Loose Goose Christmas: Ornamental Match Maker Series Book 8

by Danni Roan

  Brooks felt the tears streaming down his face as he hugged the little boy tight. “I think we’d better get you that cocoa then,” he said lifting the child.

  “Can Aunt Lydia make it?” Vivian asked, “I like the kind with the peppermint.”

  “That sounds delicious,” Carol said licking her lips.

  “I’ll ask her to make some special just for you Mommy,” Vivian said stretching over the side of the bed and hugging Carol.

  “Vivian, will you help Drew back into his coat?” Lisa asked taking the little boy from Brooks and putting him down. “We’ll be right along, and I’ll take you home.”

  “You mean to Audrey’s right?” Vivian asked. “That’s where Lydia is.”

  “Yes, and we’ll get you lots of hot chocolate with peppermint.”

  “Thank you for everything,” Carol said reaching for Lisa’s hand. “You’ve been such a blessing to all of us.” She looked at her brother significantly and smiled. “I hope you can talk your aunt into the cocoa for me as well.”

  “If we’re celebrating miracles, I’m sure she can be persuaded.”

  Back at the apartment the children drank their cocoa giggling as the whipped cream touched their noses, and then obediently toddled off to bed for a nap.

  Lydia fixed a carafe she found filling it with the left over cocoa then leaving it on the counter as she headed back to her knitting in the other room.

  “Are you sure you don’t want to get some sleep?” Lisa asked. “You were up in the middle of the night.”

  Brooks grinned. “No, I have too much energy to sleep. I want to do something; something fun.” His eyes sparkled and he grabbed Lisa’s arm. “Let’s go ice-skating.”

  “I thought you liked me,” Lisa pouted. “Now you want me to go ice-skating with you and probably break my neck.”

  Brooks laughed. “It’ll be fun. I promise. We’ll take the hot cocoa to Carol and Dan then go skating. I haven’t been for years, but Carol and I were both pretty good.”

  “You don’t say?” Lisa teased. She didn’t know where this relationship was going, but she looked at the little horse ornament on her best friend’s shelf and decided that she would go along with what life had to offer, at least for today.

  “Don’t forget the whipped cream,” Lydia called from the other room as they headed for the door, giggling like school kids, grabbed the steaming beverage and slipped into the hall.

  ***

  “You’re serious?” Carol asked as they swung by the hospital to deliver hot chocolate complete with whipped cream and candy canes. “You’re going to go ice-skating?”

  “We’re going to try anyway,” Brooks said pulling Lisa in close. She felt so perfect there, and he was afraid she’d disappear in a puff of smoke if he didn’t keep touching her.

  “I hope you do better than I did when Carol took me,” Dan said with a grin. “I cracked the ice I landed so hard.”

  Carol laughed and the soft tinkling sound was like caroling bells.

  Lisa thought of the old movie where every time a bell rang an angel got its wings and wondered if Carol’s laugh counted.

  “You ready?” Brooks asked looking down at her.

  “No,” she admitted, straightening the sleeves of her red and black fleece lined jacket and polishing a black boot on the back of her leggings. “But I’ll try anyway.”

  “You two have fun,” Carol called after them. “I’ll be here when you get back.”

  Brooks grinned. “Did you hear that? She’s making jokes now. Only one day of being well, and she’s already joking.”

  Lisa wrapped her fingers in his and smiled. “It really is a miracle isn’t it?”

  “Yes,” Brooks said stopping in the hall and turning to look into her face.

  Applause made him pull back from a kiss he seemed to have fallen into, and he blushed as they continued down the hall past the smiling hospital staff.

  Chapter 18

  “Trust me, you’ll have fun,” Brooks said bending down to lace up Lisa’s skate. “I can’t believe you’ve never been ice skating.”

  Lisa wrinkled her nose, “Have you seen me walk?”

  Brooks took her hands pulling her upright and catching her in his arms as she wobbled on her blades.

  “All you have to do is hold on,” he said gently pushing himself backward onto the ice and pulling her along.

