The Meaning in Mistletoe - Rachael Bloome Page 0,57
fell at his father’s admission, and it took every ounce of strength to stay positive. Look for the good….
“You may not believe this,” Rich continued, his voice hoarse, “but you’re still my son, and I love you. My greatest regret is losing you and letting my arrogance prevent me from fixing my mistakes. Having you here last night made me realize how wrong I’ve been. And how much time I’ve thrown away.”
Jack stared, dumbfounded. He’d never heard his dad apologize. Or speak so freely about his feelings.
“Tell me what I can do to make it right.”
Jack hesitated. He’d waited most of his life to hear his father say those words. And during the countless times he’d played out the conversation in his mind, he’d had plenty to say in return.
But now, standing before the man who’d caused him so much pain, Jack had no desire to lash out. Or make his father grovel. “I’m sorry I’ve been so stubborn. We should’ve had this conversation years ago.”
“What changed?” Rich asked. “Or let me guess… a certain beguiling redhead with pipes like Judy Garland?”
Jack grinned. “Something like that.”
“This time,” Rich said with an air of humility. “I’ll simply tell you my advice. Don’t let this one get away.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
The entire drive back to Hope Hideaway, Kat thought of Jack. She wanted to call and ask if he’d spoken with his father and if he wanted to talk about it. But she wasn’t sure what to say when he inevitably asked about her return.
She didn’t have a plan.
Kat knew two things: She needed to look through Helena’s hope chest—a task she’d been avoiding since her mother passed away. And she needed to help Fern find a way to save the shelter.
Penny, bless her heart, had offered the tiny nest egg she and Colt had been saving to buy a house. But Kat couldn’t accept. She had to believe God would provide another way—a miracle, as Fern put it.
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