by Liz Isaacson
“I need to talk to Celia before we start booking plane tickets,” he said. “What did Abby say about Michael?”
“He’s talking to his work on Monday.”
“So we have a few days to wait.”
“Yeah,” Paul said, parking. “You don’t want to do it?”
“Of course I do,” Zach said. “We could rent cabins or something and spend some time out in the Tetons. Remember we did that one year? Float the river. Ride the boat at Jenny Lake. Go up to the top of the world on the gondola.”
“Some places book out a year in advance,” Paul said. “You might not be able to get cabins, but I’m sure there’s a hotel.”
“We could go to the Bar J Wranglers,” Zach said, all of the activities coming together in his mind.
“Who’s getting ahead of himself now?” Paul laughed, and they walked into the house together.
Ginger and Maple met them, tails wagging, and Zach bent down to greet his dogs. “It went great, guys,” he said. “She’ll come live with us soon.” He straightened and looked at Paul. “I’ll wait to ask her about the Fourth after the wedding. She’s swamped right now.”
“Ah, I see.” Paul nodded and opened the fridge. The kid could drink soda at any hour, and Zach didn’t understand it. He’d had a cola at eight last night and been up for hours with heartburn.
Or maybe that had been anxiety over talking to Celia tonight, or what Owen would say. He hadn’t been fully on-board with Zach’s plan until this morning.
“I hope it works out for the Fourth,” Paul said. “It will be fun to meet Abby’s boyfriend.”
“Right?” Zach grinned at his son and pulled him into a hug. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for me this week. I’m so glad you’re here.”
“Me too, Dad.” Paul grinned at him. “You headed to bed?”
“Is it that obvious that I’m exhausted?”
“Yes.” Paul laughed, and Zach did too. He did head down the hall to his bedroom after that, closing the door, and immediately falling to his knees to thank the Lord for bringing Celia back into his life.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Celia woke on Sunday morning when Grizz licked her face. “All right,” she said, laughing as she pushed the pup away. When he got right in her face, he needed to go out, and she got up to let him into the backyard.
She stood at the sliding glass door, the morning light filling the sky as Grizz sniffed around. With his business taken care of, he came back in, tail wagging.
She fed him and put out fresh water before her eyes caught on the wedding cake. She’d finished it yesterday, with Zach sitting at the bar while she worked on getting every fondant rose where it belonged.
The cake was beautiful and elegant, with a soft while background on the five tiers. Then Celia had done roses in Reagan’s wedding colors, and added the edible flowers she’d ordered in from Cheyenne.
Tears pricked her eyes. She couldn’t believe her daughter was getting married today. Couldn’t believe Reagan was old enough to do something so grown up. And Celia couldn’t believe she was old enough to have a daughter getting married.
Not only that, but she had her boyfriend back. Her best friend. Her anchor. “Wish you were here, Brandon,” she whispered, touching two fingers to her lips and then touching the silver plate that held the cake.
Sure, she missed him. She’d always miss him and wish he was there to witness the major events of their children’s lives.
But she also had a wonderful future ahead of her with Zach Zuckerman.
Now that she was awake, she wouldn’t be going back to sleep, though Grizz trotted back into the bedroom and jumped up onto the bed.
Celia collected her phone and went out into the living room. She enjoyed the early-morning silence, and she must have dozed at some point, because Ruth woke her with the words, “Mom, it’s time to start getting ready for the wedding.”
Celia sat up, her brain foggy—until she looked at the clock. “Oh, my goodness.” She jumped to her feet. “I’m going to shower. Where’s Reagan?”
“Already out,” Ruth said. “I’ve showered too. Coffee’s on in the kitchen. Claudia will be here to start on Reagan’s hair soon.”
Celia nodded and hurried down the hall. While Reagan got mostly ready here, Ruth and Celia would go over to the reception center and get all the tables decorated. The bigger items they’d rented—the altar, an arch, and a few other things—would be brought by the designer, and they were meeting at noon, as soon as their rental began.
