One Snowy Night

by Patience Griffin

  “I concur,” Donovan said. “It just took me seventeen years to come to my senses.”

  * * *

  • • •

  THE NEXT FEW days flew by, and with each one, Hope felt better, more like herself. Plus she was eager to be married to the man she’d loved her whole life. It was decided they would marry at midnight mass on Christmas with the big wedding reception set for New Year’s Eve, exactly eighteen years after Izzie and Beau’s death. Hope was immediately against it when Ella made the suggestion, but Piney assured her it would be good karma for her and Donovan to make happy memories on the anniversary of the accident. She claimed her tarot cards agreed.

  Christmas Eve morning, Hope, Donovan, and Ella rose early for breakfast and quiet time before the whirlwind of activity began. Boomer was in rare form, running around as if he knew something exciting was going to happen that night.

  “Are you sure we can’t open presents now?” Ella sounded like she was six again.

  “Nope,” Hope said quickly, before Donovan gave in to her. “In the morning.”

  “But you’ll sleep in, especially since the wedding is so late tonight.”

  “We promise to get up.” Donovan winked at Hope. She still couldn’t believe she’d caved and let him buy Ella a used Subaru Outback, which Jesse and Shaun Montana had promised to drop off early in the morning. The speed at which Donovan found and bought the car made Hope wonder if he’d lined it up beforehand. She had come to appreciate that he didn’t want to spoil Ella, just relieve her hardships.

  Using her good arm, Hope poured another cup of coffee. “Piney says she’s going to be here at noon to make sure we have a little food prepared for the day,” Hope said to Donovan. “I insisted she didn’t have to do that.”

  Ella put down her mug. “Yeah, I told her I was capable of opening a can of soup for you two.”

  “There’s no stopping Piney,” Donovan said. “She’s a force of nature. However, I’m not sure she’ll be able to control the size of the New Year’s Eve reception. Jesse said he heard a couple from another town telling someone at the Christmas Festival how they planned to come back for the New Year’s Eve bash. I guess they felt welcome here in Sweet Home.”

  “Yes,” Hope said. “Rick said all three cabins are booked.”

  “Really?” Donovan said. “I wonder why he didn’t tell me.”

  “Maybe he’s concerned about you wobbling out to do one last check on the cabins,” Hope said. “Maybe your wife-to-be gave him a heads-up to that fact.”

  “Oh?” Donovan didn’t sound affronted.

  Ella got into the game with a rib. “Dad, we’re seriously worried about you breaking your other leg. We’ll all feel better when you stop using those crutches.”

  Hope turned to Ella. “I know Wandering Moose is all packed, except for our shower stuff. Do you mind taking care of it this morning?”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  “Hold up,” Donovan said. “I’ll shoot Jesse a text to see if he and Shaun can run by to do the actual moving.”

  “Dad, I can do it,” Ella insisted.

  “Don’t argue with me. I’m getting married today.” He delivered it with a tease and a smile while pulling out his phone. “Besides, you’re busy. You do remember that you’ll be standing up with us tonight, right?” Sparkle and Rick, too.

  “Yeah, I remember,” Ella said, giving him that same smile back.

  “And that Boomer needs to have a bath today,” Donovan reminded her. “The ring bearer has to smell good. I promised Father Mike.”

  Ella hugged Boomer. “He’ll smell like a rose. Promise.”

  At noon exactly, Jesse and Shaun showed up, and right behind them was Piney. But not just Piney, the whole Sisterhood of the Quilt—the Chicas included.

  “What is this?” Hope asked. “Are we going to have a sew-in?”

  “No,” Piney said. “We’re going to have a wedding shower. We’re armed with food and maybe a present or two.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Hope said.

  “Don’t say anything. We’re on a schedule. Donovan is only giving us an hour.”

  “Donovan?” Hope said.

  “Yes. Your groom is pretty good at keeping a secret, I think,” Piney said.

  The girls and women ventured into the studio, which looked sharp with a fresh coat of paint, the reinvented Sisterhood of the Quilt wall hanging, and updated window coverings.

