Chapter 18
The night sky was a canvas of stars as I hurried up the path to the gazebo. I had to be sure all the decorations were in place and ready to go before I headed to the park pavilion where everyone was meeting. I was dying to see Mel in the dress again, but more than that, I was dying to see Holly. I was praying with all my might that she was in an okay mood for the ceremony.
I climbed the stairs to the gazebo and sighed. The romance was off the charts tonight. The twinkle lights outlined the ceiling, hanging down like snowflakes in the night. Garland and lights were wrapped around the railings while holly berries gleamed with their strong red glow. I fingered a set of berries and walked around the floor, taking note that the heaters were on and working. They made the gazebo easily twenty degrees warmer than the rest of the park. They were cleverly hidden near the speakers, which were also decorated with garland.
It was the ice luminaries that brought it all together, though. They were Ivy’s idea, so we left them up to her, and they were stunning. She had used ivy leaves and holly berries inside each luminary. They lined the stairs Mel would walk up to say her vows and change her life for the better. The whole scene, topped off by the tree of blue stretching into the sky, was so romantic my breath stuck in my chest.
“It’s magical,” a voice whispered behind me when his arms slid around my waist. “Breathtaking actually.”
“Those were the exact words running through my mind,” I agreed, wrapping my arms around his at my waist. “It’s all come together so well.”
“Because of you,” he said, kissing my cheek.
I laughed softly and leaned back against his chest carefully. “I only did my share. It was a group effort. I hope it’s a memory Mel and Mason never forget.”
He spun me toward him and stroked my cheek, the cuts from Wednesday night hidden under some artfully applied makeup. “I know it’s one I will never forget.”
“You’re not getting married tonight.”
His thumb continued to stroke my cheekbone as a smile danced across his face. “No, but I’m standing here staring into the eyes of a gorgeous woman who says she loves me. The lights are shining across her face making her skin glow a beautiful chestnut brown. I may not be getting married tonight, but this vision is one I’ll remember forever.”
His lips lowered to mine and I fell into the kiss. I pushed at his chest gently until he lifted his head. “Not in public, remember?” I hissed, glancing around us at the dark woods.
He took my arms and backed me up into the far corner of the gazebo where there was nothing but shadows and darkness. “Love over fear, remember?” he asked, lowering his lips to mine again.
I brought my arms up and wrapped them around his neck, moaning softly when his tongue stroked mine and his thumbs caressed the skin by my waist. Magical. Breathtaking. He was both of those things and I was a goner when it came to him.
“Ahem,” came a voice and we froze, his lips falling from mine the same time my arms fell from around his neck. He spun around and we faced our interrupter. “Sorry to break this up, but the women are looking for you,” Shep said, pointing behind him.
I chuckled and shook my head. “No problem, I was just heading to the pavilion.”
Shep’s head bobbed up and down. “It definitely looked like you were on your way.”
Ellis reached out and playfully punched Shep on the arm. “Can’t blame a guy for waylaying a beautiful woman.”
Shep held up his hands while he laughed. “Hey man, I’m guilty of the same more often than not. Maybe you could help me get some chairs set up?”
I grabbed Ellis’s elbow. “No heavy lifting. Doctor’s orders.”
Shep jumped in immediately. “Oh crap, I forgot. If I lay them out in rows can you set them up?”
Ellis rolled his eyes but nodded. “No problem. I can lift with my good arm, but Little Miss Taskmaster over here would have a stroke.”
I punched him playfully. “Hey! I’d prefer you didn’t pull stitches out. That would require an ER visit and you can be damn sure you’d be waiting until after the ceremony!” I was teasing, and he knew it, so he pecked me chastely on the lips and pushed me toward the stairs.
“Go, you’re needed by the womenfolk. Leave us to do the man’s work.”
I rolled my eyes as I trotted down the stairs. “Okay, you do that, let me know if you need any help organizing the chairs. You know, since that’s a woman’s work,” I called.
I heard raucous laughter and raced away toward the pavilion before one of them could catch me. I jogged up to the door, ready to head in and get changed for the event. It was more than time for these two wonderful people to become husband and wife. Maybe they wouldn’t get to do the adoption tonight, but the first step was better than no step at all.
I knocked on the door and called out. “It’s Addie, can I come in?”
Someone yelled yes from inside, so I pushed the door open and closed it behind me immediately. Mel stood in a robe, boots, and a winter coat, which was a sight to see in and of itself. Ivy was already wearing her red velvet long-sleeved dress. It was stunningly beautiful and I put my hand to my chest.
“Ivy, you’re glowing,” I sighed, taking stock of the dress which hung at an empire waist with a black ribbon the only accent.
“I told her she’s going to outshine the bride this year,” Mel said, a smile on her face as she gazed at her friend.
