Page 15 of A Winter's Wedding

“This is America and I’m Leopold.”

“Leopold and America, you have lit a flame.” She pantomimed a flame burning in the palms of her hands. “And the fire should be kindled. Your blaze represents love and, just like a fire, your love must be tended to. The new ember, sparked by your love, represents a new beginning, a new life. No longer one, as two, your flame will grow, just like your family will grow. You are meant to be united until old age, when the natural course of a flame extinguishes and returns you to the ground,” Doba said, and added a word in her native language. “Eat of the bread and burn the rest in the fire pit as an offering to the earth.”

They followed Doba’s instructions, taking a bite and tossing the remaining bread to the fire. With this act, a serenity settled inside Leo, and he released the uneasy feelings he had about the unorthodox way their marriage began. If he desired to have a love as big as the one his parents shared, Doba’s blessing was certainly helping things off in the right direction.

They said their goodbyes and thanks and walked without words to their waiting SUV. America beamed as they drove the short distance to Four Corners. Though Leo wasn’t speeding, exactly, there wasn’t any posted speed limit on the dirt road. He was sure he was traveling faster than he should have; anxious to get to their next stop. Nahele had been correct, and the drive took a little over thirty minutes.

Pulling up to the parking area on the southeast side of the square, they crossed the border between Arizona into New Mexico, and parked. One other car crawled up the dirt road behind them but parked on the adjacent side. America hopped down from the car first and kicked up a cloud of loose dust with her feet.

“I’m not used to this free-wheeling version of you. I’m normally the one pulling you from your comfort zone, and here you are…” Leo kissed the side of her head as they walked to the center of the monument. “Running enthusiastically into new experiences.”

“Is this going to be a problem for you?” she chuckled.

“No. I like it, it’s just different. I don’t even see you check your watch anymore.”

“Well,” America said and skipped to the junction of the four state’s border lines and lay on the ground like a starfish. “I’ve never been in four places at once. If I can do this, I can do anything.”

Leo could see her pink cheeks lighting up as the morning sun kissed her skin. She was the most beautiful bride he had ever seen. His bride. He was still unsure how he ended up with someone that was so clearly out of his league, that he shook his head quickly to make certain he wasn’t fantasizing.

“Alright,” he nudged her over with his toe. “My turn to be multi-spatial.”

She scooted and they lay beside each other looking at the various flags flying over each quadrant. Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. Leo couldn’t help but think of how uninhabitable the landscape was in this part of the country, and that people, for thousands of years, had found a way to live in harmony with the land despite the unforgiving conditions.

Time ticked by, and his eagerness to get home and begin his life with his new wife swelled in his heart. Leo stood and brushed the dirt from his pants and shirt. He pulled America off the ground and to her feet and helped her with the dirt covering her bottom. She didn’t seem to mind his touch, but a blush warmed her face. Whether they were married this week or next, made no difference to him in the long run, he was just glad to have the stunning woman beside him.

They snapped a selfie together with the four pie pieces of the border visible behind them and headed back to the car. On the glass of the rear windshield, caked with fine dust, America used her finger to write the wordsColorado or Bust.

Chapter9

A maid of honor’s duty wasn’t something Carol had plans to shirk any time soon. In her whole life, no bride had ever offered her the opportunity until now. Her job, up until yesterday, had been mostly uneventful, but now she was on full duty. America and Leo wouldn’t be home in Christmas Cove for days. It was up to her to keep plans moving forward, and she was overjoyed to do the work… with a little help.

Carol could have just called Edwin, but she convinced herself to march right up to the front door of the man’s little lodge. She peered through an open window but there was no sign of Edwin. It was a mistake for her to think he would be around, and she doubted that he would even want to help her.

Seeing the folly in her ill-timed expression of wishful thinking, she turned and marched right back down the porch steps. The thick scent of fresh boiling hops perfumed the air as it floated across the front yard, and she fought the urge to seek out the source in the attached shed.

“Carol, is that you?” Edwin’s voice sounded from inside the shed. “I’m around back. You need somethin’?”

Indecision held her in place for longer than she liked. Carol hated to admit it, but there was something about this vexing man that she had always been drawn to. Despite her thoughts about running back to her home on Main Street, she entered the shed instead.

“I can smell your witch’s brew from down the road,” she teased. “What is it this time, rat’s bone and grass clippings?”

“You know very well I don’t use rat in my batches. It’s squirrel bones. And I expect you to show some respect to the dead next time you barge into my lair.”

Carol laughed at how ridiculous he sounded when he played with her. But this is how they were. Years of bitterness had begun to melt away last winter but only exposed an awkward unsaid truth between them. Pride had kept them apart for a long time, and the silly teasing threatened to unbind her steely heart. Perhaps her biggest mistake after spending all these years as rivals was hoping somehow, they could become something else.

Carol came around a copper vessel positioned in the center of the shed and crossed her arms in front of her chest. Standing near Edwin, she watched him wield a large wooden paddle and stir the contents. “I was only kidding about the rat’s bone. It smells divine. What is it really?”

“I’m trying a new recipe; figs and pecans. What do you think?” Edwin said.

“It could be interesting. When will it be ready to try?”

“Soon.” Edwin removed the paddle and tapped the liquid off using the edge of the pot. “It’s for the wedding. I wanted to surprise Leo. He’s the only person around here that likes my brews.”

“That’s not true. I like smelling them. But you know I don’t drink beer,” Carol said and wafted the rising steam towards her nose. She took a long whiff. “Definitely figs in there. Do you think he’ll like it?”

“I hope so. I’m making a large batch,” Edwin chuckled. “Do you know if they made it back alright? I didn’t see lights on in his trailer last night.”

“Does Leo know you spy on him like that?” Carol asked and walked around the space.

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