“Oh my god, honey,” Mom’s voice came crackling over the landline, “I don’t know why I’m surprised, Emmy. I always knew you two were meant for each other. It’s just so… so… sudden, that’s all.” I listened, my heart pounding away as she paused. “You’ve been broken up for years… you haven’t seen him or spoken to him… and now you’re getting married? And the wedding’s not even three weeks away…”

“If it were any other couple, I’d be the first one to say it was crazy, Mom. But it feels so right… like he was never even gone,” I said. “Neither one of us knew the other would be at the hot springs that night. But we found each other again… and it’s like we never really lost each other. We fit together… just like we always have.”

“Mmm… well… That part never really is the trouble, is it?” she said. I could almost see the smile on her face. “Anybody can see the sparks that fly off you two… It was the same way with me and Ray.”

I blushed at the mention of my dad, but kept quiet, willing her to go on. It wasn’t like her to talk frankly, and my parents’ complex relationship had always been mysterious. “We got married so young,” she went on softly, like she was talking to her own memories. “He was so big and strong… like a hero straight out of a paperback novel, to a girl like me. He was headstrong… I was swept off my feet. We never really talked about what we both wanted out of life…”

“What did you want, Mom?” I asked softly, feeling bold and uncomfortable questioning her. “I know Daddy wanted a family… and that he was born to be a firefighter.” I paused, feeling a tightening sensation in my chest. “He loved you so much…”

“And I loved him,” she said with conviction. “Sometimes I think I loved him too much.” She stopped and I heard her swallow hard. “I still love him, Emmy. It didn’t stop just because we had problems. And it didn’t stop when he died, either. I should have opened up to him more… when I still had the chance. I should have told him how I felt, and what I needed to be happy…”

“You needed him to be home more…” I began.

“That was part of it,” she admitted. “And I was the happiest woman in the world when you and Randy came along. But I always had dreams about becoming a teacher,” she said, almost in a whisper. “And he couldn’t… he wouldn’t consider the idea of my having a career of my own.”

“I… I had no idea, Mom…”

“I know you didn’t, sweetheart,” she said. “I never wanted you to think that being your mother wasn’t enough for me,” she sighed. “Things were different then… although they weren’t that different. Most women had careers. But your father was very old fashioned in so many ways. The funny thing is, it was one of the things I loved about him most, when we met…”

We paused, each settling into our own thoughts. Flashes, memories of my childhood flew through my brain. How many assumptions had I made… how many things had I misunderstood…?

“I never saw a man in more pain,” she said, “when you gave Jason that ring back and told him you never wanted to see him again. I know it was every bit as hard for you too, Emmy. I was there. I saw. I just don’t want you to get hurt again. You need to open up more to him than just your heart. You need to tell him what you want, what you need… how you feel. And you need to listen to him, too. I know the idea is scary, but it’s better to put all your cards on the table in the very beginning…”

I nodded, knowing she was right. She and Connie were the only two women in my life who truly understood. “He’s giving it up,” I said, curving one hand protectively over my flat belly. “Once this job is done, he’s giving it all up. He’ll fight for the environment through his foundation instead. And we can finally have the life we dreamed of… and a family of our own.” I heard her take a breath in to speak, then she exhaled instead. “He’ll be safe this way, Mom,” I went on. “That’s the most important thing.”

“You’ll be marrying a firefighter,” she said softly. “And they’re a different breed of man altogether, whether they’re on the job or not. Maybe loving him for who he is might be the most important thing…”

“And I do,” I said, reassuringly. “I feel like the luckiest woman alive. I called you first… and I’m calling Connie too. I need all the help I can get, putting a wedding together so fast. I want everything to be perfect when he gets back. I’m thinking we’ll have the ceremony in the glade behind the house where the pine trees arch up overhead, and the reception here in the cabin where we can all warm back up again. Just family and a few friends…” I stopped to catch my breath. “I want everything to be so perfect, just like I always dreamed.”

“I can be packed up and on my way by Friday afternoon,” she said, indulgently. “I love you so much, Emmy, and I’m just so happy you’re finally happy again. Jason’s always been the only one for you. And I know there isn’t anything he wouldn’t do to make you happy…

“I just want you to remember that a wedding is just a day. One day. It’s the life you make together afterwards that matters.”

“Holy shit…” Connie said. “So he gives it all up, just like that…

“I wonder what I’ve been doing wrong all these years…?”

I laughed and switched the phone to the other ear. “I couldn’t believe it. I opened the door and there he was.”

“He came back to claim the woman he loves,” she said, dreamily. “You know, you two are the only couple I know that could turn an awful breakup into a fairytale.” She chuckled into the phone. “You know I’ll do anything I can to help… I could arrange for flowers while I’m here in town, maybe bring some bridal magazines…” I could hear her tapping her nails. “You two sure didn’t leave a hell of a lot of time for planning this…”

“He wants to get married as soon as he and Randy get back.”

“And he’s willing to give it all up…” she murmured. “After the first year, I gave up all hope for that. Somewhere between baby number one and baby number two. Tell you what… If Sarah’s not going to be there till Friday, how about I drop the kids at the sitter’s and head up in the morning? We can make our game plan and drive into Aspen on Thursday. We’ve got a lot of choices to make, and a lot of dresses to try on… We need to use every second we’ve got.”

“...Con…?” I started, uncertain.

“Hmmm…?”

“I need you to bring something with you when you come,” I said tentatively, my heart pounding away. “You’re right, there’s not a moment to lose…

“And one thing that just won’t wait…”