Chapter 4
'Christmas Dreams Come True'
Christmas morning, the clan gathers to open presents, starting with the youngest members of the family. An odd, bench-shaped object draws curious looks, but the item is well hidden beneath a Christmas bed sheet, topped with a bow.
David and Jess spend a lot of time in the kitchen, keeping a culinary eye on the savory dishes in Nell's oven so she can enjoy the family gathering. They peek into the living room at respectable intervals to lend their approval to the myriad gifts piling up.
Jess tells herself that she's helping her grandmother and not hiding out, but she feels a pang of guilt that she can't share in her family's happiness.
All the O'Brien siblings and their significant others are present, including Bree, who is spending Christmas in England with Simon but is watching the festivities via Abby's phone.
David and Jess had opened their presents right after Carrie and Caitlyn took their turns, and the youngest O'Brien was a little miffed that there wasn't anything shiny, sparkly and ring-finger-sized in any of her packages.
"What do you suppose is under the sheet," David wonders. "It's a bench, of course, but whose gift is it?"
"Since no one has opened it yet, I'm guessing it's a new seat for Gran's garden."
"It's Mom's turn," Mick calls out. "Megan, you're up!"
Jess dashes into the living room, fearful that her dad will finally issue the marriage proposal that she knows has been waiting in the wings, and guilt-ridden that she's still not happy with the idea of them together.
She tries to quiet her mind, but she can't stop the thought: If they get married before I do, I swear I'll run away!
She watches her father give her mother a little package and is relieved to see that it's not small enough to be a ring box.
Good. It's probably a watch or a bracelet. She sighs.
"Silver duck ornaments!" Megan exclaims. "Two of them, both marked with an 'M.' They're adorable, Mick!" She squeezes his hand cautiously, and it's clear she's aware that Jess is watching.
"Two, like the paintings. You'll have a special ornament on our tree, and one for your tree at home."
"They're not identical," she notes.
He chuckles. "The Mick duck can go home with you, and the Megan duck will stay with me." He kisses her hand. "Ma crocheted the little scarves they're wearing."
"Thank you, Nell!"
"My pleasure, darlin'."
Jess suddenly becomes aware that she's been holding her breath, and exhales slowly.
"Oh, there's one more thing under the tree for you. Well, it doesn't exactly fit under the tree. Boys?"
On cue, Kevin and Connor unveil the mystery object.
"It's for you, sweetheart." Mick stands and draws Megan to her feet.
"A bench! It's beautiful! The ironwork is exquisite, and I love the grain of the wood."
"Come closer and look at the details."
He leads her to the seat's side panels, first one and then the other, and she breaks down crying. Two grownup ducks make up the armrests, with three ducklings carved into the right panel, and two in the left.
"An official O'Brien family duck bench!" Mick announces. "I'll set it out in the spring in our usual duck-watching spot."
Overwhelmed, Megan buries her face in his chest.
"Dad's been working on this for months," Kevin explains.
Mick sits on the bench and guides a tearful Megan to her place beside him.
"You made this?" she asks.
"Most of it," he affirms. "You know I've got a team of woodworking artists at the shop."
She nods.
"They did the heavy carving, and I …"
"Dad spent hours sanding, staining and finishing it," Connor interjects. "Cool, huh! We're ducks!"
He starts flapping his elbows and quacking, and his nieces quickly join him, prancing around the living room.
Megan lays her hand on Mick's chest with great tenderness, as he holds her close and kisses her forehead, a tear stealing down his cheek.
Seeing her father weep and the looks of sympathy on her brothers' and sisters' faces finally causes the hardness in Jess' heart to break.
She takes a deep breath and says loudly, "Good grief! Would you two get a room? Or just get married, for Pete's sake!"
Startled by her outburst, Mick and Megan stare at their youngest and register surprise that she's smiling.
"You don't have to tell me twice!" Mick slips to one knee and says, "Megan O'Brien, will you …"
"Wait," Megan stops him with her finger to his lips. "I have to know that no one objects."
She slowly scans each face in the room, both family members and their romantic partners, and finds only smiles of approval and expressions of joy in return.
Jess' is the last face she seeks out – and she's still grinning.
"Go for it." She nods.
"Yes!" Meg blurts out.
Mick stands, pulling her to her feet and into his arms, kissing her soundly.
Laughing, Jess, Caitlyn and Carrie pretend to hide their eyes at the romantic display.
Mick pulls something small from his pocket. "Can't forget the most important part of a proposal!"
Tears fall again, as he puts a ring on the finger of his betrothed and kisses her hand.
The act is a symbol that the engagement is official, and the room breaks out in cheers and applause.
[Same scene, Abby's point of view]
Bree shrieks through the phone. "Abby, did I just see what I think I saw?"
"Yes! They did it!"
Simon hears the commotion and appears behind Bree on the video screen.
"Are they excited for us?"
"Shhh! I didn't tell them yet. Mom and Dad just got engaged, and I don't want to spoil their moment."
Abby quickly lowers the volume on her phone but continues listening.
"Check it out, Jess," David guides her to the bench. "Don't you think this would be great for the B and B? With eagles instead of ducks, of course."
"A few of these out on the viewpoint deck would be amazing! Dad, will you put us in touch with your crew?"
"Absolutely, sweetheart," he says. He beams at her, and he and Megan share a look of satisfaction.
"There's something about this bench." David takes a seat.
"What? It seems sturdy enough," Jess sits beside him and gives it a rocking motion to see if it feels secure.
"I don't know, I think it's misnamed." He drops to one knee. "Maybe it's an engagement bench and not a duck bench."
Jess squeals.
"Jess O'Brien, will you marry me?"
"Oh my gosh, yes!"
The room erupts in excitement, and Bree screams from Abby's phone.
Only Abby can hear Simon say to Bree, "Everyone's getting engaged, darling. We should tell them."
"Not on your life! You're proposing to me on that bench as soon as we get home!"
"Ah! As you wish, my sweet." His lips brush her cheek.
Bree sighs. "You can 'Princess Bride' me any time, you adorable man!"
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See Chapter Five
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If you love Mick and Megan as much as I do, be sure to check out my other stories:
NEW Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Fear of Flying
Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, The One That I Want
Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Where the Wind Blows
Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Once a Promise
Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Mother of the Bride, 2 chapters
Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Love Song
Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, First Kiss
The Hallmark Channel's 'Chesapeake Shores' — Mick & Megan O'Brien, 9 chapters
Chesapeake Shores — Megan at the Met — Mick and Megan O'Brien, 6 chapters
Thank you for reading, and please consider writing a review of this story!
Annette Zoaps