“Really?”
Emerson nodded. “Oh, yeah.”
Grace’s phone began ringing. “It’s Grammy.”
Emerson rose. “Stay as long as you want. I’m going to let Jack know you’re okay. You are okay, right?”
Grace nodded slowly. “I will be. Thanks, Em.”
“Anytime.”
As Emerson left her suite, Grace answered her Grammy’s call. Hearing her sweet voice was exactly what she needed at the moment. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow, when her grandparents would be in Virginia for the wedding. Seeing them in person and being able to wrap her arms around them would surely fix everything.
They talked about her grandparents’ flight and details for the hotel. But Grammy paused. Grace always thought her grandmother was psychic. How did she always know when something was wrong?
“Is everything okay, sweetie pie?” she asked.
“Of course. Just busy getting everything ready for tomorrow.” She bit her lip. She never liked lying to Grammy.
“Hmm, I know this wedding came up on you fast, and I’m sure you’ve spent your fair share of sleepless nights. But why don’t you tell me what’s really happening.”
Grace sighed. Then she did as Grammy instructed. She spilled the whole thing. From when she’d first met Xander until today and finding that prenup.
“I thought he was changing. But obviously he doesn’t really believe in love.”
“Didn’t that boy just tell you that he loved you?”
“Well, yes, but...”
Grammy tsked. “No but about it. If a man who struggles with love and relationships tells a woman who is in the process of yelling at him that he loves her, trust me, sweetie, he means it.”
Grace crumpled down to the sofa. “Well, I don’t want a relationship like this. It’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”
“Love comes in all different shapes and sizes. There’s no perfect mold. Look at us.”
Huh? “What do you mean?” Grace asked.
“I’m your grandmother, but I love you as if you were my own child.”
Grace’s eyes filled. “Oh, Grammy.”
“Maybe I read you too many fairy tales when you were little.”
The idea was shocking.
Grammy continued. “The point is not to copy a fairy tale that’s already been written. Real life and real love are all about writing your own story. From start to finish.”
Finally, Grace didn’t attempt to hold the tears back. They ran down her face as she sniffled into the phone.
“It sounds like this Xander really does love you. And why wouldn’t he?”
“He said he did,” she said in a hushed voice. “Even after I stormed off. He said he still loved me.”
“Then I can’t wait to meet him tomorrow. We already have one thing in common.”
“What’s that?”
“We both know how stubborn you are.” She chuckled, then paused. When she spoke again, her voice had taken on the soft, patient tone Grace always associated with her Grammy. “And yet we love you just as you are. Don’t let real love get away from you, sweetheart. Go grab it and hold it close.”
After they hung up, Grace closed her eyes and tried to absorb everything that had happened today. But all she could think of was Xander and her Grammy’s wise words. Don’t let real love get away from you.
A smile blossomed on her face. She was in love with Xander. She was in love with someone whom she fought with constantly. She was in love with a divorce attorney. She was in love with a wonderful man who loved her back.
She left Emerson’s suite with a new determination, and began walking down the hallway. She took the elevator down to the first floor.
Amelia, Emerson’s sister, called Grace’s name as she made her way toward the lobby. “Hey, Grace, I’m supposed to check on the flowers for tomorrow. Do you know what time they are expected to arrive? Also, my mom texted and said the photographer showed up early.”
Grace stared at her. She knew Amelia was saying something, something that was probably important that pertained to the wedding. But all she cared about in this moment was Xander. She had to find him.
“Uh, Grace? You okay?”
Grace giggled. “I’ve never been better. I’m in love with Xander Ryan!”
Amelia’s mouth opened and closed and then she blew a breath out, fanning her hair around her face. “O-kay. So-o-o, where should we put the photographer?”
Again, Grace laughed. “I don’t know. I mean, I do. I will. I need to add something to my very long list of things to do. I need to go tell the man I love that I’m sorry. Then, I’ll get back to our regularly scheduled program.”
Mrs. Dewitt came bustling down the hallway. “Amelia, did you tell Grace about the photographer?”
Amelia gave Grace a long once-over. Finally, she grinned as she turned to her mom. “I did. But Grace has something really important to take care of first. Go,” she whispered, urging Grace along.
With a laugh trailing after her, Grace ran into the lobby. She scanned all of the people milling about but didn’t see Xander. She frowned and turned in a circle. She ran back down the hall and checked the restaurant. He wasn’t there, either.
She pulled out her phone to call him but saw that it had turned off. She’d never charged it after getting her charger from Xander’s room.
“Shoot,” she said to herself.
