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Katie selected a book about mountain climbing.
I love you.
There it was. Those words she’d never said to anyone and probably never would.
She put the book back and turned as her sister ended the call. “Where’s the shower?”
She followed Rosie into a luxurious bathroom with a freestanding tub overlooking the forest. “What if someone walks past?”
“They won’t. This is private property. If you’re lucky you might see an elk.”
“Mm.” Katie nudged her sister out of the room, stripped off her clothes and stepped into the shower. She’d expected the bathroom in a tree house to be rudimentary at best. A thin trickle of water, probably cold. Instead she was deluged by powerful jets of hot water. She stood for a moment, letting the warmth pour over her and seep into her skin. Then she washed her hair and reluctantly emerged from the steam she’d created.
She grabbed two of the fluffy towels warming on the rail, and wrapped her hair in one and her body in the other.
She rubbed the steam from the mirror and turned so that she could see her shoulder. The scars were visible. Walking out of this room wearing a towel would invite questions she didn’t want to answer, so she grabbed one of the robes that were hanging on the back of the door.
Suitably covered, she stepped out of the room. “Rosie?”
“I’m in your bedroom.” Rosie appeared from a room next to the bathroom. “Here. This is the bedroom I chose for you. It overlooks the forest. The other is on the shelf and it’s gorgeous, but this one is more private.”
It was sumptuous, with soft green throws pooling onto the wooden floor. The room became part of the forest. Katie eyed the bed, wishing she could fall into it.
Why had she insisted on meeting Dan tonight?
“This place is gorgeous.”
Rosie stepped forward and hugged her again. “I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry I messed up Christmas.”
Her whole life was a mess, not only at Christmas. “The whole family is together. What more do we need?”
Rosie eased back. “All those years we sat in the window of Honeysuckle Cottage and hoped for snow so that we could build a snowman. And now, finally, we have a white Christmas and all the snow we could want or need.”
“If you’re suggesting what I think you’re suggesting then the answer is no. I’m too old to build a snowman.”
“How about a snowball fight?”
“Definitely too old for that.”
“Husky ride? Snowshoeing?”
“Maybe snowshoeing. Is there a hair dryer?”
Rosie produced one, along
with a pair of thick socks in cream and gray. “These are an early Christmas gift. They’re perfect for keeping your feet warm indoors. I’ll be in the living room when you’re done. Dan and Jordan will be here in about ten minutes.”
“Wait—did you say Dan and Jordan? Why is Jordan coming?”
“Because he and Dan were spending the evening together going over a few things when I rang. And anyway, he’s best man. You need to get to know him.”
“I spent five hours in the car with the guy. I know everything I need to know. I thought it would be the three of us. I want to get to know Dan.”
“You can tell a lot about a person by the friends they keep. Dan and Jordan have been friends since they were children. Hurry up and put clothes on or you’ll be naked when they arrive.”
Katie waited for Rosie to leave the room and then opened her case. She pulled out underwear, clean jeans and a soft white sweater. Despite the snow falling past the window, the tree house was cozy, warmth spreading upward from the underfloor heating.
She pulled on her clothes and dried her hair.
