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Abby, Will You Be My Bride?

12/21/2025

Mandy flitted around the gift shop, arranging merchandise, warming herself in front of the simulated fireplace, trying to maintain an orbit out of Abby’s reach.

“Did you guys pick a date?” Abby asked blandly as she restocked gaps in the merchandise.

“We’re thinking June twentieth.” Mandy blushed as she studied a CD case featuring the organ at St. Cas.

“June wedding? That’s classic.”

“Chris is an old soul. You know?”

“Uh-huh. The Murray brothers are sweeping up half the girls at Saint Casimir’s.”

“Ha ha, so are Teddy’s dad and his brother.” She turned around to arrange the display of CDs. ‘What is the matter with you? Don’t tell her that!’

“Harry? Who’s he getting engaged to?”

“Harry?” Mandy’s voice cracked. “Who’s Harry?”

“Matt’s brother. He’s very nice. Who’s he seeing?”

“Oh, Zelda is going to brunch with Harry and his family.”

“Zelda? She must be waist-high to him. He’s almost as tall as Matt.”

“Oh, my goodness. That’s so funny. She likes to wear heels, so that should help.”

“Maybe.” Abby’s eyes narrowed. “How did Harry even meet Zelda? I can’t even imagine how they came to be at the same place at the same time.”

‘Don’t tell her! Don’t tell her! Don’t tell her!’ Mandy chewed her lip. “Who knows? They don’t seem to be a likely couple. Do they?”

Abby pondered that as she scanned the merchandise for gaps. “Apart from the height difference, yes. I think they’d be great together. He’s very kind and funny. You know how Zelda is. I can see them getting along really well or driving each other crazy.”

“Marzipan soda?” Zelda grinned. “That’s either really good or really bad. Am I right?”

“It was good.” Matt said as she scooped some scrambled eggs onto his plate. “I tasted it first. You know, so if it was bad then Abby wouldn’t have to.”

“That was sweet.” She grabbed a few slices of scrapple with the tongs. “Do you want syrup on your scrapple?”

“I wasn’t actually expecting any scrapple.”

“Pfft, c’mon man. It’ll put hair on your chest. Syrup?”

He rolled his eyes. “Sure.”

She tipped the decanter. “Say when.” She drizzled syrup. “So, she drank from the same bottle as you?”

“Well, yeah. We only got one bottle. Didn’t know if it was going to be good or not. That’s enough syrup. Can you put some home fries on and shake some ketchup over them?”

“You betcha.” She loaded his plate up with fried potato slices and loaded them up with ketchup. “So, it was almost like you kissed.”

Color rose in his cheeks. “I guess that’s true.”

“Did she like it?”

“The soda? Very much. It was a pleasant surprise, but Beach Bubbles are usually pretty good.”

“The cotton candy kind is really tasty. Not sure why they make it turquoise.”

“I think they’re matching it to the salt water taffy it’s based on, but I agree. Greenish blue doesn’t really say cotton candy to me. Thanks for fixing me a plate, Zelda. I’m going to take this back.”

“Matt.”

“Zelda?”

“I’m just going to rip the bandage off.”

“Huh?”

“When are you going to propose to Abby?”

“Not sure.”

“Why not? You’ve got the ring and Gary’s permission. What’s stopping you?”

His eyebrows went up. “Thanks for not making it weird.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. What’s the time frame on that?” She got a plate of her own and stacked up enough scrapple to fill it, leaving a gap in the middle.

“Wow, you really like your scrapple.”

“You know what I like even better?”

“Harry?”

She grinned and looked down at the wild pattern of syrup she was drawing over her abundance of scrapple. “An answer. When are you going to propose to Abby?”

“Did you really come all this way to ask that?”

“No, I came all this way to check out Sacred Heart and have breakfast with you guys. I came to help you with your food because you’ve only got one working arm. I just figured one good turn deserves another.”

“Well, when you put it like that…”

“Look, Matt, beauty is fleeting but logic is timeless.”

“Harry is incredibly lucky to have met you.”