I spun on my heel, my head already shaking. “No, Mel, not what I meant.”
Mel put her arm around my shoulder and rested her cheek on mine. “I know, but it’s the truth and that’s okay. She’s gorgeous and that little baby glow is definitely shining through tonight.”
Ivy blushed and waved her hand at us. “Ladies, you’re embarrassing me. Honestly, if I’d have known I would have worn a gunny sack.”
Mel and I both laughed at the image and shook our heads. “No, I’d much prefer to see Shep’s reaction when he sees you in this,” Mel sighed.
“Ditto,” I agreed, chuckling. “Hey, where’s Holly Bear?” I asked, the room decidedly empty of her enthusiasm.
We had spent the afternoon at my salon doing makeup, hair, and nails. While Heather took care of the washing and styling, I was able to do nails and makeup, even with one finger a little slow to react. I had removed the big bandage from the hospital and kept a small band-aid on it instead. It was hard to bend, but I’d done far harder work with only nine fingers before. The best part of the day was when Holly let me curl her hair in ringlets around her face. She looked so damn adorable that I used super-duper strong hold hairspray to make sure it lasted until tonight. We’d set her up with toys, games, her iPad, and snacks for the afternoon and she had happily played, danced, sang, and overall, was a happy little girl. I was praying that hadn’t changed in the last two hours.
Mel squeezed my shoulder. “Mason is on his way with her now. When we got home from the salon, she fell asleep on the couch sitting up. We decided to let her sleep for a bit before the ceremony so she wasn’t a grumpy bear the whole night. She tends to get sadder when she’s tired, which makes sense.”
I nodded, a frown on my face. I reached my hand out to each of them and we all said a silent prayer for Holly tonight. Ivy was the one who spoke. “She’s going to be fine once she gets here. The gazebo is amazing, sorry, no spoilers,” she said, glancing at Mel, “and the food and cake at the diner are her favorite. I know the whole town is going to work together to get her over this hump.”
Mel nodded once and let the smile return to her face. “I agree. Mason said he got her ready, so that’s one less thing for us to do.”
“Love that man,” I said, laughing.
“Which means there are only two people in this room without a dress on,” Ivy scolded, her brow raised.
There was a knock on the door and then we heard a voice. “It’s Holly! Don’t forget about Holly!”
I laughed and jogged to the door, putting my lips by the crack. “What’s the secret phrase?” I asked, wondering if she’d remember.
“It’s secret, so I can’t say!” she answered.
I pulled the door open and she jumped into my arms. “You got it right!” I teased, wrapping my arms around her to keep her from falling. Mason stood at the end of the walkway and waved. He had dressed in his suit already and I grinned at his bowtie, which was white with holly leaves. I waved and he turned and disappeared into the dark.
I closed the door to block the cold winter wind. “That man is fine.”
I set Holly down on her little black patent leather shoes. “His tie matches my dress!” Holly said, spinning to make her dress fly out around her.
I grasped her shoulders and held her still, my eyes pricking with tears. “Holly, this dress. It’s so … you,” I whispered.
Mel came over and put her hand on her daughter’s shoulder. “I told you, didn’t I?” she asked and I stared at the white dress that was covered in green holly leaves and red holly berries. At the waist was a bright red ribbon that matched the berries. “She’s the most beautiful baby in the world,” I whispered, fixing her ringlets. “And your hair is as curly as ever.”
Holly, obviously able to see I was near tears, put her arms around my neck and hugged me. “Don’t be sad, Addie. I was real careful not to smush your curls, just like you said.”
I squeezed her tightly for a moment and then winked at her. “I’m not sad. I’m happy. Sometimes, when people feel really, really happy, they cry.”
“They’re not sad tears? They’re happy tears?”
I smiled and patted her cheek. “Definitely happy tears.”
“I remember when Mom and Mason came to see me for the first time. Mom cried happy tears that day.”
Mel laughed softly behind her and stared down at her little beauty with the love only a mother has. “I sure did cry happy tears. I’ll probably cry some happy tears tonight, too.”
Ivy came over from where she’d been watching the exchange by the table. “I think we will all cry some happy tears tonight. I already am!”
We laughed as she wiped her eyes with her hand carefully to protect her makeup. I stood and winked at Ivy. “Well, you’re pregnant, so you’ll probably cry more happy tears than the rest of us combined.”
“Not wrong,” she agreed and clapped her hands. “Now, the time is here. Dresses everyone or this wedding can’t happen!”
Mel and I scrambled to the back of the gazebo where our dresses hung in bags from the dry cleaner. It was definitely time for the magic of the season.
