Page 2 of Lost and Found Pieces 3

“Okay,” Willow said. “You have a lot to do. I can help on the weekends and stuff.”

“I can help you out,” Shannon said, grinning at him conspiratorially. “Marigold is in class now, but she still comes in to help out. She’ll be off around Christmas, too, so we can help you more then.”

“Assuming you haven’t had that baby,” Willow warned, nodding to her gently rounded stomach.

Shannon grimaced. “True,” she said, “but my due date is in January. I should be good for a Christmas wedding. With my luck we’ll have it on January fifteenth, Duncan’s birthday. John would never live that down.”

They all chuckled.

Zeke looked between them. “Thanks, l-l-ladies. I know it’s crazy, but it seems r-r-right to do it Christmas weekend. Everyone will be here, and it gives me time to get my f-f-fo… parents in.”

“So, you actually want to get married on Christmas Eve?” Shannon clarified.

Zeke nodded firmly. “The LNF holiday party is that T-thursday…” Willow leaned behind Shannon and widened her eyes theatrically, and Zeke hesitated in what he was going to say next. He shifted gears. “Everyone will be here for that. We’ll j-j-just ask them to stay a couple extra days. Then they can head home Christmas Day if they want to.”

He’d almost screwed up. Willow and Ember were throwing Shannon a baby shower the Friday after the holiday party. If he’d let that out of the bag he would have been dog meat.

“Okay,” Shannon said, sighing. “If that’s really what you want.”

He could tell by the reluctance in her voice that she was unsure, but he knew his fiancée. “It’s what Ember w-wants. We were watching some show the other day and the star got married in an i-i-i-i-cy wonderland. Ember said she would love to do that. And D-drew thinks it’s time, too.”

Willow frowned, but didn’t contradict him. “Okay. You clear the way and we’ll help you out.”

Pressure eased in Zeke’s chest, and he knew he would forever be in their debt. “Okay. I’ll talk to the guys about it later.”

“Word to the wise,” Willow murmured. “The men gossip worse than the women. Whoever you’re picking for your groomsmen tell them three days before. That will give them enough time to rent a tux.”

“Okay, noted.” Zeke gave her a mock salute, and grinned. “Thank you, ladies!”

Willow reached out and patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll do fine, dear. Just remember all the extra stuff doesn’t matter as long as the two of you are there.”

He nodded, knowing she was exactly right. He and Ember together could do anything.

* * *

Ember had seen Zeke talk to Willow and Shannon, and she couldn’t help but be curious. What were they cooking up?

When it slowed down a little, she asked him. “You have a good talk with the girls?”

Zeke blinked at her, and tugged on his ball cap. Then he ran his hand over his beard, all nervous tics he had developed. “I did. Flynn’s birthday is around Halloween, and Willow was asking me if I had any ideas for a gift.”

Hm. Plausible, she supposed. Zeke was watching her, wiping a glass with a bar towel. She continued to stare at him.

“Fine,” he grumbled, putting the glass down firmly. “I was also asking t-them about what to get you for Christmas.”

Ember cocked her head and frowned. “That’s months away.”

“I know, but I have something b-b-big planned, and I was getting their o-opinion.”

Now, that sounded more like Zeke. Ember smiled slightly and shook her head. “You know I don’t need anything. Let’s just focus on Drew this year.”

Zeke gave a shake of his head. “Nope. That’s what you said last year. So, I didn’t get you very much and I could tell you were d-d-disappointed. That’s not happening this year, princess.”

Ember sighed and moved close enough to reach her arm around his tight waist. Immediately, he wrapped his strong arms around her, resting his chin on her head. Zeke was so much bigger than her, but somehow they always seemed to fit together so well. “I think you’re overthinking it.”

“I d-disagree. You deserve a fabulous Christmas.”

“It seems so far away,” she murmured.