The Bachelor on the Shelf (Reindeer Falls)

“Right,” Maggie says, plopping down on the vintage-style couch in the center of the room while I wander in front of the gilded mirror for the millionth time to check my hair and make-up. “We’re focusing on Lexi today, and we’re ignoring the fact that Sutton’s knocked up, right?”

“Maggie!” Sutton snaps, leading to both Maggie and I doubling over laughing.

“Sutton, come on,” Maggie says. “It’s so obvious.”

Sutton’s hands go to her stomach. “It is not.”

“No, not like that,” I say, because Sutton is apparently gifted by the fertility fairy and isn’t showing just yet. “She’s talking about the fact that Jake couldn’t keep his hands off your stomach at the rehearsal dinner last night.”

“Oh, and I saw you making a list of baby names on your napkin,” Maggie adds.

“Those were for the new goats,” Sutton says, blushing.

“Liar,” Maggie says, giggling.

Sutton bites her lip, but eventually her face cracks into a smile. “Okay, fine, but don’t say anything, okay? It’s still new.”

Both Maggie and I motion that we’re keeping our lips shut.

“Can you believe so much changed in a year?” I ask, glancing at the mirror again. The woman in the reflection looks brand-new to me, all confidence and smiles.

“Ever since the Sheppard tornado whipped through town,” Sutton agrees. “And changed our lives forever.”

I grin. “You know, eventually, we’ll all be sisters-in-law.” Jake and Sutton eloped before the snow even finished melting last spring, while Ryan and Maggie got engaged over the summer. Ryan decked out his entire house in Christmas lights. In July. With a neon sign that said ‘Merry Me,’ and an emerald engagement ring. Over-the-top Christmas cheesy? Yes. Do Maggie’s eyes still light up when she recalls it? Also yes. “Which means the three of us are stuck together, forever.” I add.

“Um, pretty sure that was already the case,” Maggie says, to which Sutton nods fervently.

I resist the urge to cry. “I don’t know how I’d be getting through any of this without you both. You know that, right?”

“We know,” Maggie says. “But I think reading Christmas romances year-round at book club helped too,” she adds hopefully, a huge grin on her face.

Sutton and I groan, but neither of us puts much effort into fighting Maggie on year-round Christmas reading anymore. It turns out there really is no such thing as too much of a festive happily ever after.

The sound of bells rings out overhead, our signal that the ceremony’s about to start.

“It’s time,” I say, my heart suddenly beating faster.

“Sure is,” Sutton says. “You ready, Lexi?”

Am I ready to marry the love of my life? Absolutely. I take both girls’ hands and squeeze them as we leave the bridal suite, Rudy following at our heels. His emerald-green bowtie is already slightly off center.

Some people tried to dissuade me from having a Christmas wedding. My mom thought some people might call it “tacky.” And honestly, it was never something I’d pictured. But then I realized that nothing could be more meaningful.

It was Christmas, after all, that brought me and Carter together. Christmas and Uncle Joe. Besides, the off season for a baseball player doesn’t leave many months to choose from.

At home, Uncle Joe’s ornament is at the top of the Christmas tree. There are others there, too, meaningful ornaments from both of our families and friends, gifted to us as engagement presents. But it’s Uncle Joe’s at the top that matters the most to me. It’s watching over Carter and me, and every time I look at it, I can practically hear Joe’s words.

“Told you so,” he’d say. “And good on you for putting Rudy in the show.”

I smile to myself, holding tight to my friends’ hands as we walk outside. We just have to scoot around the corner so I can have my grand entrance through the main doors.

The location? The one and only Reindeer Falls Goat Farm. Sutton and Jake have had the barn completely renovated, along with some help from Ryan, who drew up the plans. It’s now the ideal venue for retreats of all kinds—and weddings. Mine being the first event since the renovation was completed. I saw the interior earlier, and it’s straight out of a fairy tale. Chandeliers hanging from the soaring overhead beams, rows of white chairs set up for the guests, and, of course, the perfect touches of Christmas everywhere. Trees and twinkle lights, poinsettias mixed into bouquets with roses and sprigs of evergreen.

It’s a winter wonderland.

And lest you were worried, the goats were rehomed. From the old barn into a brand-new, custom-designed goat barn a few hundred yards away. It wasn’t even Sutton’s idea. Jake’s become quite protective over the goats, and he thought they should be a bit closer to where their new house is being constructed on the other side of the property, facing the river. Meanwhile, Sutton and Jake are still living in the Airstream because the goat barn was finished before their new house.