"Then it's settled. I want this arranged in the space of three weeks." He glanced at his calendar. "Which will take us into the first week of May."
"A spring wedding." Lori clapped her hands. "Just leave everything to us."
"She must not suspect anything. We'll have her thinking that we're getting married on the ship." A smile touched his lips. "When we make port, she'll know then that she's getting her dream wedding."
*****
"Problem?" he asked, glancing over at her as she sighed.
It was a Saturday and he had decided to cancel his meetings and work from home. Which had turned out to be a very wise decision indeed as she had been suffering from severe heartburn and constipation. The housekeeper had come and gone and they were now ensconced in the living room, with the fire crackling in the hearth and the snow coming down steadily outside.
"How do you keep track of all the uncles, aunts and cousins? Not to mention grandparents on both sides who're still alive?" She looked over at him in exasperation. "And we're going to have to invite all of them to the wedding."
"They're all looking forward to it and to meeting you."
She already met both sets of grandparents via video call and was relieved it was over and done with. Now she was going to have to face close to fifty people! Her eyes flew to his face, darkening at his knowing grin.
"This is too much." She started to rub her belly in agitation. "I think we should elope." She stared at him hopefully. "Just hop on the plane and fly to Vegas. We'll explain to them that we just wanted to get it over and done with."
"Now darling." Putting aside his laptop, he rose to join her on the comfortable ruby red sofa. Slinging a hand around her shoulder, he peered at her list. "I suggested that and you mentioned that my mother would skin us alive."
"I love your mother and your brothers and sisters and of course the various children. But this." She waved at the list. "This is taking things too far. Will I be expected to talk to them? Remember their names?"
"Nope." He said cheerfully, drawing her against him. "They love to talk and do not mind if you don't answer. They're perfectly happy to carry on the conversation."
She leaned into him and sighed. "These are all your people. Won't they find it weird that there's no one there for me?"
He heard the wistful tone and felt his heart aching.
Turning her around, he lifted her chin, his expression sober.
"We've had this discussion before. You have me. I'm your family and so are the others. No one will think anything of it. Lori had the same issue. She only had a drunken father who caused a scene, which was dealt with discreetly." He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. "I want the day to be perfect or as close to that as possible for you, for us. Now, how about putting away that list and going for a walk?"
She looked pointedly at the snow coming down, but he merely grinned. "I have the strangest urge to build a snow man."
"You're mad."
"Let's be mad together." Rising, he pulled her up and wrapped his arms around her. "I love you."
*****
"This is crazy!" She shouted above the sudden whip of icy wind that sent the fat snowflakes whirling.
"But fun!" he shouted back with a grin. He loved to see her laughing and would do anything to bring it about.
"How about we finish up with this very masculine dude and go and have some hot chocolate." Propping his hands on his hips, he studied the snowman he had shaped and created with painstaking care. "We should take pictures to show the family. He kinda looks like Andreas. Just need the arrogant expression and they could be twins."
His grin widened when her laughter pealed out, shattering the eerie silence.
"I was thinking he looks an awful lot like you. What happened to the usual fat snow guy with the protruding belly and beady eyes?" They had brought out a scarf and hat that were now decorating the sculpture.
"That's so yesterday." He patted one muscular arm and stared approvingly at the flat belly. "We've started our own trend. We should call it the snow mobster. Stick a gun in those hands and we're good to go."
She sent him a pained glance. "In case you're forgetting, you have nieces and nephews who sometimes come around for a visit."
"Ah yes." He tilted his head as if thinking about it. "No guns then. Perhaps a sword. He'd look dashing with a rapier." He pursed his lips as he stared at the bright red scarf she had draped around his neck. "Do you think it makes him look too girly?"
Biting back a grin, she adjusted the scarf. "I'm not doing this with you. The scarf stays."
