Page 67 of A Cozy Kind of Christmas
Jill had tea last night, too.
How many other signs had she missed?
Emotion welled up inside, spilling out in happy tears. She fanned her face. “Come on, out with it. I need every detail.”
“Every detail?” A slight blush crept up Jill’s cheeks as she picked up her tea and cradled it in her hands. “It wasn’t planned. It just happened one night. Too much Prosecco and a sky of stars. It was so romantic.” Her voice caught. “But now, I don’t know, everything just sort of fell apart. It’s my fault. Owen had a rough childhood. I’ve told you some of it, and he’s terrified of being a dysfunctional dad. He was nothing but clear from the day we met that he didn’t want a traditional life.”
“Define traditional.” Meg scrunched her forehead, trying to get a read on her friend. She couldn’t imagine Owen bolting or not being over the moon that Jill was pregnant.
“My parents offered us a place in San Francisco when they learned that the School of Art offered me the job. They don’t know about the baby yet, but I’ve been feeling restless for a while.” She paused to take a sip of her tea. “I’m ready to come home and put down some roots. I knew Owen wouldn’t be happy about the idea. Things are complicated with my folks—you know what they’re like.”
Meg nodded, her gaze briefly drifting to the window where snow fell softly outside, blanketing everything in a soft white. The fireplace crackled, casting shadows on the hearth, but Meg’s mind was somewhere else.
She hadn’t meant to dominate the conversation with her own baggage.
Jill had her own family issues. Meg knew that, and yet, she’d been spiraling about Pops again, like everyone and everything in the world revolved around her grief and drama.
It wasn’t fair.
Meg had done enough work on herself over the last few years to know better.
Jill always showed up for her. She would do the same.
She glanced back to her friend, a wave of guilt and affection rising in her throat.
“I’ve been waiting for the right time to bring it up, and then I found out I was pregnant before this trip.” Jill set the tea down and clasped her hands on her lap. “I finally worked up the courage to tell him this afternoon, and he took off. He didn’t even freak out. It was like he went totally neutral and detached, like he was having an out-of-body experience or something.”
“He just left?” Meg couldn’t reconcile the interactions she’d witnessed between Jill and Owen. “He didn’t say anything?”
“Not really,” Jill said quietly, like she didn’t quite believe it either. “He just said he had to go, and he bolted. He was already upset because I brought up the idea of moving to San Francisco last night. I guess it was too much at once.”
“I don’t know, Jill. I’m not trying to defend Owen, and let me just say that I have your back like one thousand percent, but that doesn’t sound like him, even if he’s scared about being a dad. He’s absolutely in love with you. There must be another explanation.”
“What?” Jill narrowed her eyes. “Trust me, I want to believe that, too, but if your partner of seven years told you she was pregnant, would your first reaction be to bolt?”
“No.” Meg shook her head. She couldn’t argue with that. “No, you’re right. It wouldn’t.”
“I’ve already made up my mind. I’m going to take my parents up on their offer of the loft—I can convert it into a work-life space with a studio for my art. It’s kind of the perfect setup, minus not seeing myself as a single parent.”
Meg picked up on the sadness and fear in Jill’s tone. She sat down again and rested her hand on Jill’s knee. “Listen to me. You’re not doing this alone. I am here for you and the baby. Hey, who knows? Maybe it’s time for me to make a big move, too. SanFrancisco could be a good place to land. Finally write my novel and dote on you and little Jilly,” she teased, hoping to lighten the mood a little.
“We don’t know if it’s a girl or not.”
“Little Jack?” Meg bit her lip and shot Jill a grin. “Jack and Jill could be cute, yeah?”
“Nope. Hard pass.” Jill chuckled, a slight hint of color returning to her cheeks.
“Okay, but seriously. I’mall infor anything you need.” She closed her eyes and centered her hands on her chest the way Gam had taught her, calling in the energy. “You’re going to make the most amazing mom. Can you imagine the art projects and how much fun this baby is going to have? I’m already thinking pink baby clothes—if it’s a girl—and the adorable tiny shoes.”
Jill’s face lightened a bit.
Meg was determined to support her friend and find out why Owen had freaked out. She didn’t say more to Jill, but she was confident he had to have a good excuse.
FORTY-FOUR
JOHANNA
Connor paced the living room, his boots scuffing the hardwood floors and sliding on the thick rug. Snow fell in heavy clumps out the bay window overlooking the grounds, which were blanketed in inches of new snow. It should have felt peaceful and idyllic—the ultimate romantic Christmas getaway. But instead, it felt like a blizzard of tension was swirling between them.
