"Isn't Christmas the most wonderful time of the year?"
Roseanne Park slipped out of her coat and shook the snow from her hair. "Yes, it is. Only I wouldn't have picked it for a wedding," she said as she sat down at the bar. "There's a freakin' blizzard going on."
"It's not a blizzard. They said we won't get much more than an inch or two. Denver's getting slammed though. Aren't you glad we're not still there?"
"Well, there's that," she said dryly. "But it's winter, Viv. It's cold. Not wedding weather."
"Jackson and I met at a Christmas party two years ago," her sister reminded her. "And he proposed last Christmas."
"Right. So get married in July like normal people do."
Vivianne stared at her with a quick shake of her head. "You love the snow, Roseanne. Quit complaining."
"I love to ski. I don't love to drive in it." Roseanne held her hand up, signaling Eric, the bartender. He was there in an instant. One of the perks of the family owning the hotel was getting prompt service. "Gin and tonic," she said. She glanced at Viv. "You?"
"Wine. Red. A merlot is fine. And you should have flown up with us yesterday before the storm hit."
"You know I don't like flying with Dad in that little tin can he calls a plane," she said.
"That's an excuse," Vivianne said. "I know you had a date. What was her name?"
Roseanne slowly shook her head as she recalled her dinner date last night. "Don't even bother, it was a disaster."
"Blind date again?"
"Yes. I can't understand why I thought it was a good idea. We had nothing in common and struggled most of the night to keep the conversation going." She nodded her thanks at the bartender. "To top it off, she wanted to sleep with me. Can you believe that?"
"They always want to sleep with you. Who could blame her? You're gorgeous. Blond hair and bright brown eyes, I'm sure you're every lesbian's dream. You're also apparently every man's dream. You get hit on more than I do."
"Well, if I'm every lesbian's dream then, why am I still single at twenty-seven?"
"Because you're looking for perfection and you're not going to find it. Besides, you're too suspicious. You think they're only after the family money."
Roseanne nodded. "You're right on both counts." She held her glass up in a toast and touched it to Vivianne's wine glass. "To my baby sister. May you and Jackson be blissfully happy."
"Thank you. This is going to be a wonderful two weeks. I'm so glad you're sharing it with me."
Roseanne poked the lime wedge down with the tiny straw. Yes, nearly two weeks at the family hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. Nearly two weeks of wedding planning, parties and Christmas activities. Vivianne had always loved Christmas, loved the lights and decorations, loved gaudy trees and lots of gifts. Roseanne was usually indifferent to the holiday, even today. She rarely bothered to put up a tree. If she wanted to soak in the Christmas spirit, she could always go to Vivianne's house, where every room was adorned with something. It was as if a slew of Christmas elves had invaded the place and redecorated at will.
"So a Christmas wedding and a beach honeymoon. Hardly seems fair to the rest of us who have to stay behind," she said.
"You're not going to Hawaii with us," Vivianne said with a laugh. "You have to stay in Denver and run the office."
"Don't remind me."
It was a late Tuesday afternoon, eleven days before Christmas, and the bar was filled with people and laughter. Roseanne recognized one of her cousins whom she hadn't seen in years.
