“You know, Myrtle, I used to have this thing with elevators. I haven’t had to cry in one for ages. I think the curse is broken.”
“That’s because we’re watching out for ya now.” Myrtle gave her a cold hug, and they jumped out the elevator doors and into the warm penthouse.
They stripped off Myrtle’s parka, boots, and hat by the doorway, revealing her red velvet jacket with rhinestone buttons over a full red velvet skirt. Wow.
“Myrtle, you came through this snow for me. I love you, you sweet old thing.” She hugged her, then shivered. “Let’s have some hot tea.”
“Honey, it’s gonna take a miracle to get this wedding together today, but that’s what we’re gonna do. You brew up that tea. I’m gonna make some phone calls while the lines are still up.” Myrtle plopped down on the sofa with the portable phone and threw Sam’s mohair blanket over her lap.
Kelly went to the kitchen and rummaged for the tea, snagged two bags, filled two mugs of her brand-new Portmeirion china with instant hot water from the sink, and let it brew. Modern life had its perks.
By that time, Myrtle had already finished one call and was on to another.
“Yep, that’s the size of it. Can you do it in an hour? Okay, doll face, I love you, too, and tell your daughter she can have a free color and cut for this. ’Bye now.”
Kelly sat down beside her, setting their tea on the small table in front of them.
“I can make it, Myrtle, I’ll just have to get married in snow gear. I’ve been walking about a mile or two a day anyway. Nothing is going to keep me from this wedding.”
“Looks like the storm is lettin’ up some. Jake Jacobsen up on the hill says he can see it lifting, and there’s less falling at his place now. Don’t you worry, we’ll get there one way or t’other. Now let’s see about yer hair, there—I might have to put it up so the weather won’t blow it all to poodle-doo.”
“Leave it to you to put the hair first.”
“Of course, darlin’, of course.”
Sam zipped a silver ski coverall over his black tux and stuck a helmet on his head.
“Ready, Sis, Tad, Earl? Mom? Dad?” His parents and two sisters appeared from doorways and stairways. Under ski parkas and heavy boots you could see bits of red velvet sticking out.
His sisters had red roses in their hair and looked like angels. He knew better, but they looked pretty anyhow. Their two patient husbands stood behind them. Tad and Earl were great guys.
It was great to see his family troop up and get into the four-wheel-drive spirit. Nothing on earth, or out of the sky, was going to stop this wedding.
“We’ve got the plan, then, Dad, you pick up as many people as you can, get to the church, make sure the reverend is there, and make damn sure Lynnette Stivers isn’t. I’ll take the snowmobile over to Jacobsen’s and help get the sleigh team hitched up. Then we’ll get the bride and see you there. I love you all. Drive safe, Dad,”
“Son, I’m a skier. I’ve driven in worse. This is nothing. Okay, Grayson women, assorted spouses, let’s get to a wedding!” His dad took the rear and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek over her shoulder. “You look like a bride yourself, Evelyn. Will you marry me all over again?”
Evelyn gathered up the long skirt of her ice-blue wool suit and stuffed the last of it under her full-length quilted ice-blue down coat. She put the hood up, framing her face in white faux fur. She’d deliberately let a long pause go by. “I suppose I would marry you all over again, Hank.” She smiled at her son as she walked out. Hank Grayson let out a sigh of relief.
“Onward, Sam, we’ve got a wedding to put on.” Evelyn burst out singing, guiding her daughters out the door: “Onward Christian soldiers, marching on to church…” She made up her own lyrics.
Sam waved them into the huge Suburban four-wheel drive and closed the door of his family home. The snowmobile started up easily. He waited for the Suburban to disappear down the drive, then took off toward the ridge. One-thirty, he thought. We are going to make it.
Lynnette pouted, screamed, paced, flirted, pretended to be ill, then pouted again, but Tom Blackwell ignored her completely.
“I’ve put three extra blankets in there with you, a sub sandwich, a bottle of water, a thermos of soup, and one of coffee. There’s a wind-up camp light if the power goes off, I showed you how to use it. I’ll be gone two hours. I’ve got a wedding to go to. Now, if you behave, I’ll take you out for a nice steak after. I put a copy of The Dance of Anger in there for you to read. I found chapter three particularly enlightening. Don’t forget to take your Prozac, sweetheart.”
