Yuletide Bride by Danielle Lee Zwissler

used to be run and how it had changed.  She wasn’t surprised to learn Ava Rochester was the kingpin in the whole operation. After she’d left the mayor and his  wife, Mary stopped  at the retirement home to see Ava Rochester.
    “So, you found out about everything?” was the first thing that Ava Rochester said when Mary arrived.
    Mary wasn’t shocked that Ava knew. Mainly she felt relieved. The Jamesons must have phoned her right away.
    “Are you surprised, Mrs. Rochester?”
    “No, not really. My grandson seems to think you came from the Almighty Himself. You’re one smart cookie, Mary.”
    Mary actually blushed. It felt good to get a compliment that high from James’s grandmother. “Thank you.”
    “No, darling, thank you.  I’ve never seen James so happy.”
    “I haven’t been, either.”
    “Do you understand why you can’t tell anyone about this?”
    “I should have known that you would try to stop me, Mrs. Rochester.”
    “Ava.”
    “Ava, I should have known. James has tried to stop me from the beginning, and I get it now. He said that he didn’t think you would be able to take it.”
    “No, my dear, I can take it. I just don’t think it’s fair to all of the couples out there. You see, my John has no idea. I love him so much, Mary. I am sure now that you can see how much, seeing as you are in love yourself.”
    Mary didn’t even make an effort to deny it. It clearly showed in her eyes. “Yes.”
    Ava smiled. “I’m glad to know for sure. James is a good man.”
    “Yes, yes he is.”
    “Well, things kept going wrong. I told you about my father and how he made me change schools. It was a nightmare. I was so in love with John and then we had to leave. John thought the whole thing was hopeless. He went into the military and I didn’t know what to do. I remembered the festival from when I was a kid, so I wrote the town’s librarian—Lillian Andrews at the time. She’s dead now, God rest her soul. Shortly after that, I convinced Lillian to change it up a bit, to make it more interesting. She did. I could tell John. I just…well there isn’t much magic left in the world. And my John is such a romantic. I fear if I tell him the truth about what I did he wouldn’t understand. Maybe he’d want a divorce. Maybe he’d think I tricked him into marriage.”
    Mary looked at Ava and felt sorry for her. She saw a few tears escape and sighed. “But you have to know he loves you. You see the way he looks at you.”
    “Yes, I do, but I’m afraid that will all change if he knows.”
    “So, how do you get away with the secret meetings?”
    “Wow, the Jamesons didn’t leave anything out, did they?”
    “No, I’m afraid they didn’t,” Mary said, hoping that she wouldn’t kill this woman’s good feelings for her and her grandson.
    “Well, the meetings aren’t all that often, and Layla usually just comes to me. I make the excuse of girl talk and we talk. It’s always around Christmas.”
    “Have you talked yet this year?”
    “Yes, darling, we have. The couple has been chosen,” Ava said, looking down. There was something about her expression that made Mary worry.
    “Who is it?”
    “I can’t tell you that.”
    But you do know?”
    “I know who the male is. That’s all I can say.”
    “You only know half of the couple?” That seemed odd .
    “Well, I know both of the people, but I let fate decide on the other half.”
    “What does that mean? I thought the voting was rigged.”
    “I believe in threes, Mary, not pieces of paper.”
    Mary looked up and knew Dr. Turner had met with Ava Rochester that one day long ago. “Threes?”
    “There are always signs, mind you, but I’ve noticed they travel in threes. Once the third one happens, fate takes over.”
    “Fate?”
    “Fate,” Ava confirmed. She looked deep into Mary’s eyes and Mary felt a sudden chill. She decided it was time to go home, and hoped like hell that the Rochesters didn’t hate her after the weekend was