  Hope noticed as she stood in the doorway that the women were all gathered in one corner of the room.

  “What are you all doing?” Hope asked.

  “Wait a second,” Ella said from behind Hope. “Dad said to wait up. He’s having trouble getting down the hall.”

  Hope looked over her shoulder, and sure enough, Donovan was gimping toward her on his crutches.

  “Donovan, what’s up?”

  “It’s your wedding present,” he said. “Tell them that I said you can see it now. I’m almost there.”

  Hope glanced back into the studio as the women parted, revealing a sewing machine with a large white bow on top, right in the spot where her old sewing machine usually sat.

  She turned back to Donovan, who was coming up behind her. “How?”

  “The Sisterhood of the Quilt selected it, I ordered it, and Jesse picked it up and slipped it in here a while ago,” he said.

  “But Jesse just got here,” Hope said.

  Donovan smiled mischievously. “Then he did a good job of sneaking in through the garage undetected.”

  Hope wrapped her good arm around her future husband’s neck—careful not to knock him off his crutches—and laid a passionate kiss on him, while the Sisterhood of the Quilt made catcalls.

  “Mom! PDA! There’s children present!” Ella scolded.

  “Okay, get out of here,” Hope said to Donovan. “It’s girl time.”

  As he turned to go with a big grin on his face, she patted him on the butt. She still couldn’t believe that she could kiss Donovan Stone anytime she wanted now.

  “Hurry up, Hope,” Piney said. “I told you we’re on the clock.”

  “What clock? The wedding isn’t for another twelve hours,” Hope said, so happy the Sisterhood of the Quilt was here.

  “Donovan’s worried we’re going to wear you out with our carrying on. He wants you well rested for tonight.” Piney gave her a wink, then turned to the others. “Aberdeen, help Ella and Hope get settled on the couch. Lacy, Uki, and you other girls, pour the punch in the plastic cups we brought and pass them around. After that, give out the snacks.”

  “Excuse me.” Donovan was back, this time with Jesse.

  “What is it?” Piney asked with a little irritation in her voice. “You’re cutting into our time.”

  “Jesse forgot Ella’s present,” Donovan said.

  Jesse maneuvered carefully past Donovan, holding another sewing machine, this one with a pink bow on top.

  “Sorry about that, kiddo,” Jesse said, placing Ella’s machine next to Hope’s.

  For being so thoughtful, Hope needed to give Donovan another kiss—a mind-blowing one—but she guessed that could wait until they were alone tonight . . . after they were married.

  Ella jumped up and gave her father a hug. “Love you, Dad,” she whispered. But Hope heard her and it melted her heart.

  “Love you, too,” he said back hoarsely. Then he disappeared from the doorway again.

  “Okay, now for the main attraction,” Piney said. “Lisa, you go first.”

  The women lined up behind Miss Lisa. Ella’s friends lined up next to them.

  “We didn’t have time to make you a quilt,” Piney said. “I apologize. I should’ve had everyone working on these from the start, instead of just focusing on the food.”

  “Working on what?” Hope noticed everyone was holding a tissue-wrap
ped something in their hands.

  “Go ahead, Lisa, show her,” Piney said.

  Miss Lisa came forward and handed the present to her. “We all saw your Izzie Memory Tree quilt drawing the first day we met here.”

  “Actually, Bill made sure they saw it,” Piney chimed in.

  Miss Lisa acted like Piney hadn’t admitted that part and continued. “Since you were laid up with your hurt ankle, and then busy with decorating and the other quilts for the lodge, we thought we would each make a block for you to give you a head start on Izzie’s quilt. I hope it was okay that we got into your Izzie fabric.”

  “Of course it’s all right,” Piney said. “We’re family. Now open it.”

  Hope gently pulled back the tissue paper to reveal a moose block for the upper right corner of the quilt. Miss Lisa had embellished it with two of Izzie’s buttons. Hope pushed herself off the couch. “Oh, Miss Lisa, it’s beautiful.” She hugged the older woman.

