Chapter 57

Jocelyn nodded, and Mallory disappeared through the church doors. Then she linked arms with Kiki. "You could have waited inside, you know."
"I know." Kiki shrugged. "Come on. The service is about to start."
They both walked inside and took their places with the choir, standing off to the left. A moment later, Mrs. Miller, the choir director, raised her hands when Reverend Crane appeared in at the side of the altar. Then the service started with "Joy to the World!".
During the song, Jocelyn looked for Caden, and he finally arrived with his parents before the end. After his mother was seated between he and his father, he looked over at the choir, and smiled when his eyes met Jocelyn's. His mother looked over at her and wiggled her fingers, giving her a little wave. Jocelyn smiled and nodded.
The service was beautiful and Reverend Crane said a wonderful service. While holding a small baby, he said that God had given the world the greatest gift of all- in the form of a child. But all too soon, the service came to an end.
"That was wonderful!" Mrs. Miller said to the choir after the last note was sung. "Have a very merry Christmas, everyone!"
Jocelyn hurried to the back of the church where Caden was waiting with his hand out to her. He took it and she leaned onto his side, smiling.
"Ready?" he asked, taking her hand.
She nodded. "I'm so glad you made it."
"Yeah, we would have been here sooner if we would have closed the tree lot sooner," Caden teased his father.
"Hey! You never know when someone might need a last-minute tree," Noah replied, smiling.
"Well, the important thing is that we're here now." Emma linked arms with Jocelyn. "Are you ready?"
"Just a minute," Jocelyn looked over her shoulder for Mallory and she approached, smiling.
"Hello, everyone! I'm glad you could make it." She gave Caden a quick hug and nodded to his parents. "Would you mind if Jocelyn rides with you? I'll meet you at the house in a minute."
Caden nodded. "No. Not at all. We're in the pickup truck, but there'll be enough room. We'll see you at the house."
"Thanks." Mallory smiled and then gave them one last wave. "I'll see you in a few minutes." Then she hurried off to join her friends.
"Well, I'm glad to see that she's grown up a bit," Emma observed, letting Jocelyn lead her out of the church. "Between you and me, I'm glad my son wound up with you."
"Mom!" Caden chastised her lightly, smiling. "Mallory's her sister!"
"Don't you think I know that?" Emma asked over her shoulder. "Besides, you shouldn't be eavesdropping into ladies' conversations."
"Oh, that's okay." Jocelyn laughed. "But thank you." She was glad that she ended up with Caden, too.
When they reached the pickup truck, Jocelyn stepped back to let Caden help his mother up into it, while his father walked slowly around to the driver's side. Then Jocelyn slid in and Caden slid in beside her. It was a tight fit, but she loved it. It was the first time that she felt a part of a family in a very long time.
Along the way, Caden's mother gave her hand a gentle squeeze. At that moment, she finally felt loved again.
Soon, Noah pulled the pickup truck to a stop in front of her house. "We're here," he announced as he turned off the engine in the driveway behind Jocelyn's car.
Caden got out first and then helped Jocelyn down.
"I'll go unlock the door," Jocelyn announced, knowing that Caden would help his mother up the stairs. Noah was walking slowly, too. Secretly, Jocelyn wondered how much longer they could manage the tree lot by themselves. But she was also a proponent of not getting in the way of older people and what they wanted to do. She figured that they would work the tree lot for as long as they could and then they would make a decision as to what to do next. She was just glad that they had Dan to watch over the tree lot for them while they weren't there.
"Did you invite Dan over?" Jocelyn asked, hating the thought of him spending the holiday at the tree lot alone.
Noah nodded. "We asked him, but he insisted that he stay there. I told him that if anyone came up, to just give them a tree at this stage of the game."
"That was very nice of you." Jocelyn opened the door wide and stood back, letting them go through.
Noah walked through first, and then Emily walked in with Caden past her and into the house.
With everyone safely inside, Jocelyn closed the door, took off her coat, and hung it up. "May I take your coats?"
"Yes, please," Emily replied, struggling to take hers off.
"Here. Let me help." Jocelyn helped her and soon the coats were hung. Everyone was seated when Mallory walked in.
"Sorry I'm late." Mallory hung up her coat. "I just got to talking to friends after church."
"That's okay. We just got here," Jocelyn replied. "Did you invite them over?"
"No, they all had places to be." Mallory shook her head. "They asked me to go, too, but I'd rather be here with family."
A smile spread across Jocelyn's face as she realized that her sister really had changed. "You could have gone with them. I wouldn't have minded."
"Nope! Not tonight. Not on Christmas." She wrapped her arm around Jocelyn's shoulders and pulled her to her side, like she used to do when they were children. "Besides, I wanted to be here with my little sister."
They all laughed.
"Well, before we get started, we have some goodies on the table. I'll be right out with the potato salad." Jocelyn rushed into the kitchen before anyone could respond. When she came out, everyone was taking plates and helping themselves to the goodies.
"What would you all like to drink?" Mallory asked, surprising Jocelyn. After taking everyone's drink order, Mallory rushed into the kitchen, while Jocelyn uncovered everything on the table.
"Everything looks great," Caden said behind her, just over her head as he wrapped his arms around her waist. At first, Jocelyn wondered what Mallory would think, but over the last few days, Mallory never said a word about it. They had all fallen into a comfortable routine.
After everyone had drinks and had eaten their fill, Mallory announced, "Time for presents!" Then she looked over at Caden. "Would you do the honors and pass them out for us?"
"Yes, of course," he replied, suddenly looking nervous. "But I have to do something first."
Jocelyn's heart stopped, having no idea what it could be.
Then he knelt down on one knee in front of her. "Jocelyn, since I've been back, I've realized how much I love you. I now know that I can't live another day without you." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box, causing Jocelyn to gasp. "Jocelyn Taylor, would you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?"
For a split second, she hoped that it wasn't the same ring that he had picked out for Mallory. But when he opened the box, The Christmas Ring sparkled inside.
"Yes! A thousand times, yes!" She flung her arms around his neck and she pressed her lips to his as everyone clapped.
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in for one last hug, and then he slipped the ring on her finger.
"How did you know?" Jocelyn asked, looking at the ring as tears filled her eyes.
"Kiki."
"Remind me to thank her later." Jocelyn smiled. "But that explains it. The other day, she was so excited that she was literally bouncing around the room. Now I know why." She looked down at the ring again and it shimmered, catching the light.
Caden held her hands in his, reclaiming her attention. "I love you, Joss, and I always will."
"I love you, too."
And as she looked into his eyes, she knew that she would never love anyone more for as long as she lived.
END OF VOLUME ONE