An Alaskan Wedding Read online

  An Alaskan Wedding

  Synopsis

  Andrea Daniels’s life is overflowingly full. She puts every ounce of energy she has into being a mom to her two daughters and her work as a registered nurse. When her best friend, Sara, asks her to be her maid of honor at her wedding in Fairbanks, Alaska, Andrea accepts. A week off from work and an adults-only trip filled with relaxation and scenic tours sounds amazing.

  Wedding photographer Riley Canon can pick and choose her clients, so when she’s asked to shoot a wedding in a remote lodge in Alaska, she jumps at the opportunity for a trip of a lifetime. It’s been on her bucket list for years.

  The last thing either Andrea or Riley expects is to bump into the one who broke her heart fifteen years ago, but when they meet at the welcome party, their feelings come rushing back. Trusting each other again might be impossible, but if they can overcome the hurt from the past, they just might get a second chance at love.

  An Alaskan Wedding

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  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

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  By the Author

  Cowgirl

  An Alaskan Wedding

  An Alaskan Wedding

  © 2021 By Nance Sparks. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63679-054-1

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: November 2021

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editors: Victoria Villaseñor and Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design by Tammy Seidick

  eBook Design by Toni Whitaker

  Acknowledgments

  I’d like to acknowledge all of the hardworking people at Bold Strokes Books who have helped me make my dream a reality. Thank you for taking a chance on me.

  Chapter One

  Andrea stared at herself in the full-length mirror. She turned to the left and then to the right debating whether to wear her hair up or down for the wedding. She liked the way the burgundy dress offset her strawberry blond hair. If she left her hair down, it was just long enough to cover her shoulders but wasn’t so long to hide the pretty deep vee detail of the back. She spun around in front of the mirror once more, admiring the way the dress flowed with each movement. She was thrilled with how it fit her figure, as if tailor-made for her body. Her breasts looked full and perky, showing off just enough cleavage, and she loved how it hugged her ass just right. The shoulder straps were thin, and when she held her hair up, she felt like her neck and shoulders looked sleek and elegant. She twirled around in an effort to catch glimpses of herself in the mirror and decided that her hair should definitely be up to make the most of the skin on show. She spun once more and thought to add a pair of dangling earrings and maybe some sort of choker necklace. Yes, that was the look she was going for. She needed an evening of feeling sleek and elegant.

  “Whoa Mom, you look hot!”

  Andrea spun around to see her older daughter standing in the doorway. It didn’t seem possible that she was already fourteen, and if she closed her eyes, she could still see the newborn infant cradled in her arms. Now, Sydney was taller than she was. Her short brown hair was neat and trim except for the long, shaggy bangs that hid half of her face and most of her striking green eyes. It was a style that Sydney loved, and it suited her relaxed personality. The same relaxed personality that had her dressed in a football jersey, faded jeans, and multicolored Chuck Taylor shoes. Sydney walked into the bedroom and flopped down onto the bed.

  “Thanks, Syd. Okay, opinion time, hair up or down?” Andrea turned toward her and posed.

  “That’s some dress. Aunt Sara has great taste. Up, yeah, definitely up. It screams hot mom. Who knows, you might even get lucky.” Sydney wiggled her eyebrows and smiled.

  “Sydney Anne Daniels, what am I going to do with you?” Andrea shook her head. If only she could be so lucky as to get lucky. It had been so long since she’d been the focus of anyone’s attention. She’d all but forgotten what it felt like. She stepped out of the dress and returned it to the hanger.

  “Um, Mom, please tell me you’re not wearing granny panties under that dress. You’ll never get lucky if that’s what the dude sees. He’ll have flashbacks of his mom, or worse, his grandma and run off screaming!” Sydney quickly leaned back to avoid Andrea’s playful backhand swat.

  “I have nicer things already packed, thank you very much, and getting lucky isn’t my goal, Syd, it’s a vacation.” Andrea pulled the loose-fitting T-shirt over her head and then wiggled back into her yoga pants.

  “A child-free vacation. I’d be your wingman if you’d take me with you instead of dumping me off with Dad and Cathy. Geez, Mom, definitely don’t take that outfit. It throws the ‘hot mom’ right out the window!”

  Andrea looked at herself in the mirror. Sydney was right, definitely not a hot mom outfit. More like a frumpy working mom with two teenage kids where everything was more of a priority than her appearance. She decided to reevaluate what was packed in the three suitcases. Maybe she could go for a bit more of the hot mom look while on vacation.

  “Do you really feel like I’m dumping you with Dad?” Andrea flopped on the bed next to Sydney and brushed her hair out of her eyes.

  “I don’t know, maybe a little. An entire week over there is going to feel like forever, and he’s not as much fun on the weekdays as he is as weekend dad. He just yells for us to do our homework so he can watch his shows in peace. Besides, I won’t have my own room or my stuff and he’s always too tired after work to take us anywhere so we can hang out with our friends. Why can’t we come with you?”