  “Stop all that hugging,” Piney said. “We’ll never get through everyone. Now, Hope, sit back down.” Piney pointed to Lacy. “It’s your turn.”

  Lacy came forward and handed Ella her tissue-wrapped package. “You’re my best friend, Ella, and I’m so happy you’ve got a dad now.”

  Hope knew this was hard for Lacy; her parents were divorced when she was two, and her father wasn’t involved in her life.

  Lacy went on. “Each of the Chicas has made a block, the start of a Friendship quilt for you. Open it. Look, we’ve all signed our blocks.”

  Ella pulled back the paper to reveal a Log Cabin block with Lacy’s name stitched in the middle of one of the logs. “Look, Mom.”

  Hope examined it, and then Ella held it up for everyone to see.

  One by one, everyone—Aberdeen, Lolly, Paige . . . even Courtney, whose wolf block was a work of art—brought up their blocks and gave them to Hope or to Ella.

  Hope was overcome with joy and love for these women. When she woke up that morning she hadn’t believed her heart could handle a smidge more emotion, but she was wrong. She was flooded with happiness.

  Piney was the last one to come forward but carried a much larger package than the others. A box, actually. “This is from Bill. I tried to get him to join us, but apparently he’s too much of a man to attend a girly wedding shower.” She passed Hope the plain box. “He didn’t just make you one block for Izzie’s Memory Tree. You better open it up and take a look to see what’s inside.”

  Hope pulled off the lid to reveal a stack of blocks—some houses, some trees, and some traditional blocks—none of which were in her design. “What’s this for?”

  Piney handed her a piece of paper. “He took liberties with your original design and expanded it to include all of Sweet Home.”

  Hope studied the paper and saw that Bill hadn’t just expanded her design, he’d made it a work of art.

  “The fabrics in his blocks are from each of our own stashes,” Aberdeen explained. “See, my block shows my trailer, and is made from my own fabric.”

  “My house is from my fabric, too.” Miss Lisa said.

  All of them began talking at once about what fabric was used in their house or trailer block.

  “Settle down now,” Piney said. “Bill wants you to know that you’re not obligated to use his design or any of his blocks.”

  “I’m overwhelmed,” Hope finally said. “Of course I’m going to use his design and his blocks . . . all of your blocks! This is the best gift I’ve ever received.” Even though she cherished her new sewing machine and couldn’t wait to learn how to use it, the blocks from all these women and from Bill represented a priceless gift: her community. And she knew if Donovan were standing here, he’d agree.

  “But here’s my question,” Hope said. “How could Bill have made all of these blocks in the last few days?”

  Piney gave a dismissive wave. “For all Bill blusters about not believing in my powers, he certainly trusted me this time. He’s been collecting fabric and sewing blocks since that first night you took Izzie’s tree design over to his cabin.”

  Hope would have to get Bill alone to give the grizzly old man a bear hug, the big softy.

  She beamed up at Piney, at all of them. “Thank you so much for making these blocks for me. For us! If Izzie were here, I know she’d love them, too.” What a tribute to her little sister and a tribute to Sweet Home.

  “Okay, everyone, have fun for a few minutes before I kick you out of here,” Piney said.

  Ella grabbed her blocks and joined her friends in the corner—chattering and laughing.

  Piney sat next to Hope and laid a little package in her lap. “I didn’t want to give you my block in front of the others.”

  Hope’s brow furrowed. “Why not?”

  Piney gathered her hand and patted it. “Look at the block and you’ll see.”

  Hope couldn’t imagine what could be wrong with it. She tore away the tissue to reveal a square block with a heart in the center.

  “Just like Sparkle, you’re my heart, Hope. But I didn’t want the others to know that I play favorites.” She wrapped her arm around her. “There’s nothing in the world I wouldn’t do for you.” She paused for a long moment, frowning. “Just so you know, I’m sorry.”

  “For what? It’s been a wonderful day,” Hope exclaimed.

  “About letting you go from the Hungry Bear.”

  “Oh, that,” Hope said.

  “It was for your own good. I hope you can see that now.”