“All flattery is gratefully accepted, but I’d still like to know.” She scooped scrambled eggs into the gap in the middle of her syrup-drenched scrapple and topped it with sriracha and ketchup.

“When I figure it out, I promise you’ll be at least the tenth person to know.”

“Who will be the first?”

“Abby, of course.”

“So, you are going to ask.”

“No, Zelda, I bought the ring for funsies. Come on. I don’t know yet.”

“It’s the fourth Sunday of Advent.”

“Uh-huh?”

“The Sunday of Love.”

“Okay, that tracks. Today would be a good day to ask, except I’m not.”

She poured herself half a glass of pineapple and topped it off with Concord grape. “So, maybe Christmas Eve? That could be romantic.”

“Should I even ask?”

“What?” She looked down at her cup. “Pineapple and Concord grape are too sweet by themselves, so I mix them.” She shrugged. “So, Christmas Eve?”

“Not sure about that. We’re not really the opening gifts on Christmas Eve types.”

“Ohhhh, so maybe Christmas Day? A little box under the tree? Maybe you in your dress blues like a stunning Nutcracker Prince?” She tittered excitedly as she followed him back to the table.

“That would be neat, but I can’t really wear that with this on.” He shifted his cast in the sling.

“Oh, sure. When is that coming off?”

“Maybe mid to late January?”

“So, a proposal for Groundhog Day?”

He got a twisted smile. “If I keep her waiting that long, she’s likely to say no.”

Harry pulled out a chair for Matt. “So you do have a plan.”

Bonnie had her chin propped on her hand. “How about today? When we’re done eating, we go hunt her down and put a ring on it.” She picked at the selection of fruit Ned had arranged for her.

“That’s what I said.” Zelda put her plate down as Harry pulled out a chair for her. “It’s the Sunday of Love on the Advent Wreath.”

“Very thematic.” Dad said. “I like the way she thinks.”

“And don’t worry about Gary. If you propose and put that pretty ring on Abby’s finger, he’ll forget all about what happened. He probably forgot about it already.”

“Yeah, do what the jewelry midget said. Today is perfect.” Bonnie speared a strawberry and studied it before popping it in her mouth.

“Now, Bonnie…” Ned frowned at her.

She chewed her strawberry, formulating an apology. “Sorry, Zelda. You can’t help that you were born a hobbit. You don’t have hairy feet, do you?” She waved at Ned to assist her in standing up. “I have to go, honey bunny. Five minutes ago. Let’s roll.”

He hoisted her to her feet and helped her waddle to the ladies room. They all sat in tense silence, staring at their plates.

“It’s just the pregnancy hormones talking. Right?” Zelda whispered.

“No, she’s just like that.” Harry said plainly.

Dad snickered. Mom’s shoulders bobbed as she suppressed a chuckle. Matt shook his head and picked at his home fries. Zelda looked around the table and settled on Harry. He was swallowing a smile. She burst out laughing, and they joined her.

Gary was wiping Teddy’s face and hands when Sanctus bells jingled in his pocket.

“Isidore?”

“I have a call for you from Matthew Jozsa.”

Gary looked at Teddy and smiled. “Put him through.”

“Hi, Mr. Light.”

“Matt, call me Gary. Please.”

“Yes, sir. I was wondering what time Abby’s shift at the Christmas Village is over. My folks wanted to stop by and treat her to some hot chocolate or something.”

“I believe she’s done at four. Teddy and I will meet you there.”

“That’s great, sir. My sister has been wanting to meet you both. We’ll see you there at four. Thank you.”

“Matt.”

“Gary?”

“Look, no hard feelings about Friday. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known. I still haven’t…”

“I’m sorry anyway. I didn’t mean to open old wounds, sir.”

“Thanks, Matt. I appreciate your saying so.”

“Sir.”

“Matt?”

“Do you think she’d be happy if I asked her today?”

“I think that would make her very happy, Matt. She’s been waiting with the Holy Mother’s own patience for you to come back into her life. Today would be a great day to ask that question.”

