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“Happy tears,” Vanessa called back, still wiping at her face. “Pregnancy hormones make everything more emotional. I cry at commercials now.”

It was a convenient excuse, and partially true. She was definitely more emotional over everything these days. But deep down, she knew there was more to it than just hormones. She saw the concern brimming in her friend’s eyes, however, and pushed her feelings down. There was no way she wanted to lessen Imogen’s joy right now.

“Tell me everything,” she said firmly. “I want all the details.”

Imogen’s face was shining with happiness, her smile returning as she launched into the story. “It happened almost… two weeks ago? We were walking through downtown after dinner, looking at all the Christmas decorations that were starting to go up, and we stopped in front of the bookstore. You know how the display window has all those fairy tale books arranged with the little Christmas lights?”

Vanessa nodded. She knew exactly what Imogen was talking about. The bookstore’s holiday display was one of the most magical spots in all of Fir Tree Grove.

Imogen looked as if she were about to bubble over, now that she was finally telling the story. “Lincoln started talking about how he had always loved fairy tales because they promised that true love was possible, that people could find their happily ever after if they were brave enough to believe in it. And then he said that meeting me had made him believe that fairy tales could come true in real life.”

“Oh, Imogen,” Vanessa breathed, feeling fresh tears gathering in her eyes.

“And then he got down on one knee right there on the sidewalk, with all the Christmas lights reflecting off the snow, and he asked me to marry him.” Imogen’s voice was thick with emotion as her eyes welled up. “He had this beautiful ring that belonged to his grandmother, and he said he had been carrying it around for weeks, waiting for the perfect moment.”

“That’s so romantic,” Vanessa said, and meant it completely. It was the perfect proposal for Imogen, who had deserved her own fairytale for so long. “I should have known Lincoln of all people would come up with something so perfect.”

“The ring is at the jeweler being resized,” Imogen said, her expression dreamy. “It’s so beautiful, this gorgeous Art Deco oval with baguettes all around it, and little sapphires in the band. I couldn’t stop staring at it. The jeweler says it should be ready by Christmas and I can’t wait to wear it.”

“Mom, are you crying?” Katie looked over, perplexed, and Imogen laughed, sniffing back the happy tears that had started to well up.

“Just talking with Vanessa,” she said quickly. “We haven’t told anyone yet,” she added. “I want to talk to Katie first, and then we’ll call our families.”

“That’s thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents, sweetheart,” Mabel said to Katie, dragging her attention back to the register, but Vanessa could see Mabel looking curiously at her and Imogen out of the corner of her eye. Mabel would have all kinds of questions after Imogen left, that was for sure.

As Imogen chattered on about ideas for an engagement party, Vanessa tried to figure out why she’d had such a strange reaction to Imogen’s news. She was genuinely thrilled for her friend, truly excited about the engagement and the happiness that was so clearly radiating from every inch of Imogen. Lincoln was perfect for her, and they were going to have a wonderful life together. She was thrilled that her and Mabel’s meddling last Christmas had ended up with this outcome.

But underneath the genuine joy she felt for them, there was something else. A feeling she couldn’t quite name that was making her chest feel tight and her hands feel shaky.

“Have you started planning the wedding?” she asked, trying to push through the strange emotions and focus on being the supportive friend she wanted to be.

“We haven’t gotten that far yet,” Imogen said with a laugh. “We’re still in the stage where we can’t quite believe it’s real. But we’re thinking maybe a summer wedding? Something small and romantic, probably outdoors. Lincoln mentioned that he’s always wanted to get married in a garden. Or maybe a rustic barn wedding? I know the farm rents one out, sometimes⁠—”

Vanessa nodded. It was easy to picture the kind of sweet, intimate wedding they’d have. They would write their own vows, probably, and there would be flowers everywhere and string lights creating magic as the sun set. It would be absolutely perfect, the kind of wedding that would make everyone cry happy tears and believe in true love. It made her think of her own wedding to Jackson, and how perfect it had been. Also a summer wedding, rustic and planned to the tee by her and Mabel, and she had loved every second.

So why did thinking about Imogen’s upcoming marriage make her feel so unsettled?

“Here’s your change, Katie,” Mabel said, handing the little girl her receipt and remaining bills. “And let me get you one of our special gift bags for Emma’s presents.”

“Thank you so much for helping me find the perfect gifts,” Katie said brightly to Mabel as she accepted the glittering red bag. “Emma is going to love everything, and I can’t wait to give them to her at our Christmas party next week.”

“It was my pleasure, sweetheart,” Mabel said, ruffling Katie’s hair affectionately. “Emma is lucky to have such a thoughtful friend. And congratulations, Imogen,” she added with a smirk when Katie was out of earshot. Imogen blushed, realizing that she hadn’t been quite as quiet as she’d meant to be, and the only reason Katie hadn’t heard was probably that she was so consumed with Christmas shopping.

“I’ll call you later,” Imogen promised, giving Vanessa another quick hug. “I want to hear all about how you’re feeling with the baby, and I can’t wait to talk about wedding planning now that you know. We’ll have to have dinner soon and talk even more.”

“Of course,” Vanessa said automatically, although even as she said the words, she felt that strange flutter of anxiety again. “I can’t wait to hear what you’re thinking.”

After they left, the toy store felt unusually quiet, except for the cheery Christmas music playing over the radio. Vanessa went to busy herself fixing a display that Katie had left in disarray, mulling over how Imogen’s news had made her feel.

She was excited for her friend. But she’d been so sure that Imogen was going to announce that she was pregnant, and for a second, she hadn’t felt so alone. Jackson was a wonderful, supportive husband, but he couldn’t understand what was happening to her in the way that her best friend could have, especially if she was experiencing it again at the same time. She’d been thrilled at the idea of sharing this strange, happy, nerve-wracking time in her life with Imogen.

She was also thrilled that Imogen was getting married, that she’d found her happily-ever-after with Lincoln. But her chest felt tight as she thought of how exciting and carefree everything had felt at that point in her relationship with Jackson. How new and open and possible everything had been. Their whole lives as a married couple had just begun, and now they were starting a new phase, one that would consume their lives wholly for a long time.

Those happy, carefree days felt so far away from her now. Now she was worried about pregnancy symptoms and babyproofing their house and already stressing over preschools when the baby wasn’t even there yet. She was wondering how it would change the romance of her marriage with Jackson and if they’d have time for each other and how they’d juggle their already busy lives with raising a child. Imogen was just beginning her love story with Lincoln, and Vanessa felt a pang of nostalgia for those times with her own husband with a strength that was almost painful.

Biting her lip, she tried to refocus. She was happy for Imogen, and she couldn’t let her own feelings get in the way of that. She needed to work through it on her own and focus on all the happiness ahead of her, not the happiness that she’d already had. Things were different now, yes, but it was a good different. It would be a different kind of excitement and joy.

She turned to look at her grandmother, who was reorganizing items on the counter with more attention than the task really required. There was definitely something bothering Mabel, Vanessa thought, something more than just the normal ups and downs of running a business during the busy Christmas season.