A Winter’s Wedding (Christmas Cove #3)

Chapter 22

America exhaled a deep breath as they rolled back into town. Decisively home, after the longest drive ever, there was still much for her to do, and someone she needed to see. Her parents had dropped them off at the station where Leo’s truck had been parked and took their own car into Christmas Cove slightly ahead of them.

Climbing down from Leo’s truck, she handed the newly picked out dress, securely hidden inside a black nylon dress bag, to her mom. Unlike the beautiful, though not practical, satin wedding dress bag, this one would keep her new gown clean. Luck had kissed her at the dress shop in Elizabethtown when she tried on the most unexpected of choices and it fit her perfectly. Her selection was sure to make waves at the wedding tomorrow, she amused herself imagining the looks on the guests’ faces.

Thankfully, since her parents showed up in Buffalo, all the things that had been going wrong were now being righted. Though her parents were helping with the logistical issues, one person deserved all the credit for setting America straight. Her husband, who had known what she needed before she even realized it herself, demonstrated his love in all the ways that would ever matter.

“Can you believe we’re really doing this?” America said to Leo who was unloading the rest of their luggage from the bed of his old, red truck. “Do you mind finishing up here? I need to run across the street to Carol’s and work out some details for tomorrow.”

Leo gave her a quick kiss and nodded. “I have a call to make too, though I should probably go in person.”

“Pa?”

“I’m guessing he needs a friend about now,” Leo said. “I’ll see you later.”

Knowing that Leo was so centered gave America the mental breathing room that she needed to pull off the biggest surprise of her life. She hurried to Carol’s house across Main Street, but down a little from where America’s pink, mid-reno, Victorian house was. Upon arriving at Carol’s front door, she noticed that all the snow had been removed from the stoop and the door itself appeared cleaner than usual, which meant Carol had been stress cleaning recently.

America knocked, and Carol opened the door as though she had been waiting for her arrival.

Carols arms flew around America’s shoulders, and she hugged her while standing in the door opening. “Come in. I’ve been expecting you for hours.” Carol shuffled them inside and took America’s coat.

She wore a pencil skirt and a red turtleneck sweater because all of her other clothes were dirty with many items having been worn multiple times. America discreetly smelled herself just to make sure she wasn’t going to offend the older woman’s sensibilities.

“Tea? I made cookies too,” Carol walked through the sparkling formal sitting room into the kitchen. “I didn’t sleep again last night because I’m too excited.”

“Oh?” America said, urging Carol to continue. She walked around the tufted sofa to the built-in shelves on the far side where books, new and old, were intermixed with dozens of framed photos. There was not a speck of dust on any of the items, which confirmed her suspicions that Carol had been cleaning.

“I’m just so nervous about tomorrow. All those people are going to stare, and what if Edwin is too shocked to say yes?” Carol said and banged around in the kitchen. Teacups clanged against plates and silverware tinkled onto the tabletop. “This darn stove!”

“Do you need help, Carol?”

Carol growled at something. “Nope. I’ll be right there.”

America giggled and thought about how far her friend had come in the little over a year since their first meeting. The woman who was known as Scrooge McCarol because of her general unpleasant comportment, had morphed into a vivacious and funny woman. She seemed to be years younger now than she had appeared only months earlier. And when Carol walked back into the parlor, balancing a golden tray with all the tea fixings on top, she was positively glowing.

“Here, let me help you.” America took the tray and placed it on the glass coffee table by the sofa. “You have nothing to be nervous about. You love Pa, and I have it under good authority that he loves you too. What do you have to lose by proclaiming it in front of the whole town?”

“My prickly reputation?” Carol chuckled, though her nerves were clear on her tense face.

“Sit. I’ll pour.”

Carol’s bum hit the edge of the cushion and then she popped right up again, startling America. “What is it?” America asked and dabbed the spilled water with a cloth napkin.

“You want to see the dress?”

“Sure. Right now?”

“Why not? Got nothing else to do.” Carol ran up the steps, taking them by twos, and hurried back down with a dress bag dragging behind her.

America had never seen Carol so spun up and didn’t even think it was possible for her to be so animated. Hiding a giggle behind the sound of swirling the spoon in the teacup, she watched Carol unzip the garment bag. Even though America had seen the dress when Carol initially tried it on months ago, she couldn’t quite recall what the details looked like.

Carol flung the dress out and held it up like a big catch. Her worry lines disappeared with the raising of her brows. “Can anxiety kill me? Because my heart is racing right now at what Edwin will think.”

“Didn’t he already see you in the dress this week?”

“What’s your point? He’s never seen me walking down an aisle before. And since he’s the best man, he’ll be at the front, standing with Leo.” Carol fluffed the bottom frilly layer and held it up to her torso. Spinning around like a young girl, she smiled and breathed deeply.

“You really are happy, aren’t you?” America said and stood in front of Carol. She took the dress and draped it over a blue wingback chair and took Carol’s hands. “You will be fine.”

“I can’t believe I let you talk me into doing this.”

“You love him?”

Carol nodded and her eyes glassed over.

“And you’re done holding onto the pain of your past?”

She nodded again.

“You know that your father’s mistakes were never yours to hold onto in the first place, right? You deserve to be truly happy, and on your own terms.” America hugged Carol for a moment. “Now that we have that understood, what is the plan for tomorrow?”

“That’s easy. Everything will proceed as though you and Leo are still having the wedding, but when you get to the end of the aisle, I’ll take it from there. Do you trust me?” Carol said with a devious grin that should have scared America, but only piqued her curiosity more.

“I’m ready. Leo is ready. Mom and Dad know what’s going on. And Pa?”

“He’s used to thinking on his toes. I think he’ll figure out what’s really going on quick enough. But...” Carol paused, and her face deflated. “What if he says no?”

“I don’t think that’ll happen. But if it does, you slap a smile on your face, understood?” America repeated her mom’s earlier advice about a possible hideous dress, and hoped it was enough to work in this situation too.

“And then say something snarky and self-deprecating?” Carol smiled again, though America knew she was deflecting her real feelings.

“If that’s what feels right in the moment.” She rubbed her hands up and down the back of Carol’s arms to reassure her. “Now, I need to get out of here to do some laundry and take a shower.” America headed to the door. “I’m right across the street if you need me, okay?”

“I can’t believe we’re going to do this, but I feel better now that you’re actually back. Thank you for rushing over here.” Carol said as America opened the front door. “Oh, and I almost forgot. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Carol,” America said and kissed both of Carol’s cheeks. “See you tomorrow.”