Page 81 of All I Want For Christmas Is You

Did she seem a little…too enthusiastic? “Well, that’s good, right?”

“It’s fantastic. With everything that’s happened this year, I knew I couldn’t go back to the style of music I used to write. So, then, it was like, how do I reinvent myself? But now, I think I’ve got my mojo back.” She paused to ask, “I assume you know the whole story?”

“I know bits and pieces.”

“Impossible not to. The best part of being in the woods was having spotty Wi-Fi. But I met this guy—”

“You’ve been out in public?”

“No.” She smiled. “Crazy story. My manager booked the cabin, but I went to the wrong one. I had no idea until the owner showed up…” A pink blush spread across her cheeks. “Anyway, he had to reinvent himself, too, and it made me realize I just have to go for it. I have to own what happened to me and create a new path forward, and I can’t do that when I’m hiding out and avoiding the press.” She lifted her guitar. “So, I’m writing the next album.”

While Margot was rooting for her, something seemed off. Like maybe she was forcing herself to move on, skim over the unshakable pain of betrayal. Setting her tea on top of the dresser, she came over and sat on the mattress. “You know, it’s okay to hurt. It’s okay to be lost. There’s no timeline for healing.”

Briefly, Lorelei’s eyes closed. “I’m not the only woman in the world whose boyfriend cheated on her.”

“No, but you had a triple whammy with your mom and best friend, too, so I think it’s fair to say it’s been an unusually tough year for you.” She stood. “I know you don’t know me well, but I’ve got a boneheaded ex, too. So, if you ever need to talk, I’m here for you. I’ll let you get back to it.” She headed to the door. “Let me know if you want something to eat.”

“I should probably have something.” But she didn’t get up.

Margot sensed the singer didn’t want her to leave. Does she have anyone to talk to? She’d share a little of her story and see if it helped. “You know, when I found out my ex had cheated, it pulled the rug right out from under me. The reality I thought I was living turned out to be a lie. And it took me a while to find my footing.”

“How did you do it? Because I look at you, and I can’t believe you’ve been through anything like this. You’re so…stable.” She laughed, gesturing to the crumpled notes. “I’m a hot mess.”

“No, you’re really not. You’re working through it the best way you know how: through music. But it was pretty simple for me. I wanted to be happy again, and I was willing to do the hard work to get here.” Including taking a risk on a man I met less than a week ago.

“I want to be happy, too.” Lorelei’s voice held the barest whisper of hope.

“What will it take for you to get there?”

“I want to know why they did it. I want to know how they could be so two-faced. I feel like I can’t move on until I find out.”

“Well, there’s really only one answer to that.”

Lorelei stilled as if she was about to get the answer from the gods themselves.

“Because they wanted to. They wanted to be with each other more than they cared about their relationships with you.” She knew that answer wouldn’t help right now. But soon, it would. “Look, I’ve been there. I’ve been stuck in the rut of trying to figure out the unanswerable questions. Why did he cheat? Didn’t he love me? How was I lacking? How was the other woman better for him? All I can tell you is it’s an endless loop of misery. And like I said, I wanted to be happy. I wanted to love again. And the only way to get there was to figure out my side of the relationship since I’ll never understand his.”

“And did you? Figure that out?”

Margot nodded, very willing to share her story. “I was a stay-at-home mom, and while I loved every minute of it, I put myself last on the list of priorities. My needs were so unimportant, I didn’t even acknowledge them. And come on, if I met all his needs, if I prioritized them, what message did he get?”

“That his needs mattered most.”

“Exactly. If I’d said, ‘No, you can’t go golfing this weekend because I’m going to an artist retreat,’ he would have seen me differently. He would’ve had to accommodate my needs. What he did is inexcusable, but I’m not going to spend my life being angry and bitter. If I work on me, I’ll be a better person, and that means I’ll have a better relationship and a better life.”

“I really like that. Thanks for talking to me.”

“You’re welcome. Any time.” She smiled warmly. You know what? She’s been all alone in a cabin. She needs someone to take care of her. “How about I make you some lunch?”

“Oh, you don’t have to cook for me.”

“I don’t mind at all. Come on out when you’re ready.” Grabbing her mug, Margot left the room. She headed to the kitchen, concerned about the wild look in Lorelei’s eyes. It brought her back to those horrible days when she couldn’t manage to take a full breath without it hurting.

She didn’t know what the singer liked to eat, but she figured she couldn’t go wrong with scrambled eggs and toast. She pulled out a carton of eggs and a block of cheddar cheese. “What else?” She eyed the spinach in the vegetable drawer and thought about Lorelei’s pale pallor. She’d throw a little in and get some iron into her body.

By the time she’d plated the food, Lorelei had come in. Her hair was wet, her cheeks scrubbed clean, and her skin was pink. “I’m starving.” She sat on a barstool at the island and dug in. “Yum. This is delicious. I haven’t had real food since I left my dad’s house.”

“What did you eat in the cabin?”

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