That’s quite a welcome.” She brushed hair out of her mouth and tried to ease out of her sister’s embrace. “Have you been using the gym? You almost crushed me.”
“I’m pleased to see you, that’s all. And of course I’ve been using the gym. My fiancé is a sports fanatic. Slouches not allowed. Come inside and see your new home, and tell me what you thought of Jordan. I can’t believe you let him carry you!”
“I wasn’t given much choice.”
“Isn’t he cute?” Rosie opened the curved door of the tree house and Katie hauled her case over the threshold.
“I would have gone with annoying.” Trying not to think about Jordan, she glanced around the room. An enormous tree stretched upward toward the cathedral ceiling. Tiny lights shimmered in the branches and decorations glinted and gleamed. In keeping with the forest theme, the decorations were delicate leaves, small birds and butterflies, the colors changing from iridescent pearl to lustrous silver in the shifting light. Katie stared at it in awe. “Well, this puts the artificial tree I bought online to shame.”
“You bought an artificial tree? Why would you do that?”
“Because I’d kill a real one.” And she hadn’t wanted another death on her conscience. “This looks as if it’s been decorated by an interior designer.”
“It’s all Catherine’s work. She designs a tree for each tree house, and six for the communal guest spaces in Snowfall Lodge.”
“She has a talent for it.” The tree was perfect, but still Katie felt a pang as she thought of the decorations that usually adorned their tree at home. Maybe they weren’t perfect, but they all told a story. “She’s the one who has taken over your wedding plans?”
“Yes, but in a good way. I wouldn’t be able to do it all myself.”
Katie glanced out of the window and wondered if Catherine was putting pressure on her sister. Rosie was so kind, she’d never tell anyone to back off.
Snow fell steadily, each flake following another on its downward journey, swirling in lazy pirouettes. “It’s like living in a snow globe.”
“Isn’t it fabulous? I’d live here forever if I could. I envy Jordan.”
Katie didn’t want to think about Jordan. She especially didn’t want to think about that embarrassing moment where she’d kissed thin air.
She bent to tug off her boots. “How are you feeling?”
“About what?”
“The wedding. Have you changed your mind? Because you can always—”
“No!” Rosie glared at her. “Stop it. I’m happy, Katie. I love Dan. I hope you’ll love him, too.”
“I’m sure I will, but let’s not speculate a moment longer. Where is he?”
“You’ll meet him in time.”
Katie wanted to meet him now. The wedding was less than a week away and the clock was ticking. The closer they got to the big day, the harder it would be to sort this mess out. She knew there was no way Rosie would break it off at the last minute. She was the type who would go ahead and get married because she didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. But she knew better than to push too hard. Softly, softly, Katie. “How is everything else? Did Mum survive the flight?”
“She had a little help.”
“You mean Dad?”
“No, I mean alcohol. She was actually drunk when she got off that plane, can you believe that?” Rosie flopped onto the comfortable sofa and stretched out her legs. “She was so embarrassing I almost opened the car door and pushed her onto the side of the road.”
“Why was it embarrassing? Dan was disapproving? Upset?”
“Dan wasn’t upset. I was upset. You don’t exactly want your mother to be drunk the first time you introduce her to your fiancé.”
“Why? Were you afraid he might dump you if he thought your mother had an alcohol problem?”
Maybe her mother hadn’t been drunk at all. Maybe it had been an act on her part to test the mettle of her new son-in-law to be.
No, her mother didn’t think that way. And Rosie had inherited her kindness of spirit.
“I wasn’t afraid Dan would dump me. What is wrong with you?” Rosie’s cheeks darkened with color and her jaw lifted. “Has it occurred to you that this relationship might be the best thing that ever happened to me?”
“No, but I don’t think like that. You’re the romantic in this family. I’m the practical one, remember?” Katie walked toward the fire and warmed her hands. She felt frozen, inside and out.
“You mean you’re the pessimist. Why do you always assume everything will go wrong? There’s a light side