On a Snowy Night: The Christmas Basket\The Snow Bride (36 page)

J
enna and Reid were getting married in Snowbound on Christmas Eve. The ceremony would take place in Jake's Café, with Addy and Palmer serving as wedding consultants. Their own cabin was far too small for the expected number of guests, so they'd agreed to the restaurant instead. Thankfully Lucy and Chloe offered the two entrepreneurs lots of assistance with all the arrangements. In fact, the entire community was caught up in the wedding plans.

A couple of hours before the ceremony, Jenna stepped into the brightly lit café to look around. She was astonished by the transformation the rather mundane café had undergone. The tables had been set against the wall, covered with white tablecloths. Orderly rows of chairs had been arranged in a churchlike setting, with an aisle wide enough for Pete to escort her down. Poinsettias lined the front of the room, where a square table held a large candle, as yet unlit, and a Bible.

“I wondered if I'd find you here,” Reid said from behind her.

Everyone in town was preparing for the wedding. The only two who seemed to be at loose ends were Jenna and Reid.

“It all looks so beautiful,” she whispered, glancing around the room, feeling the love of her friends in every detail. Even Brad Fulton, who wasn't able to attend, had sent two cases of the best champagne and his very good wishes.

“Who's there?” Jake called, sticking his head out from the kitchen. “Hey,” he muttered, wearing a cantankerous frown, “the groom isn't supposed to see the bride before the wedding.”

Reid was having none of that as he gave Jenna a quick hug. “I didn't know you were so conversant with wedding etiquette.”

Jake shook his head. “If I wasn't so busy, I'd chase you out of here, but I'm rolling meatballs for the reception and I don't have time for you.”

“Good.” Reid shared a sexy grin with Jenna.

Still mumbling under his breath, Jake returned to the kitchen.

“How are you holding up?” she asked, sliding her arm around his middle. She'd been in town a week, and was living with her mother and Pete—who'd been married, much to Addy's and Palmer's consternation, while visiting California.

“I'm doing okay,” he muttered, which told Jenna he wasn't.

“Honestly?”

“No,” he confessed, and leaned down to kiss the bridge of her nose. “I want you with me. Every minute we're apart is torture.”

Although Jenna loved hearing it, she had to point out that her situation these past few days hadn't been any eas
ier. “I don't think I've ever seen my mother this much…in love. Those two—I can't believe it.” She shook her head. “Oh, Reid, they're just crazy about each other.”

“I'm crazy about you,” Reid whispered. “My snow bride.”

Jenna basked in his words. “I love you, too.” She giggled, adding, “My snow man.”

“I can't believe you're actually willing to marry me.”

“It took you long enough to ask,” she said sternly, reminding him that he'd made no effort to stop her from leaving Snowbound.

“You flew out of here and it was as if my whole world went dark.”

“It
is
dark in Alaska,” Jenna said, “especially in winter.” In December there was barely an hour of daylight before night descended on them again.

“That's not what I mean and you know it,” Reid said. “I let you leave, thinking I was better off without you, but I was wrong.”

Reid couldn't come up with poetic lines the way Dalton could, but he possessed so many more of the qualities she considered important. “I felt pretty dreadful, too.”

“The only reason I let you go was that I assumed you'd marry Fulton, and really, why shouldn't I think that? One of the richest men in the country came chasing after you.”

“Why shouldn't you think that?” Jenna echoed. “Because, my soon-to-be husband, I'm in love with
you
.”

Reid pulled her into his arms and held her close. “Do you mind saying that again? I can't seem to hear it often enough.”

The door opened, and Kim and Lucy entered. Both came far enough into the café to notice Reid and Jenna with their arms entwined and stopped cold.

“What are you two doing here?” Lucy cried.

“Together?” Kim added.

Jenna exchanged a look of longing with Reid, a look that reminded him that within a few hours they'd be together. Forever.

“Everyone was hustling and bustling about,” Reid confessed. “I was only in the way.”

“Me, too,” Jenna told her friends.

The café door opened a second time, and Addy and Palmer hurried in, each carrying a small wicker basket filled with what Jenna assumed were wedding favors. She didn't think it would be a good idea to examine those too closely.

“You're early,” Addy commented, and rubbed the side of his neatly trimmed beard. He wore his heavy boots and hat with dangling earflaps; his nose was red from the cold.

“You aren't dressed proper, either,” Palmer complained, glaring at Reid. “If I'm going to wear a suit,
you
should have to.”

“You're wearing a suit?” This Jenna had to see.

“He looks good, too,” Addy said, nodding proudly in his friend's direction.

“It's a bit tight.” Palmer reluctantly removed his heavy winter jacket. “I can't remember the last time I tried it on, but I think it'll do. As soon as the preacher finishes, I'll take off the jacket.”

The suit, a bold green-and-blue plaid, looked like something out of a fifties clown catalog. Jenna managed to squelch a laugh when she realized how hard her friends had tried to make her wedding as beautiful as possible.

“Oh, Palmer,” Lucy whispered.

“He looks dapper, doesn't he?” Addy said, as if to claim credit.

“Quit talking about me,” Palmer insisted. “I don't want to grab any attention away from the bride. Jenna's the one people should admire, you know.” He sent Jenna an apologetic glance. “Sorry, Jenna, I didn't mean to steal your
thunder. This is your big day, yours and Reid's. If you want me to change, I will,” he said hopefully.

“Oh, no, Palmer, you wear your suit. I'll take my chances.”

Reid reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers, letting her know he appreciated her patience with his friends.

“You're going to be a beautiful bride,” Kim whispered.

“She is,” Lucy agreed.

Despite herself, Jenna blushed.

“Now scoot,” Lucy said, ushering Jenna out the door. “The wedding's in a couple of hours and we want to have everything ready.”

“I think we have our marching orders,” Reid said.

“It seems that way.”

Before Jenna had a chance to object, Kim and Lucy whisked her out the door and away from Reid. She shrugged and cast him a resigned smile before the door closed.

Two hours later, with the entire population of Snowbound in attendance, Pete escorted Jenna down the aisle to the makeshift altar, where Reid waited. She wore a white dress that was elegant and traditional at the same time—the perfect garb for a snow bride. Chloe stood off to the right, in the front row, weeping decorously. Loud sniffling came from Palmer and Addy, who sat on the other side. Kim and Lucy were serving as maids of honor, while Reid had asked Jim to be his best man.

The flame on the candle danced and cheered as “Silent Night” played softly in the background.

Reid held out his hand. With tears of happiness blurring her eyes, Jenna stepped toward him, ready to link her life with his.