They were crammed asses to elbows with the Garrison family and a handful of other townsfolk in the storage room at Remo’s just off the greasy kitchen. Word had spread about Luke’s plan to win back Harper, and the entire town had turned out to show their support.

Gloria’s mother was out there with a glass of wine and a table full of girlfriends, including Ina Moretta. The two had become fast, odd friends.

Aldo made a show of kissing Gloria and tickling her with the fake ‘stache. “We’re definitely going to hang on to the costumes. I’ve got plans for later,” he told her.

Gloria laughed and squeezed him in a tight hug. For the rest of her life, she had plans for later.

“Love is in the air tonight,” Claire said next to them as she snuggled a little closer to her husband, Charlie. They were both wearing hideous Christmas sweaters.

Gloria prodded Aldo in his ribs and nodded to where Luke stood in the corner studying a sheet of lyrics.

Aldo rolled his eyes. “Go ahead and fix him. But just this once. Since it’s a special occasion.” He ran his thumb over the diamond on her finger.

Gloria kissed him lightly on the cheek before wriggling around bodies to get to Luke. His lips were moving, carefully forming each word on the page.

“Are you ready for this?” Gloria asked him. It wasn’t the ideal place for an intimate conversation. Not with a dozen nervously enthusiastic friends and family getting ready for the surprise of Harper’s life.

Luke blew out a breath. “Is it enough? Is this enough?” he asked, jerking his chin at the chaos in the glorified closet.

“Do you love her?” Gloria asked.

She watched his Adam’s apple work in his throat. “Yeah.” Luke’s voice was a rasp. “Yeah, I do.”

“Then that’s enough.”

The corner of his mouth quirked. “That’s it? That easy?”

Gloria glanced over her shoulder at Aldo. The love of her life. The man who brought her into the light. Who put a promise of forever on her finger.

“Nobody said anything about easy. But it is so worth it,” Gloria promised. She thought about her purple suitcase and the Christmas tree—the tree they’d already had to stand back up twice, thanks to Ivan. She thought about the boxes that had already made their way to Aldo’s house. Their house. “Just make sure the apology is always bigger than the screw-up. And I’m pretty sure you blew it out of the water with tonight.”

“I’m asking her to marry me.” Luke said the words so quietly Gloria almost didn’t catch them. “Not here. But at home. If she forgives me.”