A Seagrove Christmas (South Carolina Sunsets #6) - Rachel Hanna Page 0,38

from the chorus department for them to stand on. She felt like she was about to be on full display, which was something she had never overly enjoyed.

“I’ll be so glad when this is over,” she said, nervously rubbing her hands together. He took both of her hands and squeezed them.

“This is going to be a very special night, Meg.”

“Do you think so? Because I’m just thinking about all the things that could go wrong.”

“Have fun! It’s just Christmas caroling! Nobody is judging you.”

“I am going to need a great big cup of hot chocolate with extra marshmallows on top when I finish singing these songs,” she said. Christian pulled her into a hug.

“Just think that Vivi is going to be watching you, and she will be so proud of her mother.”

“I just hope she gets your singing skills,” Meg said, laughing.

A few minutes later, she found herself standing on the platform. Being so short, she was in the very front, of course. And that was the last place she wanted to be. No lip-synching was going to work in this situation.

Christian, being the tallest one there, was all the way on the other end of the platform in the very back. She desperately wished she could slowly slip into the back row.

They started out singing Silent Night, and then the men sang a rendition of Jingle Bells alone. The women followed with O Holy Night. Things were going well, and it surprised her. At least she hadn’t fallen off the platform or sang a wrong note.

The last song was finally coming up, and the choir director decided to say a few words. She wasn’t sure why the director was stopping the show, as they hadn’t practiced that in rehearsal. But at least it would give her a couple of minutes to suck on a cough drop.

“We want to thank everyone for coming out to the Seagrove Christmas festival tonight!” the director, Beatrice, said. The crowd smiled and clapped. “Christmas is the most special time of the year for so many people, and we are thrilled to have something even more special happening tonight. So before we get started with our last song, I’d like to invite one of our members down to the front.”

Meg was confused. Now she really didn’t have any idea what was going on. Craning her head, she looked down at the twenty-five or so members of the choir, trying to figure out who was being called to the front.

When she realized that Christian was no longer standing in his spot, she was even more confused. She hadn’t seen him walk down front. But then there he was, tapping her on the back and taking her hand.

“Christian, what are you doing? I don’t want to go over there.”

He smiled. “Come with me, my love.”

He pulled her out in front of everyone. Never in her life had she wanted to crawl under a set of bleachers so badly.

“What are you doing?” she whispered, a fake smile planted on her face.

“I’m doing something that I should’ve done long ago.” Before she realized what was happening, he started to lower himself onto one knee. It was at that moment that she figured it out.

“Christian…”

He smiled at her. “Meg, you are the most amazing woman I’ve ever known in my life. Not only are you a wonderful person, but you are an outstanding mother and partner. I can’t think of anything else that I would want this Christmas other than to hear you say yes. Will you marry me?”

Her face burned, and she was sure that her cheeks were flaming red at this point. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through every vein in her body, causing her heart to practically beat out of her chest. She covered her face with her hands, trying to will away the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Yes!” she said, jumping up and down. Christian grinned.

His hand shaking, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. When he opened it, Meg saw the most beautiful ring. It was perfect and everything she would’ve wanted if she had picked it out herself.

He slid it on her finger before picking her up and swinging her around. The crowd cheered. The director walked over and congratulated them and then told them they didn’t have to take part in the last song if they would like to celebrate with family. Thankfully, Christian agreed that was the best course of action and they