  “Well, for starters, school just began, and four school days is too much time to miss this early in the year. Besides, I’ll be busy helping Sara with stuff and the wedding is only for adults. Occasionally, moms need a little break, some adult only time.”

  “Hold up, you need a break from your own children? And here I thought we brought nothing but joy to your life!”

  Andrea ruffled her hair. She sighed and looked at the ceiling. She did love being a mom and she loved her career as a registered nurse, but those two things shouldn’t be all that defined who she was. She craved some time on her own to remember what it felt like to be Andrea again and not simply Mom or nurse.

  “Mom, do you regret having us? Do you wish you’d never had kids?” Sydney pulled her from her thoughts.

  “What? No, no regrets, never regrets. You and Olivia are my treasures, not regrets.”

  “Treasures that you want to dump at Dad’s for an adults-only party in Alaska!”

  “A vacation doesn’t mean that there’s regret. Why do you ask that?” Andrea twisted on her side to see Sydney’s eyes.

  “Well, sometimes you look sad, and I heard you on the phone with Sara saying that this wasn’t how you expected your life to turn out.”

  “Oh, sweet baby girl, that had nothing to do with you and Olivia. I love you both with all my heart. Just because I ne
ed a break doesn’t mean I regret having you and your sister. You were both fantastic surprises, not regrets.”

  “Fantastic surprises you need a break from,” Sydney said with a half grin.

  “You’re relentless!” Andrea thought for a moment. “Ya know how sometimes, when you have a big report due at school and you’ve worked super hard on it, and while it’s not quite finished, you ask if you can go hang out with Amelia or someone? You need a little time away from it, so you can come back with a fresh perspective and knock it out of the park? It’s like that. I just need a little break so I can come back with a fresh perspective.”

  “Your life is like always having to work on a big report? Well, that’s gotta suck!”

  “Syd, my life is nonstop laundry and short-order cook and taxi service and work, which includes lots of long shifts, and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world, but sometimes parents just need a little fun with other adults who need to get away from laundry and cooking and work—”

  “Okay, okay, I get it. I’ll go finish packing. I guess I can handle a week with Dad and Cathy.” Sydney rolled over on the bed and into Andrea’s open arms. She snuggled into Andrea’s shoulder. “I hope you have lots of fun, Mom. I love you.”

  “Thanks, Syd. I love you, too, with all my heart.”

  “Oh, is it snuggle time?” Olivia asked from the hallway. She ran and launched herself onto the bed.

  “You’re the reason Mom needs a vacation.” Sydney pushed Olivia off to the side.

  “I am not. You’re the reason and stop pushing me. Mom, Sydney won’t let me in the snuggle pile.”

  Andrea rolled over the top of Sydney, enjoying how she giggled while being squished into the mattress and then dropped between the girls and wrapped her arm around each of them. The doorbell chimed from the hallway.

  “I love you two goofballs! That’s probably your father. Come on. Let’s get going.”

  Within an hour, the girls were off with Scott, and Andrea had the house all to herself. She poured a little whiskey on the rocks and made her way back to her bedroom. She needed to finish packing. She had an early flight, and at this time tomorrow night she’d be lounging in a resort in Alaska resting up for her best friend’s wedding. She was excited to stand at Sara’s side and watch her get married, perhaps even a tad envious. She’d always dreamt of a big wedding with the flowy white dress, but instead she’d had a courthouse wedding while trying to hide a baby bump. It was true, her life hadn’t turned out as she’d expected, and certainly not what she expected at Sydney’s age, but she loved her daughters and wouldn’t change that for anything in the world.

  Chapter Two

  Good afternoon, passengers. This is your captain speaking. I’d like to welcome you to Fairbanks, Alaska, where it’s sunny and sixty-three degrees. Skies should be clear for the next week or so which is perfect for those of you here to sneak a peek of the northern lights. We ask that you remain seated until the plane comes to a complete stop at the gate. Please take care when opening the overhead bins as luggage may have shifted during the flight. We would like to wish you a great stay here in Alaska.”

  Riley ran through her mental checklist while waiting to exit the plane. She always arrived a day early to get settled at the hotel, check out the venues, and prep her gear. She was especially excited about this trip. Shooting in Alaska was a bucket list trip. The scenery, the wildlife, and then the northern lights. She’d always dreamt of shooting the floating curtain of almost mythical color that shifted through the sky. Mid-September was the perfect time to capture everything she wanted to see, especially if the weather held true. A couple of days on the job and then she’d have an entire week to explore the landscape.

