“Sorry,” Megan said, a blush creeping up her neck.
Kelly giggled. “You sound like Miles and me when we saw each other for the first time after some time away.”
Karen snorted again as Miles dropped a spoon that clattered loudly in the pot and splattered him with gravy.
“Son of a?—”
“Miles,” Karen said.
He glanced at her briefly before mumbling an apology.
Kelly nodded toward the door. “Come on. Let’s let Miles cook in peace.”
Megan followed her out of the kitchen and into the living room where Ethan, Noah’s brother, and his girlfriend, Lily, were seated. They were huddled together looking over something on her phone.
“Let’s distract Megan before she has a nervous breakdown,” Kelly said.
Ethan and Lily looked up.
“Don’t worry,” Ethan said. “You’ll see him anytime now.”
Lily clapped her hands together. “This is like a romance novel. The grand gesture. Oh, this would actually make a great story. Can I write it?”
Megan’s brows raised. Lily was a famous romance novelist and had a very grumpy demeanor when coming to Wintervale. But she was much cheerier now than Jessa had originally led Megan to believe. However, it was Christmas, and that could have an effect on someone.
“Sure,” Megan said.
Before she could say much else, the front door slammed open loudly, startling everyone. Megan couldn’t see the entrance from where she sat, but she stood at the sound of his voice.
“Is she here?” Jeff asked.
Megan took a step closer, almost in sight of Jeff. He rushed into the house, and his eyes wildly skimmed across the faces.
“Jeff?” Megan heard herself say. She couldn’t believe he was finally in the same room as her.
He turned around, and a huge smile immediately spread across his face. He set the items in his hands on the table and raced toward her, pulling her into his arms. With his face buried in her hair, he inhaled deeply.
The overwhelming feeling of happiness swept through her. He was here. He was really here. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and buried her face in his neck. Everything around her faded. At that moment, the only people in the room were them.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered.
“I’ve missed you, too.” After a few minutes, he pulled back. “When did you get here?”
She bit her lip and flinched. “Last night.”
He groaned. “And you waited until today to tell me?”
“Trust me, I wanted to come see you so many times, but Jessa convinced me to keep the secret.”
He reached into his pocket and held the ten-dollar bill up between his fingers. “Except for this.”
Megan giggled. “Except for that. I couldn’t resist.”
“Wait. What’s that?” Jessa asked. “Is that the money you two keep passing back and forth? Did you tip him off, Megan?” Her voice came out incredulously as she asked the question.
Megan shrugged. “Guilty.”
Jessa groaned. “Now where’s the fun in that?”