  Lisa wanted to hold on. She wanted to hold on to Brooks forever and never let him go. In only a week she knew she belonged to him.

  “Don’t let go, she whispered clinging to his hands. She’d heard of love at first sight but could this really be happening?

  “You’re doing great,” Brooks said his eyes shining as he pulled her a little closer and began to guide her over the ice.

  Lisa nestled into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist as they swayed across the crowded rink like dancers on a ballroom floor.

  “This is kind of nice,” she whispered braving a glance upward.

  “It is isn’t it, just like dancing only colder.”

  Lisa laughed. Perhaps miracles were possible this time of year.

  “Lisa,” Brooks said holding her close, “I don’t want this to end.”

  “The ice is bound to melt sooner or later,” Lisa quipped looking up at the snow covered trees surrounding the outdoor rink.

  “I don’t mean this,” he chuckled. “I mean us.”

  Lisa felt the chuckle vibrate through Brooks’ chest and wanted to hear it again. She didn’t want this to end either, but they barely knew each other.

  “I know we haven’t known each other long,” Brooks echoed her thoughts, “yet I feel like I’ve known you for an eternity.”

  Lisa shivered, her thoughts were being put into words, and oh how she wanted them to become reality.

  “Right now, right this very minute in my life, I’m the happiest man in the world. My sister is better, and I’m here with the most wonderful girl I’ve ever known. I love you Lisa Carter.”

  Lisa felt a rush of warmth wash over her, and her heart picked up a beat and she smiled up at him.

  “I never understood the dating game,” Brooks continued, the smooth rippling motions of his skates carrying them along the ice. “If you like someone and start dating isn’t the point to see if you’re compatible?”

  Lisa nodded, uncertain where he was going with this train of thought.

  “I’ve met so many couples who seemed to get stalled somewhere along the path. The way I see it is that if two people like each other, the way I like you anyway, they should see where it goes, and to me there is only one way this can end.”

  Lisa’s eyes grew wide as Brooks pushed her away, taking her hands in his and slowly coming to a stop on one knee.

  “Lisa Carter, I’m crazy about you,” Brooks said holding her steady with his hands. “Will you agree to be my girl and marry me when the time’s right?”

  Lisa giggled happy tears springing to her eyes.

  “Brooks I think you’re crazy,” she said. “But I think our brand of crazy works together. I agree to fall in love with you even more if you’ll let me and marry you when the time is right.”

  With her final word she leaned forward to kiss him but her skates flew out from under her and with a panicked scream she toppled forward onto him both of them sprawling across the ice in fits of laughter.

  Other skaters swerved around them, some congratulating them while others shook their heads in disgust.

  Brooks wrapped his arms around Lisa crushing her to his chest and lifting his head to kiss her soundly.

  He didn’t want to take it slow, he wanted Lisa to be with him forever. Life was too precious to waste time. He’d almost lost one of his best girls. He wouldn’t let Lisa slip through his hands.

  Chapter 19

  “Dan, Lisa could you give me a minute alone with my big brother?” Carol asked when they stopped back at the hospital that evening to explain that they were going steady.

  “Alright hone
y,” Dan said kissing her softly and nodding for Lisa to follow him. “How ‘bout some coffee?” he asked as they stepped out the door. “The stuff they serve here isn’t half bad.”

  Lisa followed him a worried expression on her face. Did Carol think Brooks was making a big mistake committing himself to her? Sure they hadn’t known each other long, but it was obvious they had real feelings for each other.

  ***

  “Brooks, what are you thinking?” Carol chided as soon as the door had swung shut behind Lisa and Dan.

  “What, I care about her. It’s like we were made for each other.” Brooks protested. “And I know she isn’t just interested in my money.”

  “I know that’s what I mean. Why in the world didn’t you ask her outright to marry you. New Year’s Eve would be the perfect winter wedding.”

  “Carol, she’d think I was crazy.”

  Carol laughed. “So you’d do it wouldn’t you?”

