Page 7 of Snow Going Back

‘She said yes!’

‘Oh,’ she breathed. ‘No, Lance—’ She reached out towards him, but in that moment a roaring chorus of cheers erupted from somewhere behind her.

Kate’s heart lurched sharply as she turned towards the noise, then sank to the pit of her stomach like a cold hard stone as she saw the crowd of their closest family and friends gathered by the house. As she realised they’d all beenwatching. That this had all been planned, and that they’dallaccepted heryes.

‘Oh my God,’ she uttered.

How is this happening? she cried internally.And why? Am I being punked? Is Ashton Kutcher hiding somewhere?

‘I know, you’re stunned,’ Lance said with a light happy laugh. He took her hand and slipped the ring onto her finger.

Kate stared down at it, frozen. Reeling. Unsure how to proceed.This has to be a nightmare, she reasoned.That’s it. I’m dreaming. This isn’t real.But when Lance pulled her to him and lifted her chin it certainlyfeltreal. She swallowed, vaguely aware that the sound of the cheering crowd was growing nearer. She felt sick.

‘You know, I had a whole speech prepared, about what a great team we make and about our future together.’ Lance’s warm amber eyes sparkled as he looked down at her with a wide smile. ‘But you didn’t even give me the chance.’ He laughed and then stroked her face gently. ‘Well, that’s fine. Because all that really needs to be said is this. I love you, Kate Hunter. And I’m so glad you said yes to becoming my wife.’

Kate opened her mouth, desperate to say something –anything –to stop this gross misunderstanding from going any further. She wasn’t readyformarriage– they didn’t evenlivetogether! But as Lance turned her to face the crowd of peoplecoming towards them, she realised, in horror, that it was already too late.

FIVE

There was a loud pop as another bottle of champagne was opened and poured over the tower of glasses on the round central table. Kate watched in a stunned daze, still unable to get her head around the fact this was actually happening. But itwashappening. Because Ashton Kutcher hadn’t appeared to tell her she’d been punked, it was nowherenearApril Fool’s Day, and as far as she could tell, Lance wasn’t blind drunk or doing this for a laugh. Which meant that this was all horrifyingly real. She really had accidentally accepted a marriage proposal – and she’d done it in front ofallher family and friends.

There had been no time to work out how to rectify her mistake before she and Lance had been bombarded by the excited group of spectators. Eleanor had cried, hugging Kate tightly before telling Lance how proud she was of him and how overjoyed she was to be welcoming him into the family. Amy had squealed and jumped up and down, promising to be just as amazing a maid of honour to Kate as Kate had been to her, while Rick offered similar sentiments to Lance. One by one, everyone had stepped forward with their congratulations and hugs, and before she’d known it, they’d been ushered back up to the house and into the formal dining room, which was all set up withbanners and balloons and the ridiculous champagne tower in the middle, to celebrate.

Eleanor, never one to miss a chance to play hostess and talk at a willing crowd, immediately took to a stool and gave an emotional speech about how worried she’d been, as the years had passed, that she’d never see this day. She declared Lance her hero and told Kate how proud she was of her for finding such a wonderful man. If Kate hadn’t been in a state of complete shock, she might have felt wryly offended by her mother’s focus, but she had bigger things to worry about now.

‘Here.’ Henry handed Kate a glass of champagne as she finally managed to slip away from the stream of well wishes and hugs.

‘Thanks,’ she replied, moving to the less crowded side of the room and standing back by the wall. She put a hand to her forehead, feeling hot despite the cold weather.

She’d donenothingto undo this colossal misunderstanding.Nothing. She’d juststood therewith a forced smile, nodding her acceptance as each person spoke to her. As Lance proudly held her waist and accepted praise for choosing such a wonderful ring. She’d just stood in stunned, horrified, awkward silence, and every second that passed made it more and more impossible to go back.What was she doing?Realising her father was watching her with a small frown of concern, Kate forced another smile and raised her glass to meet his.

‘Cheers,’ he said quietly. He took a sip and looked over at Eleanor for a moment. ‘Well, you’ve certainly made your mother very happy,’ he commented.

‘Yes,’ Kate managed, following his gaze.

Her mother’s excitement and joy set off a fresh wave of despair. There was no way out of this. She couldn’t backtracknow.It was too late! Both Lance and her mother would be absolutely crushed and embarrassed after their variousdeclarations and speeches in front of everybody. And on top of that, Eleanor would never forgive her. Lance was everything she’d ever wanted in a son-in-law.

Kate blew out a long silent breath as she tried to remain calm. It had surprised her, the strength of her natural reaction to the idea of marrying Lance. Whywasshe so horrified at the idea? They were great together. They were happy, they were in love, and everything about them as a couple made total sense. So whatwasit? She twisted the stem of the glass in her hand for a moment.

The idea of marriage had always just been somewhere far off in the mental distance for Kate. An idea she’d parked as something to get round to thinking aboutsomeday. But someday was another thing she’d always felt a distance from. How on earth hadsomedaybecome today? And without any warning whatsoever? She took in a deep breath, forcing herself to expel it slowly.

It wasn’t that she wasagainstmarriage. But while girls like Amy had dreamed of dresses and made wedding scrapbooks, Kate had dreamed of adventures and made bucket lists. To her, marriage was something that cameaftershe’d conquered the dragon and sailed the seven seas and found an ancient cure for all the world’s ills wearing Indiana Jones’s hat. But she hadn’t even bought the hat yet.

Kate looked over at Lance as he held court, his handsome face animated and full of life. Why hadn’t he brought the idea of marriage up in conversation first? Why had he made it so public?

Amy walked over and wrapped her arm around Kate, squeezing her in a sideways hug with another small sound of excitement. ‘So, when can I start organising everything?’ she asked. ‘This is perfect timing, by the way. I was gettingseriouspost-wedding blues. All those years of planning and then it’sover, just likethat.’ She snapped her fingers, then leaned forward and glanced around Kate to Henry. ‘You ready for this, Mr H? I’m going to put you in a wedding suit so sharp you’ll outshine all the other groomsmen on the day. Won’t take much, of course. Handsome chap like you.’ She winked at him, and he chuckled.

‘Buttering me up for the budget already, Amy? She’s only been engaged an hour.’

‘Well, you know what they say. The early bird catches the worm,’ she replied with a cheery shrug.

‘Right. Well, on that note, I think I’ll leave you early birds to it,’ he said. ‘Catch you in a bit.’ He wandered off towards Eleanor.

‘You and me, Mr H,’ Amy called after him. ‘Savile Row, suit shopping. Only the best for you!’

He nodded and raised his hand in acceptance.

Kate couldn’t help but grin. ‘You’re shameless, Amy Ellis.’

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