“Eeeerrrrgggggggggggrrr. I’ll get you for this, Tom,” she growled.
“No, you won’t, dear. Read those nice romance books I got you. Maybe you’ll get some better ideas in your head. Gary’s here if you need anything else. ’Bye now, dear.” Tom walked out into the main office. Just like taming a wild horse. Feed it sugar and pretty soon it’s yours.
“Gary, I appreciate this no end.”
“I figure I owe Sam and Kelly one—or two even.”
“Well, I owe you one now. I’ll bring you some wedding cake.”
“Thanks, Tom. I got the snow chains on the squad car. It’s just a few miles, anyway. Have a good time, man.”
Tom saluted his deputy as he put his hat on and pushed back the wind to get out the door.
“Two o’clock, Myrtle, we better get suited up and start walking.”
“Now, be patient, honey, it’s not good for the baby to fret like that. Go potty again before you get all trussed up in your gown.” Myrtle mothered her.
“I’ve peed four times in the last hour, Myrtle, I’ll keep.” Kelly was getting snappish. “Are you going to tell me how we’re going to get there?”
“Look outside. It’s just driftin’ down easy as you please now. The wind died off. We’re sittin’ pretty.”
“I’m putting this dress on now, Myrtle. I have silk long underwear pants to keep me warm. You let me know when it’s time.”
“Sure thing. Now let me help you into that, there’s twenty buttons down the back need some special attention.”
Myrtle helped get Kelly buttoned, tucked, and pinned.
“I’ll carry your veil in my backpack until we get to the church. Listen! D’ya hear that? I knew ol’ Jake wouldn’t let me down!”
The sound of tinkling bells got stronger by the instant. Kelly flew to the window. There, coming down the street, was a wondrous red sleigh with two huge horses trotting through the snow.
“It’s Santa!” Kelly laughed, opened the window a crack, and waved. Sure enough, the driver was dressed in a red velvet Santa suit, complete with white beard.
“Ho ho ho!” she heard him bellow. That had to be a sign! Santa in the plane, Santa in a sleigh. Beside him was Sam in a silver jumpsuit. Oh, well, she didn’t care what he wore to this wedding.
Myrtle got Kelly’s velvet cape over her and handed her a pair of red snow boots. That’s what she’d carried in her pack through sleet and snow and cold. “We’ll save the dainty shoes for later, hon, ya gotta have the right shoes—”
“For the occasion. I know, Myrtle, ya taught me good.” Kelly and Myrtle went out the door and down the elevator.
Sam held open the outside door. “Milady, your carriage awaits you.” He bowed, then straightened up. Kelly kissed him. He really was Prince Charming after all. He never even grazed through frogness.
“Prepare for lift-off, milady.” He swept her up into his arms. “Wait here, Myrtle, you’re next.”
“Like hell, I’m self-actualized, you wild man.” Myrtle zipped up her orange parka, donned her fuzzy hat, pulled the hood over it all, and marched through the snow. Sam gently set Kelly in the back seat of the sleigh and tucked her in properly. Then he went back, grabbed Myrtle, and swung her into the front compartment with the jolly driver.
“Whoa,” Myrtle whooped.
Sam climbed up next to Kelly.
“Giddyap!” Myrtle yelped.
>
“Myrtle Crabtree, I might as well give you the reins right now. On Prancer, on Dancer!” Jake clucked the horses into motion and gave Myrtle the reins.
“You’re a widower, ain’t ya, Jake?”
“Yep, I am, Myrtle, and it’s been a long, long time.” Santa Jake put his arm around Myrtle’s waist.
Kelly smiled at Sam, who kissed her full on the mouth. She’d left the red lipstick off this time. He’d get that later, anyway—when Reverend Evans said, “You may now kiss the bride.”
The sky was snowy gray, but all along the way twinkling lights decorated the streets, and in the last stretch Kelly could see row upon row of people standing on the sidewalks, cheering them on.
