Page 56 of The Wedding Twist

Celeste nodded. “Of course,” she said, accepting the envelope Stephan passed her. He nodded encouragement for her to open it.

She slid the contract from the envelope and scanned the details. Full time. Three-month probation period. Bonus potential at the manager’s discretion. Three weeks of vacation during shoulder season. The salary was comparable to what her parents paid her and included lodging.

The thought of packing up her cabin sent a wave of nausea over her. “Excuse me for a moment,” Celeste said, standing up and laying her napkin on her chair. She was going to be sick.

Celeste headed to the washroom, her head spinning with possibilities. It was a beautiful resort. A secure contract with a more-than-reputable company. The other staff seemed nice enough, and the staff meals and spa discounts sounded enticing. Signing the contract was a no-brainer, wasn’t it?

She didn’t have a lot of time to think it through.

Instead of escaping to the washroom, Celeste slipped out of the restaurant and walked alone down the forest path that led to the back docks where the service deliveries would happen and where the staff coming and going from the mainland would disembark, so as not to ruin the more impressive sweeping ocean vista at the other side of the resort for the guests.

She walked out along the narrow wooden dock, waves lapping gently at the sandy shore underneath, her mind whirling with uncertainty.

Staring out at the water, she jumped when her phone vibrated in her pocket. Did she actually have service? She slid it out and scanned the screen, where several messages had come through, but there was only one service bar.

Quinn had texted to ask where she’d left the shed key. There was a 10-percent-off sale email from the local bakery and a message from her friend Mel in Ontario asking about visiting that summer with her new girlfriend. At the bottom of the list, there was an Instagram notification, alerting her that she’d been tagged in a post from Kassie Harris.

She went to open it, then thought for a second. No doubt it was a series of photos from the wedding, with Jack looking gorgeous and perfect in the background. She couldn’t face that.

She’d half hoped he’d call after realizing what a jerk he’d been the other night at the lodge, but nothing. And now Celeste understood why. Living here, literally in the middle of nowhere, would have made a relationship impossible. He’d been right to cut things off, a realization that sent a wave of regret coursing through her veins.

Curiosity got the better of her, and when she opened the post to see a single photo—which was of her, clipboard in hand—her mouth opened in surprise. She looked closer and realized it was the moment she’d motioned to the jazz trio to start the processional song.

“What the…” she breathed. Underneath the photo, there were already over three hundred comments. Her heart pounded in her chest.

She tapped the screen and read the message that accompanied the photo.

This is Celeste McCarthy, AKA my guardian angel.

Celeste took a sharp breath in, then scrolled through the message.

When Jeff and I booked our wedding at the Butterfly Lake Lodge two years ago, we knew we’d found the right place to get married. But little did we know that Celeste would be part of the package and she would make our perfect day even more so. Gracious, warm, and creative, with a sixth sense to know what people want and need, and the patience of a saint, Celeste was an absolute gift. If you’re ever so lucky as to be near Butterfly Lake, go see Celeste. She’ll make your dreams come true. xoxo

A lump formed in Celeste’s throat. She’d been thanked before, and a few guests had mentioned her by name on TripAdvisor. But seeing such a personal message, broadcast to millions of people—it was both terrifying and filled her up with pride and gratitude.

She looked back at the island, the trees seeming to vibrate in luscious green.

She could be that here, right? So what if there was a playbook?

“Leap of faith,” she whispered, but she didn’t know what that meant anymore.

Celeste slid her phone into her jacket, and her hand brushed against something in her pocket. She pulled it out to find the small kit she’d taken home from Jack’s class on that first day, then opened it to find the brass hook and a few feathers and pieces of wire.

She remembered exactly what she’d said to Jack:If I ever get stranded in the middle of nowhere, I’ll know I can survive.

A cool breeze carrying a light ocean spray moved off the ocean. Celeste slid the kit back into her pocket next to her phone.

Stephan and Levi would be wondering where she was.

She started back towards the restaurant, where their plates had been cleared away, and Stephen and Levi were eager to hear her impressions about the resort. The rest of their meeting was positive, and Celeste promised them an answer by the following day, although she’d already made up her mind.

One hour later, she was back in the boat with Alexis, wind whipping through her hair as they traveled back to the mainland.

Celeste sat back in her seat and closed her eyes, taking in slow, deep breaths of the fresh ocean air, feeling a sense of calm and resolve.

Leap of faith.

Chapter Seventeen

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