Page 30 of Holiday Hitch

“What are you gonna do about the wedding?” Robin asked.

Zoey shrugged, “Well, most of it is already done.”

She thought about what was left: the bouquets were in process, the heaters were installed, the caterers and waitstaff had been booked. At this point, it was just following up with everyone and ensuring that everything ran smoothly day of. The call that had set all of this off was Dani requesting a last minute alteration to the dress, and Atlas had already confirmed that they could manage it, so that was handled. Considering how well-managed everything was, Zoey was surprised she’d had the panic attack in the first place.

Zoey looked at her partner and asked “Do you think you could help me with final touches?”

Robin couldn’t help but laugh – she’d been helping Zoey with her projects all the way back in middle school, so why would it be any different now?

She brought her hand to her forehead for a goofy salute, “Baby, it would be my honor.”

Zoey smiled and tried to remind herself that everything would be all right. Robin was reliable and professional. Letting Robin step up to finish the arrangements would be the best thing for the wedding and for their growing family.

As Robin pulled out of the lot, Zoey had an idea, a smile rising to the corners of her mouth.

“What’s that smile for?“ Robin asked, unable to stop her own goofy grin from mimicking Zoey’s.

“I think I know how I want to tell my family.”

15

Daryl

The drive went fasterthan usual, probably because it was the first time Daryl had driven up in daylight in a month. By the time she was pulling off the highway onto Sugarties’ Main Street, it was barely past noon.

Daryl easily pulled her truck into the driveway on Elm Street. For once, she didn’t have to worry about being double parked with Leah or Johnny’s car.

Turning off the ignition and fetching a tote bag full of groceries from the backseat, she headed inside.

“John, it’s me,” Daryl hollered into the house as she closed the door behind her.

From the living room, John called back, “I’m in here!”

Daryl walked into the room, setting the grocery bag down in the doorway. “What are you doing hiding back here?”

“I go all sorts of places when no one’s home,” John muttered, turning back to his newspaper, “What brings you all the way up here all by your lonesome?”

Daryl stood in the doorway, shuffling her feet,“I’m trying to figure out how to make Christmas more special for Leah, and I think your attic might be the key.”

John raised an eyebrow, but wasn’t one to ask for details around grand, romantic gestures. Instead, he got a move on, wheeling himself toward the stairs.

Daryl helped him transfer from his wheelchair to the power lift. The machine moved a lot faster than Daryl would’ve thought from the commercials on TV.

Once John reached the top of the steps, Daryl followed behind, carrying his wheelchair with her. She tried not to look strained by the lifting, but in all honesty, her age was starting to show.

“You really oughta move into a place with less stairs,” Daryl teased.

Once he was back in his chair at the top of the steps, John joked, “I’d rather die on the stairs than give up this house.” Daryl winced, unsure that he was really kidding.

Across the landing, Daryl found a small rope hanging from the ceiling and yanked it down, unfurling the ladder that nestled into the attic’s entrance and releasing a thick cloud of dust with it. Daryl and John retreated slightly, coughing up a storm.

As the dust settled, John stared up at the ceiling, “You’ll be on your own up there, kid.”

Daryl slapped his shoulder, “Any idea where your Christmas stuff might be?”

John shook his head and laughed, “I can barely remember if I ate today.”

Daryl took a deep breath and prepared herself to explore the untouched attic. If the dust storm hadn’t been enough of an indication, she knew it must be a mess because Leah insisted on buying new lights for the house instead of digging through the labyrinth on the top floor.

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