Page 69 of A Cozy Kind of Christmas
Meg and Jill spent the next hour chatting about babies—names, maternity attire, books, and everything in between. Jill seemed calmer and more “present, ” as Gam would say, when she left to get ready for the party. Meg wrapped her in the tightest hug and whispered. “You’ve got this, and I will be by your side every step.”
“Thanks.” Jill kissed her cheek. “You’re the best. See you at the party.”
Meg’s thoughts went wild while she showered and changed. Matt’s letter proved once and for all that they were star-crossed lovers. It was too late. He was with Lucinda now.
Regret couldn’t change their fate now.
She had to let him go.
She ignored the crushing in her chest and focused on getting ready. She opted for a simple A-line black-and-green plaid dress with a flared skirt. She curled her hair in funky waves and added extra lip gloss and a shimmery green eye shadow.
A loud bang on her door startled her as she tugged on thick-ribbed black tights. She opened it to find Owen on her doorstep, flushed, snowflakes melting in his hair, and a look of utter desperation and determination on his rugged face.
“Meg, I need your help.”
“Yeah, well, I need some answers.” She scowled, not ready to trust him. A cold breeze sent a shiver down her spine as she glared at him. “You take off, leaving Jill hanging, vanishing without a word, and now you show up like nothing happened. I’m not impressed, Owen. Not at all.”
“Look, I know it seems bad that I took off. But I swear I’m not bailing. I have a plan.” He held up a cream envelope with Jill’s name written in brown calligraphy. “I’ve been trying to plant clues for weeks, months. She’s not picking up on them, and I really need your help.”
“Clues?” Meg asked.
He nodded. “I just need you to give her this. Before the party. Tell her to look closely at the Christmas letters. There’s a message hidden in them.”
“Christmas letters?” Meg was having a hard time tracking. “What kind of message?”
“You’ll see. You’re the one who’s always cracking puzzles, right?” He gave her a faint, coy smile. “Just help her look. Please?”
“Crack the code? I don’t understand.”
“Just give her the letter and make sure she gets to the party, okay?” Owen thrust the letter in her hands and turned around, already taking a step off the porch. “I’ll see you there.”
Meg stared at the letter as he ran off into the fading light. The last hues of dusk bled across the purple sky. Glowing lanterns lit the pathway to the lodge, their warm light dancing off the icy ground like fireflies.
Smoke drifted lazily from the lodge in the distance, curling and vanishing in the air. Every cabin was dusted in a fluffy layer of freshly fallen snow. It looked like something out of a storybook.
But the letter in her hand tugged her back to reality.
Something was happening.
Something big.
Meg hurried back inside, finished getting ready, and headed straight for Jill’s cabin with the letter tucked safely underneath her arm.
At the cabin, Jill greeted her, looking more like her old self. She had showered and changed. Her hair was glossy and tied in a high ponytail, accenting her strong jawline. She wore an emerald green knee-length dress and dangling green earrings.
“Hey, we fit the brief for forest formal, don’t we?” Jill asked, taking a little twirl.
“You look great. You’re practically glowing.” Meg winked. “I wonder why?”
Jill rolled her eyes.
“Have you seen Owen?” Meg asked, glancing around the cabin, half expecting him to be camped out on the couch.
A flicker of sadness washed over Jill. “Nope. Not a word.”
Meg pulled the envelope out and held it for Jill to see. “He stopped by my cabin and asked me to give you this.”
“What is it?” Jill stepped back like she was afraid to touch it. “Is he breaking up with me by letter?”
