A Bride for Sam (A Red Maple Falls Christmas Wedding Novella)

by Theresa Paolo

  “Let me get those champagne flutes before I forget,” Kate said. “I put them behind the register to keep them safe. Be right back.”

  Hadley leaned against Kate’s desk, and Lady sprawled out on the floor, resting her snout on Hadley’s boot. She was about to bend down and give Lady a good scratch when her cell phone rang. She fished the phone out of her pocket and looked at the number on the screen.

  “Hi Brian,” she said to the man whose barn they were using for the wedding. It was a gorgeous structure, old enough to give it that rustic feel Hadley always dreamed of, and in the middle of an open field surrounded by pine and white birch trees. “I have the tables being delivered tomorrow.”

  He let out a loud rush of air into the phone. “That’s what I’m calling about, Hadley.” The bleak tone of his voice caused a knot to form in her stomach.

  “Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good. What’s going on?” Everything had been going perfect, so hitting a minor snag here or there was not unexpected, just like Louise had mentioned. It was probably just a small leak that any one of her brothers or Sam or even her father and grandfather could patch up in no time. Heck she could even do it if necessary.

  “Whatever it is I’m sure we can fix it.”

  “The roof collapsed, Hadley.”

  “Like a portion of it? I can get my brothers over there… and my dad, Sam and the guys at the firehouse. We can fix this.”

  “No, we can’t. It was the whole thing. It’s completely destroyed. The snow must’ve gotten too heavy and…I’m just happy it happened now when nobody was inside, but it’s destroyed. There’s no way to fix it, especially not in time for the wedding. I can’t tell you how sorry I am.”

  Hadley couldn’t manage words; all she could do was sit down on top of Kate’s desk and try to remember how to breathe. This couldn’t be happening. Not a week before the wedding. Not when everything was going so smoothly.

  What the hell were they going to do? Where were they going to find another venue in a week? The week before Christmas!

  “I really am sorry, Hadley. If there’s anything I can do, please let me know.”

  “Thanks, Brian.” She hung up and stared across the studio, trying to process the new development.

  “Here we are!” Kate came back into the studio, her cheery voice bouncing off the walls. She held the glasses up, admiring her work, but when she finally looked away from them her eyebrows drew together in concern. “What’s the matter?”

  Her older sister’s voice was like the opening gates, allowing the panic to flow freely. She sucked in a jagged breath, but it wasn’t enough. The room felt like it was slipping away as her heart slammed ferociously against her chest. “I think I’m having a panic attack,” she said as she gripped the edge of the desk.

  Kate ran over to her, placing the glasses down before resting her hands on Hadley’s shoulders. “Breathe. Just breathe.”

  Hadley met Kate’s eyes and together they took big, calming breaths. “I’m okay,” Hadley said, feeling the worst of it flood from her system.

  “What happened? Is Sam okay? Matt? Grandma? Grandpa?”

  “Everyone is fine.”

  Kate slapped a hand over her chest and let out a relieved breath. “Oh, thank god.”

  “The barn isn’t, though.”

  “The barn?” Confusion marked Kate’s pretty features as she looked at Hadley. “The one where you’re having the wedding?”

  Hadley nodded. She felt like she should be sobbing uncontrollably but after that moment of panic all she felt was numb. “The roof collapsed.”

  Kate’s eyes widened, and she gasped. “How?”

  “Brian said he thinks it was the snow. He’s just happy no one was inside. Me too. Imagine if…”

  Kate held her hand up. “Don’t. There’s no reason to even think it so don’t.”

  “What am I going to do? We have seventy-five people who are expecting a Christmas wedding—who cancelled their own Christmas plans to spend it with us, and now I don’t even have a place to put them.”

  Kate wrapped her arm around Hadley and pulled her close. “We’ll figure it out. We always do.”

  “I thought everything was perfect.”

  “Nothing’s perfect; that’s what keeps things interesting.”

  “I don’t want interesting. I just want to marry Sam.”

