“Including you.”
“I guess.” He blew out a breath. Was that what was happening? Was he swept up in the moment? In Diana? In the idea of having the life he’d planned before that was ripped away in an instant?
“Do you want to marry Diana?”
Just hearing her name made Cliff feel all warm inside. She was everything he’d wanted in a wife—soft, smart, tender, loving, nurturing, and thoughtful. “Would you check me into a mental hospital if I said yes?”
Asher sighed. “No. But I’m not sure you’re ready for this. Wasn’t it just yesterday you said you were having a hard time acting like you were dating, and now you want to get married?”
“Was it yesterday? It’s all happened so fast, but it feels so natural.”
“You were supposed to pretend to like her. To practice your skills so you could start dating again. And then maybe, in a couple years, you could think about finding someone to spend your life with.”
“She’s already a part of my life. I just didn’t realize how much. And I can’t imagine not having her there. I’m afraid that if I call it off now, I’ll ruin any chance I’ll have of winning her heart.” A sense of desperation grabbed onto his rib cage. He could screw this up in a major way.
“So you’re going to gamble your future?”
“I know! I know it looks like that. I just … I’m in love with her.”
The line was silent.
“Did I lose you?” He pulled the phone away from his ear to check the screen. The call was still connected. “Hello?”
“Maybe,” Asher finally said, “she’s really the girl for you.”
Cliff sucked air through his teeth. “Why do you say that?” He needed some reassurance that he was not making the biggest mistake of his life.
“Because I thought it would be five years before you could say those words about another woman, and I thought I’d have to give you a pep talk to make it happen. But you just volunteered the information.”
“It’s the truth. And it’s deeper than anything I ever felt for Julianna. I can’t even believe I thought that was love.” He kicked a pile of snow. “This is so much more.”
Asher sighed again. “Do you need a best man?”
“Yes.” Cliff tipped his chin up and laughed. The thought of his brother standing next to him as he said “I do” to the girl of his dreams would make this the best Christmas of his life. “Get your butt here by five, or I’m replacing you with crazy Uncle Tom.”
Asher laughed. “Sounds like it’ll be a party. What are you going to tell Mom and Dad?”
“The truth. We weren’t planning on this, but the pieces fell into place. Do you think they’ll be upset?”
“Naw. They’ll be relieved. They’ve been more worried about you than I have. You sound happy—that’s all they want.”
“Thanks, bro. I’m calling them now.”
He gave Asher directions to the cabin and then called his parents. They were thrilled for him, though sad that they would miss the ceremony. He promised to take them out to dinner with Diana and provide proper instructions. Maybe they’d plan a small reception for close friends of the family. After the stress of his last wedding, they weren’t too eager to jump in again. He assured them that they would love Diana’s parents—they were good people. He could see David enjoying hours in a canoe when the lake thawed this spring.
As he hung up, he stroked his hand down his beard. Shoot. He couldn’t get married looking like an overgrown Brawny Man. He had to hurry up and shave, or he’d be late for his own wedding. He grinned, remembering Diana’s gift. She liked him just the way he was, so he’d keep the beard. But he’d trim it up and shape it to a length that would still tickle her cheek but make him look respectable. He hustled up the walk. He couldn’t wait to meet his bride.
Chapter 22
Diana
Pacing in a wedding gown with the three-foot lace train was impossible, but that didn’t stop Diana from trying. She tripped with each turn. Her dad watch, his eyes full of amusement. “I thought men were supposed to be the jittery ones.”
She managed a slight smile. The partitions in the barn had been put into place. The right side was set up as a bride’s room, complete with a fluffy couch and table for makeup. The center of the barn was lined with two rows of pews and the left wing was for the groomsmen.
“What are we waiting for?” She checked the clock on the wall. It was only a set of iron hands, no numbers, but she could tell they were five minutes past five.
“Cliff’s brother. He should be here any minute.” Dad worked on a splinter in his palm as he talked.