  “I would, I want to start a brand new life with Lisa Carter. I want to have and hold and cherish and all of those other things they make you promise at the altar.”

  “Big brother,” Carol said looking him in the eye. “If she’s made for you, and you want to get married on New Year’s Eve, she’ll say yes.”

  “You think so?”

  “If I’ve learned nothing else with this experience,” she indicated the room around her, “I’ve learned that we shouldn’t waste time doubting ourselves. If you had a shred of worry about Lisa, you wouldn’t have gone as far as you did today when you got engaged, even unofficially.”

  Brooks grinned and Carol could see the boy he’d once been peeking out of his eyes.

  “You’ve got the world in your hand,” Carol continued. “You’re financially stable, you have family nearby, and you can do whatever you want.”

  “You don’t think she’ll think I’m crazy?”

  “She probably already figured that out when you pulled her out of the trunk of her car after a goose attack.” Carol sniggered. “Brooks there is only one way to find out.”

  A quiet knock sounded on the door and Dan stepped in carrying a cup of coffee. “Can we come back in?”

  Lisa stepped in to the room her eyes troubled and it zinged to Brooks’ heart. She must have thought that Carol was trying to dissuade him from moving forward with the relationship.

  “How about we go get some supper?” He suggested smiling at Lisa, trying to erase her frown with his thoughts.

  “Sure,” Lisa said, but her voice was subdued. “Anything special?”

  “I think I know just the place,” Brooks said offering her his arm.

  “Brooks is everything alright?” Lisa asked as they drove through town a short time later. She had no idea where he was taking them, or where they were going as a couple.

  “Nope, I just need to pick something up here. Wait for me?” he asked parking next to a pizza parlor.

  “Sure,” Lisa smiled. She was sure that Carol had talked him out of his earlier proposal. Perhaps the woman was worried that she was only interested in his money, or maybe she felt that they needed some space after the emotional roller coaster of the past few days.

  Deep down Lisa knew that she loved Brooks; that she was meant to be with him, to love, honor, and cherish him.

  What if everything went sideways now?

  Minutes ticked by like hours, and she waited not seeing Brooks anywhere. He’d been in the pizza place for what seemed like ages.

  Fidgeting with the draw string on her jacket hood she didn’t see him walk around the car with a large pizza box in hand.

  “Oh,” she gasped as Brooks opened the car door handing her the box. “I didn’t see you come out.”

  “Sorry it took so long,” Brooks said. “It was a special order.”

  Lisa looked down at the box breathing in the smell of pepperoni, sauce and cheese. “This smells wonderful,” she said.

  “Take a peek,” Brooks said nodding toward the box.

  Lisa looked up her eyes shining with doubt. “Brooks, I don’t want to wait. I want this year to end with you and a whole new one to start with us together,” she said in a rush all of her thoughts pouring out at once.

  Brooks grin grew. “Open the box honey,” he urged making Lisa blink.

  She’d just poured out her offer to marry him before the end of the year, and he wanted her to look at a pizza. Her heart sank to her toes but she opened the box.

  Marry Me

  New Years?

  Was written in pepperoni across the massive pizza and in the middle pressed into the still steaming dough was a tiny green box.

  “Open it,” Brooks said still grinning.

  Lisa flipped the top of the jewelry box open and gasped.

  “Were you serious about New Years?” Brooks asked taking the ring from the tiny box?

  “Yes,” Lisa gushed, joy flowing from her soul.

  “Then Lisa Carter will you marry me on New Year’s Eve and start a new year and new life together?”

  “Yes, yes, I will!” Lisa cried as he slipped the ring onto her finger.

  Chapter 20

  The next few days flew by like a whirlwind, and Lisa pulled every trick she knew to see that everything came together.

  She was never so relieved when Audrey, who had found out from the Ls about her impending nuptials, and Holden came back taking over everything.

  “You look gorgeous,” Audrey said hugging Lisa tight as lights flicked on in the chapel. “Let me see the shoes,” she finished stepping back as Lisa lifted the hem of her gown.

