A Wedding in December

Dan untangled himself from Rosie’s enthusiastic embrace and shook her hand. “Good to finally meet you.”

He might not think so after she’d asked the questions she intended to ask. “Shall we get to know each other over food? This smells good and I’m starving.”

“We’ll get plates.” Rosie grabbed Dan’s hand and together they walked to the kitchen area. There was clattering and laughter and Katie stood awkwardly with Jordan.

He leaned toward her. “Cute together, aren’t they?”

She gritted her teeth. “Adorable.”

“Look at you two, already talking in whispers as if you’ve known each other forever.” Rosie put plates and napkins on the counter, and opened the pizza boxes. “Let’s eat while it’s hot. They have a pizza oven in the kitchens over at Snowfall Lodge.” She pushed the box toward Katie. “This is the best pizza you’ll ever eat. And before you nag me about my diet, this is a rare treat.”

Katie slid onto a stool. “So, Dan,” she said, helping herself to a slice of pizza, “tell me everything. I want to hear all about you, and how you met Rosie.”

Jordan sent her a sharp look and she smiled and sank her teeth into the pizza slice. Rottweiler.

Dan poured iced water into glasses for everyone. “Do you want the censored version or the uncensored version?”

Rosie groaned. “Don’t say things like that to my sister.”

“Censored editions are for parents.” Katie chewed. The cheese was smooth and melting. She tasted the richness of tomato laced generously with oregano. Rosie was right. The pizza was delicious. “All I know is that you work as a personal trainer.”

“That’s right. I’d finished working with a client and there was Rosie.”

Katie raised her eyebrows. “My sister? In a gym?”

Rosie blushed. “I’d just arrived in Boston, and I decided I was going to try to develop healthy habits.”

Dan helped himself to pizza. “I could see her form wasn’t good so I went across to help. We got talking. She wanted a fitness program, but she wasn’t sure if it was worth spending money when she could go for a run in the park instead. Then she told me about how tough it had been growing up, keeping her asthma under control and how important it was that she was fit and kept exercising.” He grabbed a napkin. “And she told me how hard she found it to be motivated to exercise. I loved how open and trusting she was, right from the start.”

Alarm bells went off in Katie’s head. “That’s my sister. She’s like that with everyone, from the mailman to the person behind her in the supermarket.”

“I’m not like that with everyone.” Rosie shot her a look and reached for her wine.

“You think the whole world is good and that everyone can be trusted.”

“I do not think the whole world is good, but neither do I think it’s all bad. And people can usually be trusted.”

“Not in my experience.” She wanted to add not in yours, either, but decided a comment like that might get her forcibly removed. Not by Dan, who seemed remarkably relaxed, but by Jordan who was watching her intently, his mouth set in a grim line. She had a feeling that if she said the wrong thing, he’d sling her over his shoulder again. Next time, she’d thump him in the kidneys.

Dan’s gaze was friendly. “Rosie tells me you work in the ER. That can’t be easy.”

Hands around her throat. The sound of glass shattering. Call yourself a fucking doctor? I’m going to kill you, bitch. Appetite gone, she put her pizza slice down. “It isn’t easy.”

“Rosie is so proud of you, aren’t you, honey?” Dan reached across and took Rosie’s hand.

Katie watched, mesmerized, as his thumb gently stroked her sister’s palm.

The two of them gazed at each other, sharing a look so personal, so intimate, that Katie felt as if she should leave the room.

“Here.” Jordan topped up her glass. “Drink.”

She wondered if he felt as uncomfortable as she did. “I already had a glass.”

“Well, have another glass. It might mellow you out some.”

“I’m mellow.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What are you like when you’re tense?”