A Wedding in December

“But yesterday—I overheard—”

“Your mother and I were working through some issues, that’s true, but after you walked out yesterday we spent the day talking and figuring out some things we probably should have figured out a long time ago.”

Katie shook her head in confusion. “You’ve been living apart since the summer.”

“And that’s given us the space we needed to see our relationship through fresh eyes.”

Rosie gasped. “Since the summer? And you never said anything to us?”

Katie had no idea what to say, either. This was why she was no good at relationships. It was all too confusing. “When you arrived here, you were pretending. This whole second honeymoon thing was an act.”

Her parents exchanged looks.

“That’s true,” Maggie said, “but somehow in the middle of all that pretending, we found each other again. We rediscovered all the things we love about each other. We’ve had fun. We’ve enjoyed spending time together. We won’t be getting a divorce. We intended to talk to you both about it this morning.”

“But we barged in on you, because Katie was so sure she had the evidence she needed to stop my wedding.” Rosie’s cheeks were scarlet as she turned to her sister. “From the moment you arrived here, that’s what you’ve been trying to do.”

“No. I mean, yes, perhaps, a little—” Katie sank down onto a chair. “I wanted to make sure you knew what you were doing, that’s all.”

“All?” Tears slid down Rosie’s cheeks. “You interrogated Dan, and you interrogated me, and not only that but you kept us apart on purpose. It’s been hard for us to find time to be together. That’s probably why Jordan kept you in his cabin last night!”

Jordan frowned. “Rosie—”

“There was a blizzard,” Katie said. “We were snowed in.”

“Yes, there was a blizzard, but Jordan has all the gear up there. He works in the forest. It’s his job. His life. Do you honestly think he couldn’t have got you out if he’d wanted to?”

Was that true? No, it couldn’t be true. He wouldn’t have done that. Their night together had been the one authentic thing that had happened to her lately. She looked at Jordan, expecting him to deny it and saw instantly that there was nothing to deny. “It’s true? You could have got us out?”

He hesitated. “Technically, yes, but that wasn’t what—”

“It doesn’t matter.” This had to be one of the most humiliating moments of her life. Fortunately she’d had plenty of experience of stifling uncomfortable emotions. She turned back to Rosie. “I was worried about you. You were using our parents’ marriage as inspiration. You needed to know about the divorce.”

“So they hit a rough patch,” Rosie said. “It happens. They’ve worked through it. If anything, I’m more inspired than ever.” She turned to Dan. “I’m sorry about my sister, but you have to believe I love you. I really do.”

“I’m not worried about your sister. I’m worried that you’ve been having doubts and didn’t talk to me. Why not?”

“I did try to mention it a few times but I couldn’t find the right words. And honestly, I wasn’t even sure they were real doubts. I’m a doubty sort of person, and you know this. I change my mind about what I want for breakfast, what I want to wear—”

“And who you want to marry.” Dan was white-faced and when Rosie took a step toward him, he took a step back.

Jordan spoke for the first time. “I think we should leave Maggie and Nick to get dressed, and meet up in Snowfall Lodge at lunchtime. Dan and Rosie, go and talk this through on your own. You don’t need an audience.”

Rosie’s eyes were glistening. “Dan, please—”

“Hello? Anyone around?” Catherine’s voice sang out from the living room. “The sun is shining, the mountains look like something from a Christmas card, I have freshly baked pastries and a plan for a perfect romantic day for the two of you. Oh—” She stopped as she saw the crowd gathered in the doorway of the bedroom. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had company.”

“Come in,” Nick said dryly. “It’s a free-for-all.”

Catherine looked bemused. “What’s going on?” She saw the tears on Rosie’s face and immediately went to her. “Oh honey, what’s wrong?”

She was kind, Katie thought, her brain and body numb. And she seemed to genuinely care about Rosie.

“Is it something to do with the wedding? Because all you have to do is tell me, and we’ll fix it right away.”

“There’s nothing to fix.” Dan pushed past his mother, snatching his coat on the way. “There isn’t going to be a wedding.”

Maggie