Mr. and Mrs. Grayson, Sam’s sisters, and the minister were standing on the church steps. She saw Tom Blackwell in the crowd. He tipped his hat to them, and Sam raised his hand. It was a signal, Kelly could tell. Lynnette was in a nice warm jail cell.
As they climbed out of the sleigh, Sam took her hand. The twinkling outside lights flickered and went out. She turned to see the church. It was completely dark inside.
“At least there’s no thunderstorm, and no ghosts.” She sighed. “Will you still marry me in the dark?”
“In the dark, in a park, I will marry you, I will!” he joked.
“Very funny, Sam-I-am.”
“Don’t worry, folks, grab a light tube on your way in. Lydia, light all the candles up front.” In ten minutes, the reverend had the entire sanctuary lit with candles. They were in every window ledge, on every stand. It was glorious.
Huge stands of floral arrangements—red and white roses, white lilies, and tiny daisies—glowed in the candlelight. They filled every corner of the room.
On a tall table beside them was her bouquet. It was stunning: glittering crystal and satin trim, white roses, white lilies and orchids, and the miniature daisies. She fingered it and let the fragrance fill her with joy. The entire thing was amazing.
“Good Lord, did your parents knock over a florist’s shop?”
“No, they just had the wholesale grower fly in the winter hothouse crop and had the local florist and her entire family employed for a week, I’m sure. They’re having fun.” Sam had slipped out of his silver coverall and stood handsome as a GQ moment in his black tux. He handed her a single red rose, and she pinned it on his lapel. He pulled her in to him and kissed her with that kiss that had knocked her socks off the first time.
“We need five minutes, Mr. Groom. Can ya wait that long?” Myrtle got between them and pulled Kelly into a side room—the reverend’s office. Kelly slipped off her mud boots with Myrtle’s help, and slid on her Cinderella court shoes, all satiny white and beaded with crystals and pearls.
“Oh, Myrtle, they’re beautiful. And just perfect for the occasion.” Kelly gave a little laugh, then started to cry.
“I know, I know, shoes have that same effect on me. Now bend down here and let me pin up yer head. There’s no champagne for you this time, so you’ll have to pull yourself together. Here’s a Kleenex.”
Myrtle set her veil and headpiece in place, and Kelly finished with a dash of red lipstick: Marry Me Red. Myrtle had sent away for it special. Kelly put it on using the reverend’s little wall mirror. She looked grand, probably the best of her three weddings. Myrtle had sprinkled Kelly’s still-blonde hair with some wild crystalline hair glitter. She was glowing in every way possible.
“I never had a daughter, but if I did, I’d want her just like you, sweetie.” Myrtle pulled out a tissue for herself and dabbed at her eyes. “I’ve got a present for ya. You can think about it if you want.” She pulled a folded-up paper out of her backpack. Kelly read it: Petition for Adoption.
“You want to adopt me?” Kelly felt a huge lump come up in her throat. “Can we really do that?”
“So says the State of Washington, and a very cute lawyer that helped me draw the papers up. More like we’d adopt each other, really. I’d be your ma, you’d be my kid, and someday you’d inherit the Hen House, even. Then I’d be official grandma to your little one.”
“Oh, Myrtle, I’d be honored. I love you so much, now you’re gonna make me cry for sure.” Both women broke down, and Myrtle’s pocketful of Kleenexes soaked up the stray tears while they gave each other hugs.
“Now quit yer blubberin’, and let’s get this weddin’ over with. You’ll be namin’ that baby before you get a ring on yer finger, for pity’s sake.”
Myrtle and Kelly walked around to the back of the sanctuary. Kelly picked up her beautiful bouquet.
Sam’s dad stood waiting, incredibly handsome in a black tux with a red rose in his lapel. “I thought I’d give you a hand down the aisle this time, if you like. I’m going to keep an eye on you until this is all over.” He offered her his arm.
She took it and kissed his cheek, leaving a red lipstick mark. It looked almost as good on him as on Sam.
They listened as Lydia Peterson struck up a lovely classical piece on the piano. Her sister Mavis joined on harp, and Emily Grayson played her violin. Sam had picked out the piece they played. He said it was perfect—and short.
Sam’s sister Anne and Ginny Palmer looked so amazing in their red velvet. It was a spectacle the likes of which Paradise would not see again, because she wasn’t going to throw them a wedding every month!
