She scooted over to the edge of the bed and stood up, stupidly embarrassed to be standing here naked despite being totally alone. She grabbed her robe and went into the bathroom, coming out a few minutes later, still robed but with a clean mouth, at least. She wasn’t ready to get dressed and wasn’t in the mood for a shower, so she grabbed her laptop and settled into an armchair to check her email.

When half an hour passed without a sign of Maddie, her earlier anxieties returned. Beyond this, she was also starting to get angry. How dare she leave, as if this were some kind of one-night stand? She could have at least left a note, just to be polite.

Almost as if the anger had summoned her, Ryann heard a muffled knock, and when she peeked outside, Maddie was standing there with bags of food and a coffee carrier. Ryann opened the door, and Maddie gave her a guilty smile as she entered. She looked ridiculously good for being unwashed and ruffled like she was, and the cold air outside had given her cheeks a rosy glow.

Maddie set the food down on the little table and quickly hugged and kissed her. “I’m so sorry I was gone so long. I didn’t want to wake you when I left. I was going to text from the café, but when I finally got there, I realized I didn’t have my phone.”

Ryann was still a little miffed but tried to let it go. Maddie, perhaps seeing some of this reaction, gave her a worried smile. “I’m really sorry.”

She waved a hand. “It’s nothing. I got…anxious, I guess.”

“I know. I would have been, too. I thought I’d get back before you were up. I also thought it would be faster, but the line and the snow slowed me down.”

“Snow?”

Maddie indicated the window. Ryann pulled the light scrim out of the way and revealed a winter wonderland. The heavier snow from last week had a new layer—perhaps three more inches. Everything was soft and white, pretty and clean. And, as the snow had been light, the roads, at least, looked to be in good shape, which was a relief with all the wedding guests arriving over the next few days.

“It’s beautiful,” Ryann said.

“I think so, too. Maybe we could take a walk later this morning?”

“I’d love to.”

Maddie motioned toward the little table. They sat and Maddie opened the bags, pulling out two warm, paper-wrapped sandwiches and some doughnuts.

“I wasn’t sure if you were a savory or sweet breakfast person, so I got both.”

“I’m not a breakfast person at all,” she said. “I’m usually a coffee-and-go type.”

Maddie rolled her eyes. “Of course you are.”

She pushed her lightly. “But I’ll make an exception since you braved the elements for us.”