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What Do You Mean, No?
12/21/2025
The collective gasp from downtown Pine Hollow set the gentle flurry to scatter like a shaken snow globe. Matt looked up at her with confusion as she helped him to his feet. She looked into his stunning green eyes and he into her warm brown eyes.
“Um…”
Abby opened the box to look at the ring again.
“Are you freakin’ kidding me?” Bonnie roared. She slammed a wreath to the ground and booted it. “What do you mean, no?”
“He asked me to be his wife. I can’t until after we’re married. Then he asked me to be his bride. I can’t until the wedding. If he’d ask the right question, I’d probably say yes.”
“You big chowderhead! If you give her the ring, she’s your fiancée. Ask right before I drop kick you into that pond!” Bonnie struggled to escape the combined grip of her husband, brother and Zelda.
Matt turned to Abby. She raised an eyebrow. “I think she’s serious.”
“Do you need me to get on my knee again, because it’s–”
She huffed. “Just ask me.”
“Will you be my fiancée?”
“Yes, now…” She wiggled her ring finger at him.
He slid the ring on. It was a perfect fit and a masterwork of beauty against her delicate finger. He felt a warmth in his chest that defied the intensifying snowfall. She was his and he was hers. He smiled.
She smiled back. “You should probably kiss me before they all go feral on us.”
“Don’t have to ask me twice.” He leaned in and closed his eyes.
The Christmas Village erupted in cheers and applause.
Hearth and Hollow was packed tight with people seeking to express warm wishes and to escape the burgeoning blizzard outside.
Abby and Matt leaned across Teddy’s high chair for a kiss and the restaurant went wild. Church family and random well-wishers stopped by the table to see the ring, bless the couple and to try to secure good seating at the eventual wedding.
“I’m sorry for my behavior.” Bonnie whispered to Zelda.
“Thank you, Bonnie. I’m sorry if I provoked you.” She patted her hand. ‘Cinnamon buns are like psalms to her. Bring cinnamon buns. ALWAYS bring cinnamon buns.’
Tad leaned over Gary and Gabe’s shoulders. “Look, guys, this table is covered tonight. Your money is no good here. This is my blessing on the lovely couple. Such a handsome boy they have.” He shook his head in admiration. “Anything you want. Okay? Order anything and have no concern about it.”
“Thanks, Tad.” Gary smiled.
The restaurateur clapped them on their shoulders and hurried back to his kitchen.
“He’s trying to secure the catering gig.” Gabe said with a smile.
“You know that’s right.” Gary nodded as he looked for the most expensive thing on the menu.
Teddy reached out for his dad. Matt scooped him up and accepted the cuddly hug. He noticed motion in the diaper. His eyes went wide. Abby giggled. She reached out to take him.
“I’ve got this.” Matt said.
Harry rolled his eyes. “Changing your first diaper one-handed? You’ve got guts, Marine. I’ll give you that, but this is a leave no man behind situation.”
“Do either of you have the slightest idea what you’re doing?” Bonnie called out. “Ned, go with them. They’re going to need somebody to pull up a tutorial on his phone.”
“Gary, thank you.” Jenny said.
“For what?”
She looked around. “He was really torn up about Friday and so was Harry. That you still bless this… it’s a lot.”
“It’s mostly my fault. I’ve been so busy raising Abby that I never stopped to process it. I’m still avoiding it.”
“If there’s anything we can do, Gary. You’re in our prayers, but if you want to talk or anything. You’re family now.”
“Three men and a baby.” Zelda nudged Bonnie.
“That’s a good sign.”
“Huh?”
“They still have the same clothes on. Nobody had to do laundry.”
Zelda chuckled. “How much do you want to bet they put the diaper on backwards?”
Father Tom and Father Dan arrived together to bless the families and share anecdotes from Abby and Matt’s childhood.
“I trust everyone has their winter tires on.” Fr. Dan said. “It’s getting really messy out there. Be safe returning home.
“Yes, this is one for the record books, folks. Be extra careful driving home. God go with you.” Fr. Tom added.
@CasGrrls_DontTellAbby
#SheSaidNo
I thought I was
actually going to die
SugarAngel
Really?
PsychPro
His sister was
going to flip her wig
PhotoElf
I’ll bet
PsychPro
Then she said to ask
her the right question
BlingDeva
What?
PsychPro
He asked her to be
his wife and his bride,
but not his fiancée
SugarAngel
Super-literal
Who even is she?
PsychPro
She was riding the
donkey last year
PhotoElf
zOMG, Dad was so mad
PsychPro
He and Murray
have a plan to
get the trophy back
PhotoElf
With the engagement,
they’ll be too busy to
even compete
SugarAngel
Gary was studying the coat rack when he heard a little cough. He turned to find a woman waiting. She looked familiar, but he was focused on getting Abby’s coat.
“Excuse me. I’m trying to find my daughter’s coat.” He stepped back.
She leaned in to grab a long wool overcoat. The look on her face told him that she recognized him, too. She gave a little smile and departed with her coat.
He found Abby’s coat and brought it back to her. By the time he got back, she’d already gotten Teddy tucked into his little snowsuit and snapped the hood under his tiny chin.
“Ready to go?” He asked.
“I need to say goodnight to Matt.”
He picked Teddy up and shouldered the diaper bag. “I’ll get him snapped in. Don’t be long.”
She squeezed Teddy’s mittened hands and waved.
“Heading out?” Matt helped her with her sleeve.
She turned around and looked up at him. “Afraid so.”
“Get home safely. I heard it’s really picking up.”
“Same to you. You’ve got farther to go.” She took his hand.
“Should be better on the other side of the ridge. We’ll be okay.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
She held up her ring.
