Jack nodded, taking a deep breath. “Cindy. I’ve loved you since I first came to Snowberry Lodge and your father had the good sense to hire me to drive that sleigh.” He glanced to his side. “Thanks, Red.”
“One of my best decisions, son. And I’m famous for them.”
Laughter rippled but quieted as Jack continued. “From that day to this, through raising a beautiful daughter, running the lodge, even the dark days when we parted, you were always myNorth Star. I will love you through whatever time we’ve got left—every morning coffee, every snowfall, every summer afternoon, every minute of every day. You’re my home, Cinnie.”
Tears streamed freely down her face.
Marshall smiled softly. “Cindy?”
She inhaled, her voice trembling. “Jack, you never fail to surprise and amaze me. You make me laugh and keep me calm and show me what matters in life. And if this moment isn’t proof of that, I don’t know what is.” She glanced at her family, catching MJ’s teary gaze. “I never stopped loving you, either, and I never will. We are in our sixth decade and somehow, we have a second chance at life and love. I can’t wait to take it and never let go. I love you.”
Jack brushed away a tear with his thumb, his eyes wet, too.
Suddenly, Benny scampered closer, holding out two boxes to Marshall. “The rings, sir.”
Oh, they hadallthought of everything! That much love nearly overwhelmed her.
Marshall delivered the traditional vows from memory—to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, from this day forward—and Jack and Cindy both delivered a heartfelt, “I do,” and slipped wedding bands on each other’s fingers.
“By the power vested in me,” Marshall announced, voice full and sure, “by the great state of Utah and the Good Lord who is watching us, I now pronounce you husband and wife.” He grinned. “Again. You may kiss your bride, and I hope you never stop.”
The cheer that rose up from the little crowd echoed down to the canyon. Cindy threw her arms around Jack as he dipped her under the trellis and gave her the kiss of a lifetime.
After more hugs, a pop of champagne, and so many good wishes, they all piled into the sleigh and the snowmobile for a merry ride home as a fresh snow started to fall.
Cindy couldn’t stop smiling, couldn’t stop touching Jack’s arm, his sleeve, the wedding band joined to her diamond engagement ring.
As they came over the last rise before the lodge, the chatter stopped as they saw the lights.
“Oh, goodness,” Cindy muttered. “You Know Who and her crew are here.”
“It’s fine,” Jack assured her. “You all talk to her while Nic and I get Copper into the stable. Then we’ll head to town for a rehearsal dinner that just became a private reception.”
Cindy, Gracie, and MJ climbed down and walked around to go straight into the Starling Room, which was blazing with bright lights.
Just as they stepped in through one of the French doors, Dominique Parrish shot through the back door, covered—literally covered—in…in…
That wasn’tsnow. Oh, dear heavens, that was white frosting all over her green Chanel pantsuit. Which meant?—
“The cake!” Gracie cried.
“The dogs!” MJ shrieked at the sound of Newt and Kat barking noisily.
“My wedding…” Cindy sighed, realizing at that moment she honestly didn’t care.
Dominique marched forward, some icing falling from her collar. “Yourweddingis the biggest mistake I ever made. No one was here to help us. I had to go looking for the cake. I had no idea there were two dogs sleeping in the kitchen and they scared the life out of me and…”
Gracie rushed off toward the dining room and MJ started to leave, but Cindy reached for her hand, wanting her sister’s moral support for what was about to happen next.
“So we won’t have a cake,” the woman announced in her shrill voice. “And we won’t have?—”
“You,” Cindy finished.
Dominique froze. “Excuse me?”
“First of all, Jack and I just got married in a private ceremony under the trellis on the very spot where we had our first kiss thirty years ago.”
The other woman rolled her eyes, exasperated. “I could have used that footage, Cindy. Any chance we could?—”