She ran up to his room and banged on the door. No answer. She didn’t think he was the type to ignore her so she returned to the lobby. Just as she was about to give up, she spotted someone through the large windows.
Xander was standing under the far side of the portico staring off at the falling rain. She rushed past wedding guests and hotel staff, barely avoiding a crash with a luggage cart.
The air had turned chilly, as the rain had cooled everything off. The wind was whipping through the trees and she could still hear thunder off in the distance.
As she approached him, she could see that Xander was deep in thought. He was staring straight ahead, his hands buried in his pockets. He was already wearing the suit for tonight’s dinner. Once again, she was struck by how handsome he was.
She stood silently, about three feet from him. He must have sensed her because he turned, his eyes meeting hers.
“Grace,” he said.
“Xander.” Suddenly, she was nervous. Her earlier confidence had evaporated. She wiped her damp palms on her pants. “Hi.”
“Hi,” he said, mimicking her. He wasn’t going to make this easy on her. She deserved that.
Tentatively, she stepped toward him. “Xander, I’m sorry. I talked to Em and then I spoke with my grammy, and I realized that I overreacted, and that, well, I had some issues to work through.”
He stared at her for a long moment, not saying anything. She gulped. Maybe she’d really messed this up. Maybe he wouldn’t forgive her. Maybe he didn’t want to hear anything from her.
But then, just as a large gust of wind blew the rain in their direction, Xander’s face lit up with a huge grin. As raindrops dotted his face, he closed the gap between them.
“Did you say you were sorry?”
She wiped water from her cheeks. “I did. And I am. Sorry, I mean. It’s just that with my mother and then because of—”
She didn’t have a chance to finish that sentence because his lips were on hers. It was as if everything had clicked into place. She wound her arms around his neck as his came around her waist, pulling her closer as the wind continued to push the rain onto them.
When their lips finally parted, she looked up at him and smiled. “I am sorry, Xander. I was scared.”
He nodded, as if he already knew this. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“It wasn’t you. It was me. All me.”
He kissed her forehead,
still holding on to her tightly. “Does this mean you aren’t angry with me anymore?”
She shook her head. “Not at all. Although, I’m sure you’ll do something to tick me off shortly.”
He chuckled. “I’ll try. In the meantime, I want to repeat something. I love you, Grace Harris.”
They were soaked to the bone and the rain continued to fall. In a movie or a storybook, this is where the rain would magically stop and a rainbow would replace it. The music would swell as she returned his sentiment.
But this wasn’t a movie or a storybook. This was real. And it was hers. Her moment.
And Grace was determined to grab hold and take it.
She pushed her wet hair out of her eyes. “I love you, too, Xander Ryan.”
His mouth was on hers again until she gently pushed him back. “We don’t have to get engaged or married. The only thing I want from you is love.”
“Well, you got that. In spades.”
She grinned and kissed him again. The rain continued to fall. In fact, it didn’t stop all night. No rainbows appeared, or magical crickets sang.
Yet, it was the best ending she’d ever experienced in her life.
Epilogue
“Merry Christmas, sleepyhead.”
Grace rolled over to find her favorite sight in the world: Xander’s big grin. Lazily, she ran a hand up his arm, disappointed that he was wearing pajamas.
“Merry Christmas to you.” Her voice was gruff from a restful night’s sleep in her childhood bed in Orlando.
They were spending the week of Christmas with her grandparents. So far everything was going better than expected. Grammy and Pops adored Xander. Grammy confided that she thought Xander was “one hot babe” and Pops seemed to be enjoying peppering Xander with legal questions.
They’d been busy, too. They’d visited several of the local theme parks, done some last-minute Christmas shopping, and even made cookies with Grammy. The highlight for Grace was the night Grammy and Pops’ housing development shot off fireworks. Xander wrapped his arms around her and whispered how much he loved her. Then he’d presented her with the most beautiful and thoughtful gift she’d ever received. He’d held a bubblegum-pink box that had clearly been meant for a little girl. When he cracked it open, she saw the children’s princess ring she’d wanted as a child.
He slipped it on her ring finger as the last firework hit the sky.
“You are my princess. Always.”
She’d been too moved to say anything. Instead, she’d kissed him with as much passion as she could muster.
Grace began to sit up in bed when the welcoming aroma of coffee caught her attention. “You brought me coffee.” Then she shot up. “Wait, if Pops finds you in here, you’re a dead man. Not even Santa will be able to help you.” Her grandparents approved of Xander, but they were old-school in their beliefs. No sharing bedrooms.
He chuckled. The warm tone of his laughter soothed her the way it did every time she heard it.
“Don’t worry. Your grandparents went for an early morning walk.”
