Rosie stood in the pretty anteroom with her family. She felt as if a flock of butterflies were playing volleyball in her stomach.
They could hear the sounds of the string quartet wafting through from the main room, along with the low hum of conversation.
Everyone was waiting for her.
“Do I look okay?” She touched her hair, which had been cleverly styled to allow a few curling strands to fall over the shoulders of her dress. “My hands are shaking. If I confess I’m nervous, will you all assume I’m changing my mind?”
“Us?” Katie pressed her palm to her chest. “Whatever would make you think that? We’re all rational people here.”
It felt so good to be able to laugh at it. She’d been afraid of a rift, but she knew that she and her sister would always heal any rift. Their relationship was too important not to. “I can’t believe this is happening, after everything.”
“Me neither. I mean, I scared the crap out of the man and he’s still marrying you? It has to be love. But remember, it’s not too late to change your mind.” Katie ducked as Rosie took a swipe at her with her bouquet.
And then they were both laughing and Rosie pulled Katie into a hug. “I’m going to miss you when you go back to London.”
“Er, about that—”
“What?” Rosie stepped back. “You’re thinking of staying here to comfort me if my marriage falls apart by Friday?”
“I’m thinking of staying, yes, but not because of you. I happen to like it here. A lot. It’s pretty, the air is fresh, the pace of life is slower and—”
“And Jordan lives here.” As the answer came to her, Rosie smiled. “You finally agreed to a second date?”
“I’m not sure date is the word I’d use, but yes, I’m planning on staying awhile. I still have a few weeks before I have to be back. I thought I’d spend it here, doing some thinking. Mostly about my career.” Katie slipped her arm through Rosie’s and reached out to their mother who stepped forward and wrapped them both in a hug.
“That sounds like a good decision to me. And if you need to talk it through with myself or your father, or need space—whatever you need, we’re here for you.”
Rosie closed her eyes, enjoying the moment of closeness with her mother and sister.
She was lucky to have this. She knew she was lucky.
Katie sniffed and pulled away. “We’re going to mess up Rosie’s makeup. Also, the groom might have a panic attack.” She smoothed her dress and turned to their father. “How do we look?”
Nick studied them and Rosie could have sworn his eyes were shiny. “Not bad for a pair of reprobates.”
Maggie tutted. “Ignore him.”
Nick cleared his throat. “I’m proud of my girls. You both look beautiful. Of course you have your mother’s genes, so that’s to be expected.” He winked at Maggie. “How am I doing? Admit it, that was smooth.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “If you didn’t expect praise after every compliment, it would be smoother.”
“You do look beautiful, Mum,” Katie said and Maggie turned to look at herself in the mirror.
“Catherine helped me pick it out. Turns out losing your luggage can in fact have a good side. And talking of Catherine, if you three are all ready, I’d like to join her at the front. She’s probably thinking about Dan’s father, and how much he would have wanted to see this day. I want to give her moral support and make sure she knows we’re here for her. We’re all family now.” She kissed both the girls, and Nick, and then walked out of the room.
Rosie took a steadying breath.
She felt her father take her hand and slide it into his arm.
“Ready?”
She nodded, and tightened her grip on her father’s arm. Together they walked through the door to the main room with its picture windows and stunning mountain views. The chairs faced those windows, the snowy forest and snowcapped mountains providing the perfect backdrop. The floral designer had worked with Catherine to produce a perfect winter wedding. The flowers in the room mirrored those in her delicate bouquet—silver dollar eucalyptus, dusty miller, and pure white lisianthus.
It was everything she could have wanted, and she was pleased she and Dan had decided to keep their wedding small and intimate, close friends and family only.
As the music changed, heads turned to look at her and she felt a flutter of nerves.