One Summer in Paris

Maggie sometimes wondered if working in the emergency department for so long had distorted her elder daughter’s view of humanity.

‘I know,’ Rosie said, ‘but this isn’t any old wedding. It’s my wedding, and I know she’ll do it for me.’

‘You’re right—she will.’ Katie had always been a protective and loving older sister.

‘I know you hate flying, Mum, but you will come, won’t you? I badly want you all to be there. Dan’s mother has offered to pay for the flights if it’s a problem.’

Maggie bristled. ‘We can afford the flights—don’t worry about that.’

She didn’t live an expensive lifestyle and would find the money by juggling her priorities. Not so easily solved was the flying itself. Rosie was right. She hated it.

In company, when conversation turned to travel, she pretended she was protecting the planet, but in reality she was protecting herself. She’d always avoided flying. The idea of being propelled through the air in a tin can horrified her. It all seemed out of her control. What if the pilot had drunk too much the night before? What if they collided with another plane? Everyone knew that airspace was ridiculously overcrowded. What about drones? Bird strikes?

When the children were young she and Nick had bundled them into the car and taken them to the beach. Once, they’d taken the ferry across to France and driven as far as Italy. ‘Never again,’ Nick had said, as they’d been bombarded with a chorus of ‘Are we nearly there?’ all the way from Toulouse to Tuscany.

And now she was expected to fly to the Rocky Mountains for Christmas.

‘We’ll be there. Nothing would keep us away.’

Maggie waved goodbye to her dreams of a family Christmas at the cottage. Some airlines ran courses for terrified fliers, didn’t they? Maybe she’d buy one for herself as an early Christmas gift.

‘But what about a venue? Will you be able to find something at such short notice?’

‘Dan’s family own Snowfall Lodge. It’s this amazing boutique hotel just outside Aspen. I can’t wait for you to see it, Mum. There are views of the forest and the mountains, and outdoor hot tubs—I mean, it’s going to be the perfect place to spend Christmas. The perfect place to get married. I’m so excited!’

Honeysuckle Cottage was the perfect place to spend Christmas.

Maggie couldn’t imagine spending it in a place she didn’t know, with people she didn’t know. Even with snow, it just wouldn’t feel right.

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; ‘It sounds as if you have it all covered. All we need to do is think about what to wear.’

‘Mmm…I was going to mention that. It’s pretty cold at this time of year. You’re going to need to wear some serious layers.’

‘I was talking about your clothes. Your wedding dress.’

‘Catherine is taking me to this boutique bridal store tomorrow. She’s booked an appointment and they’re closing the store for us and everything.’

On the few occasions when Maggie had thought about Rosie getting married she’d imagined them planning it together, poring over photographs in magazines, trying on dresses. Never once had she pictured the whole thing happening without her.

But, now she thought about it, very little of her life had turned out the way she’d planned.

She stared at the empty expanse of bed next to her.

‘That’s…kind of her.’

‘She is kind. She says I’m the daughter she never had. She’s really spoiling me.’

But Rosie was her daughter, Maggie thought. She should be the one doing the spoiling.

No matter how hard she tried, it was impossible not to feel hurt and a little resentful. Already she felt more like a guest than the mother of the bride.

No. No! She wasn’t going to turn into that sort of mother. This was Rosie’s special day, not hers. Her feelings didn’t matter.

‘What can I do to help?’

‘Just get yourselves here. Catherine can’t wait to meet you. I know you’ll love her.’