  “Perfect, two inch heels, you’re safe in those. I don’t need to see you do a face plant on your wedding day,” Lisa’s best friend beamed.

  Lisa laughed. Today was a dream come true. “Is this how you felt?” she asked Audrey. “Overwhelmed, delighted, full of butterflies?”

  “Yes and it was wonderful,” Audrey said grinning wickedly. “Just like the honeymoon,” she added blushing.

  Lisa felt her face heat to her hairline but decided not to think about that.

  “I’m so happy for you,” Audrey said hugging her again, “and did you really get an ornament from Mrs. Claus?”

  “Yes, a goose, just like Oliver,” Lisa laughed.

  “The Ls told me I’ll get to meet him next week when we all go out to the farm for dinner. Now let’s get moving it’s almost time.”

  The tiny hospital chapel was full to overflowing as soft strands of the wedding march played from an old phonograph in subdued tones.

  Lisa took a step down the aisle on her father’s arm wobbling slightly then steadying.

  At the front of the church Brooks stood smiling in a charcoal tux with Dan at his side.

  Lisa’s heart raced, and she only slowed her steps because her father made her. She was going to be Mrs. Vixen, and the thought made her feel like she could fly.

  A stout preacher in a black suit asked who gave her to be wed, and her father responded appropriately. Lisa wasn’t even sure what her parents thought of the union, but they hadn’t argued, flying in to be with her.

  The preacher’s words were long and slow, and Lisa thought they’d never end as she waited to say I do. She was ready to seal her union with a kiss, but the fact that Vivian was fidgeting beside her father in her pretty red dress didn’t bode well either.

  “You may kiss the bride,” the preacher finally said and Brooks took her in his arms tipping her back and kissing her to the squeals of the children and laughter of adults.

  “I give to you Mr. and Mrs. Vixen,” the preacher intoned and Brooks swept Lisa up the aisle closely followed by Dan and the children as Vivian declared her need of the restroom.

  ***

  Brooks gazed into Lisa’s eyes as the first dance began, taking her in his arms and moving her across the floor.

  “You look beautiful Mrs. Vixen,” he said smiling.

  “And happy,” Lisa said. The ceremony had flown by in a spiral of jittery nerves and excitement, but now she belon
ged to Brooks, and her heart soared.

  “Do you think we’re crazy?” Brooks asked as Holden pulled Audrey on to the floor to join them.

  “Yes, but I also think our crazies mesh,” Lisa giggled.

  “I’m glad,” Brooks agreed. “I’m looking forward to being crazy with you for a long, long time.” He leaned in kissing her and their guests applauded.

  “Honey, if you could do anything, anything at all what would it be?” Brooks asked still moving to the music. “I don’t want anyone calling you in to work on Christmas Day ever again.”

  “Be married to you,” Lisa said laying her head on his chest.

  “Well that wish already came true, now give me another one.”

  Lisa looked up noting the seriousness in his eyes. “Really?” she asked.

  “Really.”

  “I’ve always wanted to be a personal shopper. You know one of those people who shop for people who either hate it or just don’t have the time.”

  “That’s a thing?” Brooks asked.

  “Yep, it’s a thing.”

  “How would you go about it?”

  “I’ve had dreams of it for years, and I have loads of ideas. I even started building a website once, but going to work every day wasn’t nearly as scary as striking out on my own. ”

  “Would you do it? Would you leave your job if you could?”

  Lisa studied his face as the song neared its end. “I think I would.”

  Brooks kissed her nose and smiled. Life was going to change for his sweet Lisa.

  As the music ended Lisa released his hand and nodded toward his sister who sat with her husband and children.

  Her sunken cheeks had filled out some since she’d left the hospital, and her skin seemed to glow with the promise of better health to come. Lisa knew that the Ls were feeding the whole family and looked forward to going to the farm in a few days for a special feast.

  “You don’t mind?” Brooks asked.

  “No, I think you should dance with her in celebration of a new start,” Lisa said stepping away and letting Brooks bring his sister onto the floor.