planning this wedding, and how badly she wanted it to go ahead. She was probably furious with Maggie.
Oh well—
Bracing herself for a difficult conversation, she opened the car door and slid inside.
Catherine looked immaculate as ever, her eyes shielded by oversize sunglasses.
“I’m so happy you’ve come.” She waited for Maggie to fasten her seat belt and then headed toward town. “We have to talk.”
“I know.” Maggie leaned her head back against the seat. “Catherine—”
“Let’s wait until we get to the coffee shop. I didn’t want to risk being disturbed in the lodge. Dan took a snowmobile out somewhere, but I suppose he’ll be back at some point and I didn’t want to risk being interrupted.”
“He took a snowmobile?” Maggie slumped in the seat. “I was hoping he and Rosie would be talking about their issues.”
“He’ll be back. When Dan is hurt or has something to work out, he often takes himself off. His father was the same. There are so many things I want to say, but I need to focus and the roads are terrible after yesterday’s blizzard. And I’m dying for a soy latte.”
Maggie had a feeling they were going to need something a lot stronger than a soy latte to make them both feel better, but who was she to argue? And, as Nick had pointed out, alcohol was at least partially responsible for the position they now found themselves in.
She felt awkward. She wanted to tell the truth. She wanted to apologize, but Catherine had made it clear she wanted to postpone the conversation. And underneath it all was a simmering anxiety for both her daughters. Hopefully Nick would speak to Katie and not put his foot in it by saying something tactless, but what about Rosie? Was she on her own and upset somewhere?
“How was your day with Nick yesterday?” Catherine drove confidently. “Was the sledding fun? Was dinner romantic?”
Every word Catherine spoke reminded Maggie how much this woman had done for her. And how much she had to explain. “It was all great, thank you.”
“That’s good to know.”
“The sleigh ride back from the restaurant was magical.”
“It’s a wonderful thing. I once had a man propose to the love of his life on that sleigh ride.” Catherine glanced at her and Maggie noticed how pale she was. As if she’d been crying.
Guilt stabbed her.
“Catherine—”
“Well, look at that—parking, right outside my favorite coffee shop. It’s meant to be.” Catherine eased carefully into a space and the two of them picked their way across the snow and into the warmth.
Catherine picked a small table by the window, close to the fire. “What can I get you?”
“A cappuccino please.” Maggie reached for her bag to pay, but Catherine waved her away.
While Catherine went up to the counter to order, Maggie tried to rehearse what she might say, and then decided that there was no best way to confess that you’d been lying. She needed to come straight out with it.
When Catherine settled in the seat opposite, she took a deep breath.
“I’m glad we have this chance to talk privately. There are a few important things I have to say.”
“Me too, but can I start by saying thank you to you for at least agreeing to listen. I thought you’d be furious. You probably are furious, and I don’t blame you for that at all. I’m furious with myself. Thank you for at least giving me a hearing.”
Maggie was thrown. “A hearing? I don’t understand.”
“I’m sure you don’t. There are so many things I need to explain, but I thought it was best if we did it somewhere private so we’re not interrupted. I’ve been dreading this all morning. And talking about this morning, I apologize for walking in like that. I was going to slide my envelope with my suggestions for your romantic day under the door and leave the pastries outside, but then the door was open and I saw everyone else inside and assumed you were up and around.”
“That’s the least of our worries.” Maggie wanted to forget about the fact that half of Colorado had seen her in bed with Nick.
Catherine picked up her spoon and poked at her coffee. “This is my fault. I don’t even know where to start.”
“Start by telling me how you can possibly think any of this is your fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s Nick and I.”
Catherine frowned. “Why?”
Maggie didn’t understand why Catherine wasn’t angry, then realized it was because she didn’t have the facts. “You go first.