Winter's Arrangement

Chapter 20 First Family Christmas

Chapter 20 First Family Christmas

Collin and I were enjoying the love fog that seemed to surround us. Days flew by and our relationship was blooming. I know that it hasn’t even been a year of knowing Collin, but at this point I felt like I have known him all my life. We drive to and from work, have lunch at the office together. We were inseparable. Our mothers were planning the wedding which will happen in June. Christmas is around the corner and our parents are thrilled to spend it as a family. 

“Aria, when do you want to have Christmas with our friends?” Collin asked as we were unpacking our groceries in my kitchen. 

“I don’t know, I guess whatever works best for them. Katie and Lily are flying with Bruce and Liam back to Alaska to spend Christmas there. So I guess before or after they leave.” I said. 

“You know Liam is planning on asking Lily to marry him while there.” 

“Well then I guess Lily is in for one great Christmas present.” I smirked. 

“Aria, I know you like having your own place, but we have been together for a while now and why don’t we just move in together?” Collin asked, popping a grape into his mouth. I was still putting stuff in the cupboard. I froze, was I ready to share a place with Collin? “I mean, well, we already spend every night together. I just thought that maybe it would be easier. Plus I love playing house with you.” He said and now he was standing right infront of me and gripped my hips to bring my body flushed with his. 

“Is this purely out of convenience or…” I asked, placing my hands behind his neck. 

“Aria, we are already acting like a married couple. And it would be convenient. But in reality I just want to wake up every morning and call our place home. Aria you are my home. Maybe we can go and find a new place that we can pick together.” Collin said and started to kiss all along my neck. “Please say yes.” He said in between kisses. 

“Ok, I guess. Do you want to move into your condo or mine? Or look for one we both like?” I asked. 

“I don’t care as long as you are happy.” He said and finally stopped kissing my neck to look up at me. 

“Ok move in, I love my condo. And it is closer to work.” I said and he grinned. 

“Ok I’ll pack and sell my condo. I love you Aria.” He said and finally kissed me on the lips. We kept kissing until our stomachs started growling for lunch. I was so glad it was the weekend. 

It took Collin only 24 hours to pack and move into my condo. He had already sold his old condo. We both looked pleased when everything was put in their place. Collin was gleaming a bright smile the whole weekend. I was so happy that he is happy with me and everything we are doing together. I also manage to help his golf company and now they have projects planned out and revamps in the process. The year couldn't end any better. 

The friends and I decided that we should get together to celebrate the new year and our belated Christmas. Liam and Lily left early since Liam wanted to ask for Lily’s parents' blessing. I couldn’t wait until Lily called me screaming that she was engaged. 

Collin and I were heading to the castle with our presents for Christamas and a weekend bag. We were both excited to spend our first Christmas together. Collin held my hand the whole drive and when we reached the castle driveway our parents were anxiously waiting for us in front. Collin parked and we both exited the car to immediately be engulfed in the hugs of our parents. They were all happy to see us, especially together. It was definitely a dream come true for them. The servants helped unpack our car and bring our stuff into the castle. We all walked into the sitting room and all started conversing. The moms sat with me and started talking about the wedding. 

“Aria dear, we have an appointment for dress shopping. I have a designer that will love to make your wedding dress.” Lady Mary said. 

“And we have the Irish games scheduled for the first day of Spring. It is a tradition for the noble eligible bachelors to compete for the fair maiden's hand.” She continued. 

“Wow, so what if Collin loses?” I ask, very unsure about all these traditions we have to follow. 

“Well if Collin loses I would have to disown.” My eyes went wide with shock and then she burst out laughing. “But I am sure he won’t lose. This is not like old times, you are still going to marry Collin, he would just embarrass himself. It is all fun and games, plus your friend Katie would also be with you as a prized maiden.” She continued to say. Well that was a relief since I didn’t want some weird ancient law to prevent me from marrying the love of my life. 

“O Aria, you are going to have so much fun. All you and Collin's friends will be there. And we all get to dress up in old medieval dresses, and the guys all have to wear their kilts. It is so much fun to watch.” My mother said 

“Ok, sounds like fun. I guess my friends will have a blast.” I said getting excited for what sounds like a renaissance fair. We women were laughing and teasing about how if Collin does loose, I would have to marry another noble.  

“Hey Aria is not marrying anyone but me.” Collin said after he and the dads finished talking about business and caught on to our conversation. 

“Well then son you better not lose.” His father patted him on the back. 

“Yea Collin, you better not lose, I don’t want anyone else to be my husband.” I teased and all the parents started laughing. 

“Well son, you better start training. This year there are more bachelors of noble birth that will be competing. Bruce and Willy will be competing, so you know they are willing to lose to you, but there is an unknown competitor from the O’Riley family, they have found a new heir to their family and he might be competing as well.” His father added. 

“I will train hard, father, I will not lose the love of my life to another noble heir.” Collin said and I smiled brightly at him. 

We spent the rest of the day just hanging around and unpacking. I kept giving Collin a hard time with this whole game. I told him that I would help him train because I didn’t want to see myself with any other man. 

Christmas morning came and I woke up with Collin’s arm wrapped around me. I love how he holds me all night as we sleep. I opened my eyes and saw Collin already awake just staring back at me. 

“Merry Christmas, my love.” He said. I smiled and stretched a little. 

“Merry Christmas, Love.” I said back and he leaned forward to kiss me. It was snowing outside and we took our time getting ready and dressed to join our parents downstairs. 

“Merry Christmas!” Collin and I said to our parents that were waiting for us at the breakfast table. 

“Good Morning kids, and Merry Christmas.” They said back and we took our seats to eat. After finishing our meal we all went to the living room where the Christmas tree was. Collin and I sat in one couch, and our parents sat in their own couches. The head butler, Henry, which has been serving the family for decades, passed the presents out. We all started opening them. Collin and I got our mom’s nice earring and our fathers their favorite brandy. My parents gave me a new bracelet and Collins Parents gave me a nice necklace. When I opened Collin’s present I was shocked. He had a small album full of our pictures from our small adventures, the gala, and hanging out with our friends. I was looking through it and each page showed how happy we both are. I turned and hugged and kissed Collin. I loved this present. I am not one for fancy things and this was just perfect. 

Collin opened my present and was shocked. I arranged for a trip to Yosemite. It was on his bucket list to climb half-dome. 

“Aria, this is amazing. You are going to do the trail with me right?” He asked and I nodded. I wasn’t going to miss this kind of adventure with the love of my life. 

This was amazing having all of us together like this. We all collected our new stuff and helped Henry clean up. Collin and I decided to take a stroll on his horse drawn sled. It was indeed a lovely white Christmas as we sipped on our hot chocolate and enjoyed the ride through the snow covered hills. It was so romantic and one of the best Christmas of my life. 

“I love you Collin, truly the best Christmas ever. You make me so happy.” I said as I wrapped my arms around his left arm. 

“And I love you Aria. And you make me so happy as well. Having you right beside me is the best gift I could ever ask for.” He said and I blushed. I loved how cheesy we could be.