Mel sighed. “Okay, I’ll admit I have always thought about getting married at the gazebo, but I was thinking in like June, not December.”
“But if you could do it, you’d get married in the gazebo?” I asked, my hands clasped together under my chin.
“In a heartbeat,” she agreed. “Holly would love it, but we want to do the adoption hearing after we’re married.”
Ivy opened her email app on her phone and handed it to Mel. She read it and looked up slowly. “You asked the judge to marry us at the gazebo and sign the adoption papers there?”
“Well, I mean, he was going to marry you anyway. I didn’t think he’d much mind where it happened. And, like you said,” Ivy continued quickly, “Holly’s paperwork can be signed anywhere.”
“Since all the family will be at the gazebo for the wedding, it just made sense,” I finished.
“But the family wasn’t going to be at the gazebo!” she exclaimed before taking a deep breath. “Guys, I know you have the best intentions, but you know how much I struggle when my feet get cold. Being so close to Christmas I don’t want to be limping around for the holiday.”
“Agreed,” Ivy said.
“Okay, it’s settled then, courthouse it is,” Mel said in her motherish tone of authority.
“But,” Ivy added, “I have some connections with the city. They have several portable heaters they use at the shops. I could easily get my hands on a couple of those and plug them in. With the boots and the heaters, your feet wouldn’t know you weren’t inside the balmy seventy-degree courthouse.”
Mel lowered a brow to her nose. “Ivy, seriously.”
Ivy shrugged. “What? I am serious. I wish we’d have thought of it last year for our wedding. Besides, the ceremony won’t take long and then I’m closing the diner and everyone is coming back here for food and cake. In fact, if you want, you could sign the adoption paperwork here. I’m sure Judge Masters wouldn’t mind coming over here for some cake, coffee, and cuteness from Miss Holly.”
She chewed on her lip and eyed us both, uncertainty in her eyes. “Tempting. Really, really tempting.”
Ivy climbed from the booth and pulled her out. “I have an idea. Go home and tease Mason a bit about the dress. Then, when he’s all hot and bothered, gently suggest, while you’re running your hand up and down his arm, that you get married in the gazebo. When he willingly agrees under the promise of a delightfully warm December night, call me immediately!” She threw her arms around Mel in laughter and Mel patted her back a couple of times.
“I’m blaming this on pregnancy for you,” she whispered not so quietly in her friend’s ear. “And young love for her.”
Young love? What the hell?
“Mel, I’m not in love. Good Lord,” I said crustily.
Ivy and Mel looked at me in unison. “I believe one doth protest too much,” Ivy laughed.
Melissa grabbed her coat and threw it on. “I totally want to get married at the gazebo, but the boots and the heaters would have to be in play for Mason to even consider it.”
Ivy crossed her heart. “Done, without question. I’ll even throw in some of those toe warmers to sweeten the deal.”
Mel smiled and blew her a kiss. “I’ll let you know!” And then she was gone.
Ivy sat back down in the booth and huffed out a breath. “Wow, that was …”
“Yeah,” I agreed without even needing an ending to the thought. “Definitely.”
“Do you think we convinced her?”
“I think so, now it’s up to her to convince Mason. Of course, if she’s smart, and she is, she’ll get Holly on her side first.”
Ivy pointed at me as she chewed her toast. “Agreed. That girl loves the gazebo.”
“Me too,” I sighed, my voice far away. My mind went back to Saturday night where his lips were on mine and the tree was magical.
Ivy lost her battle with the laughter. “You’re so see-through, but I love that about you, Addie.”
“See-through? There’s nothing to see through,” I insisted. “I was just saying I loved the gazebo.”
“When were you there last?” she asked, one brow raised.