days together, hopefully Katie would see how she’d changed.
“Let’s go. I know Mum and Dad are dying to see you, and I want you to meet Dan’s family. And you’re going to love being out in the forest.” And she couldn’t wait to be alone with Dan. Admittedly it would be on the back of a snowmobile, but it was better than nothing. And maybe he’d pull in somewhere so that they could sneak a few moments alone in the snowy forest. The thought cheered her. “It’s a ten-minute walk along the forest path to Snowfall Lodge, or someone can pick us up if you prefer.”
“Let’s walk.” Katie pulled on her boots and they closed up the tree house, clomped their way down the steps and found the path that led through the trees. “I’ve never been in love, but I might be in love with this place.”
“I fell in love with this place the first time Dan brought me here. The leaves were starting to change color and it was spectacular. I thought it was my favorite season, but now it’s winter.” Rosie stooped to pick up a fir cone. She handed it to her sister. “Snow on the ground. Fir trees. This is how Christmas is supposed to be, don’t you think?”
“Maybe.” Katie turned the fir cone in her hands. “Where are you and Dan going to live when you’re married? Have you talked about it?”
Rosie pushed her hands into the pockets of her coat. They hadn’t talked about it. They hadn’t talked about anything, but to admit that would simply feed her sister’s anxiety. “We’ll stay at his apartment, as we do now.” She hesitated. “I’ll still be coming home to visit. And you can come and stay with me.”
“Sounds good.” Katie pocketed the fir cone. “We’d better see what Mum and Dad are up to.”
They walked through the foyer of Snowfall Lodge, past the enormous Christmas tree and the fire and up the stairs to the top floor.
The dining room seemed to be full of people, and the table groaned under the weight of food.
There was no sign of their parents.
“Here she is! The beautiful bride.” Catherine crossed the room in three strides and hugged her tightly. “We were about to send out a search party, honey. And this must be your sister, Katie. Or do I call you Dr. White?” She embraced Katie warmly.
“Definitely Katie.” Katie returned the hug awkwardly. “I’m off duty. At least I hope I am.”
“Rosie has told us so much about you. And Maggie and I had a good chat yesterday, too. I already feel like I know you. She told me all about that spelling contest at school where you made one mistake and you were so mad with yourself you locked yourself in your room for twenty-four hours. How if you made one mistake in your writing you’d throw out the whole page. I’m the same. I want everything perfect. It used to drive Dan’s father crazy, but I’m a detail person, and every detail has to be exactly right. Now come and meet everyone. On my side it’s my mother—Dan’s grandmother—Granny Sophie. And her sister, Great-Aunt Eunice. On Dan’s father’s side—” she pulled Katie around the room, introducing her to everyone.
Katie looked a little shell-shocked. Rosie didn’t blame her for that. Catherine was the kindest person she’d ever met, but sometimes being with her was like standing in front of a snow plow. If you didn’t move out of the way fast, you were flattened.
Still, at least so far Katie wasn’t bombarding Catherine with questions about Dan.
She was charming to everyone, and after a few minutes she glanced around the room.
“Catherine, have you seen my parents?”
“Maggie called and said they were running late. It was probably that exquisite French lingerie I persuaded her to buy yesterday.” Catherine gave a saucy wink. “Jordan is on his way, so he’s going to give them a ride over, to save them walking.”
Rosie was trying to delete the image of her mother parading around the tree house wearing sexy lingerie.
“Jordan?” Katie’s friendly smile froze in place.
“Believe me, your parents will be safe with him. Everyone is safe with Jordan. He’s like a son to me. And what that boy doesn’t know about trees isn’t worth knowing. I told your mama, with her love of the garden she should be grilling him for information. Katie, help yourself to food, honey. Don’t hold back. The pancakes are excellent, the bacon is cured right here