Chapter 25 #2
Isabel nodded. “Remember Jennifer Martin’s wedding at the Welcome Center? The one where the caterer from Polson showed up three hours late?”
“I don’t remember that,” Lynda said.
“Because Susan, Kathleen, and Andrea handled it,” Isabel said triumphantly.
“Jennifer had only ordered finger food, so Kathleen and Andrea raided their food cabinets and refrigerators at their cafés, and Susan picked up the food. Jennifer didn’t know anything had gone wrong until she returned from her honeymoon. ”
Lynda smiled. “And now we have Paul to help, too. He looks at Susan as if she’s a special ray of sunshine that lights his life.”
“He does not,” Susan protested weakly.
“He absolutely does,” all three friends said in unison.
Susan busied herself with her herbal tea, avoiding their eyes. Yes, she and Paul had grown close. Yes, there was something developing between them, something tender and new and terrifying. But discussing it four days before Lynda’s wedding felt like tempting fate.
“We’re not talking about my relationship status right now,” she said firmly. “We’re talking about transforming a barn into an amazing wedding venue.”
Kathleen laughed. “Fine. But after the wedding, we’re revisiting this conversation.”
They spent the next hour discussing each detail. Susan filled her notebook with additional notes, minor adjustments, and last-minute considerations. This was what she’d always loved about event planning, the satisfaction of organizing chaos into something beautiful.
Outside, the snow continued its steady descent. Through the café windows, Susan watched it accumulate on sidewalks and car hoods. It was four days until Christmas Eve. Four days until one of her best friends married the man of her dreams.
“I should get back to the clinic,” Lynda said reluctantly, checking her watch. “I have a cat neuter at two and a puppy vaccination at three.”
“We’ll meet you at the barn tomorrow morning,” Isabel confirmed, gathering her scarf and coat.
Kathleen began clearing plates, stacking them with practiced efficiency. “Nine o’clock sharp. Dress warmly. Until the barn reaches a pleasant temperature, it can be chilly.”
Lynda’s phone buzzed on the table. She glanced at the screen and frowned.
“It’s Matt’s daughter,” she said, her voice suddenly tight. She answered quickly. “Hi, Stephanie. Is everything—”
Susan watched the color drain from Lynda’s face as she listened to Stephanie. Isabel and Kathleen froze, their eyes locked on their friend.
“Which hospital?” Lynda’s hand shook as she gripped the phone. “How bad is it?”
The café seemed to hold its breath. Susan’s heart hammered against her ribs as she waited.
“Okay. Okay, I’m leaving now. Tell them I’m on my way.” Lynda ended the call and stared at the phone in her hand, looking lost.
“Lynda?” Susan pulled her friend into the nearest chair before she collapsed. “What’s happened?”
“It’s Matt.” Lynda’s voice cracked. “He was in a car accident. They took him to St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson. Stephanie said he’s… they’re running scans. They don’t know how badly he’s hurt yet.”
Kathleen was already moving, grabbing coats and bags. “I’ll drive you.”
“No, I can—” Lynda started to stand, then swayed slightly.
“You’re not driving,” Isabel said firmly, wrapping Lynda’s coat around her shoulders. “Kathleen’s right. We’ll take you.”
“All of us,” Susan added, pulling on her own jacket. She caught Kathleen’s eye and saw the same fear she was feeling reflected in her friend’s eyes.
“The clinic,” Lynda said weakly. “I have appointments—”
“I’ll call Brenda,” Kathleen said, already pulling out her phone. “She’ll reschedule everything. Right now, you need to get to Matt.”
They bundled Lynda into Kathleen’s car. Susan slid into the back seat beside her friend. Isabel took the passenger seat, turning to reach back and squeeze Lynda’s hand.
The drive to Polson took forty minutes but felt like hours. Snow continued falling, making the roads treacherous. Kathleen drove with careful concentration while Susan held Lynda’s trembling hand.
“He was just picking up supplies for the barn,” Lynda whispered. “He texted me an hour ago about finding the perfect lights. How did this happen?”
“We don’t know anything yet,” Isabel said gently. “The hospital is running tests. That’s good. That means they’re being thorough.”
But Susan heard the fear beneath Isabel’s reassuring words. Scans meant they were looking for something. Internal injuries, head trauma, broken bones. All the terrible possibilities that came with car accidents in winter weather.
“The wedding,” Lynda said suddenly. “If Matt’s badly hurt—”
“Don’t,” Susan interrupted firmly. “Don’t go there yet. We’ll deal with whatever comes, but right now, we focus on getting to the hospital and finding out what’s happening.”
Lynda nodded, but tears were streaming down her face now. Susan pulled her friend close, letting her cry against her shoulder while Kathleen navigated the snow-covered roads.
Through the car window, the winter landscape blurred past. Susan thought about all the careful planning, the lists, and the timelines. They were all perfect details for a perfect day. None of it mattered now. The only thing that mattered was Matt being okay.
Three days before Christmas Eve. Three days before the wedding that was supposed to mark new beginnings and second chances.
Susan held her friend tighter and prayed they’d still have a reason to celebrate.