Snow is Falling, Cocoa is Calling! (The Coffee Loft Series: Fall Collection)

15. Chapter 15

CHAPTER 15

CAITEY

J enna parted the drapes, pushing her hair from her eyes. “What was all that about, girlfriend? Did I detect some high-level flirting with one Marcus Stirling, Intelligence Specialist, Navy SEAL dude, and best friend of my groom?”

Caitey flipped her hair over one shoulder and batted her eyelashes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Right now, I’m pulling out my lists, and we’re figuring out your wedding!”

She reached for the binder where she had been keeping all her wedding notes and sat down in one of the high-back chairs.

“I do have a lot of questions—and worries,” Jenna said. “I’ve been trying to hide it, but good grief, I hope my guests can drive up here okay this afternoon. They’re probably plowing the road as we speak.”

Caitey braced herself and chewed on her lip. “I have fresh intel on that.”

“You sound like Marcus,” Jenna accused playfully. “I think he’s rubbing off on you.”

Caitey saluted, laughing at the reference to the Navy SEAL, but moments later, her cousin’s eyes filled with fresh tears. “My dream wedding is ruined,” she said, her voice quivering.

Caitey grabbed her hand. “No, it’s not. We have everything we need to make it beautiful. So first, here’s the sad news.”

Jenna immediately forgot about herself. “Have you heard from your parents yet? Did they make their flights?”

“Yes, I got a flurry of text messages this morning from my mother. They got in from San Francisco last night and stayed at a hotel because it was so late. This morning, they picked up their rental car. And . . . were stopped at the bottom of the mountain.”

“What?! The blizzard was that bad?”

“Yeah, Mom said that the sheriff and deputies are blocking the roads heading up the mountain because it’s so icy. And . . . there was a bad accident, so the entire area is filled with emergency vehicles. They had to turn around and ended up getting a hotel room in Santa Barbara.”

“That’s terrible!” Jenna exclaimed in a faint voice. Then she jerked her chin up. “What about my wedding cake? The bouquet and boutonnieres? They’re supposed to be delivered soon.”

“Have you looked at your phone for messages?”

Jenna started. “I’ve been so distracted by the snow . . . and my head whirling about how and where to do the ceremony.”

“Where’s your phone now?”

Jenna patted her pockets and looked up in a daze. “I have no idea. I must have left it in my bedroom. Let me run and get it.”

She jumped up and bounded upstairs, returning in sixty seconds while scrolling wildly through texts and phone calls.

Sinking into her chair again, Jenna blinked back the tears filling her eyes. “The bakery can’t deliver. Authorities turned her away. The flower shop as well. And I had an eye-catching and gorgeous bridal bouquet picked out.”

Caitey reached out to embrace her cousin, and they held on to each other for a long moment while Caitey tried to figure out how to fix the big mess this day had turned into.

“Guess it’s no use crying over spilled milk,” Jenna said, her voice shaking. “The wedding isn’t going to happen.”

“I hate to say this,” Caitey said softly. “The closed roads mean your other guests and friends won’t be able to attend either.”

“You’re right! And I wanted to show off my stunning dress!” she added with a wan smile, even though her lips were quivering. The next instant, Jenna’s phone rang. She swiped the screen. “Yes,” she said solemnly to the person on the other end. “Yes, I understand. Please don’t worry yourself. There’s nothing to be done. It’s just a bad luck day but thank you for calling.”

She let the phone clatter to the table’s surface. “Well, that’s that,” she said in a low, tortured voice. She lifted her eyes to gaze at Caitey, her eyes filling with emotion. “The minister marrying us lives farther up the mountain. And he’s stuck in his driveway.” Her phone buzzed again, and Jenna scanned the message. “Good grief, can this day get any worse? The string trio can’t make it, but I should have figured that out already.”

“We’ll play the ‘Wedding March’ on the stereo,” Caitey told her. “Or Queen! Barry Manilow! The Beach Boys!” she added, trying to elicit a mile from her cousin. “Whatever you want, honey. I think it’s obvious that both the ceremony and the wedding dinner will be inside—the ceremony in the drawing room and the dinner right here in this elegant dining room. Gus is on duty and ready to do anything we need. He’s truly a dear, isn’t he?”

“He is,” Jenna agreed in a quiet voice. “Okay, I guess all of that will work, but I’ll have to muse on a good Queen track for a while,” she added with a trembling smile.

