down slowly and holds on to me for a moment before he lets go. I scan the area. The transformation from a functional space for skiers and snowboarders to warm up and eat is amazing. Tiny lights twinkle along the ceiling and posts, and the tables are covered with white linens. Candles and flowers make them appear elegant, and the faint scent of roses is in the air.
Dannika rushes over to Lori and me and escorts us to the room where Casey is waiting until the ceremony starts. Casey’s eyes are wide with nervousness when we enter, and she asks, “What do you think?”
Her red curls are in an updo with spiraled tendrils hanging down. The wedding dress fits like a glove, and the lines create the hourglass figure she craves. Dannika did her makeup, and it complements her pale complexion perfectly. “You’re stunning.”
Casey moves her hands down the bodice of her dress to smooth it out. “I’m nervous.”
Dannika says, “Oh, we’ve got the cure for that.” She pulls a bucket of ice from under a table, and it contains expensive champagne that Dannika favors. The cork pops loudly, and the four of us let out small screams as it flies out of Dannika’s hand and bounces off the ceiling.
Gretchen says, “That’s appropriate.” She takes the glass Dannika hands her and waits for us all to have one before she lifts it up. “To a life full of wonderful surprises.”
Our glasses clink, and I sip the decadent drink. The flavor is light on my tongue, and the bubbles match my growing excitement for my friend.
I say, “I’m never going to look at this lodge the same way. This is such a fun place for a wedding.” Of course it may be years before I get to see this building again, and the thought is sobering.
Kaleb pokes his head in. “The last snowcat just arrived.” He notices our drinks. “Hey, is that champagne?”
Lori walks over to him and gives him a taste. After he swallows, he says, “Oh, that’s good. That would have been better than the scotch Christian brought. Five minutes, girls.”
Dannika says, “That’s what I said. We’ll be ready.”
I walk over and take Casey’s hands to find they’re ice cold. “This is the day you’ve wanted for a long time. I’m so happy for you.”
Casey nods. “I know. I can’t believe it’s really happening.”
Gretchen touches her arm. “Believe it. You and Jason belong together.”
Casey’s dad appears in the doorway. “It’s time.”
The bridesmaids grab their bouquets of lavender roses and walk out the door first. I take the arm Nick offers me. The music starts, and the wedding party proceeds down the aisle created by the layout of tables. When we get to the small stage set up for Casey and Jason, Nick takes my hand and kisses it before letting me go so I can stand on my side. He mouths, “I love you.”
I return the same words. It doesn’t escape me that this is the closest I’ll ever get to walking down the aisle with Nick, and I tuck the memory away for later as I turn to watch Casey come toward us.
Her smile is radiant, but it’s the look on Jason’s face that just about does me in. When he sees her, his mouth opens, and he gasps. Low laughter comes from the crowd as more than one woman finds tears streaming down their face. Me included.
Dannika hands me a tissue, and I notice her pass them around while she whispers, “Dab. We don’t want smears.”
The ceremony is quick, and Jason hams it up for the crowd when he dips Casey for their kiss. The party begins, and while Nick stands in line to get us drinks, I wander over to the large windows that offer a view of the bowl. The bowl is a section of the mountain that is concave and offers a vast expanse of trail to ski. The snow is no longer deep, and rocks are peeking through the white like chocolate chips in ice cream.
“This time of year used to make me sad.” Gretchen has come to stand next to me, and she continues. “We spend the whole season praying for snow, and then it disappears
Dannika rushes over to Lori and me and escorts us to the room where Casey is waiting until the ceremony starts. Casey’s eyes are wide with nervousness when we enter, and she asks, “What do you think?”
Her red curls are in an updo with spiraled tendrils hanging down. The wedding dress fits like a glove, and the lines create the hourglass figure she craves. Dannika did her makeup, and it complements her pale complexion perfectly. “You’re stunning.”
Casey moves her hands down the bodice of her dress to smooth it out. “I’m nervous.”
Dannika says, “Oh, we’ve got the cure for that.” She pulls a bucket of ice from under a table, and it contains expensive champagne that Dannika favors. The cork pops loudly, and the four of us let out small screams as it flies out of Dannika’s hand and bounces off the ceiling.
Gretchen says, “That’s appropriate.” She takes the glass Dannika hands her and waits for us all to have one before she lifts it up. “To a life full of wonderful surprises.”
Our glasses clink, and I sip the decadent drink. The flavor is light on my tongue, and the bubbles match my growing excitement for my friend.
I say, “I’m never going to look at this lodge the same way. This is such a fun place for a wedding.” Of course it may be years before I get to see this building again, and the thought is sobering.
Kaleb pokes his head in. “The last snowcat just arrived.” He notices our drinks. “Hey, is that champagne?”
Lori walks over to him and gives him a taste. After he swallows, he says, “Oh, that’s good. That would have been better than the scotch Christian brought. Five minutes, girls.”
Dannika says, “That’s what I said. We’ll be ready.”
I walk over and take Casey’s hands to find they’re ice cold. “This is the day you’ve wanted for a long time. I’m so happy for you.”
Casey nods. “I know. I can’t believe it’s really happening.”
Gretchen touches her arm. “Believe it. You and Jason belong together.”
Casey’s dad appears in the doorway. “It’s time.”
The bridesmaids grab their bouquets of lavender roses and walk out the door first. I take the arm Nick offers me. The music starts, and the wedding party proceeds down the aisle created by the layout of tables. When we get to the small stage set up for Casey and Jason, Nick takes my hand and kisses it before letting me go so I can stand on my side. He mouths, “I love you.”
I return the same words. It doesn’t escape me that this is the closest I’ll ever get to walking down the aisle with Nick, and I tuck the memory away for later as I turn to watch Casey come toward us.
Her smile is radiant, but it’s the look on Jason’s face that just about does me in. When he sees her, his mouth opens, and he gasps. Low laughter comes from the crowd as more than one woman finds tears streaming down their face. Me included.
Dannika hands me a tissue, and I notice her pass them around while she whispers, “Dab. We don’t want smears.”
The ceremony is quick, and Jason hams it up for the crowd when he dips Casey for their kiss. The party begins, and while Nick stands in line to get us drinks, I wander over to the large windows that offer a view of the bowl. The bowl is a section of the mountain that is concave and offers a vast expanse of trail to ski. The snow is no longer deep, and rocks are peeking through the white like chocolate chips in ice cream.
“This time of year used to make me sad.” Gretchen has come to stand next to me, and she continues. “We spend the whole season praying for snow, and then it disappears
Similar Books
