Page 44 of A Winter's Wedding

“Did you have any idea we were surprising you tonight?” Poppy asked.

“None. I thought Leo and I were just going to have a nice quiet pre-wedding evening. Where is he anyway?” Everyone shrugged suspiciously. “Mom, do you know?”

“I told you, he’s with your father.”

“Why do I feel like there’s more going on here?” America said and watched out the window to determine where they were heading. The gravel road gave it away. “What’s happening at The Foundry?”

Jenny and Thandie, seated in the far back row, laughed about something which only caused America to be more curious. “Tell me, will ya?”

“Patience. You’ll find out in about ninety seconds,” Thandie said, and America wondered which one of them was more neurotic about tracking the time.

Ninety seconds wasn’t too much to wait. She used the time to calm her nerves with a few more swigs and peered out into the night. The van came over the newly installed covered bridge, lit by the little lights strung along the eaves, and into The Foundry parking lot. All the lights were on inside the building and illuminated the whole driveway. Outside the entry door, she spotted her favorite horse.

“Bingo’s here? Whatever for?” America clapped and was anxious to greet her furry friend. “Are we going on some sort of sleighride?” America opened the sliding door and hopped out first.

“Get back in here,” Vivian said and pulled the van alongside America as she walked towards the front doors. Poppy reached out and tugged her back inside the vehicle like she was being kidnapped. Vivian pressed the gas and continued past the main building and down the narrow road leading to the lake without even closing the van door.

The headlights bounced off of the bright white snow and ice in front of them. America was surprised the lake still held some water since last spring’s rains, especially after it had been dry for so long beforehand. An expert came in during the fall to assess the reasons and long-term viability of the Cove retaining its water. Years of healthy wildflower and tall grass growth had created a dense root structure below the sediments. And like a tightly woven canvas, the water stayed.

Their frozen little lake was beautiful. The sight of men dancing around the bonfire on the lakeshore was unexpected.

Chapter25

With the headlights shining across cleared ice, the girls piled out of the van and joined the men by the bonfire. America spotted her dad chatting with Pa, who were about the same age. Coming between them, Leo draped his arms around both older men and caused a riotous laugh. John, Leo’s brother chatted up Cam, who stopped the conversation when his wife, Jenny stumbled down the shore.

“Whoa, Jenny,” Cam said and took her under his arm. Cam kissed her on the lips but pulled back from her just as fast as he had dived in. “Whoa, babe! How much did you drink?”

Jenny held up the nearly empty bottle and giggled.

“All that?” Cam asked, his concerned squinted eyes glinted in the firelight.

America stepped up to save her. “She barely had any. We’ve all been sharing it.”

“Listen to me, Cameron Townsend.” Jenny poked a finger into Cam’s chest, depressing the puffy coat. “I’m not used to it. I only weaned Charlotte a couple weeks ago. And it’s a party. What’s a girl supposed to do?”

“She’s got a fair point, Cam,” America said and took Jenny’s hand. “I’ll handle this.”

Leo met them and handed Jenny a bottle of water. “Can you believe this?” he whispered to America as he leaned in to peck her cheek.

She shook her head back and forth. “This is wild,” she said as she watched all of her favorite people gathered together in one place. Even though she just wanted to be in bed, the evening was likely to be an unforgettable one.

Thandie, always the director, stood on a wooden bench made out of cut tree stumps and wooden planks, and clapped her hands to get their attention. “We’re all here tonight to celebrate these two gorgeous humans on the eve of their wedding. I think I can speak for all of us here when I say that we want nothing more than for you two to have a wonderful life together. We love you.”

As the group clapped and cheered, Leo pulled America into his chest. With an arm behind her back, he dipped her low and pressed his lips to hers. She loved the overly dramatic show of their affection and wondered just how muchhehad had to drink since being kidnapped. She, however, did not mind the feel of his pillowy mouth pressing into hers, tipsy or not.

“Alright. Alright, you two. Enough of the lovey-dovey stuff,” Thandie said.

Leo finished kissing her properly and came up for air, righting America and balancing her with a hand on the small of her back. “If it wasn’t for a bonfire like this one, I don’t know if any of us would be here celebrating tonight,” Leo said and moved his thumb along her spine.

The memory of the Bonfire of the Fears flooded America’s mind. Her heart warmed as she realized just how correct Leo was. They had written their fears on scraps of paper and thrown in them into the flames with the hope of being released from whatever held them back. “Good thing we’re such bad shots or I don’t know if we would have ever told each other the truth.”

“That I want to spend the rest of my life with you?” Leo said and rubbed the tip of his nose against hers.

“I guess we have this bonfire to thank too,” Thandie said, stealing their attention back to herself. Little glowing embers fell from the sky around her and the fire acted like a spotlight on her tan skin. From behind Thandie, Grant leaned in and nudged his elbow into the side of her leg. She smiled broadly, her lips framing enviable pretty teeth, before hardening her features at him. “Enough of this happy talk. This isn’t a time for peace. It’s time for battle!” She growled the last word and caused them all to chuckle.

“Is that so?” Grant hopped up onto the bench beside Thandie and bumped her off with his hip. “This bachelor and bachelorette party isn’t your traditional event.”

“There’s no strippers,” Thandie teased. “Sorry, boys.”

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