A Wedding Date for Christmas by Kate Keedwell

Author:Kate Keedwell
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2023-09-05T20:05:26+00:00

Chapter Nine

Elizabeth’s parents supplied their guests with overnight oats and bakery-bought pastries for breakfast the following morning. Which meant: the three of them could finally enjoy a family breakfast at Daisy’s Diner.

“This is such a treat,” her mom said as they claimed a booth by the front window. “I still can’t believe we have you home for the holidays after all this time, the one Christmas we’re booked solid.”

“You’re very in demand,” Elizabeth agreed with a grin, crossing her legs on the blue leather seat, shrugging off her coat behind her. “Melissa says the guests are all thrilled.”

She hoped no one noticed the extra concealer she’d applied this morning to hide her anxious, sleepless night. Fortunately, Elizabeth had acquired some makeup skills during her community theater days. She knew how to draw and deter focus.

“We’re thrilled that you two are talking more again,” her mom said. “I always thought it was a shame, the way you grew apart.”

Me too, Elizabeth let herself admit. Aloud, she said, “She just needs help with some last-minute wedding things—neither of you can think of a harpist who’d have holiday availability, can you?”

His dad furrowed his brow. “I can’t think of a harpist full stop.”

Her mom didn’t look any more certain. “Not off the top of my head, either.”

“The one she booked sprained her wrist last week. And her wedding planner is down with the flu, so...”

Elizabeth trailed off when she noticed Mark and his family reflected in the diner window in a booth across the room. A fun house mirror of her own family, with his parents on one side of the booth and Mark on the other. He took what appeared to be a bracing sip of coffee.

“Best of luck to her. Not the easiest time of year to find last-minute availability,” her dad said as he looked at his menu—even though he’d been ordering the same exact dish here for as long as Elizabeth could remember. Crab cake eggs Benedict every time. “But I’m sure someone will come through.”

Without planning to, Elizabeth felt herself rising to her feet, propelled by the traitorous fluttering in her stomach.

“I’ll be right back,” she murmured to her parents as they perused the menu. “Will you order the waffles for me? I want to say hi to Mark and his family real quick.”

“Take your time,” her dad said, with a wave of his hand. “I need another minute with the menu anyway. Never know. Might shake it up today.”

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” her mom said to him. “Say hi for us, Lizzie. I can’t remember the last time we caught up with Carolyn and Doug...”

Making her way across the diner, Elizabeth wove around waiters and guests and the eager patter of her own heart. Mark noticed her approaching first. He lifted his coffee mug in a tacit hello, but didn’t look entirely jubilant to see her.

Elizabeth told herself he wasn’t a morning person, and summoned her friendliest smile for his parents.

“Hi there,” she said. “I just wanted to say good morning.

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