Silence met that stunning statement, and I couldn’t stop myself from turning and meeting his eyes. He was looking right at me as if I was the only person in the room. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Charlie, but I’m not selling.”
“What do you plan on doing with it, then?” I heard myself challenge him.
“Living in it, if the town approves. I’ve heard I’m not exactly endearing myself to the good people of Briar Vale. I mean to change that.”
“Well, that’s a surprise!” Will burst out, and then clapped slowly, pushing back his chair and standing up. “Folks, it looks like the society is a bust, and we don’t need it anymore. I propose we reconvene at the pub across the street and start to celebrate the New Year as it’s supposed to be done; with copious amounts of booze.”
“I guess that means you can get to your date early,” Lily muttered to Will, who only grinned at her.
“I’ve still got time to buy you a drink, Lily-pad,” he said, and wrapped an arm around her, as he tugged her toward the door. Lily looked back at me, curious and worried.
I nodded to her, letting her know she could leave me along with Lars, and probably no one would get murdered.
“Let’s leave them to it,” Will insisted.
Chris looked over at us, before shaking his head, and leaving along with the other attendees, all gossiping fiercely about why the great and mighty Lars Nilsen had decided to stay in Briar Vale. When the door swung shut, I stood up and started to put the chairs away. I needed something to keep my hands busy. My thoughts were colliding madly in my head, and I didn’t know how to face him. Was he really here to stay? Why had he changed his mind? Had he thought about me as obsessively as I’d been thinking about him?
“Charlie, wait, let me get them,” he said, appearing beside me and taking the heavy armful of chairs I was holding. I let them go, and turned to the tiny, pretty pathetic spread of empty champagne bottles and crackers.
“Shouldn’t you be at some fancy celebrity party in LA? I’m not sure the rec center can live up to some singer’s white party,” I called over my shoulder. My tone was guarded, and I had no idea how to proceed. I’d done my part laying my heart out on my sleeve for this man to flay open and walk away from. It was his turn.
“I’ve never gone in for that, and I don’t see that changing. Turns out, I’m more the quiet life, small town kind of guy,” Lars said.
I swallowed a lump in my throat that felt dangerously hopeful. “Very funny. I thought you hated Briar Vale.”
“Yeah, well, it turns out that I hate L.A more. I just didn’t realize, until I came home.” I felt the warmth of his body just behind mine. His hands landed gently on my hips and I fought the urge to lean back into him. “I didn’t realize a lot of things until I met you.”
“Lars -,” I turned to face him, unable to hold off any longer. He was so handsome in the dim light, even more than I remembered him being from last week. Maybe it was because he was really here, and not just in my imagination. He was standing so close, his jacket pressing into my glittery Christmas jumper and staring down at me with rapt attention.
“Are you really going to keep Ivy House?”
“I can hardly live there if I don’t keep it, can I?”
“You’re going to live there; in the house you hate?” I prompted him. I couldn't forget the look in his eyes that morning when he’d finally made it clear how deep his resentments toward his childhood, and uncle were.
“It depends on if you agree to live there with me. It’s too big for one person.” His soft words made my heart pound.
“Very funny,” I muttered.
“Who’s joking? I don’t joke about important things, Charlie, you should know that. When I ask a woman to live with me, consider spending her life with me, I take it seriously.”
“What about your new contract?” I heard myself say. My voice was muted, shocked, and muted. Was I dreaming? This seemed impossible.
“I certainly take walking away from that kind of money seriously,” Lars said, and let out a long sigh, with a shrug. “But I’m rich enough. Someone reminded me you can’t take it with you, and I don’t need a lot to be happy. I don’t want to wait until one day to be happy anymore. I want to start now… with you.”
I stared up at him, speechless. The hope in my heart beat a deafening tattoo in my veins, and I could only hold onto him, weathering the storm of emotions his words had released.
“Give me another chance, Charlie… a belated Christmas miracle for an old sinner like me. I want to be happy. I need you for that.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Truer words had never been spoken. The lightness and relief and pure, unadulterated joy in my heart felt like a switch had been flicked and now the entire world glowed.
“Say you’ll give me a chance to prove I’ve learned my lesson. Three dates… three kisses… oh, and move in with me, and be my wife,” Lars said, earnest until the end, forcing an incredulous laugh from me.
“You’re absolutely crazy. Your money and lifestyle have clearly gone to your head. This is Briar Vale. This isn’t Hollywood. We do things slowly around here. It’s enough that you’re back,” I told him, fighting a grin that threatened to engulf my entire being. It was a soul-deep grin and I knew I was going to be wearing it for months. Years, maybe.
“Does that mean you’re giving me another chance?”
I nodded, finally letting my grin out.