Page 36 of We Wish You a Happily Ever After

“I’m sorry she left,” Katie said before Jeremy could answer. “But that doesn’t mean—”

“I don’t want to talk about it.” He shut her down before it could go any further.

But Katie was not one to be deterred easily. “Yeah, I got that. But maybe you should.”

He turned to look at her then. There was nothing but care and concern on her face. “Katie, really, I—”

“Look.” She held up a hand to stop him. “I’m not going to force you. All I’m going to say is that sometimes things aren’t as black and white as you’d like them to be. There’s a whole lot of gray in life, Jeremy. And take it from someone who knows—sometimes it’s hard to see through all of that gray to what’s really in front of you. It’s not always that straightforward, that’s all I’m saying.”

He let her words sink in and, to his surprise, didn’t reject them out of hand. He nodded slowly but didn’t offer anything more.

“Don’t hide in here all night, okay?” She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading for the door. He watched as she turned around again. “It’s Christmas. And you never know what the magic of Christmas can bring.”

She was gone before she could see him groan and shake his head.

* * *

It was later than she thought by the time Bella pulled into Glacier Falls. Dinner would certainly be over by now. She almost steered the car toward her grandfather’s house and the warm familiarity she’d most certainly find there. But she wouldn’t find what she needed there.

It only took a few more minutes to get to the firehall. She had to park down the street and pick her way through the icy and snowy sidewalk toward the festivities. She could hear the music and laughter as soon as she stepped outside the car. It was a sound that made her both excited and terrified at the same time.

She knew that Papa would be happy to see her, at least until he learned that she’d blown off the gig that could have potentially been the catalyst to a huge career. He’d be disappointed to hear that. After all, she was supposed to be his shining star. The one that followed her dreams and made everything come true.

Bella swallowed down the lump of uncertainty.

She’d made the right decision. She knew that. She felt it.

After she’d left Kyle’s apartment, she’d gone home, showered, carefully done her hair and makeup, and slipped into the sexy dress. She looked amazing and, judging by their earlier rehearsals, she sounded amazing. It was all lining up to be a perfect night. The night that would launch their careers and secure them the record deal with Starshine Records. It was everything she’d always wanted.

But it wasn’t.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that it was wrong. All of it. It felt wrong. It wasn’t everything she’d ever wanted. The feeling had only grown stronger as she started to drive until she took the exit that led to the mountains and Glacier Falls. The minute she’d pointed her car in the right direction, the weight had started to lift.

Papa would be disappointed, that was certain. But Bella knew as soon as she explained her reasons to him, he’d understand. Besides, this was far from the end of her career. No matter what Kyle’s angry voicemails and text messages said. He was wrong about her. Always had been. And there was no way she would ever feel good about moving ahead with her career if it was any way linked with him. Those days were over.

Bella stood in front of the door to the firehall and took another deep breath. She had no idea what waited for her inside. Whether Jeremy would even speak to her, let alone forgive her for leaving the way she had. She wasn’t sure she could. But she hoped with her entire heart that he would.

And even if he didn’t, she needed to try. Bella was done hiding from what she really wanted. Papa had spoken to her about following her dreams and going after the thing she really wanted.

She wanted Jeremy. She had no idea what that looked like or even what it meant, but she wanted him with a ferocity inside that she couldn’t deny. It seemed impossible in such a short time, but she was falling for him. Heck, she’d already fallen for him.

With one last deep breath, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and pulled the door open.

* * *

Katie was right. Jeremy hated to admit it, but she’d been right. At least about one thing. After she’d left him alone in the kitchen, he’d wrapped up two more platters of leftovers before he’d had enough and left the rest of the mess in the kitchen for the others to handle. It was Christmas, after all, and even if it wasn’t going exactly the way he’d hoped it would, all of his friends were there and he was going to enjoy himself…even if it killed him.

He poured himself a drink and joined the rest of the group, who were passing out song books and singing along to the band who’d started up in the back of the hall.

Maybe it was because he’d most recently done it with Bella tucked up next to him on the sleigh ride a few days ago, but something about singing Christmas carols made him smile.

And that’s just what he was doing when “Away in a Manger” finished.

“See?” Katie elbowed him. “There’s that smile. That’s all I wanted to see.”

Jeremy turned around so he could face all his friends. “Here it is.” He grinned widely for them all and raised his glass. “Merry Christmas, everyone. I’m really glad you are all—”

“Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.”

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