A Winter’s Wedding (Christmas Cove #3)

Chapter 27

Of all the finished rooms in her half-renovated house, America’s upstairs office was the most ideal for having her morning coffee. She sipped the steaming Columbian brew and pulled open the sheer white curtains, hooking each panel behind a gold, palm-frond holdback on each side of the window. Outside, the snow on the ground amplified the mid-morning sunlight and contrasted with the clear blue sky above. The trees and bushes, still bare from winter, wore a layer of frost, and bridged the space between the white of the ground and the azure sky on the distant horizon.

America took another sip and placed her snowman shaped mug on a small beverage table beside a rattan egg chair. She walked across her office and stood in front of her new wedding-day dress. Her mother must have placed it on the dress form after arriving home yesterday. It seemed none of them were taking any chances with the new gown, not that it would show dirt as easily. Her poor white gown, on the other hand, would need some heavy cleaning even if she just wanted to save it or donate it to someone.

Her fingers walked across the crimson lace bodice and down to the matching silk taffeta skirt. The fabric wasn’t cold like she thought it would be, rather it was soft and smooth, more like velvet. Taking the bottom hem in hand, she stretched it wide and flung it out. The layers of tulle and silk ballooned with air and drifted back towards the ground. The end effect was a satisfying bell shape that even Cinderella could appreciate.

Downstairs, the back door in the kitchen opened and closed. “I’ll get a cup of coffee and be right up,” her mom yelled. Sounds traveled easily through the walls, some of which were nothing more than exposed wooden studs and plumbing. Even so, nothing her mother did was quiet. A mug clinked against the counter and a metal spoon screeched against the side of the ceramic surface, like nails on a chalkboard, as she stirred in her sugar.

“I’m in the office,” America said, and Vivian joined her a moment later. “Did you sleep well?”

“I crashed, but wasn’t last night the best?” Vivan said with a mischievous grin.

“How long did you know about the bachelorette party? If we can really call it that.” America picked up her mug and clinked it with her mom’s.

“Honestly, Thandie and Grant had this planned for a while. I called them yesterday and said it wasn’t a good idea after the week you and Leo had, but they insisted.” Mom paused to drink and sat back in the egg-chair. “You did enjoy yourself though.”

“I’m just glad we won the game.” America laughed. “I don’t think the men knew what hit them.”

“Carol hit them. Did you know she could play?”

“Not at all. She said we never asked. As if that’s a normal thing to talk about casually. I guess it never came up.” America pulled out the desk chair and swiveled it around to face her mom. “I bet Dad was not thrilled about having to clean out Bingo’s stall this morning.”

“Are you kidding. He’s so bored since he retired, he was up before sunrise and digging around for just the right cargo pants to wear.” Vivian laughed. “You should have seen him. He was as giddy as a girl on a first date.”

“What do you expect from a retired lawyer? I’ve been telling him he needs something productive to do, and if he was handy with literally any tool, I would put him to work on getting this house reno moving along a little faster, but you know he can’t even use a hammer,” America said. A squirrel climbed up the tree trunk outside the window and caught her eye. The critter flicked his fluffy tail, and America opened a little jar of nuts that sat on her desk. She jiggled the window sash and cracked the window open only a couple of inches. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to slide a few morsels out onto the sill. “Add this window to the list of things that need fixing.” She shoved it closed and shook her head.

“Now that the wedding is wrapping up, maybe it’s time we call in some help and finally finish up this project.”

“I appreciate it, but you know I want to do this reno on my own.”

“I know you do, but consider how much stress and time this,” Vivian waved her hands around the room, “project is taking from you. It’s not a defeat to bring in some help.”

America hated being wrong, but this was one thing she could admit hadn’t gone as smoothly as planned. “The work itself isn’t so hard, but this house is a historical property which means there is about a million extra steps to getting any of it done. I can’t just start knocking walls down and moving electrical when and where I like.”

“That’s my point. I think bringing someone in who can help navigate all the historical ins and outs, and has an eye for design, would be wonderful. I’ll look into it, is that okay?”

America nodded but couldn’t divert her gaze from the red dress, her wedding-day dress.

“And consider it a late wedding gift.”

“Late? But the wedding is later.”

Her mom giggled.

“Oh. Right,” America said and slapped her palm to her forehead. “We got married last week. I didn’t forget exactly, but this is still the day I’ve been planning and looking forward to for months.”

“And all of your favorite people will be here to celebrate with you.”

“Do you think they’re gonna be mad when they find out the truth?” Guilt still plagued America at the thought of having lied to everyone whom she cared about.

“Are you kidding me? Today is going to be a day that none of them will ever forget,” Vivian said and winked. She stood and craned her neck to see down the street to Carol’s house. “Do you think she’s ready? Carol?”

“I think she’s as ready as she’ll ever be. Did you see her kiss Pa during the last period of the game? On the lips?” America covered her gaping mouth with the back of her hand and giggled. “I don’t think he ever thought that would happen. He just stood there like a statue while she scored on the guys again. That one moment might have been the best thing I’ve ever seen. It’s up there anyway.”

“I think everyone had such a good time last night,” Vivian said and rested her bottom on the edge of the desk. “Maybe we could make the hockey game a tradition.”

