A group of authors each contributed segments to A Blizzard Wedding. We never knew where the characters, Luke and
Rachel, were headed. After we wrote our
segment, we’d send it on to the next writer.
It was fun to see how each of us moved Luke and Rachel to their chaotic
wedding conclusion. Rachel wanted it to
take place in a ski lodge, but it never occurred to her that a blizzard might
interfere, or Luke might not show up!
A Blizzard
Wedding is a
continuation—and the grand finale—of
After the Storm and Lightning Strikes. If you haven’t read
Lightning Strikes or After the Storm yet, download them for
FREE on the Prism Book Group website. They are also available through most of
the popular eBook retailers.
My segment appeared on the Prism
Book Group site on February 20, 2013.
A Blizzard Wedding
Segment # 6 By Gay N. Lewis
Even though the well-insulated hotel kept most external noises
silent, Rachel heard the wind howl. With a pounding heart, she sat straight up
in bed and glanced at the bedside clock—a few minutes after seven o’clock.
Throwing aside the cozy, warm comforter, she ran to the window and
flung open the draperies. “Oh no!”
Ivy groggily sat up and rubbed sleep from her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“The gale is in full force. We’ve got a whiteout.”
Ivy joined her, and they stood shoulder to shoulder. Through the
murky, gray dawn, nothing but a thick blanket of white greeted their gazes.
Mountains, trees, hotel parking lot, decorative miniature twinkling lights—all
had disappeared.
“Wow! It appears as if the Almighty erected a dirty cement wall up
against the building and imprisoned all of us inside.” Ivy shivered. “Not good
for my claustrophobia.”
Tears streamed down Rachel’s cheeks. “My wedding!”
Ivy placed her arm around Rachel’s shoulder. “I’m so sorry, but it will work out, I know
it will. Quick, turn on the television
for a weather report.”
Sitting on Rachel’s bed, they tuned into a local station where a
meteorologist gave the latest account.
“The brunt of the blizzard is blowing through at this moment. The
squall is expected to rage its way out of the Sky Ridge Mountains by
mid-afternoon, and state crews are set to clear roads as soon as the storm
dissipates. The Trans-Mountain Pass should be open by nightfall, but all other
roads will remain closed. Expect travel delays.”
Rachel hiccoughed through her sobs. “You think I should postpone
the wedding for a day or two?”
“And miss your Valentine’s Day wedding? No way. You and Luke chose
for your two hearts to become one on this elite date. Joshua will make sure Luke is here for the ceremony,
and in case the others can’t arrive in time, we’ll prepare a second party so
they can congratulate the married couple. It’ll be fun.”
“Since when do you have faith in Joshua?” Rachel blew her nose
noisily into a tissue.
Ivy finger combed her hair. “I decided to try optimism for a
change, even if it means trusting Joshua.”
“What brought about that transformation?”
Ivy shrugged. “My complaints weren’t helping, and as the maid of honor,
I should assist you to find solutions in this rather bazaar circumstance. So, my friend, let’s have breakfast and
attend to those details. An additional nuptial function will be perfect in case
the guests can’t gather for the main event or the customary party that follows.”
Giggling, Rachel hugged Ivy. “Okay, while we eat, we can make our
prep list for two parties. We’ll need to order more food—the whole nine yards.
I’ll try to call Luke and tell him what we are doing.”
Picking up the cell, Rachel punched in Luke’s number.
“Good morning, my love.
How’s your wrist?”
“Hello, sweetheart. It throbs a bit, but no worries, I’ll soon
hold you and caress your sweet face. And…” He lowered his voice to a whisper.
“Maybe a few other places too.”
“Oh you.” Rachel laughed. “Have you looked outside?”
“Yes, but I understand the bluster will be gone by this afternoon,
and we’ll only have mounds of snow to contend with. Crews intend to plow the
main road, and Joshua is with me now. He has an idea to get us over the
offshoot road that leads to the inn. If all
goes well, we should be there by tonight.”
“Ivy and I are going to arrange a second reception, kind of a
contingency strategy in case all the guests don’t make it to the ceremony.”
“Good idea. This is an exciting way to start our life
together. We’ll have such cool stories
for the grandkids.”
Rachel laughed. “Cool stories? You mean icy cold stories, don’t you? As in freezing blizzard sagas?”
Luke chuckled. “Might make a good novel someday. Since we’re both
writers, maybe we’ll publish it. How about this for a title? A Snow White Wedding.”
“That’s an awful heading! You’re simply trying to make me forget
my worries.”
“Am I succeeding?”
Rachel giggled, and after a few words of love, she disconnected.
“Feel better?” Ivy finished her ablutions and came out of the
bathroom.
Rachel grinned. “Luke always restores my sense of humor.”
After Rachel donned a warm ski suit, they avoided the elevator and
walked downstairs to the dining area. Over eggs, toast, and coffee, Ivy pulled
out pen and paper to go over ceremony preparations and make a detailed list for
two parties.
“What about music? The pianist may not be able to come in from
town. We might need a back-up minister too.” Ivy munched a buttered bite of
bread.
“Joshua brought his guitar.”
Ivy nodded. “Yeah, I suppose he can play the thing.”
“He’s the music minister at his church, and if the local pastor
doesn’t make it, Joshua can unite us.”
“Yeah, Mr. Goody Two Shoes.” Ivy scrunched her nose.
Rachel reached over to pat Ivy’s hand. “Just because Barry was a dud doesn’t mean
all men are bad news.”
“Maybe not, but Barry came on strong and seemed a prince of a guy
at first, and look at how he treated me.”
“Give Joshua a chance. Luke wouldn’t have an unkind person for a
friend.”
“Have you forgotten one thing?” Ivy stared at Rachel through
squinted eyes.
“About the wedding?”
“No, about me. I’m divorced, and I doubt some crummy ole minister
will have anything to do with a divorcee. So don’t play matchmaker.”
“Do you think a former marital status would make a difference to
Josh?”
“Yeah, I do. A lot of guys
I’ve dated seem to consider me damaged goods.”
“Oh, Ivy, honey, I’m sorry you feel that way. You aren’t flawed
because you selected the wrong men—your picker apparatus is broken. I think
it’s time we changed that.”
Before Ivy could retort, the electricity went off.
Will Luke show up in time
to place a ring on Rachel’s finger?
