Sadie got off the bed and came to put both her hands on Diana’s shoulders. “You’ve got cold feet. That’s totally normal. I did when I got married. And look how good that turned out.”
“But—” Diana searched for a way to come clean.
“You love Cliff, don’t you?” Sadie looked deep into her eyes.
Diana nodded. “I do. I love him. But—”
“Then there are no ‘buts.’ Every time you think about backing out, lean on that love. Draw it up inside of you and hold on to it, and all your fears will melt away.”
Not all my fears. She couldn’t possibly explain that her biggest fear was that she would scare away the man she wanted to marry with a wedding.
Mom’s phone dinged. “He said to spritz it with water and let it dry and it will relax.” She smiled, hugging her phone. “See? It’s meant to be.”
Diana held back her moan. She needed to talk to Cliff—needed to find out what was in his heart. And she needed to find a way to cancel this wedding—stat. She’d get out of the dress, put on her clothes, and kidnap him right away.
Mom and Sadie worked to get her out of the stiff satin and lace. The dress was gorgeous, the lace hand-made. How Grandma Lola managed to make such a beautiful dress in less than a month was a miracle by itself. While Mom and Sadie were in the bathroom with a spray bottle, she dressed and slipped out the door, running for the kitchen.
Sadie was already caught up in the wholedon’t see the groom before the ceremonything, and she’d do all she could to keep the two of them apart. In the kitchen, she found the preteen, teen, and early-twenty-something guys having a suds fight. They paused when they saw her, sharing looks that asked who was going to take the fall.
“Where’s Cliff?” she asked quietly.
Most of them shrugged.
Bryson popped up from behind the island. “Dad took him to get firewood.” He dropped quickly as a wet sponge flew his direction.
She threw her hands in the air. “I need to talk to him.” No one paid her any attention as they went back to their in-house water fight.
She scowled and stomped off to her room. She needed to wash her hair. But mostly, she needed a warm shower. The bathroom was the only place she was likely to get any privacy, and she needed some time to think.
Chapter 19
Cliff
Cliff rolled a heavy log behind the sled and then patted it. “Is this going to be enough?”
David slapped his leather gloves together. “That’ll make about fifteen nice-sized logs.” They worked together to tie it off to the back of the snowmobile so David could drag it back to the woodshed. “I bought a log splitter last year.” He puffed with pride.
Cliff grinned. David was a man who enjoyed his toys. He took care of his machines, getting them regularly serviced so they ran properly.
He pulled off his beanie and swiped at his forehead. “You know, Cliff, my wife can get excited about things. She gets an idea in her head and wants to plow forward. It’s one of the things I love about her. When I wanted to strike out on my own and start my company, she was right there beside me—a force of nature. She was better at sealing deals than I was, because she believed in me.”
Cliff nodded. “I’ve noticed that about her.”
David laughed. “She’s got her heart set on this wedding happening tonight.”
Here was his chance. “About that …”
“I can’t let it happen—”
Cliff breathed deeply. Finally, someone who could see his side of things.
“—unless I know for certain that you love my daughter.”
“I—Wait. You’re not calling off the wedding?”
“I might. All you have to do is tell me you’re not in love with Diana.” He put his hand on Cliff’s shoulder and made eye contact. “Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t love her or won’t love her for forever, and I’ll make it all stop.”
Cliff searched his soul. He could make the wedding go away. He could continue to keep his past buried deep where it wouldn’t haunt him. He could stop the wheels that were gaining speed underneath him and carrying him and Diana to the altar. All he had to do was … lie. “I love her, sir. I love her more than I’ve loved any other human being before. She’s the best part of my life.”
