Maddy hung the final wreath along the railings of a gazebo in the little town square where a brass sextet rehearsed "Good King Wencelas." One of the trumpet players winked his approval and gave her a quick thumbs-up. She stepped back to admire her work. The snow-dusted wreaths were now perfectly aligned. The quaint, decorated gazebo looked picture postcard perfect.

"On the Feast of Steee-phen," she sang as she walked through the snow-covered town, a storybook setting, with wreaths and Christmas decorations in the windows of the mom-and-pop shops. She passed the lighted tree in the town square then stopped at Kay-Dee's Bake Shop, peering through the window at the assortment of holiday pastries. The mouth-watering aromas of homemade baked goods leaked under the old wooden door and out onto the sidewalk. A woman in the bakery wearing an apron waved to Maddy.

Maddy then made her way to Taylor's Flowers and upon entering called out, "I'm back from the gazebo."

Jonathan poked his head out of the backroom, his eyes glazed. "Gazebo." He giggled. "That's such a funny word. Gazebo."

"Have things been pretty quiet around here?" she asked on her way to the desk.

"You know the drill. The weeks leading up to Christmas it's work, work, work. Now we can catch our breath before the New Year's Eve parties. It's a perfect time for your folks' week in Punta Cana." He giggled again. "That's another funny word. Punta Cana."

"Hilarious," Maddy said, tossing her coat over the back of her office chair.

"Have you told them the news yet?"

"I was planning to wait until they returned from their vacation."

A FaceTime tone drew Maddy to the iMac on her desk. The sunburned faces of her parents filled the computer screen. They leaned back to reveal that they were dressed in bathing suits, holding tropical drinks.

"Right on cue," said Jonathan.

"Mom! Dad! How's Punta Cana?"

"Never mind that," Reggie said. "What's all this about killing the pizzeria deal?"

"Taylor's is a flower shop," said Maddy. "It's always been a flower shop, and it's going to stay a flower shop."

Carol chimed in. "Maddy, what are you talking about?"

"We're expanding."

"I'm too old for expanding," her dad said.

"I mean digitally. With a mobile app." She showed her phone to the computer screen.

Reggie lowered his sunglasses. "Listen, you. That's nothing new. People have been ordering flowers by phone for ages."

"Not like this, they haven't. And we're going into the wedding and events business. That's where the big margins are."

Carol leaned closer to the screen. "We don't know anything about weddings and events."

Maddy wore a self-satisfied grin. "I'm already working with someone who does."

"We'll talk about this when we get home." Reggie sipped his cocktail.

"Anyway," her mom said. "Punta Cana is awesome." She grinned. "We're having the time of our lives thanks to our sweet, generous daughter."

"You two deserve it." 

"Umbrella drinks at Christmas time," her dad added. "Sure beats shoveling snow."

Maddy's jaw dropped when Nathan came through the door. "Nathan?!"

"Is that Nathan I hear?" Carol asked. "Turn the screen so we can see him."

Nathan rushed to Maddy, throwing his arms around her, his hands roaming.

"Not in front of my parents!" Maddy squealed.

"Sorry." He gave her a quick smooch.

"So, you just happened to be in the neighborhood?" Maddy asked.

"A few hundred miles away, give or take."

"Hi, there," Jonathan waved. "I'm the one they call Jonathan."

"Nice to meet you," said Nathan. "Your reputation precedes you."

"Likewise."

"I'm not proud of my past reputation." Nathan hung his head. "But I'm a changed man. You know, the whole Ebeneezer Scrooge thing but without the ghosts."

"God bless us, everyone," said Maddy doing her best Tiny Tim impersonation.

"I can see why you love it up here, Maddy," said Nathan. "It really is beautiful."

She nodded, gazing through the frosted window at the picturesque town. "I was gonna tell you," she said. "It was a tough decision, but I made up my mind. I'm not going back to New York City."

"I get that."

