The Matters of Her Heart

Family Christmas

"Merry Chismas mommy!" Melanie screamed as she jumped onto the bed with Maxwell.

Tanya groaned but smiled nonetheless at her overly eager child and the man of her dreams. "Good morning to the both of you two too," she directed at Maxwell with a raised eyebrow. The sun was barely up and it was way too early for her taste.

"She wants the two of us to go play in the snow with her, you up for it mommy?" He smiled at her as her eyes widened.

"I don't do snow Max, you know that," she was shaking her head even as they both got her dressed and pulled her out into the early rays of sunshine. They played for hours, throwing snow, building a big snowman, and dancing around making snow angels.

Maxwell pulled her to the gazebo, eyes shifting nervously as he bit his lip. Tanya looked at him in question but he shook his head. "Give me a sec?" He inhaled deep breathes and smiled when he saw everyone inside giving him thumbs up and Melanie standing by with the ring in her coat pocket. He got down on one knee causing Tanya to gasp and try to pull back, shaking her head but he wouldn't let her.

"I love you. I've been so in love with you for so long now, I don't know how I ever functioned in life without you. Just being without you and our beautiful little girl makes me hurt, feel empty inside. Just thinking of the fact that you gave her to me makes me love you all the more. I can't take no for an answer, I won't. I will ask you every single day until I ware you down and you say yes. Will you spend the rest of your life as my wife?"

Tanya choked on a sob when Melanie walked up with a ring, it was so beautiful that all she could do was stare as her little girl put it on her finger. "Say yes mommy, I wanna be flower girl!" Melanie said once she got the ring on. That earned her a laugh from everyone and Tanya turned to see them all watching, silently nodding their heads for her to say yes.

"Come on, ya' killin' be baby girl," Maxwell said, voice thick with emotion. "Put me outta my misery."

Her reply was so quiet, she had to say it twice. "....Yes...."

Maxwell jumped up so suddenly, she cried out in surprise as he hauled her into his arms, spinning her around and cheering. He couldn't believe she said yes. Wait, she said yes?

"Are you okay?" Maxwell set her down, looking her over.

"Yes, you didn't hurt me," she said with a bright smile. "Are you alright?"

"I'm not sure," he paused and stared into her eyes, searching. For what, he wasn't sure. He just knew that just days before she was fighting him about now wanting to be his wife and it's all changed and she's saying yes. "Did I miss something?"

Tanya stiffened but forced herself to relax quickly. "No? Other than the fact that I'm wearing your ring, I don't think so."

"That's the thing, why are you?" He shook his head at the look on her face. "That came out wrong, I mean, what made you say yes? You've been fighting me tooth and nail all this time and suddenly you've changed your mind? Something isn't right here."

"I could always give it back," Tanya raised an eyebrow as she reached to slip it off.

"No!" He shouted quickly, rushing to pull her into his arms to stop her hands from removing his ring. Now that it was there, he wasn't taking any chances, he was going to tie her to him quicker than she could blink. "I don't want you to take it off, ever. I just keep feeling like this isn't real, I thought you would yell and we'd fight and I'm still in shock I guess?"

Tanya simply nodded her head and walked away. "Get yourself together and come inside once you're done, I believe it's breakfast and present time," she said over her shoulder before going inside. Walking inside, she saw a camera flash, realizing it was directed towards her, she frowned. "Was that necessary?"