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Hal didn’t even have to think but answered directly, seeming happy to reminisce. “No doubt, the first winter after we bought the house. We were kids, Margie and me, didn’t know what we were doing half the time. So that would have been the storm of ’79. It wasn’t a blizzard, mind you, there was no sustained wind, but wow, the snow that fell, haven’t seen the like, not before or since then. Just dumped it straight down, sometimes three and four inches an hour.” He chuckled a bit. “Anyway, Margie was worried about the weight of the snow on the roof over the breakfast nook. So we bundled up and went out the back door, got the ladder from the garage. I spent an hour up there on the roof, clearing off the snow while Margie watched and ‘guided’ me,” he said, using air quotes, “from the rear of the yard. Now did I mention we were young and stupid at the time? Yep. Turns out, all the snow I’d pushed straight off the roof completely blocked the door we’d gone out. The front door was rarely used, so that was locked. No cell phones back then and I had only the one shovel. Took me more than an hour to dig usintoour house,” he finished, smiling and shaking his head at his own foolishness.
The guests lingered long after dinner was done, until Maren suggested they return to the parlor, where she would serve after dinner drinks and where there was a variety of board and card games available.
While the others stood and did as suggested, Alec approached Maren, wanting instead to return to his room where he might get in some work this evening. He thought that was what he wanted; certainly it was what he had planned. So thenhe was a bit surprised by the genuine regret by having to decline her open invitation to the group.
“Dinner was excellent and your hospitality is truly tempting,” he said, catching her as she collected two empty dishes from the table, “but I’m afraid duty calls tonight. I have a bit of work that needs my attention.”
“Of course, Alec,” she allowed graciously. “Have a good night.”
With a nod of gratitude, Alec excused himself while Maren turned toward the kitchen. His eyes lingered on her for a moment before he headed upstairs, reluctant to examine his own disappointment that he’d made the choice he did.
And certainly, he shouldn’t have expected that Maren would have expressed any displeasure that he wasn’t going to hang around, surely not when he’d all but disparaged her friend before dinner. In truth, she probably thought him a jerk for how indelicately he’d handled the situation. Obviously, there were probably a hundred other ways he might have broached the subject of Jasmine’s reasons for wanting to wed Liam. Possibly, Maren and maybe many other people would have told him it was none of his business anyway. Actually, Maren essentially already had.
It’s not my decision or my business to tell them what’s best for them, she’d said.
Ah, but old habits, as Maren had referenced this afternoon. Alec was the older brother of three sisters. Having witnessed the rollercoaster of emotions that came with relationships, Alec had developed a keen sense of suspicion when it came toeveryone'sintentions.
Returned to his room, he opened up his laptop and scanned the newest emails, which included notes and reports from his CFO about the tax incentives available for businesses wanting to establish a presence in different towns in Western NewYork. Another email from his company’s Business Development Manager included material on market research, financial analysis, and the legal and regulatory requirements, the material meant to guide Alec in evaluating the suitability of a large commercial building and warehouse, the property he would be inspecting next week for the potential establishment of Quantum Tech’s second location.
Austin, TX had been a welcoming home for Quantum Tech, but it wasn't home for Alec personally. His heart resided in Buffalo, where his parents, sisters, and a sprawling extended family shared their lives, and which Alec was only able to visit a few times a year.
***
By eleven o’clock, Maren was wilting and frankly, quite thrilled to bid good night to Mark and Emily, the last two guests inside the parlor. She’d bid goodnight to Bethany more than an hour ago, when her husband, Marv, arrived to pick her up. Maren had been nearly horrified at the time, by the snow that had fallen, blown, and drifted up around the side door, and then had been very grateful that Bethany had not driven herself and that she lived only seven streets further down Maple Street.
Pleased to have the first day and night behind her, Maren briefly reviewed what she considered a successful night of hosting. She had no influence over her guests’ behavior—looking at you, Rachel, and your antagonistic demeanor; and you, too, Alec Sullivan, with your unreasonable and rude opposition to the wedding, like why did you even come?—but she was happy that nothing had gone wrong on her end. Ellie B had counseled her time and again that was where her responsibility began and ended, with the services she offered at the inn.
After she’d turned out all the lights on the first floor, she was guided upstairs by the many dim nightlights stationed around the house, mostly for guests’ use and safety purposes.
Her phone, which had politely remained in the kitchen all evening, showed a barrage of messages, most of which were from Jasmine, worrying about the weather and the dozen guests who hadn’t been able to make it to Willowbrook because of the storm. While Maren wondered if Jasmine had texted her mother—she couldn’t believe Mrs. Adamczyk wouldn’t have mentioned her daughter’s anxiety—Maren typed quickly, with as much reassurance as she could manage, while also trying to be practical.
Jas, we can’t control the weather. Let’s not panic. There are two more days before the wedding. Plenty of time for things to improve.
Expecting that Jasmine was still awake, riled by her anxiety, Maren wasn’t surprised to receive a reply almost instantly.
But what if it doesn’t get better?
Maren bit her lip and went to the short attic window in her bedroom, immediately wincing at the snow swirling and dancing under the golden streetlamps. Of course she had no answers for Jasmine and thought she should only try to remain positive and practical.
I suggest you keep open lines of communication with your vendors, your venue, and the guests, as I’m sure you are. I might also suggest you will have to be flexible, if things do need to change.
Jasmine’s response to that began with a crying face emoji.But with half the guests in from out of town, flexibility really needs some help from Mother Nature.
Unable to clearly gauge her mood and the extent of her worry, Maren texted,You might get some really awesome winter wonderland wedding photos. She added a winking emojito that and then decided Jasmine was worried, but hadn’t melted into a full blown panic yet, based on her response.
‘Snowbird in the storm of the century’ sounds like a nice little headline for our announcement in the Willowbrook Gazette.
She’s fine, Maren thought. For now, anyway.
She texted back,Warning: Incoming Cheesiness: Above all, remember that the most important aspect of the day is the love between you and Liam.
You’ve always been my favorite nerd, Jasmine replied.Hopefully, I will see you tomorrow at the rehearsal dinner. IF we can get there.This was followed by a series of hearts and several more emojis, including a bride avatar, a snowflake, an engagement ring, and a cloud dropping snow.
Maren wished her a goodnight and said they’d talk tomorrow. She clutched the phone at her chest and cast one last, lingering glance out the window.
Hopefully.
Chapter Five