  Hope rested her head on Piney’s shoulder. “I get it. But you know, laying me off could’ve backfired.”

  “No, it couldn’t have,” Piney said with confidence. “I told you I knew everything would work out.” She scooped up the quilt blocks from Hope. “You need to have something to eat and then lie down for a while, okay?”

  “I will.” But Hope just wanted to sit there for a little longer. “I love you, Piney.”

  “I love you, too, buttercup.”

  After Hope ate, she did as she was told and went upstairs to lie down while the Sisterhood of the Quilt cleaned up the studio. As soon as she fell asleep, Izzie came to her . . . and she wasn’t alone.

  “Mom?” Her mother was wearing a white, gauzy dress, as was Izzie, and they were holding hands. Hope had seen them holding hands a million times before, but this time it seemed as if Izzie were the adult and her mother the child.

  “Go on, Mom,” Izzie said. “Tell her.”

  Mom reached out as if to stroke Hope’s hair. “I’m so sorry for how I acted over the accident. The truth is, underneath all my anger, I really blamed myself. It was my job to keep Izzie safe and it was my fault she died.”

  Izzie rolled her eyes. “It’s no one’s fault. It was an accident, and accidents happen, right?”

  With earnest, Penny looked at her younger child. “I’m still coming to terms with it.”

  “Okay. We can accept that,” Izzie said. “Tell her the rest.”

  Penny nodded. “I hope you can forgive me for how I behaved.”

  Hope’s eyes filled with tears. “Yes. Of course.” Motherhood had given Hope insight into a lot of things, but mostly into the past. When Mom shunned her seventeen years ago, it wasn’t because she didn’t care for her anymore; Mom was just drowning in grief.

  Izzie cleared her throat. “You know, big sister, that forgiveness brings healing.”

  “I know that.” Hope was counting on it, too.

  “Thank you, Hope,” Mom said.

  “And?” Izzie prompted their mother.

  Penny gave Hope a sad, expectant smile. “Please, darling, know I’ve always loved you.”

  Those words meant the world to Hope. “Yes. I know.”

  Her sister walked closer and cocked her head, as if ready to impart some final wisdom. “Mom and I think you can handle it from here.”
>
  It was true. Hope was coping better than she had her whole adult life. “But my wedding’s tonight—”

  “Mom and I will be right beside you when you walk down the aisle.” The little imp glowed.

  The thought of them being there filled Hope with peace, love, and tranquility.

  “Even when we don’t see each other,” Izzie said, “you know that I’m always with you, right?”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Right here.” Izzie laid a hand over her heart, just as Hope did the same.

  Epilogue

  ELLA AND HOPE walked back to the SUV while Donovan watched from the back seat. His leg prevented him from driving, forcing Ella to be the chauffeur.

  He’d given his two girls time alone to add things to Izzie’s tree at the edge of the forest. Besides, there was no way he was making it up the hill on his crutches. He scratched Boomer behind the ears as the dog stretched out on Hope’s side of the back seat. “Next stop’s the cemetery.”

  He and Hope had been married a week, the best week of his life. He still couldn’t believe that Ella wanted to add his last name to hers—Ella McKnight-Stone. They’d forgone the honeymoon for now, because Ella needed them. He only had a year and a half left with her before she’d be off to college, probably art school. His daughter had so much talent.

  For the millionth time since returning to Sweet Home, he wondered what it would have been like to have had this all these years. But then it occurred to him that the separate journeys he and Hope had been on—concerning Beau, Izzie, and the accident—was part of their story. Maybe if they hadn’t gone through the things they had, this moment wouldn’t have been so sweet. What if he’d stayed in Alaska and hadn’t had the military to help him get sober? Would his drinking have driven him and Hope apart? The answer was unequivocally yes. She would’ve been smart enough to dump him and never look back. For the first time, he was grateful for it all—the good, the bad, the time away from each other. Moving forward, he’d never take his family for granted; he’d only appreciate his one great love, Hope, and his wonderful daughter, and how good life could be with them in it.