The Reiki and Crystal Healing Day Spa was housed in what looked like a small luxe log cabin–type lodge with a steeply pitched triangular roof and hunter green trim. It was close to the center of town, but at the tail end of a road where the property abutted a nature preserve. Mandy had inherited the building, which also included their attached three-bedroom home, and five acres of land from her late father, who’d run a hiking guide business from the lodge. Cherrywood, Wyoming, got a lot of tourists for the famed hot spring in town and Mandy’s loyal clients gave her such good reviews that she’d gotten on the map a bit.
Katie definitely needed some crystal therapy, not that she knew very much about it. Last November, at the gathering at the ranch house after Cassie Dawson’s funeral, Mandy had explained briefly that crystals had all kinds of healing properties and could have positive, lovely effects on the heart, mind, soul and body. Katie didn’t know much about Reiki but was pretty sure it had to do with foot massage. Or something like that.
As Asher pulled into the crowded, though granted, not that large, parking lot, Katie could see the tension on his face. She’d been seeing that a lot lately. Like last night.
He could use some crystal therapy. And a foot massage.
Last night, she’d been upset at first when she’d left his room for her own, but then realized what was important to keep in mind was that he clearly wanted her. Asher Dawson was physically attracted to her when he hadn’t been for years. That she could work with. Him shutting it down, shutting them down, she could work on that.
He put the car in Park and stared straight ahead for a moment as if trying to gear up for what lay ahead. Likely it was the combination of this weekend of his father, the marital issues and their wedding that had him so quiet. And last night too.
The door opened and a group of women came out, followed by Mandy and John Dawson. Mandy hugged each woman, and off they went.
“Looks like they do a good business,” Katie said.
The Dawsons waved and headed over to the pickup. Asher finally took his keys from the ignition.
“Ready or not,” he said.
Katie smiled. “It’s gonna be fine. We’re doing a good thing by them and a good thing for us.”
He looked at her and nodded, then gave her a smile, and she felt like he was somewhat back. “You’re right. And for the twins.”
“And for the twins,” she agreed.
He opened the door and hopped out, the Dawsons each giving him a hug. His dad came over to Katie’s side and opened the door for her.
“I can’t wait to meet my grandsons,” John said.
“Me too!” Mandy exclaimed. “I’m so excited!” Katie and Mandy had had a great video call yesterday afternoon and discussed what Katie and Asher had in mind for the wedding. Katie really didn’t know what Asher wanted, but she assumed he wanted to keep it very simple. Mandy had said since it was just going to be the six of them, they could hone the details today.
Katie smiled and stepped out. “It’s so nice to see you, Mandy.”
Mandy was tall like her husband, at least five-ten in flat boots, and slender, with long, wavy honey-brown hair shot with the occasional silver strand and such warm hazel eyes. She wore a long puffy mauve coat that zippered asymmetrically. “Oh my goodness, you’re the one it’s nice to see.” She threw her arms around Katie and held her tight for a moment. “I am so glad you’re okay and back with us. I know I said that three times yesterday on our video call but I’m just so relieved and happy.”
Katie smiled. Mandy was such a friendly person. And Katie had always liked John Dawson, even if he was on the self-absorbed side, which had been the case since Katie had met him. He just thought of himself first and never seemed to put much stock into how others felt. Surely Mandy, an empath and an intuitive person, had spotted these traits right away while they were dating. They’d had a whirlwind courtship, so perhaps Mandy had been too in love to pay attention to red flags. Or maybe they hadn’t seemed like red flags at the time.
Relationships were complicated.
Asher took out Declan and handed the carrier to his dad, then got out Dylan.
“Well, look at that!” John exclaimed. “They look just like you, Asher.”
“I definitely see Katie in those sweet, beautiful little faces too,” Mandy added.
Hmm, Katie thought. The couple seemed all right. Not sniping at each other. No daggers being thrown.
“I’m so thrilled you’re all here and that you’re having your wedding at the spa,” Mandy said as they headed up the porch steps.
“Not that you put much stock in vows,” John muttered suddenly, eyeing his wife.
Uh-oh. Katie glanced at Asher and could see him slightly shaking his head.
