For a few suspended seconds, no one spoke as Cindy gasped when the realization hit.
Behind them, Nicole put both hands to her mouth and stifled a whimper. “Oh…this is happening.”
“It is,” Jack confirmed, shooting a grin at his daughter before focusing on Cindy. “At least, I hope it is. Cynthia Starling Kessler, you are the love of my life…always have been and always will be.”
“Jack,” she whispered.
He opened the box and everyone reacted to the sparkling rock, which was certainly bigger this time around. “Sweet Cinnie, will you marry me—again?”
Cindy sobbed out a “Yes!” and the room erupted with applause and cheers. Standing, he slid the ring on her finger and they kissed, long and deep.
MJ swiped at tears, as did just about everyone in the room, including her father. Red and Nicole stepped closer to hug the couple, laughing, then Gracie and Benny joined them.
“Mom!” Gracie called, waving her over. “Starling family hug!”
Joining them, she kissed her sister, her brother-in-law-to-be and laughed when Benny pulled back and called out, “Thirty seconds to midnight!”
In the flash of silence that followed the next round of chatter, MJ froze, hearing a loud…pop.
She looked around for the champagne but she hadn’t brought out a fresh bottle. But there it was again. And again.
The fourth noise was no champagne bottle, but a sharp, splintering crack, loud and ominous enough to bring the room to silence, every single expression registering confusion.
Another bang split the air, and suddenly there was a groan so loud and low it felt like the entire lodge was crying out in agony.
“What was that?” Cindy gasped, clutching Jack’s arm.
Before anyone could answer, a thunderous crash shook the entire building. The floor trembled beneath their feet, glasses shattering, screams rising from most everyone.
“Everyone out!” Cameron shouted, diving into safety mode to order people to the front door. “Outside! Outside! Now! In a line!”
With Jack’s assistance, they herded out, with Nicole holding tight to Elise’s wheelchair to get her to the front porch.
“Move! Now!” Cameron grabbed her arm, but MJ was frozen in horror and disbelief.
“What just happened?” she croaked.
“I’ll find out,” he insisted, giving her a hard nudge. “Go out. Go outside.”
She stumbled out into the cold, hands over her face, tears freezing on her lashes as the snow fell.
“Stay here!” Cameron yelled, then disappeared into the house.
The noise had come from the back of the lodge, MJ knew. Her kitchen. And she also had a really strong suspicion about what it was.
“The roof,” Cindy whispered. “The roofer’s coming the day after tomorrow.”
MJ looked at her. “I think it’s going to be too late.”
A moment later, Cameron came back out, crestfallen. “The roof caved in. I think we should call 911 to make sure the whole place is secure but it looks contained to the mudroom, half the kitchen, and the apartment back there.”
“I already called,” Jack said, holding up his phone.
In the distance, she heard sirens mixed with fireworks that flashed in the sky.
No one sang “Auld Lang Syne.” No one kissed. No one cheered. No one ate a single sparkler-topped cupcake.
As the clock struck twelve, MJ had a sickening sensation that her home, her world, and her life had just completely collapsed.