  “And you will, and it’s going to be the most amazing wedding because at the end of the day it doesn’t matter where the venue is or what the food tastes like. All that matters is that you will be saying I do to your best friend.”

  Hadley hugged Kate tightly. “Thanks.”

  “Besides,” Kate said as she pulled back, “this is worst case scenario, so it can only get better from here.”

  Chapter 5

  Sam got out of his truck and wanted nothing more than to strip out of his clothes and get in a hot shower preferably with Hadley. He opened the door expecting Lady to greet him, but the older pup was nowhere to be found.

  “Hads?” Sam called out. Her truck was in the driveway and she hadn’t said she’d be going out. He moved through the house and finally found Hadley locked away in the bedroom. The faint glow of the computer highlighted her pretty features but also accented the worry lines around her eyes.

  Lady sat at her feet as if she was providing comfort and support.

  “Hads, what’s going on?” Sam asked as he leaned against the doorframe.

  She spun from the desk, her blonde hair sticking out in every direction. “I’m going to fix this,” she said. “I will.”

  “You found out about the suits.”

  Her face drooped and she stared at him with doe eyes. “What about the suits? I thought you went to the fitting yesterday.”

  “If you’re not upset over the suits then…”

  “What happened with the suits, Sam?”

  He ran a hand through his hair. He had hoped he’d be able to rectify the situation before Hadley found out about it and now he just got himself caught. He thought Cooper would have been the one to spill the beans first. Damn it. He had no choice. He had to tell her.

  “There was a mix-up. It’s no big deal. I’m taking care of it.”

  “Mix-up? What kind of mix-up?”

  “They sent the wrong ones, but like I said, I’m handling it. Nothing to worry about.”

  “Nothing to worry about?” The panic marring her features became more prominent as the pitch of her voice rose with each word. She pushed up from the chair and paced back and forth, causing an uneasy pit to form in Sam’s stomach.

  He went to her, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her tight. Her breaths came in short, fast intakes. “Breathe” he said, smoothing her hair back into place. “Breathe.”

  “The roof collapsed.” She took a deep breath and met his eyes. “The barn. It’s destroyed. Brian called me and said it was. A part of me didn’t want to believe him so when I left Kate’s I drove by and he wasn’t exaggerating. It’s ruined. Our wedding is ruined. And now the suits? It’s like a sign. Like maybe this wedding is a bad idea.”

  “Hey,” Sam said, taking her face in his hands and urging her to look at him. “Asking you to marry me is the best decision I have ever made in my life. I don’t care if we get married in a barn I would marry you right here in this bedroom if I had to.”

  “I don’t understand. Everything was running so smoothly. How can you not look at this as a sign?”

  “The only sign I’m seeing is that no matter what the hell life throws at us we’ll manage to get through it.”

  “How are you so sure?”

  “When have I ever steered you wrong? I’ll fix this. Promise.”

  Her lips parted and he knew in typical Hadley fashion she was about to argue with him so he rested his finger against her lips. “Trust me.”

  “Okay.”

  He kissed her forehead and pulled back. “Now go run a hot bath and go relax.”

  “Are you going to join me?” The look
in her eyes was a sweet mix of hope and seduction.

  His pants tightened at the thought, but unfortunately, he had a wedding to save.

  “I have a few things I have to take care of but I’m definitely taking a raincheck.”

  “Will you be gone long? You just got home.”

  “Hopefully if all goes well I’ll be back soon.”

  “Promise?” she said and pressed a kiss to his lips.

  “Promise.”

  He watched as she walked away from him and toward the bathroom, finding the strength to keep from following her. Once she disappeared behind the bathroom door he turned to Lady.

  “Take care of her while I’m gone, girl.” Lady barked as if she understood and Sam grabbed his keys, heading back out into the night.

  He retrieved his cell and made a call.

  “Sam what’s up?” Matt answered.

  “Meet me down at the brewery and bring Cooper.”