“Zelda told me you had picked one out and had it sized. Thanks for making it easy. Even with Bonnie along to help, I was afraid I’d pick one you didn’t like.”
“If it was from you, I would have loved it.”
“But you like that one better.”
“Is that terrible?”
“No, I couldn’t have picked a better one than that. It’s unique and beautiful, like you.”
She blushed and smiled. “Well, good night… future husband.”
“Good night, future wife.” He kissed her hands. “You should go or we’re going to stand here forever staring into each other’s eyes.”
“Sounds alright to me.”
“Yeah, but Teddy’s in the car.”
She sighed. “Tell me something before I go.”
“Sure.”
“How did the diaper changing go?”
He grinned. “It was kind of like a committee meeting, but messier.” He leaned in and kissed her.
The restaurant went wild.
“Everything okay?” Gary asked as she jumped into the passenger seat.
She handed him a pie and got back out again to climb into the seat beside Teddy’s car seat.
“Pie?” He watched in the rearview mirror for her to buckle up.
“Tad caught me on the way out and insisted I give it to you.”
“Dare I ask?”
“French apple. He said he was sure you’d like it.”
“He’s right.” Gary smiled as he put it in drive and headed out. “Icing on top, raisins, chunky apples, mm…”
“How long did you know?”
He looked in the mirror. She was staring lovingly at Teddy, holding his tiny hand. “I think I first had French apple pie when I was at my friend’s house. I might have been eight–”
“Dad.”
“He tracked me down Friday afternoon.” He checked oncoming traffic. The heavy snowfall had convinced others to go home and stay there.
“Tracked you down?” She giggled.
“Harry was driving him all over town trying to catch me on my route, so they stopped and asked Sam.”
“What did they want?”
“Matt wanted to ask my permission to propose to you.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “Really?”
“I blessed it. Right away, Abby. No games. No fatherly hesitation.”
“You did?” She put a hand over her smile.
“He’s a nice guy. He’s Teddy’s dad. He’s respectful. I was glad to do it.”
“Thank you. I know he’s intimidated by you.”
“He what?”
“Really. He’s actually in awe of you.”
“Don’t pull my leg. I’m driving.”
“Honestly. You’re my dad, so your opinion matters to him.”
“I approve of him, Abby. Absolutely. He’s the real deal. It’s probably…”
“Probably what?”
“He…” Gary looked in the mirror and back at the snowy roads ahead. “Matt wanted to ask your mom, too. He didn’t know.”
“No, how could he? How did he take it?”
“So embarrassed. Harry, too. They were just devastated.”
“Oh, Dad. I’m sorry.”
“It hit me pretty hard. I totally didn’t see that coming, but he apologized to me again tonight.”
“Dad?”
“Huh?”
“Was I like that?”
“Like what, hon?” He turned a corner gingerly.
“Bonnie is kind of…”
“She’s a rough customer.” Gary laughed. “You had a few moments here and there, but she’s in a category by herself.”
“How about Mom?”
“Yeah, that’s more like it. Tracy had a quiet dignity about her. When you’re feeding Teddy, you get this look on your face that reminds me of her. She sat there rubbing her growing belly and humming hymns to you. It was like…”
“That carving at church.”
“Yes, the Holy Family by Mr. Wojciech’s uncle. I was looking at that the other day. It reminded me of you and Teddy, but now that I’m thinking of it, it reminds me of your mom too.”
“I never knew her, but I still miss her.”
“Me too. You did, though.”
“Dad…”
“She spoke to you, sang to you, ate clean and drank water for you. She loved you so much, Abby. She would have been a great mom.”
“Sounds like she already was.”
“She was everything.” He sniffled. “Here we are, safe and sound.”
Harry pulled up to the curb in front of Zelda’s house as she swept the snow off of her car. She pulled into the garage and disappeared behind the descending door.
“Should I?”
“Yes, Harry. You should, but remember I’m out here freezing.”
“I’ll leave it running for you.”
“It will probably just overheat. Turn off the car. Say hi to her folks and let’s get home before somebody shakes the snow globe again.”
Harry looked at Matt. He looked at her front door. The light came on, and a holiday runner hanging from a wreath hook lit up with colored LED twinkling lights. It read, ‘Welcome’.
“That’s literally a sign.” Matt said before yawning. “I’ll just take a nap ‘til you get back.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Don’t rush it. There’s never a second chance to make a first impression.” He yawned and settled into the seat. He heard Harry get out, so he settled in for a nap. His phone buzzed.
Abby
Thanks
For what?
For asking Dad’s
permission
It meant a lot
It was the right
thing to do
I like that about you
Get ready for more
I want to make your
life and Teddy’s great
🥰
Love you too
Call you in the
morning
💕 C U tomorrow
He put the phone back in his pocket and checked on Harry. He had gone inside. ‘Good, don’t stand there letting the snow in.’ He settled back for that nap. He had just gotten comfortable when Harry plopped into the driver’s seat.
“Well?”
“Thought you were asleep.”
“Succumbing to hypothermia.”
“C’mon, Matt.”
He got a sneaky smile. “Better than frying in a desert all the time. How’d it go with her folks?”
“Intros. Pleasantries. Herman wants to sign your cast.”
Matt chuckled and sat up. “Who’s Herman?”
“Her kid brother and likely future Marine.”
“Oorah. Looking forward to getting to know him.”
“Ditto. He’s really jazzed to meet you.”
“What did you tell him?”
“The basics. You’re a Marine. They set off a bomb the size of an outhouse, and all you got was a broken arm. Now you’re home for the holidays.”
“Amen to that, Harry. I’m really glad to be home, even if it cost me this.” He jiggled his cast.
“Amen, indeed. Now that Zelda’s safe, let’s get ourselves home in one piece.”