“I want to be a good wife to my husband.” Noelle suddenly realized that she was genuinely grateful they hadn’t married so young. Yes, the years had brought pain, but they’d brought wisdom and perspective, too. The love she and Thom felt for each other would deepen with time. They were so much more capable now of valuing what they had together.

“What’s it like to be born on Christmas Day?” Thom asked.

“It’s not so bad,” Noelle said. “First, I share a birthday with Jesus—that’s the good part. The not-so-good is having the two biggest celebrations of the year fall on the same day. When I was a kid, Mom used to throw me a party in June to celebrate my half-year birthday.”

“I remember that.”

“Do you remember teasing me by saying it really wasn’t my birthday so you didn’t need to bring a gift?”

Thom chuckled. “What I remember is getting my ears boxed for saying it.”

Twenty minutes later, they were almost at her family’s house. They’d decided to confront her parents first. Their laughter, which had filled the car seconds earlier, immediately faded.

“You ready?” Thom asked as he stopped in front of the house.

Noelle nodded and swallowed hard. “No matter what happens, I want you to remember I love you.”

His hand squeezed hers.

Glancing at her family’s home, Noelle noticed a truck parked outside. “Looks like we have company.” She didn’t know whether to feel relief or disappointment.

“Oh, no.” Thom’s voice was barely above a whisper.

“What is it?”

“That’s my parents’ truck.”

Dread slipped over her. “They must’ve found out that we spent the day together. That’s my fault—I left a note for Carley telling her I was with you.” Noelle could imagine what was taking place inside. Her mother would be shouting at Thom’s, and their fathers would be trying to keep the two women apart.

“Should we wait?” Noelle asked, just as she had earlier.

“For another time?” His jaw tensed. “No, we face them here and now, for better or worse. Agreed?”

Noelle nodded. “Okay…just promise me you won’t let them change your mind.”

He snorted inelegantly. “I’d like to see them try.”