Page 130 of Royal Icing

Leo shook his head. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. I’ve already set very clear boundaries with my mother, and I’ve insisted she start attending therapy. She knows that the second we hear one snide comment, she’s out of our lives. I won’t allow her to control this. And I mean that. I will protect you—emotionally, physically, mentally. With everything I have.”

“I see. And what do I bring to this elaborate table you’ve set?”

“Love. And patience. That’s the only thing I’ll ask of you. And, you know, if you wanted to throw in some cheesecakes.”

She laughed, and her eyes sparkled.

“I know there’s a lot to consider,” he said. “You don’t have to make a decision now. I just want a life with you, Emma. Whatever that looks like. I need you to know that loving medoesn’t have to mean giving up who you are. But it might mean a compromise.”

She was smiling. “You’re worth compromising for.”

She jumped into his arms, and he twirled her beneath the dizzying array of Christmas lights. They kissed again in the falling snow, surrounded by the delicate melody of “Silent Night” from the carolers down the road. It was their first Christmas Eve of hopefully dozens together. Maybe the holiday wasn’t so bad after all.