Christmas Behind Bars #simplychristmascontest

Chapter 21- Christmas Wishes

    As they pulled up to Gammy's house, the familiar lights twinkled a welcome. Laura quickly jumped out of the back seat leaving Preston alone with Darcy for a brief moment. "You believe me, don't you? I didn't call the police. Everything that happened last night...I didn't want it to happen."

She turned glistening eyes on him, and his heart hammered in his chest as she nodded. "So the things you said?"

"I meant every word," he squeezed her hand which was still resting in his. "I love you, Pooky. I don't want to spend Christmas anywhere but here...with you."

"Oh, I love you too," she looped her arms around his neck and hugged him as close as the armrest between them would allow. Looking back up at him, she covered a giggle with her mittened hand.

"What's so funny?"

"So is it Pooky then? Is that the nickname that stuck?"

"I think so," he smiled. "Let's get inside. We can't keep the others waiting too long."

***

Walking hand in hand with Preston up the snowy porch steps, they entered the living room to find Laura reclining on the couch next to Gammy. Somehow the elderly woman was able to find a way to bribe a local store owner to sell her a pair of red plaid pajamas for the girl, so she wouldn't feel left out later in the evening.

Darcy smiled while she watched Laura's eyes widen as she unwrapped the gift. "Thank you!" The girl wrapped her arms around Gammy's neck. "This is the best Christmas ever!"

"Well, they're just PJ's not the keys to Fort Knox," Trudy smiled. "You sure are easy to please."

A gentle rattling and a happy bark drew Dary's attention to the hallway. Her breath stood still and tears sprang to her eyes when she saw Hank scurrying toward them. His back legs were secured to a little two-wheeled cart giving him the ability to walk on his two front legs while his backside rolled behind him. His tail wagged merrily as she hurried toward him and fell to her knees scratching his ears and hugging him close.

"Hank," she sniffed back happy tears. "I thought I'd never see you again. Just look at you...you're walking! I am so proud of you; you're such a good boy."

Looking up at Preston, her heart caught in her throat as she smiled. "You? You adopted Hank?"

"I did," he knelt down on the floor beside her. "One of your wishes was for him to have a home for Christmas, and I wanted to be sure it came true."

"Thank you. How wonderful!"

"Just you wait. I've got more," he grinned secretively. "But first," he pulled a familiar box out of his pocket and held up the necklace she returned to him from the jail cell. "If you turn around, I'll help you put it on."

With one hand still rubbing Hank's ear, she used her free hand to pull her auburn curls off her neck as he clasped the necklace in place. When his fingers brushed against her skin, they left traces of heat in their wake.

"Time to eat," Gammy shouted from the kitchen.

As the family sat around the dinner table, Darcy marveled at how well Laura fit in. Glancing at Preston, she wondered what his mother was doing on Christmas day without her children. He told her she typically attended gatherings with voters and the upper crust during the holidays, but somehow it didn't seem right. Christmas was a time for family. How she wished his mother would have come as well.

After all evidence of their meal was cleared away and cleaned up, they gathered around the tree to open gifts. The fire crackled in the fireplace lending warmth, and they all sipped hot chocolate while passing out presents and enjoying the reactions of the recipients.

Laura had changed into her new pajamas almost immediately and was visibly overwhelmed when several of the other gifts under the tree bore tags with her name. Gammy is the best. She knows just how to make the holidays special for everyone.

None of the packages handed out contained fancy or expensive items, but the thought behind each simple gift caused them to outshine the things most people wished for. Gammy gave Darcy a handmade quilt with little snowmen fashioned by scraps of fabric. Looking down at her grandmother's shaky hands, she thought of all the grueling work put into the blanket and she threw her arms around Trudy's petite frame. "It's perfect, thank you so much."

"Glad you like it, Sweetie," Gammy hugged her tight. "You know I'm proud of you...right?"

She could only nod her head as tears stood in her eyes. My family is proud of me. That's two wishes that have come true this year. She smiled as she recalled her third and final wish; that moments with Preston would last forever. It's too soon for that, she reminded herself.

The attention of everyone in the room was turned to something happening beside her. Gammy's eyes sparkled as a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Laura adopted a dreamy look, and her parents and Jake grinned knowingly at each other.

Turning to see what was holding the whole room mesmerized, she found Preston kneeling beside her with a glittering ring in his hand. Her hand flew over her heart as her breath left her lungs in one shocked whoosh.

"Darcy, when I first met you I thought you were absolutely perfect. Then, I mistook you for a homeless person. Then...for a while I thought you might be certifiably insane," she smiled as she remembered just how shocking her behavior was the night she borrowed him. "Once I got to know you, I realized my first impression of you was spot on. You told me that you mess everything up, but the night you decided to bring me here, you somehow made everything right for me. You make everything beautiful, and I know it's soon and quick, and this all seems a little crazy...but I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life making memories with you. I want to give you this ring as a promise that I will wait for you until you're ready. Then, Darcy-" he cleared his throat, a look of confusion clouded his features. "I-I don't know your middle name."

"Anna," she smiled.

"Thanks, Pooky," he winked. "Then, Darcy Anna Wentworth, I hope you'll marry me. I'll happily wait forever if that's what it takes."

"I won't make you wait forever," she smiled. "I love you too, and yes...I'll marry you."

Tears stung her eyes as he slipped the ring on her finger. Even though Gammy, her parents, Jake, and Laura were excitedly chatting and clapping, it seemed as if they were the only two people in the room. "I'll do my best to make sure you don't regret this," he cupped her cheek in his hand.

"I never will," she breathed as his lips met hers. Her arms twined around his neck, and she savored this perfect moment. Her third wish had come true. Now moments like this would no longer need to end.