PROLOGUE
The three women who were part of the decoration committee, glanced around the grand lodge room, admiring the huge stone fireplace, high cathedral ceiling, and a wall-to-wall window that provided a stunning view of the mountains and the lake. The room was massive enough to hold the three hundred invited guests easily. Balloons had been delivered earlier, and so had the streamers and banners. Since this would be a New Year’s Eve party, in addition to an anniversary celebration, party favors had been placed on the tables, as well as noise-makers to ring in the New Year.
“Everything looks great,” Brittany Steele said, smiling. “Now, we just have to roll up our sleeves and help Kylie with the flowers.” Kylie was married to Chance Steele and owned several florist shops in Charlotte. She was a pro when it came to floral and would arrange the centerpieces for the tables tonight. For the past hour, the three women had been going from table to table, marking the bottom of one chair. Before the end of the night, the person sitting in each of the marked chairs would take the beautiful centerpiece home as a gift.
“Where is Kylie?” Vanessa Steele Cody asked, checking her watch. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her for a while.”
“She texted earlier to say she’s on her way. She’s in Tiffany’s room talking to her. I hope Tiffy is alright. Breakups are hard,” Stacy Steele said.
“Well, we’re all here to give her our love and support. We’ve all suffered our share of heartbreak a time or two before findingour true love,” Vanessa said.
“You’re right about that,” Stacy agreed. “Hey, there’s Kylie now.”
Kylie approached them. “Sorry I’m late.”
“No problem,” Vanessa said. “How’s Tiffy?”
Kylie released a deep sigh. “A lot better today than she was yesterday. Lena is with her now.” Lena Spears Steele was Kylie’s best friend and Tiffany’s godmother. Needing to focus on something other than her daughter’s heartbreak, Kylie said, “I can’t wait to see the look on Drew and Eden’s faces tonight.”
“Me, too,” Vanessa said, excitedly.
“Does anyone know the full story of how they met?” Kylie asked. “I’d love to hear it while we’re arranging the centerpieces.”
“Stacy and I both know it,” Brittany said. She was married to Drew and Eden’s oldest son, Galen. And Stacy was married to their third-oldest son, Elijah Steele -Eli for short.
“Eden made sure her daughters-in-law knew the whole story, and not just the parts her sons wanted to tell us,” Stacy said, grinning.
“Then please share it,” Kylie said. “I need to hear about something that ends happily for a change.”
“That’s a great idea,” Vanessa said. “Over the years, I’ve only heard bits and pieces. I would love to hear the full story.”
Brittany smiled. “Okay. Stacy and I will take turns telling it. We’ll also let you know how we managed to pull a fast one over on them about tonight’s surprise anniversary celebration in their honor. They don’t suspect a thing.”
PART ONE
If it’s meant to be, it will be.
Anonymous
CHAPTER 1
Eden Steele disconnected the call with a huge smile on her face. Everything was set for the Steele’s largest holiday celebration in decades. Over the years, due to births and marriages, the family had grown significantly and now included friends who were considered part of the extended family. That meant they would need a place large enough to accommodate everyone. There would be kids, grand-uncles, and aunts among the party-goers, so whatever place they chose would have to offer plenty of activities for the youth, as well as any special accommodations necessary for the older family members.
She had made a number of calls, and come up with a few possibilities. But none had sounded as promising as the one her friends in the fashion and entertainment industries had overwhelmingly suggested -the Mountain-Scape Lake Lodge, located on a pristine alpine lake in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. She had contacted the other members of theChristmas with the Steelesplanning committee, and they had given her the go-ahead to check the lodge out and, if suitable, to reserve it immediately. That meant a trip to Tennessee was in order. No problem. She would talk to Drew about it when he got up.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
She turned at the sound of her husband’s voice. He stood lounging in her office’s doorway in his PJ bottoms, looking as handsome and as sexy as he had when she had first met him over forty years ago. Many people had made bets that their marriagewouldn’t last. After all, he was Drew Steele, the man whose reputation for womanizing was legendary. But in the end, they’d proven the naysayers wrong. On New Year’s Eve, they would celebrate forty years of marriage and had six sons to show for it. And those sons–Galen, Tyson, Eli, Jonas, Mercury, and Gannon -were now all married, and had given them beautiful daughters-in-law and grandchildren.
She smiled. “Good morning, Drew. I was just thinking about you.”
He moved toward her in a sexy walk that his sons had perfectly preserved. “Good thoughts, I hope.”
“Always good. We need to take a trip.”
He chuckled. “To where?”
“The Smoky Mountains. I need to check out a place there for the Steeles’ Christmas gathering.”