When she came out in her mother-of-the-bride dress, her hair styled perfectly, she stalled at the sight of Zach standing in her living room.
He wore a black suit that looked brand new. He’d told her he was going shopping yesterday, but then he’d spent most of the day in her kitchen, so she wasn’t sure when he’d purchased that suit.
It hardly mattered. His shoulders filled out the jacket nicely, and with that hat? Celia’s heart stalled completely for a few breaths.
“Hey, beautiful,” he said, his voice so sexy it reached right into her soul and filled her with light.
“When did you get here?” she asked, moving toward him and making his suit jacket lay flat though it already was.
“Just a minute ago,” he said, taking her effortlessly into his arms. Everything about him appealed to her, and she was so glad she’d been at the lodge for Amanda’s wedding, though she never would’ve missed it.
He kissed her, and Celia lost herself to the touch and taste of him.
“Hey,” Reagan said. “Stop kissing.” She laughed, and Celia ducked her head, slightly embarrassed.
“I can’t wait for her to get married,” Celia said.
Zach chuckled, and Celia pressed her cheek right against the sound of it in his chest. “Where do you need me?” he asked.
“Right here,” she said, stepping back. “I’m just getting my makeup done, and then I’ll use our muscles at the reception center.”
“Okay,” he said. “So I’ll sit here by Grizz until we’re ready to go?”
“Yep.”
Celia went with Reagan and sat in the chair Ophelia told her to. She kept her eyes closed and her voice low as she told Ophelia all about the situation from Friday night.
“Lennox was so happy when he got home,” Ophelia said, brushing something on Celia’s cheeks. “I’m thrilled for you, obviously. When will you two get married?”
Celia’s heartbeat doubled for a few beats. “Oh, I don’t know. We’ve only been dating a few months.”
“I hear Christmas is a great time.”
“That’s only a few months.”
“It’s seven months, Mom,” Ruth said. “And you put this wedding together in just over two. You’d be fine.”
“A Christmas wedding,” Celia mused, her mind moving through ideas now. She didn’t want to get married at the lodge the way Amanda had. But she didn’t want something like Reagan, at a more formal venue.
She wanted something at Saltgrass Farm, the idea popping into her head. But the best time of year for that would be summer—and it was already summer.
Ophelia started talking about Larissa and Mack, and Celia just let her talk. Apparently things were going well, and Celia let the joyful light move through her.
“Okay,” Ophelia finally said. “You’re done. As soon as I finish with Reagan, I’ll go get Mama and bring her over.”
“Thanks,” Celia said. “Ruth, let’s get loaded up and get going.”
Zach came with them, and time slipped away like smoke. Before she knew it, guests started arriving, and she hooked her arm through her mother’s and led her to the front row.
“Right here, Ma.”
“I want to meet your man,” she said, her voice practically filling the whole hall.
Celia grinned at her, only a slip of embarrassment heating her cheeks. “Let me grab him for you.”
But he wasn’t anywhere to be found. “Have you seen Zach?” she asked Ruth.
She asked Mack and Lennox, and no one had seen him. Confused, she finally pulled out her phone. She needed to get back to Reagan and make sure the veil was right and her daughter was ready to walk down the aisle.
Dale’s brother was walking Reagan down the aisle, and Celia wanted to watch her every step.
She started toward the bride’s room as the call to Zach connected. She heard his phone ring, and more confusion than ever filled her. She paused in the hall, turning until she could tell where the sound came from.
She pushed open the room where Reagan would be, and Zach was there too.
“It’s your mom,” he said, his back to her.
“She’s right behind you,” Reagan said.
Zach spun toward her, and she lowered her phone. “What’s going on here?” she asked, looking from Zach to Reagan.
“I asked him to walk me down the aisle,” Reagan said, a huge smile on her face. “He said yes, and I’m just giving him some directions.”