  ***

  Sam sat on a bar stool at Five Leaf Brewery with Matt on one side, Cooper on the other, and Mason in front of them behind the bar They had a week to find a new venue… a week before Christmas, no less. Sam needed a damn miracle, but more than that, he needed as many people to brainstorm possible locations in hopes that they could rectify this unexpected situation.

  He hated to see Hadley so worked up and knew he had to do something especially now that this was the second disaster to strike. He just had no idea what that something was, but if he learned anything over the years, it was four heads were definitely better than one.

  “What can we do?” Matt asked.

  “I don’t know.” Sam hated that there was no easy answer. He assured Hadley that he would fix everything, but now sitting here, surrounded by his best friends and soon to be brother-in-laws, he still didn’t have an answer to their current problem.

  “First the suits, now this. Maybe it’s an omen,” Cooper said.

  “Shut up,” Sam said, giving him a punch to the arm and almost causing Cooper to spill his beer.

  He shook it off with a laugh and shrugged. “Just saying.”

  “Well don’t. Your sister already started down that path and I don’t need you putting any ideas in her head. It’s just a hiccup. Nothing the four of us can’t figure out.”

  “Let’s lay out the facts,” Matt said. “We need a place to accommodate seventy-five people. A dance floor if possible. A bar but we can turn anything into a bar. That doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. In town would be great or at least close by since everyone is staying at the Inn.”

  “What about the community center?” Cooper asked. “It’s big enough.”

  “Would be great,” Matt said. “Except they’re having the floors redone. Already started ripping them up. So, unless we want people tripping over broken tiles that’s not going to work.”

  “Why don’t you have the reception here?” Mason suggested, and Sam lifted his head from the beer he had been silently brooding over.

  “We couldn’t ask that of you.”

  “Why the hell not? I have the space, and my apartment upstairs has a full kitchen. We can easily fit seventy-five people. We might have to do long tables instead of round to make sure it fits everyone comfortably and there’s enough room for a dance floor, but I think it could work. You just need to find a place for the ceremony.”

  “You sure you’re okay with that?” Sam asked.

  “I’d do anything for my sister.” Sam nodded understanding the unbreakable bond the Hayes siblings shared. “And you,” Mason added, and while Sam shouldn’t have been surprised, he was. They had been like brothers for years, but Mason wasn’t one to openly share his feelings.

  “That means a lot,” Sam said.

  Mason smirked. “Don’t expect a hug or anything.”

  Sam, mindful of the beers on the bar, jumped up and grabbed Mason. Mason went to jump away, but he wasn’t quick enough. Sam pulled him in, stiff and awkward, into a big bear hug. With a laugh, Sam let him go and Mason shook his head, obviously trying hard not to crack a smile.

  “Is it out of your system now?” Mason asked.

  “I think so.”

  “Good. Now I figured out the reception, you guys use your pea brains to figure out the rest.” His attention moved away from them and across the tasting room to Cassie. The strong features of his face softened as she turned and gave him a smile.

  “Oh, just go,” Sam said with a laugh. Mason didn’t hesitate, leaving his post behind the bar and going to his girl.

  “Are those two ever going to get married?” Sam said as he watched Mason lean down and kiss Cassie on the head.

  Matt waved his hand in front of him a sign for Sam to let the topic drop. “Let’s just say it’s a touchy subject.”

  “Let me guess. The poor sap wants to, and she isn’t ready.”

  “Bingo,” Cooper said, placing his beer glass on the bar. “Can’t really blame her. I wouldn’t want to marry his dumbass either.”

  “You know that has nothing to do with it,” Matt said. “After everything she’s been through, she just wants to prove she can do things on her own for a while.”

  “It’s been a long while,” Cooper argued.

  “Nobody can put a timeframe on someone else’s healing period,” Matt said “Cut the girl some slack.”

  “Don’t get me wrong; I love Cassie. She’s great, the best thing that ever happened to Mace. I just feel bad for the dope. When he holds my kid, I can see how much he wants his own.”

