My Christmas Stalker (13 page)

“Yeah! Two and a half years! You tortured the poor guy!” Wendy blurted out loudly. Willa turned to glare at her little sister.

“But we were sure! What do you now about him? Oh, wait, let me get the magazine, I’m sure they have his info in the article.” Her sister’s tone sounded angry. “You can’t fall in love with a guy that quickly and it be a sure thing!”

“Why not?” Their mother spoke out. “I knew on my first date with your father. I knew he was the one as soon as he took my hand. The spirit was so strong and unforgettable.” Laurie let out a long sigh. “I will never forget the feeling I had. It was so…serene.” Her face grew serious. “It isn’t the same for everyone, Willa. Some take longer, some know right away, some have to grow into love. The spirit tells us when we are ready.” She looked at Whitley. “Whitley was ready. She has always lived close to the spirit. I have no doubt that she knows what God wants her to do.”

“Thanks, mom.” Tears formed in her eyes. “I appreciate your understanding.” She looked at her sister. “I have always been careful of whom I date. I have prayed that I would be ready when the man God wanted me to choose came along. I know with all my heart that David is that man.”

“Yeah, but what about the temple? How can you choose to love someone who can’t take you to the temple? Have you seen the pictures in the paper? Whoa!” Willa rolled her eyes.

“David joined the church almost a year ago. He will be able to go next month.” Whitley countered.

“Oh, Whitley! I am so glad for you!” Wendy said with a delighted smile on her face.

“Ah, oh. Look outside,” mom said. “I think your David has brought you home with a purpose.”

Whitley stood up to look out of the window. There, walking and talking in the yard, was David and her father. Her heart warmed her all the way through and then a tingling feeling shot to her feet and back up. “I know,” she whispered. They all looked at her. “He asked me to marry him.” She held up her left hand and waved her fingers.

“Oh! Super de duper!” Wendy squealed and rushed around the table to hug her big sister. “That is so great! Can I be a bridesmaid?” She hugged her again.

“You bet!” She laughed at her sister’s excitement. Laurie moved from behind the counter and hugged Whitley.

“I am so proud of you.” She kissed her cheek. “I am so, soooo happy for you, too.” She cupped her cheek, tears were shining in her eyes. “You will be a beautiful bride.”

Willa was behind her mother. “I’m sorry for being such a stick in the mud, I love you and want good things for you. I hope you will be very happy, you deserve it.” The words were low, almost a mutter. The two sisters hugged and Willa kissed her older sister’s cheek too. “I just hope I won’t be too fat by the time the wedding comes around.” She giggled as all the women stared at her.

“You are going to have another baby!” their mother exclaimed. The women hugged Willa all at once. “You two have given me the best Christmas presents ever! Now let’s looks at that ring!”

They stepped back and Willa grabbed Whitley’s hand. They ‘oh’d’ and ‘ah’d’ and hugged her again.

“We better get back to cooking. We have a bunch of hungry men waiting on us.” Laurie Spencer said as she wiped her eyes on the edge of her apron.

L
ater that night, David and Whitley sat snuggled together in front of the Christmas tree in her parent’s front room. David kissed her hair and she wrapped her arms firmly around him.

“I love you, Whitley Spencer, will you marry me?” David whispered into the dark room lit by the soft, white lights of the Christmas tree. Whitley lifted her head to look up into his eyes.

“Yes, David Ballantine, I will marry you.” His head descended and their lips met. Their kiss was tender and full of their love for each other. Her arms wrapped around his neck as their lips touched in a second kiss that held all the promise of the passion their life would have. Whitley’s hands brushed through David’s soft hair as he kissed her.

“Oooh, babe, I love the way you kiss me,” he whispered before his lips touched hers again. “And my mother said Mormon girls were prudish.” Whitley giggled against his lips.

“Well, I plan on kissin’ the heck out of my husband.” She pressed her lips against his instigating another long, passion filled kiss.

“Ooooh, baby!” He moaned as he pulled her to him to snuggle her close. Whitley settled her head on his chest. “One month is way too long, but I would wait forever for you!”

“No, I don’t want to
wa
it forever to be with you. I want to
be
with you forever!” She corrected him.

“Oh, yeah. Definitely, we are meant to be forever.” he murmured into her hair.

“David?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for my beautiful, Christmas dress,” Whitley whispered as she tilted her head to gaze into his eyes.

“You’re welcome, my sweet pastry girl.” Their lips touched in one last tender kiss.

Whitley relaxed back into the curve of David’s shoulder. The soothing Christmas music coming from the CD player floated around them. They held each other into the night, falling asleep in each other’s arms.

I
n the morning, Whitley was awakened by a sweet kiss. “Merry Christmas morning, my sweet pastry girl.”

“Back at you, my Christmas stalker,” she murmured sleepily, her eyes refused to open yet. David’s laughter rumbled in his chest beneath her hand.

“I guess I was, wasn’t I?” His hand brushed her hair off of her cheek. “I love you, Whitley.” Her eyes opened to find deep blue eyes full of love staring down at her. Whitley’s hand caressed his rough whiskered cheek.

“I love you, too, David Ballantine. Merry Christmas.”