Page 12 of A Winter's Wedding

“So, you need me to help out with some of the last-minute items before the wedding. I am the maid of honor and it’s my duty to help the bride in a time of need.”

Not having considered a charade as a viable option, it now seemed like a ruse might work out after all. No one would need to know that she and Leo were already married. It was the church and the ceremony, and the reception with all their favorite people around, that mattered most. America would worry about the guilt of lying to everyone later.

“Carol, you’re a life saver. Well, a wedding saver maybe.”

“What’s in your planner for the next couple days?”

From her tote, America pulled out her wedding planning book. She opened the peony-covered cover and flipped to the calendar section. She scrolled the page with her finger. “Monday is the final menu selection at The Foundry with Alfonso. Tuesday is the day I was supposed to select the fresh flowers with Thandie. And on Wednesday, I should be able to make it in time for your dress fitting. I don’t want to miss it.”

“If you’re not back yet, I’ll just make Edwin come with me.” Carol laughed, and America pictured Carol dragging the old soldier around town doing the most girly things. “Other than that, consider it handled. You just concentrate on getting home safely. We’ll all do what we can here in the meantime.”

“I have no doubt you’ll do a great job. I appreciate it, and make sure to be careful. Apparently, there’s some big storm heading your way. That’s why all the flights heading east were canceled.” America saw Leo exit the little trading post with a big smile splashed across his face, and she wondered what had put him in such a cheerful mood. “I need to let you go, but just call me if you have any questions. And don’t be too worried if you can’t reach me for a stretch, we’re pretty much in no man’s land right now.” Leo opened the driver’s door and climbed in. America held up a finger and finished her call. “Thanks Carol. Talk soon.”

Leo passed her a chilled bottle of Dr. Pepper and a bag of her favorite sour cream and onion flavored chips. “I think I succeeded with my snack task. How did Carol take the news?”

“She’s fine with it,” America said.

“She wasn’t too shocked?”

“Well…” America cranked open the bottle lid and took a swig. The spicy bubbles sank down her throat and gave her a moment to word the next part just right. “I was about to tell her everything about the wedding being off, but she was so excited and said that everyone is looking forward to it so much. I couldn’t let her down and break her heart. I told her our flights were canceled and that we won’t be back to town until Tuesday at the soonest. So, she asked how she can help us move things along with the wedding and I decided there’s no harm in going ahead with the ceremony and party. I think we’ll regret not celebrating with the people we love.”

“I’m on board if you’re certain. So long as nothing else goes wrong,” Leo said.

“It’s settled then. We just pretend like nothing happened this morning.”

“Do we have to pretend about all of it?” Leo smirked.

“How about we just get to the hotel. Where are we staying tonight anyway?” America pulled out a cheap tourist map that she picked up at the car rental place and unfolded the half dozen sections. “It looks like there’s nothing from here to the other side of the Rockies.”

“The guy inside said there’s a place a couple hours from here near Four Corners. He said there would be signs when we get closer. You might not like it though.”

“Leo? Why won’t I like it?” She buckled her seat belt. “Where are you taking me?”

“He said it’s a little rustic, but it’s either this, or drive another few hours,” Leo said and pressed the ignition button on the center console. Pressing it again, nothing happened.

“What’s the matter?” America asked, though it was clear the car wasn’t starting.

“Jeez, I don’t know, America. The car won’t start for some reason.” Leo snapped his answer.

“Well, I didn’t do it. Don’t take it out on me.”

Leo pulled out his phone and typed something into the rental car chat app, while America popped open the glove compartment. A laminated trifold card sat right on top, with the word ‘Troubleshooting’ typed across the front. She opened it and skimmed the page.

“Leo, is the car in park?”

“Of course, it is,” he said sharply, and checked the shifter buttons anyway. “Well, no.” Leo pressed the P button and tried the ignition again. The engine started like it was supposed to. “Sorry,” Leo said with a sheepish crack to his tone. “I guess I had already shifted to drive before hitting the ignition. I didn’t mean to snap at you. I guess I’m feeling the stress of this drive more than I thought.”

“I’m just glad we can get on our way. The last thing we need is another delay,” America said with a sigh of relief as Leo pulled out from underneath the shade of the gas station roof.

For February, the desert sun was unforgiving. Though the temperature outside was cold, the rays poured through the windshield and heated the air inside the glass. Outside, dry wind whistled across the barren land and looked nothing like winter should. Cold, and cozy, and blanketed in white, that’s what winters are for.

The highway snaked out in front of them and dipped into a gulch-like canyon in the distance. The landscape of southern Utah consisted of rolling hills stained red with ancient rust. Small round bushes, gray from winter, carpeted the ground like sad little monuments to the harshness of life there. The scenery was so unlike home with its tall green pines and flocked split-rail fences that America would give anything to see a snowflake or two.

The hours passed by quickly, and slowly at the same time. There was little differentiation from one mile to the next, red earth, little greenery, and towering mesas on the horizon. The landscape lulled her into a daydream. America found herself picturing the date night she shared with Leo in Vegas, between one mile marker and another. Even though it was only last night, so much had happened that the moment felt remote in her mind, like it had all been a wonderful illusion.

Needing to feel her husband and ground herself in reality, she laced her fingers with Leo’s where their arms rested on the console between the two front seats. When she finally saw the brown road-sign indicating lodging ahead, she checked the map to see exactly where they were. Leo followed the signs to where the road split off from the sleek blacktop highway and turned into a red dirt road heading north.

He paused at the intersection and looked at her. “It’ll be fine. Nothing to worry about.”

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