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“You’ve never punched anyone in your life. Why on earth would you punch poor Jordan?”
“For hurting my daughter.” There was a fierce look in his eyes that she couldn’t remember seeing before.
“We don’t know he hurt her.” She softened. “You’re in good shape, Nick, but I think he might get the better of you. And then there’s the fact that I think Katie likes him. If it turns out that we’ve wrecked Rosie’s relationship, I’d rather we didn’t also wreck Katie’s. No, a conversation with your daughter is all that’s needed. One where she does most of the talking, and you do the listening.”
“I can do that. Good luck with Catherine.”
“I don’t know which part I’m dreading most. Admitting our relationship was fake, or explaining why Dan stormed out and canceled the wedding.”
“Our relationship isn’t fake anymore. Maybe you don’t have to mention it.”
“If I don’t tell her that we were pretending, none of the rest of it makes sense.” She rubbed her fingers over her forehead. “No, I have to tell the truth. It’s the only way we’re going to stand a chance of unraveling this.” She sighed. “I was dreading meeting her, I felt so intimidated, but the truth is I like Catherine. I like her a lot.”
“I like her, too. Go and talk to her. I’ll clear up here and then find Katie.”
Maggie bundled up and trudged through the snow to the trail that led to Snowfall Lodge.
When she saw Catherine waiting in the car, she felt a flicker of nerves.
She knew how much work Catherine had put into planning this wedding, and how badly she wanted it to go ahead. She was probably furious with Maggie.
Oh well—
Bracing herself for a difficult conversation, she opened the car door and slid inside.
Catherine looked immaculate as ever, her eyes shielded by oversize sunglasses.
“I’m so happy you’ve come.” She waited for Maggie to fasten her seat belt and then headed toward town. “We have to talk.”
“I know.” Maggie leaned her head back against the seat. “Catherine—”
“Let’s wait until we get to the coffee shop. I didn’t want to risk being disturbed in the lodge. Dan took a snowmobile out somewhere, but I suppose he’ll be back at some point and I didn’t want to risk being interrupted.”
“He took a snowmobile?” Maggie slumped in the seat. “I was hoping he and Rosie would be talking about their issues.”
“He’ll be back. When Dan is hurt or has something to work out, he often takes himself off. His father was the same. There are so many things I want to say, but I need to focus and the roads are terrible after yesterday’s blizzard. And I’m dying for a soy latte.”
Maggie had a feeling they were going to need something a lot stronger than a soy latte to make them both feel better, but who was she to argue? And, as Nick had pointed out, alcohol was at least partially responsible for the position they now found themselves in.
She felt awkward. She wanted to tell the truth. She wanted to apologize, but Catherine had made it clear she wanted to postpone the conversation. And underneath it all was a simmering anxiety for both her daughters. Hopefully Nick would speak to Katie and not put his foot in it by saying something tactless, but what about Rosie? Was she on her own and upset somewhere?
“How was your day with Nick yesterday?” Catherine drove confidently. “Was the sledding fun? Was dinner romantic?”
Every word Catherine spoke reminded Maggie how much this woman had done for her. And how much she had to explain. “It was all great, thank you.”
“That’s good to know.”
“The sleigh ride back from the restaurant was magical.”
“It’s a wonderful thing. I once had a man propose to the love of his life on that sleigh ride.” Catherine glanced at her and Maggie noticed how pale she was. As if she’d been crying.
Guilt stabbed her.
“Catherine—”
“Well, look at that—parking, right outside my favorite coffee shop. It’s meant to be.” Catherine eased carefully into a space and the two of them picked their way across the snow and into the warmth.
Catherine picked a small table by the window, close to the fire. “What can I get you?”