  She checked into the Moose Lodge Resort, dropped her suitcases in her room, and then hopped back into the rental car to meet the couple at the reception hall just north of town. The navigation system alerted her of a right turn ahead, but Riley’s attention was captured by a large moose eating lilies in a pond off to the left. She pressed gently on the brakes, hoping to stop the car without scaring off the moose. Successful, she climbed over the seat, opened the camera case, and attached a large zoom lens to her camera. Her heart hammered in her chest with the excitement of seeing such a magnificent creature right in front of her. She climbed back over the seat and lowered the driver’s window. With one quick adjustment of the camera settings, she focused and engaged the shutter. A glance at the display screen made her smile. What a great shot of the moose with greenery draping from either side of its mouth. She raised the camera again, zoomed in and took a few more shots. The late afternoon sun was perfect, illuminating the muscular features of the animal and glistening its reflection in the still water. She glanced at the clock and realized she’d be late if she didn’t get to the venue soon. Riley capped the lens and put the car into drive.

  She pulled into the parking lot and instantly understood why the brides had picked this hall for the reception. It was every bit the trademark Alaskan experience. The building was crafted with large diameter logs and tall, steeply pitched roof lines. A large wooden deck appeared to wrap around the building, offering incredible views of a lake and the dense woods beyond. Native rock chimneys at either end of the building completed the picturesque setting. Riley swapped the telephoto lens for a portrait lens and made her way inside.

  She stepped through the entryway into a rustic wonderland. The inside of the roof was open and exposed. Tall logs supported the timber trusses in the vast open space. Large river rock from the chimney continued down into the hall expanding into massive fireplaces on two of the outer walls. Another wall was lined with floor to ceiling windows offering a romantic view of the lake. This was going to be a fun location to shoot.

  “Excuse me, are you the photographer?”

  Riley spun around. A tall, slender woman with short, slicked back platinum blond hair approached from the same entryway she’d just walked through a few minutes earlier.

  “Yes, that’s right. I’m Riley.” She held her hand out in greeting.

  “Hi, Riley, I’m Kay Martin, one of the brides. Sara is back at the hotel keeping family entertained. I appreciate you taking the time to meet me out here today. Your work is impressive, and you can’t imagine my excitement to hear you were available to capture everything about our special day. Sometimes it all lines up perfectly, doesn’t it? However, there’s been a bit of a change in venue for the ceremony. What is it they say, happy wife, happy life? Anyway, we saw this building in person yesterday and decided to move the ceremony here instead of the small church in town. Luckily, the other side of the building was still available to rent. Other than that, the itinerary I sent you holds true. So, everything will move from the hotel to this location tomorrow starting at about one o’clock in the afternoon. There are dressing rooms at the far end where we’ll do the hair and makeup shoots. The divider will be up for the ceremony, and this side of the hall will be set up to host the reception with the bar over here and the dance stage right in the center. After the ceremony, they’ll convert that space from row seating to large round tables for dining and a place to visit away from the loud music.” Kay walked around the room indicating the arrangements.

  Riley was impressed at the organization and detail, as well as by how calm Kay seemed. “It all sounds magical. The ceremony is at five in the afternoon, correct? Perhaps we could take some time before or afterward for a small shoot down by the lake? The lighting would be picture-perfect that time of day.”

  “I’ll pass the idea by Sara, but it sounds wonderful to me. Let’s plan on it. Do you have any other questions?”

  “No, I believe I’m all set. We’ll do some posed shots during the welcome party and prior to the ceremony. Otherwise, I’ll pop in and out of the other activities listed on the itinerary. I tend to stay in the shadows and only use flash when absolutely necessary. Whatever you’re doing over the next couple of days, try you
r best to be natural and ignore my presence. Hopefully, my style won’t impede on your activities too much.”

  “Your style is why we hired you. I’m super excited to see what you capture.” Kay smiled.

  “I hope you’ll be pleased. Do you mind if I stick around for a bit?” Riley asked. “I’d like to see where the sun will set for tomorrow and what the hall will look like when it’s lit for the event after dark.”

  “I don’t think that will be a problem. The owners are decorating and setting up the seating for the wedding. I’ll let them know you’re sticking around and to check with you before locking up. I’m sure they can set up the lighting so you can see what you’ll be working with.”

  “Perfect. Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow at seven for the welcome party. Have a great night.”

  “You, too. Thanks again for traveling all this way.” Kay stepped forward and shook Riley’s hand.

  “It’s my pleasure.” Riley smiled and watched Kay head to the far side of the hall. She moved gracefully, and her lines would work well in the photos.

  She strolled out onto the large deck overlooking the lake. The sun was dropping low in the sky, quickly stealing the golden glow from the landscape. The lake was a perfect mirror, offering a reflection of the tree line and the landscape beyond. She pulled her camera off her shoulder, setting up a shot of the sky and the lake. She checked the display screen. The reflection of the trees and the sky in the water was everything she’d hoped for. She stood out there watching the changing light. When she’d first started in this profession, she’d taken a ton of pictures of the same scene as the light changed, trying to capture just the right moment. But over time, she learned what light worked and what light didn’t, and simply enjoyed the moments in between.