America replayed some of the moments in her mind. Drinking snow-chilled beer, sharing a bottle of sparkling wine with all the girls, mostly Jenny and Carol, and seeing her best friend tell off Leo’s brother, all added up to an epic evening. She was unsure whether they could capture that same energy again, but it would be worth a try. “I think that’s a great idea.” America shot from her seat. “Poppy! She should be here by now. Did you see her this morning? I don’t remember seeing her after the hockey game. I was unconscious as soon as my head hit the pillow.”

“I know some of them planned on staying out longer. But last I saw; she and John were walking down the shore together.” Vivian shrugged and smiled upside down. “Should we call her?”

America nodded and took her phone from the drink table. As she opened her contacts list, the front door creaked, and someone stumbled in. “Poppy,” America said in unison with her mom. “Up here!”

Poppy’s boots made a thud as she threw them off in the foyer below, and her bare feet labored up the steps. A very hungover redhead stumbled into the office. “Morning ladies,” she said with a half-cocked grin. She pushed her disheveled fiery ringlets out of her face and reached for Vivian’s coffee. Stealing the mug, she gulped down whatever remained of the lukewarm elixir. “Great party last night.”

America and her mom covered their giggles the same way with the back of their hands. “I guess so,” America said. “What happened after I left?”

“I’ll go get some more coffee. Black,” Vivian said and took the empty mugs with her.

“Nothing happened, per se.” Poppy flopped into the egg chair that was seeing more action this morning than usual.

“Is per se code for Leo’s brother?”

Poppy’s hand covered her chest, and she huffed an insulted grunt. “I don’t take your meaning.”

“Yes, you do. And as the bride, I’m demanding you tell me the truth.” America put up her right hand over her heart, and Poppy mimicked. “Repeat after me: I, Poppy.”

“I, Poppy, swear to tell the truth the whole truth…”

“And nothing but the?—”

“Truth. Are you satisfied?” Poppy said and rested her head on the inner egg capsule. Her eyes closed and America clapped her hands together.

“I don’t care how hungover you are. You will spill the tea right now.” America feigned a serious tone.

“Fine. I told John that what he did to Leo and this town last year was despicable. Of course, he denied any wrongdoing. He explained that it wasn’t his fault. It’s not like he had it out for Leo, quite the opposite actually. And did you know that he fast-tracked all the permits Leo needed to get The Foundry up and running last year?”

America shook her head, though it made sense. The process had been remarkably smooth.

“He also used the city’s tourism funds to waive all the fees that Leo would have been responsible for. Technically, he didn’t waive them. He submitted the proposal to the council so it wouldn’t look like he was playing favorites, and they approved it. And then, do you remember… coffee.”

“Coffee?” America said as Vivian turned the corner into the room with two steaming cups. Poppy had smelled it coming before America had.

Poppy took one of the mugs and blew the steam away from the rim. With her eyes closed, she took a few sips. All the while America combed through things that she should be remembering. With the coffee kicking in, Poppy carried on. “Last year, when you came here to write your first story about the amazing Christmas Cove and thought Leo had been the one to request the feature, only to discover it had been John the whole time?”

“Of course I remember. Isn’t that why you were mad at him in the first place?”

“I dislike dishonesty.”

Guilt twisted America’s gut. “You do?”

“Unless there’s a good reason,” she smirked and sipped.

The twisting loosened ever so slightly. “And there was a good reason for John’s deception?”

“Yes.”

Vivian leaned against a bookshelf and prodded, “Well, are you gonna tell us?”

“After Elizabethtown incorporated Christmas Cove, he designated the whole area as a preservation site so that big hotels wouldn’t want to build here anymore. And they didn’t. The resort shredded all their preliminary permits and left town.” Poppy downed the rest of her coffee and smiled at them.

“Then what?” America said.

“John might not have been able to save Christmas Cove then, but he has been saving it ever since.” Poppy’s smile turned dreamy, and lights danced in her eyes as she gazed into nothingness. “He’s always been looking over Leo. Like a guardian angel or something.”

Could Poppy’s story of the events be true? Leo’s older brother, who America had only been around on a couple of occasions, wasn’t the bad guy she or Leo had thought him to be? Thinking back over the previous year, America couldn’t think of an instance that would prove Poppy’s claims to be false. But how could they all have missed the altruism?

“And why did he tell you all these things?” Vivian said and was clearly just as suspicious as America was.

“Would you believe me if I told you that we had a completely not-drunk, wholesome evening together and definitely weren’t partaking in any adult activities other than conversing about his job?”

“No.” America laughed so hard that tears wet her cheeks. “Have you seen yourself this morning? I don’t believe there was an ounce of anything wholesome happening between you two.”

A bright red blush splashed Poppy’s cheeks. “He really is the sweetest. I think he was just too proud to show Leo. It couldn’t have been easy after their parents passed away. You know? And some guys just bottle all that up.”

“And you helped him release it all?”

“Oh, stop it,” Vivian said and stood between them. “We all get the picture.” She turned to Poppy. “You need to take a shower, and quickly. And you,” facing America. “it’s about time to get you in this dress.”

“Carol should be here any minute to get ready with us,” America said and ran her fingers along the dress’s neckline again. “Pa was going to pick us up in the carriage, but he can’t?—”

“I already took care of it. I told him it was too cold and that Thandie’s picking us up in Jenny’s van,” Vivian said and pointed at a half-asleep Poppy. “Shower. Go!”