“Yes,” Lula said softly. “And,” she hesitated, “I’ll go to London. I think it’s time I embraced a little more adventure in my life.”
Carter surged to his feet, wrapping her in his arms and hugging so tight her feet left the ground. “Thank you,” he whispered in her ear. “You won’t regret it. I swear.”
Lula clung to his neck, holding him close for several long moments before she pulled away and held up her left hand.
“I’m going to get you something better,” Carter said, hands shaking as he slipped the ring on her finger. “But I hope this will do for now.”
“It will do for always,” Lula said, admiring the simple, elegant ring that fit perfectly on her hand. “I don’t need a big ring or hidden treasure. I told you the first time, all I need is you.”
“And now I’m smart enough to believe you,” he said, leaning in to seal the words with a kiss before murmuring against her lips. “What do you say we take this somewhere that smells less like rotten cabbage?”
Lula giggled. “That sounds like the best idea I’ve heard all night.” She slipped her hand in Carter’s.
“So what made you scream?” he asked as they started through the gate.
“The Christmas gnomes,” Lula said, laughing again as she motioned over her shoulder. “It was so strange to see them all lined up like that after I’d…” She trailed off, her mouth going dry as she saw the place where the gnomes had been standing was empty.
“I swear they were there a minute ago. I was upset, but I’ve never hallucinated a day in my life.” She let go of Carter’s hand and crossed the small space, peeking behind the Dumpsters. But there was still no sign of the gnomes, a fact that sent a shiver working down her spine as she spun back to face Carter. “What could have happened? They didn’t just walk off on their own.”
“Maybe it’s a Christmas miracle,” Carter said with a crooked grin. “Sent by Aunt Louise to show she forgives us for pranking her all those years ago.”
Lula frowned, “Be serious.”
“I am serious.” He recaptured her hand and led the way through the gate. “If you hadn’t screamed, I wouldn’t have found you, and you wouldn’t be wearing my ring right now. I’m going to call it the Miracle of the Gnomes.”
Lula shook her head with a sigh. “I’m pretty sure that’s sacrilegious.”
“If people can celebrate seeing Jesus’s face on a piece of toast, I can celebrate the Miracle of the Gnomes,” Carter said. “Toast goes stale, but my love for you is going to stay daisy fresh.”
Lula laughed, relaxing as they stepped onto the sidewalk, despite the strangeness of the night’s events. She couldn’t explain what had happened. Maybe her eyes had been playing tricks on her. All she knew was that she was grateful things had worked out the way they did. She would much rather be walking back to her shop on Carter’s arm than hiding by a Dumpster.
They arrived at her truck, and Carter offered to push while she steered to the side of the road. But when she turned the key in the ignition one last time, the truck sparked to life as if it had never died in the first place, raising the hairs on Lula’s arms.
“The Miracle of the Dead Truck and the Miracle of the Gnomes,” Carter said as he slid into the passenger seat beside her. “Seems like someone up there wanted to see us together pretty badly.”
“There are children starving in Africa,” Lula said as she turned the truck around and started for home. “Why would the Powers that Be waste one miracle on fools like us, let alone two?”
“I don’t know,” Carter said, letting his hand rest lightly on her thigh. “But I’m grateful. I don’t ever want to spend another night without you.”
Lula covered his hand with hers, her heart melting at the simple gratitude she heard in his voice. “I love you, Carter Bryce.”
“And I love you L.J. For keeps.”