Grace glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It read seven thirty. “How long have you guys been up?”
“Since five,” Xander said with a grin. “I played a round of gin with Pops. Then Grammy woke up and made me coffee and cinnamon toast. Have I mentioned that I could live here forever?”
She giggled. “I know the feeling. I’m just happy that you all love each other.”
“What’s not to love? Your grandparents are amazing. They feed me, they spoil you, this house is the best.”
Grace reached for the mug of coffee and relished the first sip. Xander knew exactly how she liked it.
He took his own mug and joined her in bed, placing the tray he’d carried in between them. That’s when she noticed two wrapped presents on it.
The sight of presents always made Grace resort to her seven-year-old self. She gasped in delight. “Xander, what are these? I’ve already seen the presents you put under the tree for me.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. For once, her superconfident boyfriend seemed a little less sure of himself. Curiosity rose within her.
He gestured to the two presents. “These are kind of special. I really hope you like them.”
“I’m sure I’ll love them.” She couldn’t imagine what had him acting so anxious.
Xander held up one of the boxes. “Open this first.”
She took the offered present and ripped open the paper.
“No dainty tearing of the paper for you, I see.” He laughed.
“This princess likes to get right to the point.”
She threw the Santa-themed wrapping paper to the floor and turned the box over in her hand. When it dawned on her what she was looking at, she glanced up to meet his eyes.
“It’s one of those DNA testing kits from Ancestry.com.” He ran a hand through his hair, messing up his already morning-mussed hairstyle. “I hope this isn’t too presumptuous. It’s just that I know you feel lost not knowing your father’s side of your family tree.” He tapped the box. “This won’t introduce you to your dad, but it might help answer some of your questions.” He coughed. “Or, you know, just bring you some clarity.”
He was still nervous and Grace thought it was adorable. She turned the box over and quickly read the description.
Why hadn’t she thought of this herself? She could take a DNA test and find out where she was from. Xander was right. It wouldn’t introduce her to her father but it would bring her closer to that side of her family. Closer than ever before.
“Listen, Grace, I hope you’re not upset—”
She put a finger to his lips and then replaced it with her lips. When she pulled away, she smiled. “Thank you.” And she kissed him again.
“I guess this means you like it.”
“I love it. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is probably the most thoughtful gift anyone’s ever given me.”
“Well, damn. That doesn’t bode well for this next present.”
She leaned forward, raising her eyebrows in question.
Xander held the present out for her. It was wrapped in metallic silver paper with a huge red bow on top.
This time, she didn’t rip right into the present. Something had her slowly unwrapping it. Once the paper was gone, she opened the box lid and laughed. There was another wrapped present inside.
“Xander,” she said.
“If you can’t have fun at Christmas, I don’t know when you can.”
She opened the next present, wrapped in red paper with bright green Christmas trees. When she lifted the lid of that box, there was yet another present.
Laughing, Grace went through three more rounds until she was left with a small pink jewelry box.
“Isn’t this...?”
Xander nodded. “The same box as your pretty, pretty princess ring? I recycled it,” he said proudly.
“You’re so weird.”
She lifted the lid expecting to find another princess ring. Or maybe a pair of mouse earrings or a princess pin. What she saw made her gasp so hard that she actually dropped the box in her lap.
Xander grabbed it and held it up to her again.
With shaking hands, she took the box and peered inside. A large princess-cut diamond surrounded by smaller but no less sparkly diamonds, set on a delicate platinum band stared back at her.
She hadn’t realized Xander had moved. But when he spoke, she saw that he was at the side of the bed, down on one knee. He reached for one of her hands.
“Princess Grace, I love you more than I ever thought one person could love another. I want to spend the rest of my life being your Prince Charming.”
Her voice came out as barely a whisper. “But I thought you didn’t believe in marriage.”
His eyes were more serious than she’
d ever seen before. “With you, I believe in everything. Marry me, Grace Harris.”
She was off the bed and into his arms faster than Rudolph could fly. As she pressed her lips to his, she muttered her answer. “Yes.”
They spent the rest of the day celebrating. Her grandparents were thrilled and couldn’t stop hugging both her and Xander. They had champagne for breakfast and Christmas cookies for lunch. In other words, it was the most perfect day ever.
As day faded into night and the Christmas lights were turned on, Grace looked down at her new engagement ring. She couldn’t believe where she’d ended up.
When she thought about how her life had started back in West Virginia and how scared and lonely she’d been as a child, it was miraculous she’d become the person she was. A few months ago, she’d still been reaching for something to help her feel complete. Yet, she needn’t have worried.
Grace Harris was finally getting the happily-ever-after of her dreams.
* * *
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