My heart drops. We had a feeling it would end up this way, but it doesn’t make it any easier to accept. The clouds rolled in last night as the wind picked up, and now it’s howling outside, the trees in the backyard bowing from the gusts. It’s just started snowing, almost a white-out. I was holding onto any shred of hope that we’d be able to go through with our plans.
“Shit.” Grady mutters. “Are you sure there’s no way to go up today?”
Jett shakes his head, his mouth forming a tight line.
“Nope. The wind gusts are too strong for a helicopter to fly safely. Down here isn’t the issue, it’s at the summit where we could run into real problems.”
A knot forms in my gut. I’ve been dreaming of the day Jett and I would get to renew our vows for almost a year now,and with today being our anniversary, it was going to be perfect. My every dream come true. But the last thing I’d ever want is to endanger anyone.
“We have to cancel?” I ask, trying to stop my voice from quaking. Jett had talked to Beck’s brother, Dom, who agreed to take us up to the top of Mount Engadine in the helicopter. It was put in place months ago.
I’m all ready in my wedding dress, and my soft grey faux fur shawl to keep me warm. All the girls are wearing matching ones. And now their disappointed expressions match my own.
“I think so,” Jett says, and the air in the room suddenly feels heavy. “Dom said we can wait a few hours to see if the storm passes. We still have enough daylight that all might not be lost.”
I refuse to acknowledge the spark of hope that flickers in my chest, because I know how that hope can easily be dashed.
“We can still celebrate. No point in the whole day going to waste,” Hudson suggests. “You’re technically already married anyway.”
I glance around at everyone trying to put on a brave face, remain optimistic.
I bob my head in a solemn nod, trying to swallow the lump in my throat. All I’ve wanted is my fairytale wedding. Our first wedding was picture perfect. It was lavish, expensive, and curated.
But it wasn’t the wedding I’ve always envisioned for myself. Which is why this day has felt so monumental. Our first wedding was about everyone else, what they thought, how the media would portray us.
All I’ve wanted since that day, was to have only ourclosest family and friends around, in a place that represents the hurdles Jett and I have climbed to get here. I just want to exchange our vows on a mountain top.
This day was supposed to be aboutus.
Wren appears at the end of the hallway, having returned from wherever she was. I never even realized she stepped away.
“The storm is supposed to be making its way down the valley. Maybe we should put a pin in the celebrations and head home before we’re all stuck here,” she says.
Everyone turns to look at me, to gauge whether leaving will be a betrayal. They all know how important today was to both of us.
My shoulders sag with grim acceptance that my dream wedding is gone. Ruined.
“That’s probably for the best.”
Jett places an arm around my shoulders, planting a kiss on my temple. I soak it in for a moment, letting my eyes flutter closed. It’ll be alright, we’ll plan for another day, and it will be just as special, because we’re together, and that’s all that matters.
As the group disperses, grabbing their coats and shoes by the door, my phone vibrates on the coffee table with an incoming call. It’s Ethan, and I wonder if the day could get any worse.
Ethan has had the café running like clockwork since I promoted him to manager. In his new role—and with the second barista we hired—I’ve been able to take more time off, only going into the café to work when I’m feeling well.
The change has been welcome, and in between my adventures with Jett, I’ve been able to focus on the big pictureoperations, turning the café into something my aunt would have been so proud of. Not fighting to make ends meet, hosting events that bring a bit of lively fun to our sleepy little town.
So Ethan calling can only mean that something is going awry.
“Hey Ethan,” I answer, hesitance obvious in my voice.
“Poppy, I’m so sorry to interrupt your day, but the power has gone out at the café, and we aren’t sure what to do to keep all the milk from spoiling.”
Panic rises in my throat. “I didn’t think the storm was going to hit Heartwood until later.”
“It isn’t, a breaker has blown or something, and I don’t know how to fix it. I was hoping maybe we could move some things to your fridge upstairs.”
I consider the dilemma for a moment, trying to come up with a solution. My apartment is locked, and I don’t keep a spare key handy.
