Dogwood And Myrtle

By Lark Westerly

Christmas Day means a lot to Cade and Laura, so of course they chose it for their wedding. They’ve been planning for a year, so what can possibly go wrong?

With less than an hour to go before the ceremony, Laura’s brother arrives with an urgent message for Cade to come to the orangery right now. There’s something wrong with Laura.

Cade knows Laura wants this marriage as much as he does, so why does Jamie look so shattered? Where is Laura, and who on earth is Lola? Everyone wants to help but no one knows how. It’s left to Cade himself to sort things out for his Christmas wedding day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eXtasy Books Inc
• Release date: Dec 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9781487440978

Book preview

Cade wore dogwood and myrtle for his Christmas wedding to Laura. It was a love story five years in the making. But then came Lola and everything went to the dogs.

Christmas Day means a lot to Cade and Laura, so of course they chose it for their wedding. They’ve been planning for a year, so what can possibly go wrong?

With less than an hour to go before the ceremony, Laura’s brother arrives with an urgent message for Cade to come to the orangery right now. There’s something wrong with Laura.

Cade knows Laura wants this marriage as much as he does, so why does Jamie look so shattered? Where is Laura, and who on earth is Lola? Everyone wants to help but no one knows how. It’s left to Cade himself to sort things out for his Christmas wedding day.

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Dogwood and Myrtle

Copyright © 2023 Lark Westerly

ISBN: 978-1-4874-4097-8

Cover art by Martine Jardin

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

Published by eXtasy Books Inc

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Smashwords Edition

Dogwood and Myrtle

Christmas Short

By

Lark Westerly

Dedication

To everyone who loves the language of flowers

Author’s Note

Some of the characters in this story may be familiar from other books. Yestin and Louise’s romance was told in the Counterpoint trilogy, and Linda and Jory’s in Pisky Business. Father Rory has appeared in several books, but his own story begins in Emer. His grandson, Duffy, appears in Pen and Ink.

Chapter One: Wedding Day Part One

Ten a.m.

My hands weren’t shaking. My knees were under control. Not even my stomach had any nervous twinges.

A man’s wedding day is supposed to be fraught with mixed uncertainty and anticipation, but I had never felt more certain in my life.

Christmas Day had so much meaning for Laura and me. What other day could we possibly choose for our wedding?

Christmas bells, wedding bells, tinsel garlands... we could dress you up in a Santa suit, my brother Kev said when I handed him his official invitation. Laura will make a fetching Missus Claus. Illya can put on elf ears and wear a tight green and red suit with a hem cut into whatemies... He created a zigzag pattern in the air.

I didn’t bother to tell him the only elf ears at our wedding would be attached to actual elves, if any cared to attend. Illya would explain that to him for me. Or would she? She’s the woman who wears Spock specials to concerts, so she might easily have a set of fake elf ears somewhere in her glory box. Never mind, I knew they’d both be so busy keeping Kerria under control they wouldn’t have any spare energy to ambush me with red jackets and cottonwool beards.

Four-year-olds are meant to be full of beans, and my niece absolutely is.

Laura would make a fetching Missus Claus...

No. Whatever Laura chooses to wear is fine by me.

I didn’t know whether she’d chosen the full white lace regalia or something chic and modern or even vintage. Maybe her mum’s friend Skye was making her a dress. This ruled out white meringue.

Louise, who is married to my elder brother Yestin, also had her hands full with offspring. She and Yestin have two boys under three.

Not our best idea, as Yes puts it, but his grin belies the words.

Louise says it was a very good idea because they didn’t want to be geriatric parents.

At least you and Laura won’t be facing a biological clock, she said on our wedding morning. She juggled Winterberry and Indy into Yes’ arms and handed me a small bunch of twigs with shiny leaves and fluffy cream flowers, surrounding a large-petalled white bloom. Lemon myrtle and dogwood for your buttonhole, she explained. "It represents love in marriage and devotion."

Trust you to know that! I said. Louise runs a mail-order herb business called A Little Bit Pisky and she and Yes had generously opened their gardens for our use. They even had an orangery in case of difficult weather. Louise is constantly busy, but she’d offered to do the flowers. Since the wedding was outdoors, that meant the wedding arch, buttonholes for my brothers and