“I, Mason, take you Melissa to be my wife,” Mason repeated after the judge who was officiating the ceremony. I was kneeling in the dark off to the side, snapping pictures as they held hands, Holly by her mother’s side. Mel was laser-focused on Mason and he turned his head to the judge then whispered, I got this. “Mel, we’ve been through so much together and I can’t stand here and repeat vows that have no meaning to me. I’d rather tell you all the things that mean the world to me. Like the first time you walked into the Nightingale and smiled at me nervously when I came out of the kitchen. Or the first time we went for a walk in this very park to hear the band play on a warm summer day. There are so many of those memories I’ve saved up over the last five years, but there is one that is by far the one I see every time I walk into our house. That memory is the one we made exactly one year ago today when we brought our beautiful daughter home. She wore the cutest pair of Hello Kitty pajamas and held your hand the entire three-hour trip. I sat in the front seat and fought tears for the whole of those three hours. Why? I’d never witnessed the sheer power like the bond a mother and child had, no matter how many years had separated them. I also wondered if I’d ever find a place in the equation.”
Mel shook his hands gently as her lips quivered. “You have, Mason. You’re the glue that holds this equation together.”
Mason returned her smile and cleared his throat. “I pray every night that’s true,” he agreed.
“It is,” Holly whispered, her voice tight as she stared at the two people she loved.
Mason smiled and patted her cheek. “Thank you, sweetheart.” He turned back to Mel and winked before he spoke again. “Tonight, of all nights, I want you to know that I will never, ever take for granted the trust you’ve put in me, the dreams and pain you’ve shared with me, and the chance to be part of yours and Holly’s life. I will laugh with you, hold you, love you, cherish you, and protect you for as long as we both shall live,” he whispered, slipping the ring onto her finger.
Mel stared at it for a moment before she raised her gaze to his. I was snapping pictures as fast as I could, but the tears in my eyes were making it difficult to see through the lens. Especially when I noticed tears in Holly’s eyes.
“I, Mel, take you Mason to be my husband,” Mel whispered, still holding on desperately to his hands. “I can’t top that,” she said and the crowd chuckled, most of them wiping their eyes, too. “I will say that a year ago tonight was the best night of my life. I had my daughter in my arms again for the first time in seven years. I also had a man who loved me and would do anything to make sure we were never separated again. A year ago this day I watched you fall in love with my daughter at the same time I fell back in love with her. You held her on your lap and told her it was okay to be happy and sad at the same time. You told her about your job, this town, the people in it, and the diner. You promised her you’d keep her safe if she came home with us. I know it was because of you she felt secure enough to take that car ride with us. Mason, I’ve loved you for years but was too afraid to tell you. I’m not anymore. The way you take care of me when I’m hurting, and make sure Holly and I never want for anything, has made it safe for my love to blossom without fear of judgment or ridicule. You’ve changed me for the better, as a woman and as a mother. You encourage me, love me, and hold me up when I don’t think I can take another step. I will laugh with you, hold you, love you, cherish you, and protect you for as long as we both shall live,” she whispered, sliding the band onto his finger and kissing it with the joy of a woman in love.
The judge went to speak, but Mason held up his finger. “One more thing,” he said and the judge nodded his agreement. Mason knelt in front of Holly and took her hands in his. “Holly, when I met you one year ago, I was taken aback by how much you looked like your mommy. Once I got to know you, I realized what a wonderful, sweet, beautiful little soul you are and I want you to know I’m always going to be here for you. I promise to be there and hold your hand when you need someone to hang onto. I promise to brush your hair when you ask me to and tuck you into bed at night after you read me a story,” he said, winking. “I vow to show you that being a daddy doesn’t have anything to do with blood, or paper, or names. Being a daddy is about love, that’s all. Just the love we have for each other as a family. Above all, I vow to protect you, care for you, and love you forever. Even when you’re too big for me to carry in my arms, I’ll carry you in my heart.” He patted her chest where a necklace rested. It was a heart with an H in the center, one she’d worn for over a year since he gave it to her. Holly had tears on her tiny face when she reached her hand out to rest over the other half of the necklace tucked under his shirt. I was never happier my viewfinder was there to catch such a touching moment.
She threw her arms around him for a hug and when he stood, she clung to him. There wasn’t a dry eye in the park as Mel took his other hand and the judge lifted his hands.
“I can’t top that, so with the power vested in me by the State of Michigan, I hereby pronounce you man and wife. Mason, you may kiss the bride!”
The crowd was on their feet clapping as Mason laid a kiss on Mel gently, Holly still in his arms. She had her arms around his neck but her eyes weren’t on them, they were on the tree glowing behind them. I snapped pictures of both, praying I was doing it justice. The Bells Pass High School Madrigals began to sing A Christmas Love Song. As the crowd quieted to hear them sing, Mel, Mason, and Holly all turned to face the tree where the singers were gathered.
The judged stepped to the side and I captured in my viewfinder the moment they became a family, for real and forever.