“I’m scared out of my mind,” Zach said. “I’m not ready for this.”
“Sure you are,” Reagan said. “You just don’t let me fall.” She stepped into her heels, wobbling like she’d break her ankle and fall down in the next moment.
Zach must’ve thought so too, because he lunged toward her and grabbed onto her arm.
“See?” Reagan beamed up at him. “You’re doing great.” She tippy-toed toward Celia. “Do you want a picture, Mom?”
Celia worked hard to keep the tears from streaming down her face. Ophelia’s masterful makeup would be ruined. Her hands trembled as she tried to pull up her camera.
“Mom,” Reagan said. “It’s okay.”
“I’m okay,” Celia said, though she felt moments away from bursting into tears. Big, fat tears that would ruin everything. “Almost got it.”
The camera finally came up and she took a quick picture of two of her favorite people, her heart filled with love.
“Now go on,” Reagan said. “I don’t want to be late to my own wedding, and we can’t start until you sit down.” She grinned, her own eyes watery.
Celia couldn’t leave without hugging her daughter, and she ended up embracing Zach too, the three of them clinging to each other for a few precious moments.
“Okay,” she said, fixing the top of her dress. “Okay, I’m fine. I am.” She turned and left the bride’s room and went back into the grand hall. She felt so many eyes on her as she moved down the aisle, and she squeezed Amanda’s hand as she went by.
“They’re coming,” she said to her mother. “The man walking Reagan down the aisle is mine.”
And oh, how she loved saying that.
The next morning dawned quietly. Reagan and Dale were gone, off on their honeymoon in California. Then they’d be in Ohio, and Dale would start his new job.
Celia sat on the front steps, watching Grizz chase the birds in the yard. Ruth came outside and sat beside her, leaning her head against Celia’s shoulder.
“It was a beautiful wedding.”
“It was.”
Several moments of silence passed, and then Ruth asked, “Do you think Zach would walk me down the aisle when I marry Brandon?”
Celia’s breath stuck in her lungs. “I don’t know which thing to address first,” she said.
“He hasn’t asked me yet, but we’ve started talking about marriage,” Ruth said.
“You’re not done with college.”
“That’s not a requirement to get married, Mom,” Ruth said with a smile. “And Brandon’s almost done. He’s a few years older than me.”
Celia thought of Ruth leaving as well, and while the thought pinched, she knew it was right. She’d known she wouldn’t have her daughters forever.
“Would you get married by Christmas?” she asked.
“Probably not,” Ruth said. “That’s open for you, Mom, if you want it.”
“Zach and I haven’t even talked about marriage.” Celia watched Grizz roll around in the grass, obviously enjoying himself.
“He’s thought about it,” Ruth said. “Even if he hasn’t said anything.”
“Maybe,” Celia said.
“Is he coming over today?”
“No,” Celia said. “Graham gave me the day off, and I’m not going to Dog Valley until tomorrow.” She sighed, enjoying the peaceful nature of this neighborhood. She’d miss this road. This house. The sense of community she felt here.
She’d feel all of that in Dog Valley, she knew. Finn and Celia still went to church down here, but she and Zach hadn’t talked about that either.
She suddenly felt very ill-equipped to be merging her life with another human’s.
It’s Zach, she told herself. And she loved him. He loved her. Which meant everything would work out.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Zach pushed the cart around the grocery store, whistling as he put hot dog buns in the basket. Then hamburger buns. Then more condiments than one man should need.
But he wasn’t just one man. All of his kids were coming for the Fourth of July. He had a boat tour booked for Jenny Lake, but they’d just drive the forty minutes to the lake and stay at his farm the other days.
Paul had bought a volleyball net and set it up in the backyard, though Zach had said they didn’t have enough people for volleyball.
Paul said two-on-two worked just fine, and since Abby was bringing Michael, they had enough.