Caitey pressed her hand against hers. “This morning has been a big blow, but I promise I will give you the most beautiful and romantic wedding, and you will be filled with joy at marrying the man you adore.”

A single tear finally spilled from Jenna’s eyes. “But if the minister can’t get here, there is no wedding.”

Caitey pressed Jenna’s hand with hers, leaning in close to whisper, “Hey, if all else fails we can have Marcus go online and see what it takes to be an officiator for your wedding. Maybe there’s an instant certificate he can print out. It means pulling double duty, best man and officiator, but at least you can actually get married, and it’ll be legal. And I’ll be the wedding planner and D.J. and . . .”

“Thank you for that, Caitey,” her cousin said with a wan smile. “I’m so glad you’re here. Without you, I’d be a bigger basket case than I already am.”

“You know what? I think you should go lie down for the next several hours. Let ME take care of everything down here. I want to create a magical fairyland while you catch up on your sleep so you will look beautiful and radiant to walk down the aisle.”

“Really? And leave you with all the work?”

“Don’t you worry, I have lots of helpers I can recruit.”

“Like me,” said Mrs. Hearst from the dining room doorway. She strode in with Jenna’s mother right behind her.

“I’m not the bride’s mother for nothing!” she teased her daughter. “Give me a list, and we’ll get it done.” She put an arm around Jenna’s shoulders. “I’m ordering you back to your room. Sleep, shower, and then I’ll be up after lunch to help you dress and do your hair.”

Mrs. Hearst leaned in close as if telling a secret. “Did you know that when I was eighteen, I went to beauty school? Although . . . I only did hair and nails for a couple of years before meeting the love of my life. Ever since, Logan’s father has been traveling for work and moving around the globe while I trotted after him, having the time of my life going to all the places I’d always dreamed of and jumping into charity work. But . . . I haven’t lost my touch!”

Jenna’s eyes widened in surprise. “That means—you—”

“Exactly,” Mrs. Hearst said with a big smile lighting up her face. “I will do your makeup, hair, and nails today since we can’t get down the mountain to the salon. The roads might not be open until tomorrow, if then.”

Jenna’s jaw dropped, and she let out a small cry. “That means . . . I must cancel our honeymoon suite at the Bed & Breakfast Inn for tonight.”

“Nope,” Caitey told her. “You aren’t doing anything but being the bride today! Logan will cancel it and rebook after the roads are plowed.”

“But—but what about tonight?? It’s our wedding night! We—we can’t stay here at the house with everyone else . . .” Jenna’s voice trailed off.

Aunt Vicki dropped a kiss on top of her daughter’s hair. “Your new mother-in-law and I have already thought about that, and we have a plan!”

Mr. Hearst strolled into the dining room, looking for lunch. He scanned the women’s faces when they all turned to look at him with frowns. “Am I in the doghouse? You all look flustered, or angry, or—”

His wife slipped an arm through his. “You do know that the roads are blocked, don’t you, dear? This means no wedding guests, flowers, cake, or honeymoon suite.”

Her husband’s eyes widened. “True, true. It’s quite disappointing after all the hard work. I’m so sorry, Jenna. Do you want to reschedule the wedding?”

Jenna shook her head. “All of my vendors and the musicians have already canceled the orders. At least, they can’t deliver until the roads are cleared—which could take days. We have no idea when we can get off the mountain. But I guess when the cake is delivered you all will be feasting on sugar for a week afterwards while Logan and I are on our honeymoon. And the flowers will scent the house for days—or wilt and fall apart, just like my wedding is . . .”

“Oh, Jenna!” Caitey said, fighting back her own tears at the desperation in Jenna’s voice. “This blizzard has socked the mountain like never before. Once in a century freak storm! Time for Plan Two—which we are creating this very moment.”

Mrs. Hearst widened her eyes. “It’s terrible, but it’s our son’s wedding day, darling,” she told her husband. “We’re rallying everyone to pull this off for Logan and Jenna.”

“Of course, Isabella—right! Just let me know where I can pitch in,” Mr. Hearst said.

“I had an idea,” his wife said. “As an attorney and previously on the county board, do you have the legal authority to perform the wedding? The minister is stuck too.”

