Page 27 of A Cozy Kind of Christmas
Probably a bit of both.
They scooted their chairs closer, leaning in like no time had passed.
Sure, they texted at least a couple of times a week and would often do monthly video chats to really catch up, but it wasn’t the same as being together in person. Nothing compared with this. To being here, face-to-face in the same room.
Across the bar, Owen got caught up in a discussion about the superiority of Irish beers with the bartender as Jill and Meg made up for lost time, diving into the kind of catch-up that could only happen in person. Their conversation was fast and overlapping, full of laughter.
It felt like home.
Meg gave Jill a condensed version of everything that had happened since theNYTpiece hit. “It’s been great, you know. A dream, really, but also, I just don’t know what I want next.”
Jill nodded. “I get it. We’re entering a new chapter.”
“Yep, sadly, it’s true.” Meg sighed and changed the subject, not wanting worries about her future to drag her out of the moment. “Okay, now you. Tell me every juicy, delicious detail about your hunky Irishman. Are you sure he doesn’t have a twin hiding somewhere in County Cork? Because you seriously won the love lottery. He’s so romantic and such a charmer. Those pics you sent of the art studio he built you? Swoon!”
Jill glanced in Owen’s direction, a soft smile making her face look lighter. “Yeah, it’s true. He’s a magician with his hands.”
“Oh,really?” Meg dragged out the words, fanning her face theatrically. “Say more? What else does he do with his hands?”
Color crept up Jill’s cheeks. “Stop. You’re making me blush.” She shifted gears. “I mean his actual handiwork—the portable art studio. It’s incredible.” She showed Meg more pictures on her phone. “We’re planning a trip down the coast to visit my parents in the Bay Area before we head back to Italy.”
Meg grinned. She wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily and she was happy for a distraction from her own thoughts. “Yeah, sure, we’re talking strictlyfunctionalhandiwork with those big Irish mitts.”
Jill rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered.
Meg never would have pegged Jill as a true vagabond, but she seemed to embrace being a citizen of the world. Owen had finished his artist residency in Italy, and they’d recently been talking about where they wanted to go next.
“Part of this trip is to see what he thinks of the West Coast, Meg.” There was a touch of wistfulness in Jill’s voice. “Wouldn’t it be cool if we ended up back here?”
“In Bend?” Meg gulped. Her eyes drifted across the room again, like a detective on a stakeout ready to spring into action to guard her heart the second Matt arrived.
“No, but maybe San Francisco.” Jill shook her head, stealing another glance toward the bar. “There might be an opportunity for me to teach at the San Francisco School of Art. It’s still in the works, but my parents found us a live-work space where we could both do our art and not have to worry about insane rent prices.”
“Oh my God, Jill. That would be awesome.”
“I know, right?” Jill bit her bottom lip. “But don’t say anything yet. It’s not a sure thing. I have to convince Owen, though. It’s not super easy to get an extended visa in America, you know.”
“There’s one easy way you could get around that minor detail.” Meg winked and tapped her ring finger. “I’d love to be your maid of honor.”
“Yeah, but marriage. That’s a big step. And I don’t think Owen’s the marrying type.”
“You two have been shacking it up for years. What’s the difference?”
“I don’t know. Marriage. It’s just, well, there’s a lot we should discuss.” Jill stopped as Owen approached, balancing a tray of pub snacks and beer menus.
Meg returned his smile, but then her mouth quickly fell.
Two people followed behind him: a stunning woman with long red curls. Her matching bright red dress was losing the battle at containing her ample cleavage. She flipped her hair to one side and giggled, her lilting laughter sending heads turning. Meg had never met the woman but knew instantly who she was—Lucinda Hinton, Matt’s girlfriend.
It only took her brain a second to confirm it because right behind Lucinda was none other than the first big love of her life. Matt Parker.
SIXTEEN
JILL
Seeing Meg again brought a swell of memories rushing forward. She looked good, happy, content, the same as the girl she’d met so many years ago in school, and yet different—wiser, like she’d centered more into herself.
Could Jill say the same?
