Page 70 of Evergreen Christmas

“It wasn’t your fault,” Jordyn said quietly. “If anything, you helped me enjoy Christmas all the more by participating in the competition and meeting new people. And Nate did have fun during the contests he participated in, too. So, you see, it was the right thing to do in the end.”

“But it wasn’t.” Carol Belle’s normally stiff demeanor crumbled, and her chin quivered as tears filled her eyes. “You’ve had your heart broken and that was the very thing we were trying to avoid.”

At that, Jordyn did smile. “No, I didn’t. As a matter of fact,” she said, “I found one of the best loves a girl can find.”

Carol Belle looked up, her tearful eyes meeting Jordyn’s in question.

Smiling wider, Jordyn reached out, curling her hands around one of Kandy’s and one of Holly’s. “I fell head over heels for four of the most wonderful women I’ve ever met. And now I have the great fortune of calling them my friends.”

Holly and Kandy, tears in their eyes, too, squeezed Jordyn’s hands in return.

“And,” Jordyn continued gently, “I’m the luckiest woman in the world because my wonderful friends have joined me on Christmas Eve to celebrate the holiday. I can’t think of anything better than spending Christmas Eve with the four of you, and my heart isn’t broken at all. How could it be when I have you here with me?”

A broken sob burst from Carol Belle’s lips and she straightened in her chair, dragged her hand across her wet cheeks, then reached out, covering Eve and Holly’s hands with her own as she smiled back at Jordyn. “Friends?” she asked in a gruff voice. “We are not friends, ladies.” She smiled at Jordyn. “We’re family!”

“And that’s the best gift the four of you could have ever given me!” Heart overflowing, Jordyn exchanged smiles with the other women, then burst out laughing. “So, seeing as how we’re now family and all, I don’t have to be on my best behavior tonight, do I?” She looked down at the silver tray full of red velvet cupcakes and lifted one eyebrow, asking in a teasing tone, “The four of you won’t mind if I stuff my face full of cupcakes tonight, will you?”

Kandy laughed. “Not at all! As a matter of fact, I plan on doing exactly the same.”

On that note, they all shared a good laugh, grabbed a cupcake from the tray, placed it on their plates, then passed around the carafe of hot coffee, filling their Christmas mugs to the brim, then dug into their sweet Christmas treats.

As the delicious taste of cream cheese icing melted on her tongue, Jordyn eased back into her chair and savored the moment. She glanced slowly around the table, listening to the Nanas chatter cheerfully and smile as they ate, then looked toward the living room, where a warm fire popped and crackled in the newly repaired fireplace, lending a comforting glow to the hardwood floor, walls and ceiling of her cabin. Then, her gaze drifted to the window at the front of her cabin, where, beyond the glass pane, something small and white drifted on the wind.

“Oh, how wonderful!” Jordyn pushed her chair back and stood, smiling down at the four other women. “It’s snowing. It’s Christmas Eve and it’s snowing!”

Carol Belle chuckled. “Well, my dear Jordyn, that does happen from time to time around here.”

“But it’s a first for me,” Jordyn said, rushing over to the coatrack by the front door, grabbing her coat and shrugging it on. “So? Are y’all going to join me or what? I thought family was supposed to stay together.”

Kandy shot to her feet and hurried over, grabbing her coat, too. “Of course, we are! How can anyone not dance in the snow on Christmas Eve? Ladies, it’s time for celebration.”

Carol Belle stood, too. “Who needs a Christmas tree in the town square when we’ve got Fabio Fraser and snow on Christmas Eve right in Jordyn’s backyard?” She tapped the table with her knuckles, grabbed her coat from where it hung on the back of her chair, and shrugged it on. “Come on, Eve and Holly. Let’s show Jordyn what a real Noel Christmas looks like!”

After everyone had bundled up warmly in their jackets, scarves, and hats, they walked out onto the front porch and leaned on the porch railing, tipping their heads back and smiling as big snowflakes drifted softly to the ground.

“It’s more beautiful than I imagined,” Jordyn said quietly. “It’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”

Except for one thing.

Her smile dimmed as her eyes traced the path of the snowflakes dancing and twirling their way to the ground. If only she were able to share this moment with Nate and Roxie. If only Nate had truly been ready to move on and embrace something new. What a wonderful night this would’ve been and what a wonderful future they might have had!

But then she glanced at the Nanas, who stood huddled together beside her, smiling, laughing, and chattering cheerfully as they watched the snow fall, and her heart warmed again with gratitude for having found these new friends, her beautiful home at Chestnut Ridge, and the nostalgic charm of Noel.

This Christmas, even though she might not have the love she wanted most, she still had so very much to be thankful for.

“Jordyn,” Carol Belle said. “Are you expecting more company?”

Jordyn frowned and shook her head. “No. Why?”

Carol Belle pointed at something in the distance. “Because you have a stream of lanterns approaching Fabio in the back lot.”

“Say what?” Clutching her coat tighter around her chest to ward off the cold, Jordyn eased past the Nanas and walked to the other end of the porch for a better look.

Sure enough, there were dozens upon dozens of lanterns glowing in the distance, each bobbing slightly in the snowy dark as the procession made its way toward the brightly lit tree.

“What in heaven’s name?” Eve’s voice trailed away as she scooted closer to Jordyn, narrowing her eyes at the sight before them. “Carol Belle, did you have a hand in this?”

Carol Belle scoffed. “Absolutely not. I have no clue what’s going on here, but we’re about to find out.”

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