Page 40 of A Winter's Wedding

Carol nodded and her eyes glassed over.

“And you’re done holding onto the pain of your past?”

She nodded again.

“You know that your father’s mistakes were never yours to hold onto in the first place, right? You deserve to be truly happy, and on your own terms.” America hugged Carol for a moment. “Now that we have that understood, what is the plan for tomorrow?”

“That’s easy. Everything will proceed as though you and Leo are still having the wedding, but when you get to the end of the aisle, I’ll take it from there. Do you trust me?” Carol said with a devious grin that should have scared America, but only piqued her curiosity more.

“I’m ready. Leo is ready. Mom and Dad know what’s going on. And Pa?”

“He’s used to thinking on his toes. I think he’ll figure out what’s really going on quick enough. But...” Carol paused, and her face deflated. “What if he says no?”

“I don’t think that’ll happen. But if it does, you slap a smile on your face, understood?” America repeated her mom’s earlier advice about a possible hideous dress, and hoped it was enough to work in this situation too.

“And then say something snarky and self-deprecating?” Carol smiled again, though America knew she was deflecting her real feelings.

“If that’s what feels right in the moment.” She rubbed her hands up and down the back of Carol’s arms to reassure her. “Now, I need to get out of here to do some laundry and take a shower.” America headed to the door. “I’m right across the street if you need me, okay?”

“I can’t believe we’re going to do this, but I feel better now that you’re actually back. Thank you for rushing over here.” Carol said as America opened the front door. “Oh, and I almost forgot. Congratulations.”

“Thanks, Carol,” America said and kissed both of Carol’s cheeks. “See you tomorrow.”

Chapter23

With two cups of cider in hand, Leo walked down the hall that led from the kitchen at the rear of America’s house to the formal parlor, which was one of the only completed rooms in her fixer-upper Victorian. He hated how long the renovation had taken so far, but they had both put far more energy into getting The Foundry up and going than they had into finishing her home. He passed the framed photos of their adventures hanging on the exposed lath board and was reminded that this was nowhishome too.

Even though America acquired the property before their engagement, he had somehow always known that he would live here someday. Now that they were married, he could finally move out of his trailer and into an actual house, although wishing for a draft-free structure was apparently too much to ask for at this point in his life. With The Foundry resort running smoothly and bringing in a profit, he could finally invest in making the house their home.

“What are you smiling about?” America asked as he came into the light of the fireplace. His contentment must have been showing.

Leo handed her a mug and sat beside her on the one new piece of furniture they had purchased together, a leather chesterfield sofa. She had liked it for its rich historic look, while he had liked the tobacco color that reminded him of his dad smoking his favorite cigars. Whatever their reasons, he was satisfied to let the warm leather hug him in.

“I was just thinking about how perfect this house is for us. Or it will be when we finish it,” Leo said and clinked his mug against hers. “I can just picture us sitting here, little kids running circles around a beautiful Christmas tree, hosting grand parties, and loving you more every day.” He liked the way his words excited America and blushed her cheeks.

“Is that right?” she said. “And what else have you been imagining since I saw you five minutes ago?”

“I saw us sitting by the fire and laughing ourselves to sleep, me carrying you up the stairs to our bedroom, and?—”

She stopped him with a kiss, which did less than she probably hoped to quell his musings. “I get the idea.”

“Are you ready for tomorrow? It’s going to be crazy.”

“It’s nuts,” America said. “I can’t believe we’re going to do this. Carol is a ball of nerves, and I must admit, I am too. what if Pa says no to her?”

“He won’t,” Leo said and bit back his own grin.

“Leopold, what did you do?” she said with her hand propped on her hip the way he liked.

His hands went up as though to say he didn’t do anything, but the truth was itching to escape. “I warned Pa, and he… He gave me something.” Leo walked to the foyer where his coat hung on a nail on the wall and returned with a dainty box covered in faded golden velvet. “He’s been carting this thing around since Desert Storm.”

Leo handed her the box. She hesitated, bewilderment glazing her eyes. The box creaked and opened uneasily in her fingers. “It’s a ring?” America presented the contents to him as though he hadn’t yet seen the silver engagement ring with a yellow stone propped up at the center.

“He planned to propose when he made it home from the war, but when he got back, he was met with a cold and sour version of the woman he loved.”

“And he held onto it this whole time?”

“Now you know why I had to warn him about tomorrow. Pa knows Carol is planning something romantic for him after our vows, and he wants to be ready to beat her to the punch.”

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