Then back to the email to read about an “opening shot” that described a pull-back reveal from the Starling Room to the mountain range during the golden-hour—oh,nowshe cared about light time just twenty-four hours before the ceremony—with “no guests in shot.”
How could they do that? The guests would be there. She should just pile them into the Snowberry Lodge kitchen to wait for thepull-back reveal, whatever that was.
She scrolled some more, jaw tightening as she read about the “Get Ready With Me” TikTok moment with entire bridal party—there were two attendants!—including hair/makeup time lapse, trending audio (Dominique to choose from approved list).
With a mix of terror and a nervous laugh, she slid the cursor lower on the page to read about the champagne spray moment on porch or gazebo (weather permitting) with slow-mo toggle on for iPhone third angle.
“What language is she speaking?” Cindy muttered.
“The language of love, also known as a wedding cake.” Gracie stood in her doorway, dressed in a beautiful black sheath with a silver scarf. “Would you like to see it? My mom is currently adoring it in the kitchen.”
“Oh! Thank heavens!” Cindy stood and reached for her niece. “Finally, something about a wedding I understand. Cake.”
“And it is one hundred percent the opposite of your first wedding cake,” Gracie said. “As I promised Uncle Jack.”
Cindy let out a soft laugh. “Jack’s been so superstitious about doing things differently this time,” she said. “So, no chocolate?”
“Vanilla and lemon, like you wanted,” Gracie said, lifting her chin with pride. “With red flowers. It’s gorgeous. Like, cry-a-little gorgeous. Come see.”
“Let me—just—” She glanced back at the computer. The checklist sat there like a bad dream that would be waiting when she came back. “Speaking of superstitious—is it bad luck to hate someone the day before your wedding?”
“Only if it’s the groom.”
Laughing, Cindy followed her to the kitchen where MJ was indeed taking pictures and Nicole was practically dancing around a glorious three-tiered masterpiece.
Cindy’s breath caught. The cake was a classic, frosted in a textured icing that looked like wind-swept snow. Tiny red roses spilled like a ribbon from the top tier to the bottom, tucked in with evergreen sprigs and little bits of cranberries that glowed like ornaments. It was beautiful and joyous and utterly perfect.
“Oh,” Cindy whispered, hand to her mouth. “Gracie.”
“Do you love it?” her niece asked, eyes sparkling. “I was so inspired knowing it was for you.”
She wrapped an arm around Gracie. “It’s a dream.”
“Where do we keep it?” Nicole asked, circling like a cat who wanted to claim it. “Because I kind of want to stand guard until tomorrow.”
“Let’s put it in the dining room,” Gracie said. “No one will be in there and it’s better not to refrigerate it. The frosting will keep that texture and won’t get sweaty. I have a special tent covering so no one will so much as breathe on it.”
They took it to the large dining area where guests would soon fill the five small tables and enjoy breakfast before skiing whenthe lodge reopened. But today, as it had been for a year, this room was empty and the perfect place for her cake.
After Gracie had covered the cake and closed the dining room door, Cindy tried not to think about the email. She wanted to sink into the comfort of the kitchen with her sister, daughter, and niece…and forget about that checklist.
“Hey.” MJ wound an arm around Cindy’s waist. “You okay?”
Cindy tried to shrug and found herself shaking her head. The honesty rose so fast it made her lightheaded.
“I…don’t know,” she confessed on a sigh. “I’m thinking about the Aisle Files list. About trending audios and flat-lays and whether golden hour tomorrow will be cloudy and if Dominique is going to hate our chairs. But all I want to think about is my wedding.”
Instantly, the three of them surrounded her, a contingent of emotional bodyguards, support and love at the ready.
Cindy let herself fall into the group hug. “I hate that I’m admitting this,” she said, “but I’m more worried about getting this coverage than I am about…about marrying Jack.”
Her throat closed around his name, not because it hurt, but because it meant everything.
“I know Aisle Files is our big break,” she continued, the dam broken now. “Without this press, Snowberry Weddings may never make it onto the map. We’ve worked so hard, all of us. Dominique is…well, she’s difficult, but she’s giving us a shot. And it’s…it’s taking away from my big day, and I know it and I hate that I know it and I still feel like I have to do it.”
Gracie reached for her hand and squeezed it so warmly Cindy felt it down to her toes. “It’s a lot,” Gracie said simply. “And you’re right to feel like it’s a lot.”
MJ kissed her temple. “It’s natural to want the business to thrive,” she said. “But you are also allowed to say no to anything that steals your joy.”
