A Wedding in December

“They probably won’t let me in.”

“It’s exclusive, that’s true, but everyone knows the Reynolds family around here.”

“We’re not members of the Reynolds family.”

“We soon will be.” Rosie wriggled into a scarlet jumpsuit. “Rosie Reynolds sounds cool, don’t you think?”

“You’re marrying him for his name? Only kidding!” Katie intercepted Rosie’s warning look. “You look incredible. Like something that fell off the Christmas tree.”

“I’m pretending that’s a compliment.”

“It is a compliment. You’re very stylish. I’ve always said so.”

“Wait until the wedding. It’s going to be perfect.”

“Catherine seems to have done most of it, and she’s not even your mother.” And she’d wondered about that. Was their own mother upset that she wasn’t more involved in the detail of her daughter’s wedding? Was she watching the plans drift past her, just beyond her reach and feeling sad that she was an observer and not a participant? While Catherine chose silk, and flowers, and pondered over menus, did their own mother feel grateful or replaced? She was such a hands-on, involved and caring parent, she had to be upset, surely? Thinking about it, Katie had a renewed respect for her mother, who never put pressure on either of her girls. Not once had she been anything but supportive of Rosie. “Talking of our mother, I need to forward that photo. She’ll love it.”

And tomorrow morning first thing Katie was going to check on her. Give her a chance to talk about how she felt about the wedding.

“Catherine is amazing. What woman wouldn’t want to have the whole thing arranged for her by a professional?” It didn’t seem to have occurred to Rosie that their mother might have feelings on the topic.

“You. You used to daydream about weddings.” Katie dug in her bag for her mascara. “Normally you’d be saying, I really want eucalyptus—oh wait, I’ve changed my mind—maybe ivy—but when it comes to this wedding, you don’t seem to say much. You’re happy with everything? I’m worried she’s railroading you.” Even without looking at her sister’s face she knew she’d done it again. “Forget I said that. She loves you. I can see that.”

“You can’t help yourself, can you?” Rosie’s cheeks were flushed. “Why are you so convinced that this marriage is a mistake? You’re as bad as Grandma.”

“We never met our grandmother.”

“I know, but Mum has told us how she disapproved of them getting married so fast. And look how it turned out.”

Katie thought about her parents rolling together in the snow like children, and off on a romantic date. “You’re right. I’m being ridiculous.” She had to stop this. She had to stop always looking at the evidence that supported the bad, instead of the good. Why was she such a mess? Whatever the reason, it was up to her to sort it out.

She had to stop protecting her sister, and instead support her.

She crossed the room and hugged Rosie. “Tell me you’re happy. That’s all I want to hear.”

“I’m happy.”

“That is the only thing I care about. Apart from dancing, of course. I care about dancing. Is that Dan outside?” She grabbed her coat and her bag. “Let’s do this. Let’s have fun.”

From now on she was forcing herself to focus on the positive, not the negative.

Every time a dark thought entered her mind about the risk of whirlwind relationships, she was going to think of her parents rolling in the snow. Her parents kissing like teenagers.

It had worked out for them. There was no reason why it couldn’t work out for Rosie.

Maggie

“When Catherine said the restaurant was in the mountains, I didn’t realize it was literally in the mountains and that we had to ride in a snowcat to get here.” Maggie walked the few steps to the cabin and into the welcome warmth. She sniffed the air. “Herbs and garlic. Smells good.”

“And we’re going back on the horse-drawn sleigh. I’m not sure if that will be better or worse.” Nick handed his coat and scarf to the restaurant staff, scattering snow across the floor. “Are you cold?”

“No. Those blankets they gave us were warm.” And she’d had to slide close to him on the seat to make room for others. Her thigh had pressed against the length of his thigh, her arm against his arm, two halves pressed together as if they were a whole. She’d had to remind herself that they weren’t a whole. That their two well-fitting pieces had been split apart. But her mind had refused to cooperate and had dragged her back to that moment earlier in the tree house. Heated from the inside, she’d barely noticed the cold.

Even now, as he helped her with her coat, she noticed the light brush of his fingers against her neck. It was as if her body was suddenly supersensitive to his touch.

He handed her coat to the staff. “Apparently it’s possible to snowshoe up here, too.”

“I’m glad we took the snowcat option. There are limits to my need for adventure and I don’t want to