“John, we said we wouldn’t discuss our issues,” Mandy whispered harshly as she led the way to the left and around the side of the building. “This is about Asher and Katie and their big day.”
John frowned. “Well, it’s hard to pretend nothing’s wrong when you barely spoke a word to me since getting back this morning after you were gone for days. I’m trying here!”
“Are you?” Mandy asked. She opened a side door and led the way inside.
“Humph,” John snapped and headed into the kitchen. “I made coffee if anyone needs. I sure do.”
“I would love coffee,” Katie said.
“Ditto,” Asher said.
“And I would love to hold each of these adorable babies,” Mandy said.
The moment Asher set the carriers on the edge of the rug by the big kitchen window, Mandy scooped up a baby. She snuggled Declan against her chest, giving his head a kiss.
“Oh, he smells so good!” Mandy said.
Katie smiled. “I never get tired of that baby shampoo scent.”
“Same,” Asher said as his dad handed him a mug of coffee and then poured two more.
“Now let me properly greet your twin brother.” Mandy handed Declan to John. She kneeled down to pick up Dylan.
John’s eyes misted. “Oh my. It’s one thing to know you have a grandson. It’s another to actually hold him. Oh wow,” he whispered, looking down at the baby nestled in his arms.
“They’re so beautiful,” Mandy said, giving Dylan a nuzzle on his brown hair.
“That box over there is for the twins,” John said, sitting down carefully with Declan snuggled against him. “I called Mandy yesterday and got her approval after seeing something real cute in the gift shop in town. It’s from the two of us.”
Katie glanced at Mandy and the woman’s face had softened, so score one for John. It was smart of him to call her for her opinion and to include her in the gift, despite them having problems right now. That was thoughtful.
Katie grinned and picked up the big box wrapped with baby blue paper. She gave it a little shake. “What could it be?”
“Just a little something for the boys for the wedding,” John said. “I saw it and thought, Now isn’t that the cutest darn thing.”
Katie sat down at the table and ripped off the paper, smiling up at Asher, then lifting the lid off the box. Inside were two fleece tuxedo pj’s. “Okay, now I’m gonna cry. These are perfect and adorable. How kind of you both to find a way to dress them up for the ceremony.”
John grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“I can’t wait to see them in them,” Mandy said. “Katie, would you like a tour of the house and spa? Asher’s been here a few times. Plus we can chat about tomorrow and more of what you envision.”
Katie smiled. “Sounds great.”
Mandy handed Dylan over to Asher. Katie looked at the two Dawson men, sitting there each with a baby, each looking so...rapt, that Katie’s heart gave a little leap. This weekend was going to be great for father and son—Katie could feel it.
“This of course is the kitchen,” Mandy said, heading out. “And this is the living room.”
Katie glanced around. Decorated in soothing earth tones, the place was so welcoming. There was a grand stone fireplace and a wall of windows facing the backyard and all the land beyond it.
“Our bedroom is on this level,” Mandy said, pointing to a door down a short hall. “And upstairs,” she added, heading to the staircase, “are two bedrooms and a big bathroom with a great claw-foot tub. I have a great selection of bath beads. Help yourself to anything.”
“Thanks, Mandy. I’m so glad we’re all here.”
“Me too.” She led the way down the hall to a door and opened it. “Here’s the guest room for you and Asher. There’s a smaller room across the hall for the twins. You’re sure you don’t need anything for them? I can call a few mom friends to borrow just about anything you might need.”
“I brought everything. The bassinets are foldable. And though they’re tiny humans, they do have a lot of stuff to cart around, but I’ve got it all.”
“Then let me show you a couple of spots where I envision the ceremony and what I have planned for the vows. You can let me know if you want to go more simple or add anything on your own.”
Vows. Katie hadn’t thought about that beyond the basic ones she’d always heard in movies and TV shows and a few friends’ weddings.
They went back downstairs. Mandy stopped in the arched living room doorway. “Here’s one possibility. It’s a lovely room and that fireplace is such a showpiece as is the view of the preserve and mountains beyond it. Or,” she said, heading down the hall and opening a door with a wooden painted sign that read SPA above the doorframe, “this. The meditation room has the same view of the preserve and mountains and it’s my favorite room of anywhere I’ve ever been.”
