Page 47 of A Taste of Christmas Magic

Jessica didn’t laugh. She took the book from Chloe using the tips of her fingers like it was hot.

“But I made the same entrée for hundreds of people, and I don’t have masses banging on my door for dates so…” she drawled out, but Jessica kept baking, her expression intent, inward.

Four hours later, Chloe had packaged up the gift plates of cookies for the high school staff and the tins of cookies for her holiday parties. She stifled a yawn and helped Jessica store the cookies for the open house. No one had tried the mulled wine, and Sarah who had an early start had been the first to escape. Meghan had brought an overnight bag and had already claimed a bedroom.

“You can stay the night here if you’re too tired,” Jessica offered as Chloe slipped into her puffer coat to take her first load to her car. “Meghan’s already crashed. She’s been staying here more and more. It’s been nice to have her here.” Jessica looked hopeful.

“No, I’ve got to get an early start tomorrow,” Chloe demurred even though she had an overnight duffel in her car. She loved spending time with Jessica, but tonight had felt like a high-wire act. They wereoff, so even though Chloe had a guest ensuite that she and Jessica had decorated for her in the rambling house, she wanted to go home.

Chloe took out her first load and returned for the second but Jessica, coatless, was already there carrying the rest.

“Chloe, be careful,” Jessica urged.

“I’ve driven this road hundreds of times.”

“No, I mean with Rustin. He’s not. I… Darn it, I already ruined tonight, and I’m sorry.”

“What?” She’d never heard Jessica admit fault before.

“Chloe, I’m so sorry. I thought it was done, over. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I’ve been… Oh I can’t even explain. Never mind. Forget it.”

Wrapping her arms around herself, Jessica ran back toward the house. Chloe sprinted after her, leaving the hatch of her car open.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Chloe pulled Jessica’s stiff, slender body into a hard hug. She couldn’t stand that Jessica was hurting. “You’ve been off all night.”

Chloe’s heart thumped heavily and not from the dash up the path and stairs to the house.

“I’m so confused.” Jessica’s voice broke, and she edged backward into the house.

“About what?” Chloe propelled Jessica toward a chair by the island and poured her a mug of the mulled wine they’d ignored earlier. “Take a gulp. Tell me what’s wrong.”

“Alcohol isn’t going to fix this.” However, Jessica glugged some wine and held out the mug for more. She half giggled and sobbed. “Damn, even your mulled wine recipe tastes magic. I’ve been such an idiot.”

“What? Why?” Chloe felt as if she’d stumbled into the wrong theater rehearsal space and didn’t recognize the scene or play.

“I love Rustin!” Jessica wailed.

“What?” In the process of dolling out more mulled wine, Chloe dropped the mug into the wine, and warm, fragrant liquid sloshed onto her hand.

Her entire body went cold. Stiff. Time-tunneled. “But you…you…” She had no idea what to say. Jessica had only expressed suspicion and contempt toward Rustin.

“I loved him in high school.”

Chloe stared at Jessica, trying to make sense of the words. Jessica had dated John Randall, the homecoming king and quarterback. Of course, she had.

“We loved each other.”

Chloe staggered back.

No. It was impossible.

“Rustin was… He was so…everything,” Jessica breathed out. “So wild and romantic and intense and beautiful, and he made me feel alive and like I could do anything. I used to sneak out to meet him. Lie and skip class to meet him. He was my first. My everything. He wanted us to run away together.”

As Jessica spoke, Chloe backed up with each shocking admission until she hit the kitchen wall. Her knees gave out inch by inch, and she slid to the floor.

“I loved him. But I hated him too. He terrified me. He was so…so…everything I wasn’t. What would Mama and Daddy do if they knew about Rustin? What if my friends found out? Mama and Daddy’s friends? I’d lose my reputation. My social standing. My family’s respect.”

“But you loved him?” Chloe whispered, still not quite able to believe she hadn’t once guessed.

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