Save My Sparkle (Completed)

29. One Last Gift

My heart is beating so fast as I watch Natalie open her gifts one by one with what I had gotten her to be wrapped. Only three of them are here and wrapped for her to open, the house key I have in a small white box with a blue ribbon that I will share with her when we get a moment alone in just a bit.

Eve and Mama has been having the time of their life with Natalie. Dad, Duke, and I have mainly sat here opening and listening to them talk. All things I wouldn't change for anything at all. Although, Dad and I have excused ourselves a couple times to check on the food being cooked.

It took us all a good hour to open the gifts even though there wasn't all that many, just all the talking involved dragged it out some which is the best part.

"Are you sure you like your gifts?" Natalie whispers when looking to me.

I pull her even tighter to me and smile wide. "Yes I do. Every item will be cherished and enjoyed."

"Well I know where this is going." Mama holds up the decorated piece that Natalie had got for her. "It matches perfectly over here with the other nick nacks."

"That is does." Dad nods with a smile. "Thank you Natalie."

Natalie blushes and nods her head.

"I agree it seems to round out the decoration there." Eve nods and smiles.

"How did you know we liked the snowmen?" Mama turns and Dad smirks before looking to me and Eve.

"I would bet one of those two rascals told her." Dad laughs and Natalie nods.

"Well I thank you very much." Mama smiles and then goes to the kitchen where Dad follows her.

"Those things are left up all year round too." Eve snickers when they leave the room to which I nod.

Eve and Duke get up from where they sit letting us know that they will be back in time for dinner, but they want to take their gifts home and check on the house. Natalie and I see them off once they tell Dad and Mama.

"Would you go on a walk with me?" I stand by the hallway and see Mama peek around the corner with a wide smile and a thumbs up behind Natalie, who is looking at me.

"Sure." She smiles and walks with me to the door.

"Natalie and I will be back soon." I call out to Mama and Dad as they respond with 'Be safe and have fun.'

I help Natalie put her coat on after she slipped her winter boots back on and I had done the same.

"Actually, would you like to go grab some dessert in town for after dinner?" I look over to Natalie since I really need to go back to my room to grab the small gift box.

"Sure sounds nice."

"One second." I smile and kiss her head before I dash to where my old room still is. I grab my keys and the gift box.

"Nicolas Winters! Are those shoes on my hardwood floor I just cleaned?" Mama yells out in her mom voice I have heard through the years of growing up.

"I am sorry Mama. I will clean them when I get back, promise. Had to grab my keys." I smirk and pat my coat pocket too.

Mama then smiles and shakes her head. "You're safe this time little man."

I get back to the front door and see Natalie holding her mouth. "You just got called out by a mama that could get your backside."

"How well I know because it is something that has always bothered Mama for some reason." I smile and we walk out to my car.

With just a short drive, we make it to town and to the bakery. "What should we pick for dessert for tonight?"

"I am not sure honestly. They bake different things daily so lets see what they have first." Natalie looks to me and I agree.

We walk in together and look over everything. Is it bad to say everything looks to good or is is looking good because I am stalling with all these nerves too on what she may say. Eventually, we pick out a lemon cream tart for dessert after dinner, since no one has thought about that part and there hasn't been anything made.

"How about a coffee?" I nod over to the coffee shop next door.

"That would be nice." Natalie giggles while rubbing her hands together a bit.

We put the dessert in the back seat then make a run for the coffee shop. I end up getting a white hot chocolate and Natalie goes for the dark chocolate cherry cappiciunno. Once I pay for them, we walk out the door and I can't help but smile at Natalie as she sniffs her drink with a small hum.

"Natalie?" I say her name and she looks at me with a smile.

My hand on her back stops her from walking as she looks at me when I stop moving.

"Everything okay?" She tilts her head.

"Yes, I just have one last gift to give you for today." I carefully word things so she hopefully doesn't think of tomorrows gifts I still have left for her.

"Okay." She smiles and then waits for me.

I pull the box out of my pocket and hand her the little white box with blue ribbon. "I know it may be soon but I want you to have this."

Natalie sets her coffee down on the window ledge next to us and I do the same. I watch as she opens the box and can't help but smile with her while she looks at the key.

"I thought it was a ring at first." She snickers and I laugh.

"No, not yet anyways." I whisper before I capture her lips in mine.

When we pull back from the kiss, I get our coffees off the window ledge before looking at her as the snow starts to fall.

"I want you to have this key to my house. There is nothing I would like more than for you to move in with me Natalie, because I love you so very much in just this months time of us actually dating. I know it isn't traditional by not being wedded first but I want you to have the choice to move in with me or at least be able to come and go as you please."

Natalie gets tears in her eyes and she leans in for a gentle kiss. "I love you too Nicolas."

My heart flutters and I hold her cheek with one hand while my lips find hers again.