Page 46 of Merry with a Single Dad

Hudson was practically jumping up and down as I lifted the lid.

Inside was another square-shaped box.

I pulled it out and lifted the lid.

A small velvet box sat inside. Tilting the box upside down, the velvet box dropped into my hand.

I lifted the lid and gasped. My eyes went wide at the beautiful diamond solitaire sparkling up at me.

When I lifted my head, Chris and Hudson were side by side, both perched on one knee.

Chris nudged Hudson.

“Emmy, will you marry us?” Hudson asked.

You could have heard a pin drop.

Chris smiled at me as my eyes pinged back and forth between him and Hudson.

“Emily,” Chris started, his voice filled with the kind of sentiment that fluttered in my heart. “You changed my life in ways I never expected. You’ve made me a better man, a better father . . . and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“Oh, my God.” Tears spilled over my cheeks as my hand flew to my mouth. “Yes,” I whispered, barely recognizing my own voice. “Yes, of course I’ll marry you.”

Chris and Hudson high-fived, and then Chris pulled me into his arms for a kiss.

“I love you,” he whispered against my lips.

“Wait. Wait, wait,” I muttered. “I need to tell you something.”

Chris’s eyes went wide, part fear, part excitement at my saying yes.

I wriggled out of his arms and dashed to the bedroom. Rushing back, I felt like Hudson, filled with so much excitement and joy.

“It’s not wrapped. And I know you might—well, we haven’t exactly talked about this. But—” I shoved the pregnancy stick into his hand.

Chris looked at it like it was something from a galaxy far, far away.

“You’re pregnant?” he whispered.

Happy gasps sounded from around the room.

“You’re pregnant?” he asked again, lifting his face to meet my eyes.

I nodded.

Tears sprang to his eyes, and he quickly wiped at them.

“God, I love you,” he said. Once again, he yanked me into his tight embrace. This kiss was filled with a frantic kind of passion that should be saved for the bedroom.

When Sam cleared his throat, we broke apart like two guilty teenagers.

Chris and I couldn’t fight our smiles as he pulled my ring, still tucked into its box, from my hand.

My eyes leaked again as he slipped it onto my finger.

“We’re getting married!” I exclaimed.

“We’re having a baby!” Chris yelled.

All at once, we were caught in a group hug as Hudson, Sam, Courtney, and Savannah locked arms around us. Refusing to be left out, Moose, Rufus, and Luke nudged their way into the inner circle.

My heart swelled from the magic and family that surrounded me.

I would never forget the happiest Christmas of my life. Everything was perfect. More than perfect. Today was full of love—real, true, and forever.

And for a moment, surrounded by family, by all the joy and laughter, I knew I was exactly where I was always meant to be.