Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Monday morning, Margo came downstairs to leave for work, surprised to see Melanie in the living room of the inn. She had a to-go mug of coffee in hand, animatedly chatting with Rhonda about something, and she looked up as Margo came down the stairs.

“Do you have a few minutes?” she asked, and Margo shrugged.

“Probably. Sabrina doesn’t get upset if I’m a tiny bit late, especially on Mondays. Although I’m working on a new spread about winter hiking spots where you can get the best photos of wildlife in the area, so I definitely need to get there and start going through my photos sooner rather than later. What’s up?”

“Well, besides wanting to come in and grab a muffin…” Melanie held up the item in her other hand, a half-eaten cinnamon chip muffin that Margo knew was freshly baked. “I was at the general store this morning grabbing a few things for the coffee shop, and Leon happened to let it slip that your rings came in! They’re all engraved and ready to go whenever you want to pick them up.”

Margo’s eyes widened. “Okay, I definitely have time to stop by before work, then. Sabrina will understand. Let’s go get them! As soon as I grab some coffee,” she added, hurrying into the kitchen with her thermos to load it up with peppermint mocha and whipped cream, and grab a muffin for herself. She’d already been running a little late this morning since she’d stayed up late reading by the fire the night before. She’d gotten a new magazine in, one with pictures of location and wildlife photography from all over, and she was already thinking of how she could use it for her next class. She also had a fun Christmas romance novel that had just been delivered, and between those two items, it had been well past midnight when she’d looked at the clock and realized that she needed to go to bed.

As a result, she definitely needed the extra caffeine this morning. And she was going to be probably an hour late for work by the time she was all done at Sugar Maple, but the rings would be a good enough explanation for Sabrina. Sabrina was as excited as everyone else about the wedding, especially since she’d been looking for someone to set Spencer up with about the time Margo had moved home two years ago. She credited herself with a lot of the romance that had started between the two of them, and whether or not that was strictly true, Margo let her believe it, since it clearly made her happy.

“Can I grab a ride with you?” Melanie asked. “I walked here from town since I needed a bit of exercise this morning, but now I’m cold and I would love to not have to walk back.”

“Of course,” Margo said with a laugh. “You don’t even need to ask. Come on, let’s go!”

Almost giddy with excitement, the two women piled into Margo’s old Subaru and headed toward the Sugar Maple General Store. Margo pulled into the parking lot just as she finished her coffee, and the two of them jumped out of the car, almost giggling like little girls as they hurried in.

“I can’t wait to see them,” Melanie said. “I haven’t gotten to see the rings at all yet! But Nora said that your mother told her that they’re perfect. I’m so excited to see.”

Leon grinned as soon as he saw the two girls walking in, clearly knowing just why they were there. “I’ve got your rings right here, Margo,” he said, reaching under the counter to pull out the package. “Just like you asked. I put a bit of a rush on them too, no extra charge. So it didn’t take long at all. I figured you’d be eager to have them back.”

“I am,” Margo assured him. “Thank you! Melanie, look.”

She opened the packaging, sliding out the two blue velvet boxes and opening them. Side by side, the rings were just as perfect as she remembered. There was the white gold band with the diamonds set into it for her, and the plain band for Spencer. She slid each one out, seeing that the inscription was engraved on the inside in a pretty, flowing script, just as she’d requested.

My heart has found its home.

“Oh my goodness.” Melanie pressed a hand to her chest as she read and reread it, finally handing the ring back to Margo. “It’s perfect. And so romantic. I love it so much. Let me see it with your ring!”

Margo slipped the diamond band on next to her engagement ring, holding her hand out so that Melanie could squeal over it. Her heart tripped in her chest as Melanie took her hand and turned it back and forth, watching the light play over the stones. It really was beautiful, simple and perfect for her. She couldn’t wait to wear it for the rest of her life.

“I’ve got another surprise for you too,” Leon said with a grin. “All those decorations you and Nora ordered a few months ago? The tablecloths and lace doilies and such? Those all came in too. A whole carload of stuff, so we’re going to need to take some time getting it all out there.” He jerked a thumb toward the storage room behind him. “Came in yesterday evening, so I’ve got it all packed up back there.”

“Nora is going to be so excited.” Margo carefully slipped the bands back into their boxes, putting them in her bag as she looked expectantly toward the back room. “She’s been waiting for them to come in. I’ll text her as soon as we get them all loaded up.”

