What he hadn’t expected was the way they’d woven the theme into the decorations inside the church. Garlands of pine, threaded with fairy lights, not only smelled sweet, but gave the church an instant Christmas makeover. Red and gold posies were tied to the last chair in each row, and vases full of flowers were dotted around the room. Even the Christmas carols playing softly in the background added something special to the day.
His gaze drifted across the room. Willow was standing on the far side of the church, taking photos of the guests before the bridal party arrived.
Tiffany made a gurgling noise and Peter looked into the stroller beside him. He sighed with relief when he saw she wasn’t choking on anything. Zac and Willow would never forgive him if his first solo babysitting experience ended in disaster.
Her big blue eyes stared unblinkingly up at him. It must be his suit that confused her. For her entire life, she’d only seen him in jeans and T-shirts.
When he smiled, Tiffany’s face broke into a grin. Something inside of him melted when she recognized who he was. Instead of leaving her in the stroller, he leaned down and lifted her into his arms. If he was five months old, he’d want to see his daddy dressed in a suit with a sparkly red vest, too.
Pointing to the front of the room, he showed Tiffany her dad. Zac chose that moment to look at them. With a wave, he sent his daughter a tender smile.
Peter sighed. “Your daddy loves you, little one.”
Tiffany gurgled and Peter reached for a muslin cloth, waiting for her lunch to explode over his jacket. When nothing happened, he relaxed against the back of his chair. Disaster number one had been averted.
The sound of trumpets heralded the beginning of the wedding march. As if sensing the guests’ excitement, Tiffany’s eyes grew even rounder than they usually were.
“It’s okay,” he whispered. “I’ll hold you close so you can see Diana and her sisters. When you see Katie, give her an extra special wave. She’s the petite red-head with curly hair.” He turned toward the back of the church and stared at the woman who’d made him re-evaluate his life.
His heart pounded as her pale blue, sparkly gown drifted around her legs. As she moved gracefully down the aisle, she could have been walking on air. “There’s Katie,” he whispered. “Can you see how pretty she is?”
The lady sitting behind him smiled. There was something oddly familiar about her, but he couldn’t work out what it was.
As Katie drew nearer, the sparkles on her dress turned to snowflakes. He didn’t know where she’d found her dress, but she was the most beautiful bridesmaid he’d ever seen.
Sending him a look that took his breath away, she continued down the aisle. Barbara and Penny followed, but he couldn’t have told anyone what they were wearing. He had eyes only for Katie, and a heart that was just as captivated.
* * *
Twelve months ago,if anyone had told Katie she’d be dancing with the handsomest man in the room at Diana’s second marriage, she would have told them they were crazy. But, here she was, floating around the dance floor at The Fairy Forest, feeling like the luckiest woman in the world.
Diana and Ethan’s wedding ceremony was romantic, sweet, and filled with many thoughtful touches that would become wonderful memories. Even Charlie had woofed his approval as Pastor John had pronounced the happy couple husband and wife.
It wasn’t until everyone arrived at The Fairy Forest that their family and friends really appreciated the theme of the wedding. When they saw the chocolate fountains, the candy cane chairs, and the canopy of twinkling fairy lights, they were speechless. Everything was bright, glittery, and magical—just like Diana wanted it to be.
Peter gripped her hand and they changed direction, avoiding a collision with her cousins. “Your mom’s happy.”
“She loves anything that brings our family together, especially when it means everyone’s staying for Christmas.”
“That sounds like my mom. Who’s the lady on your right in the green dress with the purple shawl?”
Katie looked across the room and grinned. “That’s my Aunt Beatrice. She lives in Florida with Uncle Oliver. They’re the most eccentric of mom’s siblings. Did you notice the family resemblance?”
Peter tweaked a lock of her hair. “I wondered where your red hair came from.”
“It’s our Celtic ancestry. My great-grandparents immigrated to America from Ireland.”
“They travelled a long way to get here.”
“I’m not sure why they left, but it took more than two weeks for them to get here. It makes my move from Los Angeles seem like a stroll down the road.” She looked thoughtfully at Peter. “When you come for Christmas lunch, I’ll show you a copy of my great-grandmother’s journals. She documented the entire voyage, along with her life after she settled in Montana.”
His hold tightened around her waist. “Are you sure it’s still okay for me to come to the inn? You have a house full of relatives.”
“Are you kidding? I couldn’t imagine the day without you. Zac, Willow, and Tiffany are coming. It will be fun.”
“In that case, I’d love to spend the day with you.”
A bubble of anticipation made her grin. She’d always enjoyed Christmas, but this year would be special. “Have you spoken to your parents since they arrived in Montreal?”
