Page 74 of A Cozy Kind of Christmas
What if Johanna and Jill were right?
Was the impending engagement just that—a corporate merger? A way to strengthen the company’s position after Lucinda’s dad stepped down?
What if she read the situation wrong?
What if this was her last chance to be honest with Matt about her feelings?
Emphasis on “last.”
Matt thought she was brave before.
But could she do it?
Could she tell him she was still in love with him?
“Shall we get a drink?” Lucinda looped her arm through Meg’s and dragged her toward the bar. “I need a shot of something strong to get through tonight.”
“Are you nervous?” Meg asked, glancing at the drink menu. The holiday theme continued with brandy Alexanders—Matt’s favorite creamy winter drink made with rich vanilla malted ice cream and blended with brandy. The classics were all featured as well—hot chocolate with peppermint schnapps and peppermint whipped cream, cranberry mules, hot buttered rum, and cider mulled with warming spices.
“Do I look nervous?” Lucinda asked, holding out quivering hands for Meg. But she didn’t wait for a response. “I’ll take a hot butter rum with an extra shot,” she said to the bartender. “No, actually, make that a triple.” She shot Meg an impish grin. “Better to be a little buzzed, yeah?”
“I’ll take a winter solstice ale,” Meg said to the bartender before assuring Lucinda that she looked fine. “Why are you so nervous? Shouldn’t this be the most exciting night of your life?”If Matt was about to propose to her, she didn’t think she’d need a drink—or three—to get her nerves in check.
“Way to reframe it for me,” Lucinda said, holding her glass up in a toast. “That’s such a better perspective. Tonight is certainly going to change my future forever. I wish I were as brave as you, but nope, I’m riddled with anxiety. I have no idea how he’s going to react. I’ve tried to prepare for every possible scenario, but there’s just no way to know how this is going to go.”
Lucinda sounded tepid at best. Measured. Careful. Nervous.
What was going on? Was she having second thoughts?
Or was she hinting that maybe she knew Matt had had a change of heart?
Meg’s stomach fluttered with a glimmer of hope.
Was this her in? Her chance?
Meg would never intentionally sabotage someone else’s relationship. She didn’t need that kind of karma.
But was Matt and Lucinda’s love story one for the ages? The way Lucinda was talking, their relationship seemed more like a mutually beneficial merger. She suddenly wasn’t convinced that their connection was anything more than a strategic business move.
Not at all like the fiery friendship she and Matt once shared.
Lucinda raised her glass. “To new friends and a new decade.”
They clinked their glasses together.
Meg forced a smile, but she wasn’t sure if it was a toast or a warning.
FORTY-EIGHT
JILL
Jill read and reread Owen’s letters. This couldn’t be real.
He wanted to marry her?
He’d wanted to marry her from their very Christmas together?
But why the resistance to moving to San Francisco?
