“Do you plan many weddings here?” Dallas motioned toward the building.
Wood paneling spanned the huge hotel as we walked through the covered entryway. “The lodge actually has a wedding coordinator who schedules for here and the Sun Valley Country Club.” I nodded at the doorman. “But I’m working with her for a wedding the end of this month.”
“I bet it will be magical,” Dallas said.
Tilting my head, I laughed. “Actually, it will. The theme is, ‘The Magic of True Love.’”
The interior of the Sun Valley Lodge exuded an aristocratic feel from days gone by. Low lighting was enhanced by the giant wall of windows at the back of the lobby, which looked onto the ice arena. Dallas and I turned down a hallway lined with antique wallpaper and decorated with dozens of picture frames.
I had never stayed at the hotel, but plenty of Hollywood superstars enjoyed the rustic mountain retreat. The placard below a photo of the founder, Averill Harriman, stated that the lodge was opened in 1936, driven by the enthusiasm of Count Felix Schaffgotsch of Austria, who purchased 4,300 acres that would become the resort town. When he had happened upon the old mining town of Ketchum, the count declared the area rivaled Switzerland or Austria for a winter resort.
Although I had been down this hallway several times in my youth, I never tired of looking at the old black-and-white photos of such entertainment legends as Lucille Ball with her two children and Louis Armstrong on skis. A shot of Marilyn Monroe from 1956 and Ginger Rogers in 1938 always made me wonder what it must have been like to be in the spotlight back then. I motioned for Dallas to notice more recent photos of Clint Eastwood and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who stood by a ski run named after him. Dozens of photos of ice skaters and other Olympic athletes as well as presidents and dignitaries covered the wall. I took my time examining both sides of the hallway.
Dallas squinted to read Ernest Hemingway’s letter dated June 15, 1961, not long before his suicide. Fans of the great writer enjoyed visiting a memorial not far from the lodge. “This is interesting,” Dallas murmured. “No indication from the letter that he felt unhappy.”
“I know.” I motioned to the array of pictures. “I’d forgotten how many different celebrities came here.”
“It was definitely a happening place by the looks of these.” Dallas motioned to a picture of Jackie Kennedy on a horse-drawn sleigh.
The hallway ended near the entrance to the hotel’s spa and guest services, so we walked back toward the lobby and observed the crowd of people enjoying the extravagant buffet set up for the ice show. Dallas and I would sit on the bleachers right by the rink, while nearly two hundred people would watch the show from the patio after their dinner.
“I think there’s still time for us to look around back.” I linked my arm through his and was rewarded with a smile. “Have you seen the pavilion where they hold the summer symphony?”
“No. This is actually only my second time up here. The first time, I didn’t walk around much because it was too cold.”
Dallas had mentioned that he was a newcomer, having moved here from New Hampshire in March, not quite three months earlier. It was fun to see through his eyes as he observed his surroundings for the first time in a way that left me wondering what was going through his head. He noticed a bunch of daffodils late in bloom and surprised me by calling the flower by name. Then he pointed out a chipmunk dashing up a fir tree and laughed. His boyish curiosity was contagious, and I congratulated myself on how comfortable I felt on our second date.
The sidewalks lined freshly manicured grass, and several older couples strolled by with wraps and blankets, probably for the ice show. I was grateful I had remembered at the last minute to grab an old quilt—the bleachers by the rink could become quite cold as the night progressed.
“Here it is, the Sun Valley Pavilion.” I waved my arm with a flourish. “I think this would be a beautiful setting for a wedding.”
“And have the symphony play the ‘Wedding March’?” Dallas asked.
“That would make it pretty special.” I leaned over the edge of the wall separating us from the stage. It was crafted out of dark brown wood and flanked by chairs for the musicians. It would be fun to see a musical performed there. I admired the backdrop of mountains and greenery behind the pavilion. “I’ve always loved weddings.”
“Me too,” Dallas said and cleared his throat. “I mean, the idea of two people starting a new life together always holds so much promise.”
He shuffled his feet and his cheeks reddened, but I touched his arm and looked into his eyes. “That’s just how I feel.”
He stared at the ground. “Well, we’d better get seated. I’m looking forward to my first ice show.”
Most men would be embarrassed to have spouted such romantic notions, but I thought it was sweet that Dallas shared his feelings anyway. It was a welcome difference from the way Luke had reacted to my wedding business. Another point in Dallas’s favor.
Chapter 7
Keep Your Diamonds Sparkling
Soak your diamond ring in a warm solution of liquid dish detergent and water for five minutes. Use a soft brush if necessary to remove dirt. Soft is the key—don’t use a brush with bristles that are stiff enough to scratch the ring’s metal setting. Swish the ring around in the solution and then place it in a colander (so you don’t lose it down the drain). Rinse it thoroughly in warm water. Dry
