Page 108 of The Summer of Christmas

“Where she killed me!” Everyone laughed.

“I’m going to have a long time living that one down.”

“Yes, you are. Because I plan on spending a long time with you.” Nick dropped to one knee. Grabbed the bottle of Poison Ivy. Turned it over and out fell the engagement ring. “Ivy, I should have given this to you years ago.” He pulled out a slip of paper. “I’m not a writer like you, Ivy, so bear with me.”

“Nick, my answer is yes.”

“I didn’t say anything. I wrote this all out.”

“It’s much better when it’s visual.”

“Just kiss her, Nick!” Kenny yelled.

“I never even asked her if she would marry me.”

“Here’s my answer, Nick. Yes, I’ll marry you.”

They kissed. Everyone screamed. Cheered. Cried. People hugged them. There were family pictures.

“So where are you going to live?” Denise asked.

The answer was obvious: the lake house. Ivy would spend the next year writing from the lake house. With a few trips to LA. And one trip to visit Frannie and J. B. in France.

***

The next Christmas—the real Christmas in December—The Christmas Couplehad a benefit screening at the newly renovated Geneva Theater. Drew was there with Rory, who was now working with him. The Geneva Theater was packed as the celebrities returned. The movie had come out well. People loved it. And not just the locals who saw themselves up on the silver screen. The Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer was in the high 80s and the audience score was even higher.

A few weeks later, Ivy and Nick found themselves back in LA. Nick was in a tux, which made him look even more handsome. They were attending the People’s Choice Awards. Ivy won. Poison Ivy was served at the table and was as popular as the real-life Christmas couple.

After the People’s Choice Awards party, Ivy had the driver take them to the Grove. The fake snow was still falling. They came back to where it all started or ended. There were posters in front of the movie theater forThe Christmas Couple. Ivy took it all in, savoring the feeling that everything had turned out so well. Smiled. Turned back to Nick. Kissed him.

“Let’s go home.” They headed out, deciding to go to the airport to catch the red-eye back to New York, but then—just as it had once before—Ivy’s phone started tobuzz,ring,dingat the Grove.

“It’s my agent,” Ivy said. She seemed nervous.

“Take it. Don’t worry, Ivy. We’re fine. I’m not going to run off.”

Ivy answered. She listened. Nodded. It took about twenty seconds. She hung up.

“So?” Nick asked.

“I guess the buzz on the movie is good.”

“That’s great.”

“Really good. They want to do a sequel!”

Nick laughed. Happy for her. He pulled Ivy into his arms. Letting her know how much he loved her. As the fake snow fell and the music played and the fountains danced to a Christmas tune, the Christmas couple danced at the Grove.