When she reached the front, Hank let her go, Sam took her arm, and the ceremony began. And everyone in town forever held their peace.
Chapter 19
“I did not ask the caterer to make the angel ice sculpture anatomically correct, that was Cora’s idea,” Evelyn Grayson said, as her husband waltzed her around the dance floor.
“Of course not, dear,” he answered.
The Paradise High School orchestra kept everyone swaying and twirling with its lively rhythms. Myrtle settled smartly into Santa’s arms and let him lead. “Jake Jacobsen, you ol’ devil, if you kiss me like that again, I’ll just have ta—”
“Make me breakfast?” Jake said as he nibbled her ear.
“Grrrr.” Myrtle made a sound like a cat growling. “Do you like grits?”
The room was lit with a thousand tiny twinkling holiday lights powered by a generator hidden outside somewhere.
This was the same room where Sam had first danced with Kelly. Where she had fallen under the spell of Paradise.
A magnificent Christmas tree stood in the far corner of the room, covered with huge ribbons, red and white roses, lilies, crystal icicles, and angels. Candles graced all the tables, illuminating a feast fit for royalty. The townspeople of Paradise filled their white china plates with delec-tables and enjoyed themselves up to their small-town elbows.
The French champagne flowed like water, literally, as it cascaded over a huge silver fountain contraption and sparkled into hundreds of fluted crystal glasses. The teenagers stole sips until Reverend Evans placed himself beside the table. Kelly noticed that the reverend was swaying a bit. Fortunately, hardly anyone was driving home, including the reverend.
Sam and Kelly surveyed the wondrous interactions of their wedding feast, as they sat at their royal table, surrounded with family. The towering, artistic creation that was their cake had been cut. Sam still had frosting on his nose from Kelly’s traditional cake-feeding moment.
Toasts had been toasted, with tears and thank-yous all around. Kelly sipped her special sparkling cider and watched the dancers. They’d actually done it. They’d gotten married.
“Kelly Grayson, I think it’s time to slip away to our honeymoon cottage and leave everyone to the rest of the family,” Sam said to her at last.
“And how are we planning to escape this time?”
“Seems Santa’s sleigh is ours for a few hours. Jake and Myrtle hired the Millers’ oldest boy to drive us. He’s the silent type.”
The snow had become tiny flakes that lit on their red velvet lap robe and tickled their noses. A huge December moon could be seen through the haze of snow clouds, just enough to light their way o
ut of town.
As they made the turn out of the church lot, Kelly saw the lights spring back on. All the shop windows glittered from a distance. The only sound was the faint trail of music still coming from the church, and soon even that gave way to the silence that comes on snowy evenings in the country. Just the sound of the horses’ bells and the snow drifting down.
After a long while, Kelly snuggled closer to Sam and asked, “Where are we off to, my husband?” She leaned back and listened to the muffled horse hooves as the Miller’s oldest boy kept the sleigh gliding smoothly down a lane of pristine snow.
“It’s a surprise.” Sam held her close and kissed her forehead.
“Have we borrowed a cabin to honeymoon in?”
“You might say that.”
They went down a newly paved drive covered with snow that someone had strung with lights along the trees in a glittering line that led them forward. Even the drive looked terribly elegant. Kelly had completely lost her sense of direction and had no idea where they were. Probably the family’s extra house.
“Mrs. Grayson, we seem to be home.”
Kelly sat bolt upright in the sleigh as they turned down a short lane of newly planted cherry trees, bare in the winter moonlight, strung with white lights.
“Bloody hell! It can’t be. It’s the Shipley house. What have you done?”
“Now, honey, don’t go getting all upset. It’s not all the way done. I left the colors and a million details to you. We do have a bed to sleep in, and a roof to keep out the snow.”
Her head spun. She was going to faint for sure this time. He helped her out of the sleigh and handed the Miller boy a tip, sending him on his way. The jingling of the horses faded into the dark night.
They walked up the porch she and Sam had worked so hard repairing together and approached the double entry doors, which he opened wide for her. She started in, catching a glimpse of a newly shined marble floor and the grand staircase polished and refinished to a mellow glow.
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