“You didn’t care?”
“No. I wanted her. Nothing else mattered. I never regretted it. Not for a moment.”
“She was lucky.”
“I was the lucky one.”
Was there anything sweeter than a man who loved his wife? She had hoped to be on the receiving end of that at this age. God had other plans for her. She’d reconciled with him about that a long time ago. He gave her Rafael. Her beautiful son.
“I wish Susanna were here to see Lisa get married. She would’ve enjoyed this whole thing immensely. My wife loved a good party.” He placed the palm of his hand against his forehead. “What’s wrong with me? I came in here to charm you into agreeing to dance with me at the wedding, and I’ve done nothing but talk about my wife.”
Rosa wasn’t sure what to say, other than he couldn’t expect to simply move on as if his marriage hadn’t existed. “She was a big part of your life for thirty years.”
“Yes, she was. Still, I’m alive, and it’s time I started acting like it. I’ve grieved her for three years. It’s time to start living again.”
“Sometimes the thing we’re supposed to do seems impossible until we do it. The fear of the unknown is usually worse than what comes to pass.” She set aside her mug and glanced outside the window. Night had fallen hours ago, but outside lights illuminated the long icicles that hung from the roof of the house. She’d never seen icicles in real life, only in Hallmark movies. This was a trip of firsts.
She leaned against the counter on her elbows from the other side of the island from where he sat. They chatted for a few minutes about the wedding. She surprised herself by telling him how mortified she’d been to learn that Lisa was only going along with her wishes for the ceremony. “Our little Pepper Shaker had to set us all straight.”
“Those girls know everything there is to know about one another,” he said.
She agreed with a nod of her head. “True.” Pepper had to force Lisa to admit she wanted a wedding in a snowy mountain town instead of Cliffside Bay. “I was embarrassed—suddenly I’d turned into one of those pushy mothers-in-law people talk about.”
“It all worked out for the best,” he said. “And Pepper and Stone fell in love.”
“You know about that?” she asked.
“Pepper told me the story today,” he said. “It’s darn romantic.”
Pepper and Stone had been snowed in for a few days in this very house. Just long enough to fall in love. Their wedding would be next.
“She told me this house has magical powers. People fall in love here.” Dominic raised his thick eyebrows. “Do you think it works for old people or just young ones?”
“I’m assuming only the young,” Rosa said.
“We have four days to find out.”
This was one bold man.
“I guess we do.” She smiled over at him and promised herself to wear the good lipstick for the rest of those four days.
4
LISA
The morning of the rehearsal dinner, Lisa sat in the lobby of the lodge with her mother, her father, and David. They were in four comfortable chairs arranged around a coffee table. Floor-to-ceiling windows looked out to the snow-covered meadow at the foot of the mountain. Bright morning sun made the snow sparkle. Beyond, early-morning skiers peppered the slopes in their bright jackets. A fat Christmas tree scented the air with fir needles. Logs burned bright in the stone fireplace and warmed the side of Lisa’s face as she waited for Mom to share the purpose of this unexpected family get-together.
Her mother had texted at the crack of dawn that they needed to meet as a family. Lisa assumed it was to talk about David’s return to Iowa. She almost declined but didn’t want to leave David alone to deal with their mother.
Mom seemed jumpier than usual. She startled when a child came running into the lobby, and she kept fluffing the same section of her hair. Lisa wished Mom had brought her knitting. At least then she had something to do with her hands.
“Mom, can I get you something?” David asked. “Did you eat any breakfast?”
Lisa had noticed how thin her mother was the moment they arrived. She’d always been slender, but she seemed brittle, as if her bones could snap at the slightest touch.
“We had a bite at the house, yes.” Mom smoothed her wool trousers with the tips of her fingers. “Warren, do you want to tell them, since this is what you want?”
She took a good look at Dad. His skin looked almost green. Had he and the rest of the guys tied one on last night? She peeked over at David. He, too, seemed drawn and tired. The kids had probably kept him up half the night. They never slept well away from home.