“See you at four, sir.”

@CasGrrls_DontTellAbby

💍 Incoming! 👨🏻‍👩🏻‍👦🏻
        BlingDeva

Mandy’s jaw dropped. She stood there, stupefied.

“Mandy, can you grab me another box of the St. Cas snow globes?”

She shrieked and fumbled with her phone a few times before grabbing it.

Abby winced. “Never mind. I’ll get it myself.”

Mandy’s hands shook and her jaw jittered. She jammed the phone into her pocket. “No, no. Here I come.” She snatched up the box and carried it over to Abby.

Abby met Mandy’s earnest blue eyes. “Mandy, be honest. What’s going on?”

“Our shift is almost over and Advent is almost over, and I just feel so blessed to have a friend like you.” She grinned weirdly.

Abby opened the box and filled the empty spaces in the snow globe display. “Yes, I feel lucky to have such good friends.”

“Aw, Abby. I’m so lucky to have a friend like you. Teddy makes me look forward to starting a family with Chris.”

“I’ll let you change a couple of his diapers. That might make you think twice.” She smirked as she closed the box.

Mandy cackled wildly. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve changed plenty of diapers.”

“June, huh?” Abby carried the box back to its place under the tables. “Sure you can wait that long?”

Mandy lunged in and wrapped Abby in a back-breaking hug. “I can’t wait. You’re so right. I can’t wait at all.”

“I know how you feel.” Abby wriggled free of Mandy’s crazed grip. “I don’t know when or even if Matt’s going to ask me. He’s completely taken with Teddy, but he seems like he’s almost scared of me.”

Mandy clasped both hands over her mouth as she doubled over with an out of control cackling.

“Amanda, what are you doing?” Mary stepped into the gift shop. “Abby, has she been like this all afternoon?”

Abby took off her St. Cas apron and handed it to Mary. “On and off, actually. I don’t know what’s gotten into her.”

“Leave her to me. Your dad and Teddy are outside.”

“They are?”

“Off you go.” Mary waved her out the door and turned to scowl at Mandy. “Seriously? Have you no decorum?” She poked her head out the door to check on Abby.

“Hi, Dad.” She took Teddy and kissed his little face.

“Hey, there’s something I wanted you to see.”

“Really? I thought I saw everything they’ve got here.” She followed him with Teddy bouncing on her hip.

“This is something new, just for today.” He led her toward the pond with the floating votives and delicate silvery snowflakes.

“I’ve seen all this already.”

“Just over here, hon. Isn’t it something?”

There was a white covered bridge with lattice siding. She could see someone standing inside, but not who.

Bonnie and Ned lurked behind a wreath vendor’s kiosk with Harry and Zelda.

“I’m surprised.” Bonnie hissed.

“At what?” Zelda watched Abby and Teddy approaching the bridge.

“I didn’t expect her to be that pretty.”

“What am I, chopped liver?”

“You’re not big enough to be liver. You’re more like chopped gizzard.”

“You’re big enough for the four of us. Are you having twins?”

“Girls, please.” Ned said sternly.

Abby wandered up to the bridge, and Gary took the baby.

“Matt?” She smiled. Looking around, she spotted his family and her church family and not a few curious onlookers. “I’m glad to see you, but what’s happening?”

“I’m glad to see you, too.” He stepped down from the bridge, and a glistening flurry overtook the space. Glittering snowflakes danced between them, reflecting the fairy lights and floating votives. He drew closer and worked his way to his knee.

Her eyes grew wide at the sight of him surrounded by billowing snowflakes, offering her a little brown velvet box.

“Abigail Theresa Light, would you do me the great honor of being my wife?” He flicked the box open to reveal the ring she’d picked out at Finegold’s on Vistula.

Her heart pounded. She watched the snow dance around the topaz cross with the ruby Sacred Heart. She looked at his worried expression and his teetering pose.

He smiled as her face softened. Their eyes met and she took a breath.

“Abby, will you be my bride?” He offered again.

“No.”