The Mills & Boon Christmas Wishes Collection. Maisey Yates

to prove our love? Probably not in his eyes, but in mine, it was all about the celebration of that love. About sharing that precious moment with people who made your life complete. Still, we didn’t discuss it. But I often imagined my own wedding, what I’d wear, how we’d decorate the chapel, what on earth I’d say in my vows that would be enough to describe my love for him…

      “What is it about Christmas that brings all this to the fore?” she asked. “You know, the memories, the love, all that soppiness.”

      I laughed. “It’s the time of year to reflect, and hope and dream.”

      “You’d look amazing in a backless gown,” she said, waggling a brow. Golly, the girl knew me so well, she could read my mind.

      “Why, thank you,” I said, pretending not to understand. “But it’s a little cold for that.”

      “Oh, please, you know what I’m talking about. Don’t make me open Pinterest.”

      I colored. So, I’d been adding pins to my dream-wedding board? I was a wedding planner!

      Isla wandered in, and our talk fell silent. “Take a seat,” I said, smiling. In the years she’d worked at the lodge, she’d grown even more beautiful with her fire-red hair, and willowy frame. But it was more than looks alone, it was an inner confidence she’d found that made her so striking.

      “My shopping is finally done and just in the nick of time. Who wants to help me wrap them?”

      I let out a groan. “I vote Amory.”

      Amory surveyed her nails, which had little Christmas trees painstakingly painted on. “I can be swayed with champagne,” she said. Isla’s eyes brightened. “Deal! Oh, I got Micah the cutest gift! It’s a sketch of our wedding day, you know the picture under the arbor?” We nodded. “That one, in charcoal. It’s the prettiest thing.”

      “I love that picture of you two,” I said, remembering it in detail, the way they only had eyes for each other.

      “What picture?” Micah said, wandering in and holding his hands to the fire.

      “Nothing,” Amory said, quickly.

      “You three look guilty as sin.”

      “Micah,” Amory said in dulcet tones. “It’s Christmas. Can’t a girl have some secrets at Christmas without getting the third degree?”

      “Yeah,” I said. “Geez, Micah. Let there be some surprises, please.”

      He colored. “When you three confer like that, it usually means trouble.”

      I scoffed. “I hardly think that’s the case.” Poor Micah, he was right. We made a formidable team and it often led to trouble, at least where Micah was concerned. We’d cooked up crazy ideas for the lodge over the years: Halloween parties, Teddy Bears’ picnics, all sorts of things where we made Micah be the ghost, the bear, even the Easter bunny once. Not to mention all the girls’ movie nights we’d subjected him to when he couldn’t think of an excuse quick enough. In this case, however, it was innocent, but I didn’t blame him for being suspicious.

      Kai came in and took a contented Brooklyn from me. Usually she’d be fussing, but it was like she knew Aunt Bessie was in the house, so was being the prefect baby. It was nice to relax, knowing she was settled.

      “These ladies are up to something, Kai. I just know it.”

      Kai raised a brow. “There’s an adult-sized Santa suit in the cupboard, is that it?”

      I kept my laughter in check, knowing there was no such thing. “Kai, that was a secret!”

      Micah’s mouth fell open. “Oh God, please don’t tell me you’ve organized some kind of Cedarwood Lodge Christmas Pageant or something, and I’m riding on a float.”

      Dammit, I wished I’d thought of that. Before I could say anything to Amory, she’d taken her phone out and was making a note about it. Great minds and all that.

      Aunt Bessie sashayed in with a tray of gingerbread coffees, the spicy, nutty scent peppering the air. “Get these down, would you, so we can crack open the champagne already.”

      We each took a mug, and Millie had her own gingerbread milkshake, topped with whipped cream and the most enormous chocolate donut. “That’ll ruin her dinner, Aunt Bessie,” I said, picturing Millie dosed up on all that sugar, careening around the lodge.

      “Hush now, who called the fun police? It’s Christmas, last time I checked.”

      I shook my head ruefully. There was no winning when it came to Aunt Bessie and her donuts.

      ***

      “Urgh,” said Amory clutching her tummy. “How are we supposed eat a proper meal? I’m still full from afternoon tea.”

      Sure enough, like she did every year, Aunt Bessie had doled out some pre-feast snacks, so we’d managed to polish off piles of her latest creations, donuts in every shape and flavor you could imagine, some with candyfloss, others filled with luscious chocolate ganache. Mom had baked a pumpkin chiffon pie which had been demolished too. She’d come so far with her cooking over the years, and had also put on some much-needed weight. That haunted look she’d worn for so long was gone, and it made me smile just looking at her.

      “Too bad,” I said, feeling decidedly sleepy myself. “We have to feast and feast we will.” I pulled my best friend up by the hand, the cat jumping from her lap, but the dogs near her feet snoring away, oblivious.

      “Mom,” I said, entering the warmth of the kitchen. “We’ll set the table, yeah? Do you need help with anything else?”

      She looked down her specs at me, and wiped her hands on her reindeer apron. “Set the table, and light the candles, and we’ll be ready in five. Millie needs her face washed, she got into the gravy.”

      “The gravy?” That child was a bottomless pit.

      “She loves it.”

      I called to her as Amory and I went into the dining room to prepare the table. Our color theme this year was silver and white and as much bling as we could find. It suited the winter wonderland feel the lodge had at this time of year.

      “Yeah?” Millie said, poking her little blonde head around the door. To my surprise she was dressed in her Christmas outfit, a frilly green dress, with matching headband, and her face was clean, her hair neatly held back.

      “Aw, you look beautiful,” I said, snatching her up for a hug. “Very festive.”

      “Daddy made me take a bath.” She rolled her deep-blue eyes.

      “You probably had gravy from head to toe.”

      “Yeah. Can we open the presents now?”

      “Soon.” I kissed her cheek as she wiggled to get down.

      Each year we handed out presents to one another on Christmas Eve as had become tradition. On Christmas Day our friends would visit their own families, and we’d go to Aunt Bessie’s to repeat the festivities. Millie knew she was in for a treat and couldn’t contain herself.

      “How soon?”

      Kai snuck in dressed in a black-knit sweater and denim jeans. He looked every inch a Vermonter these days, and less like a nomadic yogi. Golly, the guy took my breath away. “My little cherub can’t wait another moment for a present!” He scooped her up and rained kisses over her face.

      “I can’t, not another minute! I’ve waited all day-y-y-y-y.”

      The rest of the gang took up places at the table, Aunt Bessie and Cruz dashing in and out with heavenly scented dishes, my mouth watering despite what I’d eaten that day.

      “Give that child a gift!” Aunt Bessie cried out. “We’ll be another few minutes at least.”

      Amory bent to the tree and took a candy