He’d broken up with his girlfriend, and Lindsey hadn’t been seeing anyone in a while now. Zach was just excited to have them all with him for several days—and for them to meet Celia.
She was bringing Ruth and Brandon, and Zach went down the cookie aisle to make sure to get the lemon sandwich cookies Celia’s daughter liked so much.
By the time he left the grocery store, he’d spent hundreds and ran back in three times for things he’d forgotten. He sat in the cab of his truck and texted Celia.
What else do we need?
Are you still at the grocery store?
Yes, and I don’t want to come back. I’ve run in three times already.
Celia started listing things she needed, and Zach had gotten them all.
I think we’re good then, she said. Paul’s out with the horses and then he’s leaving for the airport, so I’ll help you haul it all in when you get back.
Zach drove through an ice cream shop to get a twist cone, and then he inched down the quiet streets of Dog Valley, enjoying this place where he lived. He’d like it a whole lot more when Celia would be at the farm permanently.
They’d talked a little bit about getting married in the five weeks since her daughter’s wedding. Nothing too serious, and he didn’t really know when or where she’d like to get married.
But he’d bought a ring a week ago, and he kept it in the box on top of his dresser. If the opportunity presented itself, he’d decided he’d ask. See what she said.
He pulled into the driveway, Paul’s truck gone. He’d been designated as the airport taxi, and everyone was arriving in Jackson within a half an hour of each other today.
“Paul finished with the horses?” he asked.
“He left five minutes ago,” Celia said, reaching for a bag of groceries in the back of the truck. “I’m surprised you didn’t see him on the road.”
“I might have stopped for an ice cream cone on the way home.”
Celia burst out laughing. “I’m not surprised.” She grinned at him and together, they hauled in the groceries.
“I think you bought the whole store, Zach,” she teased. “This is ridiculous.” She started unpacking the groceries and putting them away in his cupboards and fridge as if she lived there.
“Celia,” he said, watching her. He opened his mouth to say something else, but he honestly didn’t know what.
“Hmm?” She finally paused when he remained silent and looked at him.
His emotions kept him silent for another few seconds. “I’ve been thinking about marrying you.�
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A sparkle entered her eyes. “Oh?”
“Yeah,” he said. “We haven’t talked about it much, but I’m wondering what you think.”
She turned and put a handful of cold cuts in the fridge, hiding her face from him. “I think it’s a good idea.”
“I want you here at the farm with me,” he said, coming around the island.
“I’m still going to work at the lodge.”
“I know,” he said. “But you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
“I want to. I love those boys.” She faced him again.
He nodded, knowing she did.
“And they have a huge Christmas tradition up at the lodge. I love going, and I want you to come too.”
“I know,” he said. “You’ve already told me not to make plans for Christmas Eve, or if I do, that the kids have to come up to the lodge for the tree lighting.”
She nodded. “Yep, that’s right.”
Zach wanted to get back on-topic. “Do we want a fancy wedding? What are you thinking? Have you thought about it at all?”
“Oh, I’ve thought about it,” she said, abandoning the groceries to just converse with him. “I would like to get married right here, at Saltgrass Farms.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Really?”
“Really.” She smiled up at him. “In that beautiful backyard you have. With all our kids here. And the Whittaker boys. And Finn and Amanda. And maybe a few of my friends from Coral Canyon.”
“Deal,” he said. “When?”
“When does it snow here?”
“Depends on how cruel Mother Nature is,” he said. “But usually by Halloween.”
“Three months,” Celia said. “Are we ready for that?”
Zach took her into his arms, his desire for her roaring through him. “I’m ready for that.” He touched his lips to hers, gently, exploring. She kissed him back with enthusiasm, and Zach thought she was ready too.
Celia pulled away, and they breathed together. That simple gesture, that easy motion, reminded Zach of how wonderful life could be with a companion.
“All right,” she said. “I think Ruth will be engaged soon as well. Maybe we should put a date on the calendar.”