There was a lot. Bethany came out of the salon a moment later, the fluffy puppy barking at her heels, and the four of them made three trips back and forth to Margo’s car with bags stuffed full of tablecloths, doilies, ribbon, burlap, fake snow, votive candles, and items that Margo couldn’t even remember Nora ordering.

One heavy box held the aisle runner she’d ordered, another was full of wide velvet ribbon to tie around all of the chairs. And all the while, as Leon sorted through to make sure that all of the packages were, in fact, the ones that were supposed to be going to Margo, the puppy barked and ran around, getting under everyone’s feet as they danced around her and tried not to trip.

“Come here, Chessie!” Bethany called out, chasing her to grab her before she could run out into the snow as Leon opened up the door again for Melanie and Margo. “I keep calling her my little chestnut,” she explained as she scooped the puppy up, cradling her as the last of the bags and boxes were carried out to Margo’s Subaru. “The nickname seems to have stuck. I’ll have to tell Nora about it when she comes to pick her up.”

“Nora is taking her?” Margo looked at Bethany curiously, as the other woman nodded.

“She and Aiden were out for a walk last night and saw us outside. Madison has really taken to her, and Chessie seems to love her too, so I suggested they keep her while I’m trying to find either her owners or a new, permanent home. Nora loved the idea, and Aiden seemed to think it might work, so they’re going to come pick her up today.”

“I can’t blame them. She’s so cute.” Margo reached out, scratching Chessie behind her ears. “And so fluffy. I can’t imagine how anyone wouldn’t want her.”

“She is adorable,” Bethany agreed. “But I’m glad Nora is picking her up this afternoon. I can’t be doing all this running around. She’s much better suited for someone with more energy, like Nora and a baby that will crawl and chase her around.”

“That sounds entertaining.” Margo gave Chessie one more scratch on her head, and then headed out with Melanie, to the car. She was definitely late for work by then, but she couldn’t just leave the decorations there. She’d text Nora and have her come grab them after the puppy was all settled. Or she could drop them off at Nora’s after work, she thought, and see Chessie again. She wanted to see the puppy and Madison chasing each other around. She couldn’t think of many things that would be cuter than that.

On her way to The Gazette , she dropped Melanie off at The Mellow Mug, making a quick stop inside to grab a second coffee. She couldn’t turn down the opportunity for her favorite maple cinnamon latte, and she had a feeling she was going to need the extra boost. She was already feeling sleepy after her late night.

Once at work, she grabbed several of the bags, carrying them into the office. She passed Sabrina as she walked in, who looked wide-eyed at Margo’s haul, her cat’s-eye glasses sliding down her nose.

“Ah. I see this is why you’re late,” she said with a laugh, and Margo gave her a rueful smile.

“Well, it started with the wedding rings. Leon got them back in, and I wanted to see the engravings. And then Leon said all of the decorations had come in, and I couldn’t just leave them there, so I had to load all of those up.”

“And now you’re going to stash them where exactly?”

Sabrina arched a brow as she asked the question, but her eyes were twinkling, so Margo knew she wasn’t upset. She was a gossip and a bit of a busybody—traits that she swore she was working on—but she was a romantic at heart, and Margo could see her eyeing the bags, probably wondering as to what had been ordered for the wedding.

“In my office. Where no one else will see them,” Margo promised. “I just don’t want it all sitting out in the cold. There’s votive glass and stuff like that, which is breakable and might not react well to low temperatures. I’m going to see if Nora can either come pick it all up, or I’ll take it to her place after work. She’s taking in that puppy that Bethany found, so she might be busy for a bit this afternoon.”

“Oh, I heard about that. I saw that little baby when I stopped in the other day.” Sabrina sighed. “If my other half would let me, I would have taken that puppy home. But no more pets in our household. Not right now anyway.”

“Well, Madison and Chessie apparently adore each other,” Margo said with a laugh. “So Nora is going to watch her for now. And Bethany seems pretty relieved. Seems like puppy duty is wearing her out.”

“I don’t blame her.” Sabrina glanced at the bags again. “When you’re done stashing all of that, come give me an update on your article.”

“Will do.” Margo flashed her a grin, and started carrying the bags into her office.

Twenty minutes later, it was all stashed in one corner near her filing cabinet. She looked at the pile of bags and boxes, feeling a thrill as her heart tripped in her chest. With every day that passed, and every little thing that made it feel more real, she could feel herself getting more and more excited for the wedding.

She couldn’t wait to marry Spencer.