  “And he’ll have his family,” Sam said. “Sometimes things are worth waiting for.”

  Sam knew all about waiting and some people were simply worth waiting for.

  “Now leave them alone,” Sam said, turning back to his beer. He took a generous sip of Mason’s award-winning IPA and placed the glass back down. “We have a venue for the reception. Now I need a place to get married.”

  “You can always get married in my parents’ backyard like Shay and I did,” Matt offered.

  “It’s a thought.”

  It was a great idea—the farm was where he and Hadley spent so much of their life, but in the winter, it lacked its natural beauty that was so prevalent in the other seasons.

  The barn sat on a hill surrounded by gorgeous pine and white birch trees that gave it the rustic Christmas vibe Hadley envisioned. Sam wanted to still give her the wedding she had dreamed about and the farm wasn’t it.

  Sam looked up at the chalkboard where Mason had a list of all the beers on tap along with the ABV for each and the prices in colorful font. To the left of the menu was a hand drawn Christmas tree in green chalk that sparked a light in Sam’s mind.

  “Guys,” he said, unable to take his eyes off of the chalkboard. “I have an idea.”

  “Famous last words,” Cooper said, and this time Matt leaned behind them and punched Cooper in the arm.

  “Ow!” Cooper blurted as he rubbed his arm.

  Matt straightened in his chair. “We’re listening.”

  Chapter 6

  Sam had no clue if the idea would work or if they’d be able to pull it off, but he should’ve realized the people of Red Maple Falls were always willing to help a fellow townsman in need. Now all he needed to do was tell Hadley and hope that she loved the idea as much as he thought she would.

  He walked into the house and was immediately greeted by Lady. “Hey girl,” Sam said as he bent down and scratched her curls. “Where’s your mommy? Where is she?’

  “I’m in the kitchen,” Hadley called out, and Sam followed her voice with Lady at his side.

  In the kitchen, Hadley stood in front of the sink, washing dishes. Her ass looked amazing in her jeans, and he resisted the urge to go to her and carry her off to bed. He had a surprise in store for her first.

  She turned the water off and spun around, wiping her hands on a towel. “Hey,” she said a big beautiful smile forming on her face.

  “I have a surprise for you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
<
br />   She laughed. “It’s not a surprise if I’ve seen it before.”

  He pressed his finger to her chin and tilted it up so he could kiss her lips. “Not that.” He laughed, thrilled to see the panic that had plagued her only the night before seemed to have subsided. He promised her he would fix this and she knew that he always made good on his word and now that’s exactly what he was going to do.

  “Well, if it’s not that, then what is it?”

  “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

  “Surprises are overrated.”

  “Can you just give this to me?”

  Her slate blue eyes narrowed, warming his insides. “Okay.”

  He turned her in his arms and placed a kiss on the soft skin of her neck before pulling a scarf out of his back pocket. She pressed and rubbed against him, causing him to dig deep to find the strength to not let this escalate.

  “Stay still,” he said against her ear and brought the scarf up to her eyes.

  “This is kinky.”

  He bit back a moan and tried to ignore the beautiful visual forming in his mind. “Later,” he said.

  He guided her toward the door and grabbed her coat, helping her get it on. “The surprise isn’t here?”

  “Nope.”

  “I have to leave the house blindfolded?”

  “It’ll be worth it.”

  “I sure hope so.”

  “You trust me, right?”

  “God knows why,” she joked. “Is Lady coming?”

  “She can come if she wants.”

  “Come on, girl! I can’t see you, but I know you are around here somewhere. Lady baby?” Lady licked Hadley’s hand, and she attempted to pet her head but had a hard time managing it. “Is this blindfold really necessary?”

  “Yes,” Sam said and helped Hadley pull on a pair of gloves before leading her outside. As they came to the stairs, he didn’t want to take any chances, so he scooped her up into his arms.

  “Practicing for the wedding night?” she asked as she linked her arms around his neck, basking him in the scent of her cherry Chapstick and the floral scent of her shampoo.