Page 76 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage
“We’ve been waiting for this day for years!” his dad said, clapping him on his back.
Coffee sloshed over the side of Jonah’s mug, landing with a splash on the floor. He set it on the counter and washed his hands in the sink.
“Why would we be mad?” his mother asked, clutching his arm.
“Because I don’t want to take over the clinic from Dad.” He reached for a towel and dried his hands before tossing it next to the sink. “Because I spent so much time in med school and years in the Army, and I want to throw it all away. And if I don’t take over the clinic, it’ll break Dad’s heart.”
“First of all,” his dad said as he put an arm on Jonah’s shoulder, “you’ve taken a lot of this on yourself. I wish you would have come and talked to me sooner. It wasn’t the plan, but Nova Lake’s doing an exceptional job, and everyone loves her. I can see if she’d be interested in buying me out.”
Jonah’s mom patted his hand. “It doesn’t sound like you’re really happy practicing anymore, honey. We’ve thought this for a while. You always sound so tired when we FaceTime, but you’ve never said anything.”
Jonah’s head snapped to Holland, who may have been sitting across the room on the couch but would be hearing every word. She held her hands up as if to sayI didn’t tell them anything.Or maybe it was more of anI told you so.
“I’ve been doing it because I thought that was the plan for my life. I thought that’s what you guys wanted, and I went into the Army because that’s what Grandpa did, and it seemed like the easiest way to get through med school without a ton of debt.”
“You’ve been in the Army for thirteen years, and you’rejustnowtelling everyone that it isn’t what you want?” Holland yelled across the room.
“Holland, stop it,” his dad reprimanded. “Jonah, we apologize that you ever felt pressured into this.” His dad rubbed a hand over the two-day-old scruff on his face. “We only wanted to support your dreams, and we thought this was what you wanted. In my fifty-seven years of life, I’ve learned that a man’s plan rarely succeeds unless it’s blessed by the Lord. You need to pray about this, son, and if you feel peace about a particular path, you shouldn’t let anyone talk you out of it.”
“So, I guess that solves that problem. You’re not reenlisting, and you’re coming home, and you’re going to support all of our book habits because you’re going to open a bookstore.” Holland perched on the arm of the wingback chair.
“Holland!” His mother shot a look in Holland’s direction, but from the smile covering her face, Jonah knew his mom liked his sister’s idea.
Holland just shrugged. “What? That’s what Jesus just told me Jonah needs to do.”
Jonah laughed. “Well, I might open a bookstore. Oliver mentioned it was for sale, and I saw it last week, still sitting vacant, and it just clicked that it’s what I want to do. I’m not even sure of any of the logistics.” He felt lighter than he had in days. The overwhelming urge to find Bronte and tell her about his decision almost made him pop up from his seat to go find her, but then he remembered she’d gone back to Tulsa.
“I’m so excited I feel like I’m about to burst.” His mom put her coffee mug on the counter and grabbed his dad’s sleeve. “George, let’s call Bob and Lucinda and see what we can find out about the old bookstore. I don’t think they sold it when they left.” After a hug, his mom dashed out of the room, his dad following close behind.
And Jonah was left by himself in the kitchen. He shuffled to the couch and sat next to Holland. He stared at the carnage of Christmas, still left after three days. Jonah was really surprised Holland and his mom hadn’t gone feral on the mess and cleaned it up.
Holland opened her mouth to say something, but Jonah cut her off. “Do not say ‘I told you so.’”
“I wasn’t going to even mention that,” Holland said. Her bottom lip stuck out in a pout before curling up in a wicked smile. “I want to talk about the other thing that’s bothering you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Mm. A certain gorgeous writer who mysteriously snuck out a few days ago?” Holland took a drink of her coffee, and Jonah realized he’d left his on the kitchen table. He should get up and get it. “Drink mine.” Holland, as if reading his thoughts, pushed her mug toward him. “You aren’t getting out of this conversation, big bro.”
“There isn’t anything to talk about.”
Holland rolled her eyes. “Heard that one before, and it was a lie the first time you said it too. Jonah, you fell in love. Are you just going to let that get away?”
“What do you want me to say? That I met the love of my life and somehow completely screwed it up?” Jonah would throw up his hands, but then Holland’s coffee would fly everywhere, and she’d lecture him not only about making a mess but also wasting perfectly good coffee.
“You’re full of mess-ups today, aren’t you?” Holland patted his leg, taking her cup of coffee back and lifting it to drink.
“Haha, Holland.” Jonah wasn’t laughing.
Holland shrugged. “I’m just pointing out the obvious.”
“Thanks for that.” Jonah let his head fall onto the back of the couch. “I know Bronte and I didn’t know each other for long but, Holland, she was amazing. Funny?—”
“Yeah, yeah, you’ve already told me all this, but the fact still remains that she can’t have kids.”
“Right.” But the hole in Jonah’s heart was Bronte-shaped, and while not having a big family hurt, he was beginning to realize that not having her in his life hurt even more.
“Aaaaand?” Holland drew out the word.
