The rest of the ceremony went off like a dream.
By the time they kissed, I could already picture the headlines:
MR. CORPORATE ICEBERG FINALLY THAWED BY BARTENDER.
Afterward, guests drifted from the smaller ceremony room into the main dining space at Evergreen at Hops for the reception. Snow fell outside this Christmas Eve, painting the world white, while inside the scent of roasted ham and cinnamon filled the air.
“Uncle Holden, if I let Mr. Kermit outside, will he freeze?” Theo asked, holding a lidded mason jar the kitchen staff had kindly supplied for it.
“One hundred percent yes. I wouldn’t advise it, unless you like eating frozen frog legs,” I teased.
“Ew.” He scrunched his nose and scurried off to show the frog to Jessa’s mom and Aunt Patty.
“They dressed this place up nicely,” I said, glancing around. Fairy lights dripped from the rafters, clusters of candles flickered on each table beside red-rose centerpieces, and Christmas music hummed softly under the chatter.
“Small towns aren’t so bad,” Atlas said with a shrug. “How’s your new venture in Steele Valley?”
“We got the plans and permits approved. As soon as the weather clears this spring, we break ground.” I couldn’t hide the excitement. “If all goes right, the renovated ski lodge will open by my birthday.”
“You always loved throwing huge New Year’s Day bashes.” Atlas chuckled, and we spent a few minutes reminiscing about some wild ones from the past.
When the reception line formed, we were first. I kissed my new sister-in-law on the cheek. Jessa was radiant, her belly just beginning to show beneath an ivory gown that shimmered every time she moved.
“There are the boys,” Griffin said, shaking our hands. “You two clean up nicely.”
“Well, I’d rather be skiing,” I quipped, “but how often does your big brother get married?” This made two for him and none for us. I guess that was more often.
Atlas grinned. “You really did it, Grif. None of us thought we’d see you this happy again.”
“You find the right woman, and everything falls into place,” Griffin said. “Just wait—it’ll happen to you two someday.”
Atlas and I exchanged a look. “Nah,” we said in unison.
“Did Landon or Beck make in today?” He asked.
“Beck’s flight got cancelled out of Montana due to a snowstorm. And we haven’t heard a word from Landon. You know with his rock and roll lifestyle, who knows what he’s up to,” Atlas explained.
“I appreciate you two being here for this. Getting married today makes me think a lot about family. I want my kids to know their uncles. I think all of us really need to try to stay in touch better. See each other at least once a year, hopefully more,” Griffin urged, the sincerity steeped in his eyes.
“Once I get the ski lodge open, bring the kids down. The younger they learn to snowboard the better.” A brief wave of worry flashed through me. I’d taken on the biggest challenge of my life, purchasing a mountain and an aging ski operation in Steele Valley. And I had no idea what the hell I was doing, flying by the seat of my pants.
He grabbed us both for a quick group hug and released us to greet the next guests.
I followed Atlas. We escaped to the bar to try the Pitiful Cinderella Pilsner, a Christmas brew Keaton had crafted for the occasion as a gift for Jessa.
“You can taste the spice blend,” I said after a sip. “I should strike a deal with Keaton to sell his brews at the lodge next year.”
This wedding wasn’t the the glitz and glamour of a Manhattan ballroom, but it had been thrown together in under a month. In typical Griffin style, he always got what he wanted, or as he put it, ‘I wasn’t going to wait around for her to change her mind once she said yes. She was coming back to New York as my wife.’
For him tonight, nothing else mattered but Jessa Cole—nowMrs. Griffin West.
“She’s good for him,” Atlas murmured a little while later as the happy couple cut the cake.
“Good?” I said. “I’d say she saved him.”
Atlas nodded. “Did you hear about the house he bought her?”
“The Harrison place on the lake?”
