.
"Yes, yes I do. I mentioned the 'M' word. Dare I say it?? 'Married."
Nick looked at Laura curiously. Maybe she doesn't know, he thought. "What about the word 'married' would make me flip out?"
"Nick, don't play that with me. No matter what you say, I know what you're really thinking. Number one, you are a guy, and number two, you are a twenty-one year-old guy. The last thing that's probably on your mind is marriage, and I'm OK with that. I mean, yeah, I'm sure you eventually want to get married, and when that time has come, you'll know it and you won't be freaking out. You will have no doubts whatsoever. And hopefully, when you're ready, I'll be the one you ask."
Nick cupped Laura's face in his hands. "You mean that? You'd want to marry me?"
Laura put her hands around Nick's wrists and smiled. "I mean it, Carter. You and me... we're always going to be together. Nothing's going to separate us. We're too stubborn to let that happen," she said with a giggle.
Nick chuckled and inwardly sighed, relieved at what Laura had said. He leaned down and kissed her softly, then took her into his arms again and held her close. No doubts. The time has come...
"OK, OK, get ready!" Julie said as she came into the room to turn out the lights. There were a few oil lamps and candles lit around the family room and she was getting ready for the lights on the Christmas tree to be turned on. Julie sat down next to Bob, then a couple feet away was Laura's brother, also named Bob. His fiancé, Tracy, sat on the floor in front of his chair, and across from them were Laura and Nick, sitting on the floor near the tree. After Julie sat down, she gave Laura the command. "OK, Laura. Plug it in!" Holding the plug and extension cord, Laura joined the two together and the tree lit up, the lights sparkling and reflecting off of all the ornaments, many colors flickering about the room.
"Mom, the tree looks great," Tracy said, with everyone else in agreement. "Just beautiful."
"Well, as always, it wasn't all me. WE decorated this tree, not just me."
Everyone in the room just stared for a moment in awe, feeling very blessed to be around each other this Christmas. Nick looked at Laura as she looked up at the tree, the soft, warm lights flickering off her skin. He sighed, not realizing he had done it audibly, and Laura turned to look at him. She smiled and kissed him briefly. Breaking the silence in the room, she was the first to speak."Well, since I'm sitting closest to the tree, I guess it's my job to hand out the loot, huh?"
Everyone laughed. "That's my baby girl, she's so sentimental," Bob said sarcastically, winking at his daughter.
"Hey, do you want your gifts or not??" Laura flashed back, a big grin on her face. Satisfied to have the last word, she started handing out gifts.
"...And, this last one goes to you, bro," Laura said, reading the gift tag. Passing the gift to Nick, he passed it to Tracy, who gave it to Bob. "It's from me, I hope you like it."
"Thanks for the warning," he replied, sneering at his sister, then tearing into the wrapping. As everyone "ooh'd" and "ahh'd" at the gift, Nick caught himself looking at Laura again. He couldn't believe he was going to do this. He really was going to ask someone to marry him. Not just any someone, the perfect someone, at least in his mind. That was all that mattered, anyway... what he thought, what he felt. He had Laura's left hand in his right hand, and the ring box in his left hand inside his pants pocket. "Laura, will you marry me?... Laura, it would honor me if you would become my wife... Laura, I love you so much, and you would make me so very happy if you--" Nick's thoughts were interrupted as Bob came over to hug Laura. "Thanks, lil' sis. I guess you're not too much of a brat."
"Gee, thanks, turd," Laura said, shoving her brother playfully as they broke their hug and Bob went back to sit down. She started to get up off of the floor. "Well, I guess I'll clean up the wrapping paper and--"
"Actually," Nick interrupted, suddenly aware that he was very nervous, his mouth getting dry. "Actually, there is one more gift that wasn't under the tree." As he spoke, he grabbed Laura's hand again, and he motioned for her to sit in a chair nearby. A look of confusion on her face, Laura sat down and waited for this mystery to unfold.
"Nick, you don't have to give me anything more, you've already spoiled me enough," Laura said, smiling widely as Nick stood before her.
"I know I don't have to, Laura... I want to," Nick replied, now holding both of Laura's hands in his own. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he continued, looking down where Laura was sitting. "Laura, when I first met you, it's no secret that I didn't like you, and I know the feeling was mutual. The things we would say to each other, and do to each other... it just amazes me that we even started dating," Nick said with a nervous chuckle, and Laura smiled at him.
"Ohh, that's an understatement, Nicky," Laura said with a laugh.
"Well, I'm trying to be sweet and sentimental here," Nick said in a hushed tone of voice. Laura blushed and stopped her giggling and refocused her attention on him. "Anyway... like I said, we've come a long way. Laura, I don't know what the future holds, but..." Nick paused as he knelt down on one knee. "...but, I can't imagine my life without you in it."
Laura's eyes began to water and her breathing quickened. Is he going to ask me to marry him??? Laura silently wondered as Nick continued speaking.
"Someone who I love and trust recently told me that when I was ready to get married, I'd know it. I'd have no doubts. Laura, that time has come. I have no doubts that you are the one I'm meant to be with." Laura smiled, and she was crying, butterflies in her stomach as Nick reached into his pants pocket. Pulling out the ring box, he opened it, then took her left hand back into his. Laura inhaled sharply as she saw the flickering of the Christmas tree lights reflect off of the ring. Nick also started crying now, overwhelmed by the moment. Taking a deep breath, he finished his speech. "Lauralee Evans, will you make me the happiest guy on the planet and be my wife?"
Before Laura could even answer Nick, he took the ring out of the box. Taking her hand back in his, he kissed it softly, then slipped the ring on her third finger. "Marry me, Laura."
Laura smiled brightly as she embraced Nick, freely crying tears of joy, and held onto him tightly as they kissed. Knowing that Nick and Laura were no longer aware that they were in the room, Bob and Julie, and Bob and Tracy left the room quietly, heading to bed for the night.