“Good thinking. I’m not sure but let me find out for certain. Oh, what about Caitey’s father? I understand he’s a United States ambassador. There’s a better chance of him being able to perform a wedding ceremony than I am.”

Caitey spoke up. “My parents flew in yesterday, but it was extremely late. They attempted to drive up here this morning but were stopped due to the accidents and the road being closed. We won’t see them until the roads are cleared, in a few days.”

“That’s not good news,” Mr. Hearst said.

“I’m sorry my sister and her husband won’t be able to make it,” Aunt Vicki said. “I spoke with them an hour ago, and they’re so disappointed to miss your wedding, Jenna.”

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact that this entire day is completely upended and it’s already going on noon.” Jenna’s face turned red while she tried to remain composed in front of everyone.

Caitey piped up. “Jenna, it’s time for you to head up to your room and relax while we finish preparing. This wedding will move forward,” she added firmly.

“There’s the spirit,” Mr. Hearst said. “Now I will go into my office and call about marrying you and Logan. Where did he and Marcus go? Haven’t seen them in the last few hours since I spied them outside clearing the snow.”

Everyone in the dining room glanced at each other as Gus pushed through the swinging doors with a giant tray of sandwiches, chips, dip, and cookies for lunch.

“Time to eat and get that energy back? And pardon me for eavesdropping, Mrs. Hearst, as I was maneuvering this tray of food. Logan and Marcus just finished bringing in the wet chairs from outside after scraping all the walkways.”

Caitey grabbed Jenna’s arm. “Go hide!” Then she grabbed a paper plate, loaded it up and shoved it at her cousin. “Take this upstairs before Logan sees you. Eat, take a nap, and then shower. Show time is in five hours!”

“Five hours!” Jenna squeaked. “You’re crazy!”

Caitey gave her a secret smile. “Just you watch me. But first, follow me!”

She took Jenna’s hand and moved toward the doors that opened into the beautiful marble foyer. She did some quick reconnaissance and spotted Logan striding back outside to get another load of chairs.

“Hurry upstairs now! Before he sees you!”

“Ay, ay, Captain Caitey!” Jenna saluted, then climbed the stairs as fast as she could.

After her bedroom door shut, Caitey waited to see Marcus come back inside the house from the rear gardens. Only Logan returned with the last couple of black chairs. He took a towel and wiped them down, then finished arranging them in rows.

“Where’s Marcus?” she asked with an innocent tone. “Wasn’t he helping you just now?”

“Yeah, of course. He, um, had to take off for a while,” Logan said vaguely. “But the chairs look good here in the drawing room. We’ll have Reginald build a roaring fire, and it’ll be nice and warm. Now, I’ll set up the arbor for the ceremony—right after I bring a load of firewood inside.”

“Well . . .” Caitey drawled slowly, wondering where in the world Marcus would have gone. The man was an enigma. A phantom at times.

“Yeah?” Logan said, turning toward her with a smile.

“Oh, um,” Caitey promptly said. “I’m just rethinking the arbor. It will look so plain and empty without the flowers that were supposed to be here.”

“Maybe my mother has some garland and ribbons from her stash of Christmas decorations.”

Caitey gave him a wan smile with a brief nod. Jenna did not want a Christmas theme. She wanted autumn with splashes of color, fresh but elegant sprays of flowers, and ribbon and tulle in warm golds and browns.

While Logan returned to the back door to retrieve the aforementioned Christmas decorations, Caitey sighed. Somehow, she had to pull this thing off. She promised Jenna that it would be spectacular. There was nothing to do but haul all the boxes of wedding decorations she’d brought with her that were stored in Mrs. Hearst’s study and start decorating.

After she ate a quick sandwich. Because her stomach was growling obnoxiously.

But mostly, she was left wondering and perplexed about where Marcus Stirling had gotten himself off to. She needed both him and Logan to help her hang and pin.

Maybe he was doing his twice daily rounds of security camera checks.

But with all the multiple feet of snow that had fallen, nobody would be lurking about the Hearst mansion today.

But where did he watch the live feed to see if any potential property breaches were filmed on those cameras? Was he in some secret room in the house? In an office in one of the garages?

She was silly to think about that man. Or was her reckless heart betraying her senses? Every time she was near him, Caitey thought she might swoon. Like a character from a gothic romance.

Too many questions to ponder now. She had a wedding to get ready for—pronto!