“Is that—Grandma?” Jess was staring at the snow-covered deck of the restaurant. “What is she doing up here? And Élise. I thought she was really busy in the restaurant today. And Uncle Jackson—Dad—” she turned to Tyler “—what is going on? Are we all having lunch?”
“No, that comes afterward.” His gaze was fixed on Brenna, and she glanced from him to Elizabeth and then noticed Alice and Walter, wrapped up in layers to keep out the cold, and behind them Sean, Kayla and—
“Mom?” Startled, Brenna stepped forward. “What are you doing here?” And if seeing her mother was a surprise, it was nothing compared to the sight of her mother smiling at Tyler.
“I’m here in my official capacity.”
“Official?” Brenna caught sight of her father standing next to Walter and only then did she notice that her mother was holding something in her hand. “What is that?”
“It’s a marriage license. I thought about what your perfect wedding would be,” Tyler said, “and I thought you’d want it to be in the mountains with snow, trees and family. You once told me that the things that are important to you are outside, not inside. Blue sky and fresh snow.”
Brenna looked at him and then her mother. “You went to visit my parents?”
“Yesterday. After I told them how I felt and what I wanted to do, they stopped wanting to put dents in me. We talked for a long time and then we spoke to my family, trying to find a way to make this happen.”
“Mom?” Brenna saw tears in her mother’s eyes and then the smile.
“This is the first time I’ve been asked to bring a marriage license to the top of a mountain, but given the rest of your relationship has been conducted here, it seems right to do this part here, too. We’re happy for you, Brenna. So happy.”
Still dazed, Brenna turned back to Tyler. “You want to get married here?”
“Yes. If that’s what you want.”
She couldn’t see properly through the tears. “I do, but—what about clothes? Hair? I’m not even wearing makeup.”
“You couldn’t look more beautiful.” With a rough exclamation, he took her face in his hands, but before he could kiss her she heard Kayla’s voice.
“Wedding planner coming through, excuse me—”
With a soft curse Tyler released her. “You’ve worked hard enough to get us to this point, and now you’re going to stop me?”
“Not stop, but delay long enough to make sure the bride is looking her best.” Kayla whipped makeup out of her purse. “Hold still.”
“She looks great.” Tyler gritted his teeth. “This isn’t necessary.”
“You made her cry, Tyler, and it doesn’t matter that they were happy tears—no woman wants to look like crap in her wedding photos.” Kayla worked quickly, using concealer, a little blusher and a touch of lip gloss. “There. You are so pretty. Élise?”
“Oui, j’arrive. Take your jacket off, Brenna.”
“I can’t take my jacket off! I’ll freeze!” And then Brenna noticed her friend was carrying a large bag. “What’s in there?”
“Something to stop you freezing.” Élise dug her hand into the bag and pulled out a white ski jacket with a soft faux fur hood. “We wanted you to have a white wedding. You have no idea how hard it was to find a white ski jacket on Christmas Eve.”
Brenna started to laugh while Jess looked on, wide eyed.
“That jacket is so cool. Where did you find it?”
“New York.” Kayla eyed Jackson, who rolled his eyes.
“I don’t want to know the details.”
“Good. Because I’m not telling you. A girl needs some secrets. And talking of secrets—Sean?” Kayla beckoned, and Sean stepped forward, a small bunch of white roses in his hand.
“You don’t want to know how far I had to drive to find these, either. You owe me big-time for this one.” He slapped Tyler on the shoulder and bent to kiss Brenna. “You’ve been like a sister to me all my life. I’m happy you’re going to make it official.”
Brenna tugged one of the roses out of the bouquet and handed it to Jess. “Will you be my bridesmaid?”
Jess turned pink with pleasure. “I will. I mean I do.” Everyone laughed, and Maura Daniels cleared her throat.