Page 62 of The Meaning in Mistletoe
As thoughts of Fern flooded her mind, Kat’s grip on the steering wheel relaxed. She looked forward to seeing the woman who always knew exactly what to say. Although, Kat suspected her soothing words may have more to do with the love behind them than the words themselves.
Fern’s greeting when she arrived—an enveloping hug and heaping plate of Milagros—instantly calmed her troubled heart.
Kat may not be home anymore, but she was definitely with family.
“How was the drive, mija? Are you hungry? I have tamales. Or I can heat up a bowl of posole?”
“The cookies are perfect, thank you.” As Kat shrugged out of her coat, her hand flew to her throat. “My scarf! I must have dropped it somewhere.”
Her mind flashed to the first afternoon she’d met Jack, and her chest suddenly ached.
“Oh, that reminds me.” Fern scurried to the table in the entryway and returned with a brown shopping bag with a telltale red ribbon on the handle.
Clara Holland had opened The Red Ribbon Gift Shoppe in honor of her late grandmother, who always wrapped her presents with a shiny red ribbon. The store quickly became Starcross Cove’s go-to spot for special, one-of-a-kind gifts.
As Kat settled on the couch, Fern handed her the bag, a delighted smile on her lips.
“But you already sent me my Christmas present,” Kat reminded her. “The perfume.”
“This isn’t from me.” Fern settled on the armchair by the fireplace, her eyes twinkling.
“Then who is it from?”
“I don’t know. Clara said she got a call from a gentleman this afternoon looking for a very specific item. When she told him she had it, he paid for it over the phone and asked if he could pay extra to have it delivered.”
Her heart racing, Kat reached for the bow. “He didn’t leave a message?”
“He gave Clara his name with his credit card, but said you wouldn’t need it.”
“How strange….” Her heart soared with hope as she tugged the end of the ribbon and it slipped to the floor.
The second she glimpsed the gift nestled in red tissue paper, tears sprang to her eyes.
“What is it?” Fern asked, leaning forward.
Kat lifted the beautiful, feather-soft scarf from the bag and brought it to her cheek, nuzzling the silky fabric.
The plaid pattern—so synonymous with the gift’s sender—couldn’t have been more perfect.
“You’re glowing.” Fern smiled as Kat wrapped the scarf around her neck. “It must be from someone pretty special.”
“It is. And I can’t wait to tell you all about him.”
Chapter 29
As Kat kneeled before the dusty leather trunk, she toyed with the fringe of her scarf.
She knew she’d come back to Hope Hideaway for this very reason, but she still couldn’t bring herself to open it.
The creaking of the attic steps drew her attention to the narrow doorway. Fern emerged carrying two mugs of hot chocolate. “I thought it would be chilly up here.”
Kat smiled, recognizing the excuse to lend moral support. She gratefully accepted the offering, taking a languid sip as Fern eased herself onto a worn armchair in need of new upholstery.
After setting the mug on the scuffed hardwood, Kat flipped open the brass latch. She held her breath as she slowly eased open the lid, scattering specks of dust.
When her gaze fell on the first item resting on top, a small gasp escaped. “Is that…?” Her question trailed off as she caressed the smooth cotton, her fingertips traveling to the name embroidered along the edge in pink thread.
Katherine.