The moment Katie walked into the space she knew this was where she wanted to have the ceremony. The walls were an eggshell blue and held many interesting paintings and drawings, white filmy curtains were on the windows and a huge jute rug was on the floor. The room was so peaceful and somehow mystical. And the view was spectacular.
“This is the place,” Katie said.
“I had a feeling. So should we go grab Asher to discuss the vows?” Mandy asked. She touched the yellow-orange crystal star hanging from a pendant around her neck. She bit her lip and suddenly looked sad, then seemed to catch herself and smiled.
“John opened up a bit the other day about the two of you having some issues,” Katie said. “I wanted to be honest about that. It’s kind enough that you’re officiating the wedding amidst some trouble in paradise. You don’t need to deal with writing the vows. The standard vows are fine. It’s the ‘I Do’s we want to say.”
Which was true. Lingering on the ceremony would only hurt.
“I don’t want to heap our problems on you at such a joyous time, Katie. But to be honest, I’m not sure I can take much more of John’s lack of consideration. I work hard at communicating, at trying to understand where he’s coming from, but he just doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t see anything as a problem. Because it’s not...for him.”
Katie nodded. “Well, it’s clear that he loves you very much and that this marriage means everything to him. So he’ll just have to hear you if he wants what he wants.”
“But if it means everything, why isn’t he trying?” Mandy asked. “That’s what I don’t get.”
Katie certainly understood that. It was her big question too where she and Asher were concerned.
That both she and Mandy had their work cut out for them with the two Dawson men made her feel a little better, a little less alone. She had high hopes for this weekend.
For both couples.
While his dad watched the twins, Asher had gone out to the car and brought in all their stuff. The nursery was now set up with the folding bassinets and there was a diaper station upstairs and downstairs. Declan and Dylan had started yawning and rubbing their eyes, so although Grandpa didn’t want to let go of either of them, they’d taken the boys upstairs to put them down for a nap.
“So have you and Mandy talked more about the two of you?” Asher asked as they went back into the kitchen, Asher pouring refills on the coffee.
“I tried to, but all she did was quiz me on what crystals mean what,” John said, wrapping his hands around his mug. “No, I don’t know what amethyst does or which crystal is mood enhancing. I’m the accountant, not the practitioner.”
“Well, Dad, maybe it bothers Mandy that you don’t know anything about her business—your business. If crystals and their healing properties are her passion, shouldn’t you take an interest? If I’m not mistaken, you mentioned that Mandy watches all the big games with you and keeps the snacks coming.”
John seemed to be taking that in. “She does, that’s true. I don’t think she cares all that much about sports.”
“Exactly. So learn what amethysts do.”
“Huh,” his dad said, sipping his coffee. “That would make her happy, if I knew more.”
“Then do it.”
“The gift shop in the spa lobby sells a book on the healing powers of crystals. I think I’ll go buy one and read up when Mandy doesn’t see. I’ll surprise her.”
“Good idea, Dad.”
His dad’s mood improved, Asher looked out the window to see Katie and Mandy in the yard, deep in conversation. About the wedding, most likely. Or the state of Mandy and John’s marriage.
This time tomorrow there would be another marriage in the family. Asher wondered if in a month, he’d be asking his dad’s advice on the subject—from the perspective of things being rocky. Katie seemed to want to see where things went. But that meant giving in to the wild attraction he felt for her. And that attraction plus the depth of his feelings for her was a dangerous combination. They’d end up where his dad and Mandy were. Arguing, Sniping. They might not even make it till the year term was up for the will. And he’d lose everything—his best friend, the ranch and being with the twins all the time.
But he was well aware that it was kind of crazy to deny his attraction to his wife in the name of saving their relationship and marriage. He and Katie would be sharing a room tonight. He’d seen the guest room. Not very big. With a king-size bed dominating the space. And his mind right now.
How in the heck were he and Katie going to make this all work? She seemed very optimistic about it all. But Asher was tied up in knots.
Maybe not getting it—this thing called love—just ran in the family.