"I guess I'll always be a small-town girl at heart."

"You have a very good heart. I love your heart. It's not my favorite part of you, but it's high on my list."

"Thanks."

Nathan waved to Maddy's parents on the computer screen. "Hi, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor."

"Hi, Nathan," they said in unison.

"How's the Bahamas?" he asked.

"We're in Punta Cana," Carol said. "And it's awesome!"

Jonathan covered his giggle with his hand. "Punta Cana. Gets me every time."

Nathan turned his attention back toward Maddy, cleared his throat, and said, "So, anyway..."

A middle-aged woman, Mrs. Schoebert entered the shop. Exceptionally bad timing.

Nathan fidgeted, shifting his weight. "So, Maddy, let's say hypothetically..."

Mrs. Schoebert interrupted. "Excuse me, where are your After-Christmas Sale items?"

Jonathan shushed her. "I'll be with you in a moment, Mrs. Schoebert," he whispered.

Nathan continued. "Let's say hypothetically, that you and I were in a committed relationship. I could see leaving New York City and moving up here."

"But what about your job?"

"I've waited five years for a second chance. I'm not gonna let a little thing like a job stop me from being with you."

"Awwwwwwww," Jonathan swooned.

"Plus Elliot is opening a branch office about twenty miles away from here."

Mrs. Schoebert asked, "Are those the sale items back there by the--"

Reggie cut her off. "What're you? Made of stone?"

Haley and Sully burst into the shop, brushing snow from their shoulders.

Maddy's eyes widened. "What are you guys doing here?!

Haley said, "I heard there was an opening for a wedding and events planner."

"So you decided to apply in person?"

"I just figured if peeing in a cup was required it would make things a lot easier for everyone involved." 

Jonathan looked worried. "We're doing drug tests now?"

Maddy noticed a congregation of townsfolk pressing their faces against the front window. She sensed a set-up.

Nathan said, "I do have just one more question to ask you."

Mrs. Schoebert crossed her arms, impatiently. "So ask her already."

"Maddy, I know I can't afford fancy five-star restaurants and flying you off to romantic places in my private jet..."

He produced a small jewelry box from his pocket, showing a modest engagement ring then got down on one knee. "But Maddy, if you'd agree to spend the rest of your life with me, I promise to show you every single day how much I love you."

Maddy's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Will you marry me?"

"Since the day I saw you in that toy department," Maddy's voice trembled. "I've been trying to talk myself out of admitting that I still love you."

Haley dabbed her eyes with a tissue.

"But you never stopped believing in us."

"And I never will." Nathan got to his feet, lunging into a kiss. "So, that's a yes?"

"That's a definite yes."

Nathan slipped the ring on her finger. They met in another long kiss as applause broke out from the locals peering through the window.

"That's my boy," Sully said wearing a proud grin.

On the iMac screen, Reggie and Carol raised their umbrella drinks in celebration. "YAY!"

Haley, Sully, and Mrs. Schoebert applauded while Jonathan joyfully tossed flower petals into the air.

Haley said, "Sounds like someone could use an awesome wedding planner."

Jonathan opened the door, inviting the brass sextet inside. They marched in playing Earth, Wind, and Fire's classic, "September." The infectious music got the small crowd dancing and pumping their fists in celebration, some singing along, "Remember how we knew love was here to sta-a-a-a-a-y."

"You're a very special girl, Madison Taylor." Nathan leaned his forehead against hers.

She smiled. "I love you, too."

As Haley and Sully danced their way past, Maddy showed her ring to Haley. Sully high-fived Nathan.

With the engagement party in full swing, music playing, people dancing and singing, flower petals falling like snowflakes, Nathan lifted Maddy off her feet, spinning around in ecstasy, expressions of pure joy on their faces. 

"You know," he said. "This reminds me of something my grandfather used to say."

"Don't you dare," Maddy chuckled before pulling him into a deep kiss.

                                                                                  THE END