Page 37 of A Winter's Wedding

“Coming right up,” she said.

“So, you two got hitched in Vegas?” Paul said.

“I guess we’re getting right to it,” Vivian said and nudged Paul with her elbow into his ribs.

America looked at Leo. “You told them? You went behind my back and against my wishes?”

“Are you actually upset that I did, or do you feel relieved that you don’t have to pretend anymore?” Leo asked and held her gaze until she capitulated.

America focused on her mother’s face. “I didn’t know how to tell you. Plus, you were on a cruise when all this happened. I thought we could just carry on and no one would be any the wiser,” she said and held her mom’s hand across the table. “I’m sorry I lied about it. It’s just that sometimes there’s no easy answer.”

“The truth is always the easiest way out, dear.”

“Your mother’s right,” Paul said as the waitress placed a soda and water onto the table. “And we’re not mad at you in the slightest. So, you got married already, who cares? We are just happy for you both.”

“But what about the wedding, all that money?” America whined. “Everyone is looking forward to the big day, and how do I cancel everything this late?”

“We figured, we could still have the ceremony and reception as planned. Maybe we could tell everyone the truth about what happened in Vegas. No harm, no foul. We just don’t want to let anyone down,” Leo said, and America nodded in agreement.

“What is it that you two want? Really.” Vivian asked.

“Earlier I said that I wanted to go back in time and redo the last week of my life, but now…” America looked at Leo and smiled. “I just want to go home, with my husband.” Leo mouthedI love youand she kissed him lightly on the lips. This man, who swept her off her feet and made her see herself through a new lens, not the version she thought people wanted to see but the real America. She wanted nothing more than to get him alone, with a bottle of wine, and a good romcom on the TV. What she craved now, more than ever, was a normal day.

“The wedding is two days away. If you want to move forward with your plan, your father and I will help keep your secret, though I don’t know how long before someone finds out. You know how small towns are. But if that’s what you want to do…”

“And there’s the magazine to consider,” America said remembering that all the couples who got married alongside them were to be listed in the next issue.

“Well, if we can’t have it, why don’t we just give the wedding to Carol and Pa. Solve everyone’s problems,” Leo laughed but America didn’t find it funny.

“That’s not a bad idea,” Vivian said. She looked up to the ceiling as though she might find the answer written there.

“Wait. I was totally joking,” Leo said and mumbled through a backtrack of what he had just suggested.

Considering her mom and Leo, America ran scenarios in her mind about how it could work. She could call Carol and they could hatch a plan together to surprise Pa. All the same people would be there whether it was America and Leo, or Carol and Pa getting married. After all, they were already the best man and maid of honor for the ceremony. It could work.

“I know that look,” Paul said as his towering sandwich arrived. He clapped his fingers together and grinned at the plate of food. “Sandwich time.”

“And who’s gonna tell Carol and Pa?” Leo said, probably regretting having spurred the women’s imaginations on.

Chapter21

Having dropped their broken-into, over-priced rental car off in Buffalo, the foursome carpooled to a cute bed and breakfast a few hours closer to home. On recommendation from a friend of Paul’s, America’s father secured two rooms in a place near Rome for the night where America got right to work.

Running down the staircase, America squealed the good news. “You guys. She’s in!” She turned through the arched cased opening and realized her party wasn’t alone in the sitting room. “Sorry,” she said in a more restrained tone to the elderly couple reading beside the fireplace. She tiptoed the remaining steps to where her parents and Leo sat at a game table beside the window. “Carol said all we need to do is show up, act like everything is normal. She’s got it from there.”

“How did she take the news?” Mom asked.

“I think somehow, she already knew. It seemed like she wasn’t surprised at all and kind of giggled when I told her what happened in Las Vegas,” America said and mimicked the little laugh. “I’ve never heard her so giddy. Anyway, When I realized that everyone is going to know the truth once my article is published, the deception wouldn’t have worked, and now everyone will get the big wedding event they want.”

“You could still have just told everyone and still had the reception to celebrate with everyone,” Paul said while shuffling a deck of cards.

“I see that now. I think I just wanted everything to be so perfect and really impress everyone in town that I lost sight of what the wedding day is all about. But don’t worry. This is going to be so much better.”

“I can tell you’re feeling better about this,” Leo said as she sat sideways on his lap, even though there was a vacant chair at the table. “What are you going to do for a dress? I feel so bad that you won’t be able to wear it. I bet you would have looked magnificent in it.”

She nuzzled his neck and kissed his cheek. “We’ll never know.”

Vivian put her hand up like she was a student in a classroom. “Why don’t I call that great little shop in Elizabethtown where I got my dress and see what they have on short notice. You’re a sample size anyway, maybe they have something that’ll work.”

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