The Meaning in Mistletoe - Rachael Bloome Page 0,64
wrong. “What did you say?”
“I already told Dad to look for my replacement.”
“Seriously?”
“Staging houses is fun and all, but decorating a historic inn would be an exciting challenge. Kat says she wants it to have modern comfort while also remaining true to the original architecture with period-appropriate whimsy and charm. Honestly, the job is a dream come true.”
As Jack listened to his sister, a lump formed in his throat.
She may not realize it, but her dream wasn’t the only one coming true.
After the ceremony, the town square buzzed with merriment as wedding guests mingled with carnival goers. Lighthearted games and lively music paired with the tantalizing aroma of candied chestnuts and spiced apple cider to create a magical winter wonderland.
Basking in their newlywed glow, Penny and Colt disappeared in the crowd of well-wishers, and Lucy scampered off to greet old friends. For a moment, Kat felt as if she and Jack were the only two people in the world.
Her heart full, she leaned against him, enjoying the weight of his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
“I have to hand it to Mayor Burns,” Jack said with a bemused chuckle. “The Christmas Carnival wasn’t the worst idea, after all.”
Kat smiled in agreement. “The storefront displays look wonderful.”
As they strolled the town square, they admired the abundance of creativity, pointing out their favorite features.
The hardware store had built a sleigh using an assortment of tools and household fixtures, and Mac’s Mercantile constructed a life-size Santa Claus out of produce and food staples, right down to the cauliflower beard and a belly made from a literal bowl full of jelly.
When they paused in front of Jack’s Diner, Kat’s heart warmed as her gaze rested on their arbor covered in frosted mistletoe. They’d also added ribbons and baubles, along with crystal icicles, and in Kat’s opinion, the entrance to the diner rivaled the gateway to the North Pole.
“Are you ready for the big reveal?” Jack glanced at the clock tower on the courthouse. “I set the timer so the lights would go on at exactly six o’clock.”
When the big hand hit the twelve, the arbor illuminated in a flash of glittering light.
Kat gasped as the gold and silver bulbs twinkled amid the lush greenery. “Jack, it’s beautiful.”
Even though she’d designed a similar display in Starcross Cove, the splendor of what she’d created with Jack far surpassed her expectations.
“Care for a closer look?” Taking her hand, he led her beneath the archway.
Enveloped in festive sprigs studded with tiny, shimmering stars, Kat gaped in breathless awe.
“Do you know why people kiss under mistletoe?” Jack stood so close, she felt his warmth clear through her coat and scarf.
Trying to focus on his question—and not the overwhelming urge to kiss him right then and there—she murmured, “I have no idea.”
“The truth is, no one knows for sure. But there’s one legend I’m particularly fond of.” He smiled and the sight made her heart flutter just like the first time they met.
“In Norse mythology, the nefarious god Loki used a spear made out of mistletoe to kill the son of Frigg, the goddess of love. When the gods were able to bring her son back to life, Frigg declared the mistletoe a symbol of love, and promised to kiss anyone who passed beneath it. I like this version of the legend because it’s all about redemption.”
“It is?” Kat asked, not following his logic.
“For the mistletoe. You see, it could’ve gone down in history as the plant that killed Frigg’s son. Instead, it became a symbol of love. And if couples don’t kiss when they’re underneath it, they’ll have bad luck.” He met her gaze, his lips quirked in a mischievous grin.
“Bad luck?”
“Atrocious, awful, appalling luck.” He inched closer, and a tingle skittered down her spine.
“Well, we certainly don’t want that, do we?”
As Jack lowered his lips to hers, playfully sealing their good fortune, a whisper of hope washed over her.
No matter what life brought their way, they would look for the good.
And together, she knew they would find it.
Epilogue
As Reed Hollis cradled the cup of hot chocolate warming his hands, he observed the Christmas Carnival festivities unfolding in front of him as though he were watching a movie.
He couldn’t help feeling a sense of detachment, noticing how everyone else’s lives seemed to move on without him. In the past year alone, all of his closest friends had either gotten married or engaged. And as they huddled around the fire pit together—two-by-two except for Reed—the contrast had never been more pronounced.
But