Page 46 of The Christmas Cottage
They stepped out of the back room, intent on making a beeline to Mabel—but a moment later saw that she was standing next to the prize table, deep in conversation and laughing with George.
Vanessa and Jackson looked at each other, sharing a conspiratorial look before both breaking into giggles.
“What do you say we try that cookie decorating again, first?” Jackson asked with a grin, tapping Vanessa on the nose, right where the frosting had been a little while ago. “Let’s see if you can top the creation you made last time.”
“That was an abomination of a cookie,” she said with a laugh. “But you’re right. Let’s go. We’ll play a few more games and then go tell my grandmother.”
Together, hand in hand, they headed back to the cookie-decorating station. And Vanessa thought that she had never, in her entire life, been happier.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Jackson ordered a Christmas ale as he slid into a booth at the Mapleside Tavern, tucking his leather jacket into the corner of it as he sat down. He checked his watch—Vanessa would be there any moment, and he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.
He was overjoyed that she’d decided to stay in Fir Tree Grove. Since the moment he’d met her, he thought, he’d felt that there was something there between them. Something that could bemore, and something that he’d very much wanted to explore.
Now that Vanessa had decided to stay, they could do exactly that, and he couldn’t be happier. He loved the fact that he didn't have to think about her leaving any longer. Now their time together could be an exploration of what could happen in the future, without the ticking clock of the deadline of her going home hanging over them.
But it was also the first time he’d embarked on a relationship in averylong time, and he was more than a little nervous. They were good nerves though, he decided, as the waitress dropped off a beer and a water for him and he glanced over the menu. This was something new and exciting, and he couldn’t wait to see where it would lead.
He was also excited about the news that he had for her. He had a special surprise that he knew she would be over the moon about, and he couldn't wait to see the look on her face when he told her about it.
The door to the tavern opened, and Jackson looked up to see Vanessa walking in. She was wearing a dark green wrap dress and tall black boots, her hair in thick auburn curls around her shoulders. A bright smile appeared on her face the moment she saw him, and she quickly walked over to the booth where he was waiting for her.
“I’ll also have the Christmas ale and a water,” Vanessa said to the waitress as she slid into the booth.
Happiness flooded Jackson as he looked at her, and he couldn’t help but feel that this was almost too good to be true. His only Christmas wish would have been that she would decide to stay, and now that was exactly what had happened.
“Hey, you,” she added, smiling at him as she settled in. “I’m starving. I’m so glad you asked to get dinner tonight. I was just thinking earlier that I wanted to go out. Mabel was tired today, so I knew she wasn’t up for dinner, and I wasn’t really in the mood to just stay at the B&B and order in.”
“I wanted to see you. And I wanted to ask—you’re sure about staying? You haven’t changed your mind?”
Jackson couldn’t help asking the question. It felt so good to hear her talk about her grandmother and her plans like they were a day-to-day routine, but he also wasn’t sure if she’d started looking for a place of her own yet, or what plans she reallyhadmade. He couldn’t help but be a little nervous that she’d think back to the offer Russell had made, and find out if it was still on the table.
Vanessa reached across and squeezed his hand.
“I couldn’t be more sure,” she promised him. “I’m definitely staying. I need to figure out where I’m going to live—if I wantto see about an apartment or look into buying a house, and I’m going to have to think about my job situation. Mabel won’t need my help at the store once her hand heals, so I’ll have to figure out what I’m going to do. But I’m not worried about it. I have plenty of savings, and honestly…”
She smiled at Jackson, her hand still wrapped around his. “Imogen and Mabel have both showed me that it’s better to enjoy the journey, rather than missing out because I always want to over plan. So I’m just taking it one day at a time. It will all work out, I feel sure of it.”
Jackson grinned. “Speaking of Imogen, I have a surprise for you.”
Vanessa looked at him curiously. “What is it?”
“That toy that you were trying to find for Katie? The unicorn toy?” He beamed at her. “I found it. Already ordered it and everything, it’ll be here in just a few days. I had it shipped to Mabel’s shop.”
Vanessa’s eyes went wide. “Oh my gosh, Jackson! I had no idea you were even looking. I—that’s amazing! Thank you so much!” She could feel herself practically vibrating with excitement. “I’d all but given up on finding it.”
“I know.” He could feel the smile on his own face tugging at the edges of his mouth, so wide that his cheeks were starting to hurt. “But I kept looking. All so I could see that Christmas glow in your eyes.” Jackson brushed his thumb over the back of her knuckles. “It’s a big change, you know. When you first got here, you couldn’t care less about any of this. Christmas included. But now, you’re lit up like one of the town displays.”
Vanessa laughed. “Being here has really made me feel differently about all of it,” she admitted. “I closed myself off for a long time because of what happened to my parents. I didn’t want to feel anything at all. But this place, and the people here—you, and my grandmother, and Imogen, and little Katie… you’ve allopened my heart to what’s really important. I have family here now, and friendship… and I want to just enjoy the moment.”
She looked at him, a bit shyly, and felt a blush stain her cheeks. “I can’t wait to see where it all leads.”
Jackson reached out with his other hand, gently stroking her cheek as he smiled at her, his heart full of so much happiness that he thought it might burst.
“Merry Christmas, Vanessa,” he said, and she leaned into his touch.
“Merry Christmas, Jackson.”
