It wasn’t too late to change her mind. Katie was arriving tonight. She and Nick could sit the girls down and explain things. They were bound to be upset, but they were going to be upset whenever it happened and there was still almost a week until the wedding. The wedding could even be a distraction.
Catherine drove toward town. “I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to have the bride’s parents still married and in love. When we have more time I’ll tell you about the last two weddings I helped plan. Nightmare! The bride’s parents were in the process of divorcing and let’s just say it was not harmonious. I know you told Dan this is like a second honeymoon for you.”
Had she said that?
Maggie wanted to get out of the car and run fast in the opposite direction, but the jeans made that impossible.
Apart from making a vow never to drink again as long as she lived, what could she do?
There was no way she could tell Catherine, or the girls, the truth.
The timing was all wrong. Nick was right. They should have done it months ago, instead of waiting. This was all her fault.
“We’re very definitely married,” she said finally. At least that was the truth. “I’m not sure I’d go as far as saying this is a second honeymoon.”
“Now you’re embarrassed, but don’t be.” Catherine glanced briefly at Maggie. “Honestly? I envy you.”
Maggie stared at her, this sleek, confident, successful superwoman whose jeans definitely weren’t cutting her in half. “You envy me?”
“Yes. You still have your soul mate. Rosie tells me that the two of you met in college. Jonny and I were the same.”
“I—I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Me too.” Catherine gripped the wheel. “But life goes on, right? You keep walking, even when your feet are bleeding and you can hardly stand upright. But it makes me happy to know you two still appreciate your couple time. Some people don’t know what they’ve got until they lose it, but you do. I wish Jonny and I had spent more time together, just enjoying each other, but we were always busy and focusing on the next step, you know?”
Maggie was a fraud, and these jeans were her punishment. “Most people forget to make the most of those small moments.”
“But you don’t.” Catherine reached across and touched Maggie’s arm. “We barely know each other, but I’m going to say this anyway and hope you don’t think I’m odd—I find you inspirational.”
“Me?”
“Yes, you! Why so surprised? You have a wonderful daughter who is open, friendly, intelligent and warm. I know how important Christmas is to you because Rosie told me all about your traditions, and how much you all love this time of year. Most women would have felt resentful and unhappy being dragged away from their home at such a special time, but instead you decide to treat it like a second honeymoon. I want to help in any way I can, so don’t hesitate to tell me how I can make the trip extra special. Candlelight dinners? Too cliché perhaps. You can do that at home.” Catherine frowned. “Snowshoeing can be romantic. Let me think about it, but I promise you, Maggie, this is going to be a Christmas you’ll remember forever.”
Maggie wasn’t about to argue with that part.
She had no idea how to unravel the tangled mess she’d made.
Couple time. Oh Maggie, Maggie...
“You’re very kind.” Because she had no idea where to take the conversation next, she focused on the scenery. Mountains rose all around them, and fresh snow gleamed under a perfect blue sky.
“I love that Rosie comes from this warm, stable family. As I say, about half the weddings I arrange, at least one set of parents aren’t speaking. It plays havoc with seating, I can tell you. And the photographs look terrible if people are glaring. I had a couple from Texas last month who refused to stand next to each other—the parents, mind you, not the bride and groom. I wouldn’t want to be spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with that family.”
Would that happen to her and Nick?
Would they gradually start to hate each other?
Maybe it would be easier if they did hate each other. Maybe then it would at least make sense.
As it was she often lay in the dark, staring up at the ceiling, and tried to work out where and why it had gone wrong. It was a puzzle she couldn’t solve and that, somehow, made