Page 18 of Meet Me at the Christmas Cottage (Jonathon Island #6)

“Jordi is Holland’s best friend.” Jonah leaned over and whispered to Bronte when Jordi finally took a breath as she slid off the stool and moved to check on the tables she waited on.

“She must have had coffee this morning. I thought everyone had agreed to keep the caffeine away from her.” Jonah pulled two menus from where they were stacked and handed one to Bronte.

“Coffee has done that to Jordi since I met her.” Which would have been the couple of months he’d been home after he’d graduated from college and before he’d left for basic. So long ago.

Jonah swallowed down the sudden wave of regret that came with the memory. Regret for missing so much of the lives of those he loved. Shrugging, he tried to focus on the chatter of conversation around him.

“Are you two ready to order?” Jordi reappeared, notebook in hand.

Bronte ordered soup and salad while Jonah scanned the menu—it hadn’t changed that much in the years since he’d been home.

“What about you, Jonah?” Jordi asked, tapping the pad with her pen.

After deciding on his typical order of hamburger and french fries, Jordi disappeared and Jonah turned to Bronte.

He opened his mouth to ask her if her mind was ready to get back to work, when four more people stopped by to pat him on the back and let him know how proud they were of him.

Their food arrived in front of them, but by the time Jonah got to his, it was cold, and Bronte’s was already almost gone.

“Sorry about that,” he said, turning to Bronte.

Bronte shrugged. “No worries. I feel like you’re the long-lost big brother finally home.”

A pang shot through Jonah’s heart. Why hadn’t he made it a point to come home sooner?

He knew the excuses he told himself, but now that he’d made it home, they seemed weak.

He hated the lack of control he felt over his schedule, his life.

He lived life away from every person he cared about.

But if he wanted to change that, it would mean coming home from Germany and taking over his father’s practice, and he didn’t want that life either.

Jonah cleared his throat before too much emotion could make its way up his chest. “Yeah, you’re probably right. How are you feeling after our walk?”

“I’m already sore and not looking forward to the hike home, but I’m feeling good. I think I’m about ready to dive into the Pike story again.” Bronte spun her glass of tea in her hands.

“We could probably see if someone can give us a ride home on a snowmobile.”

Bronte seemed to consider it for a moment before finally declining the offer. “It’s okay. I think the hike will do me good.”

“Are you getting more ideas for your story? You had me a little worried there, looking as stressed as you were.” He had been praying for the floodgates of ideas to open up for Bronte—for her to be able to finish the book.

“Oh.” Bronte waved a hand in the air. “I’m fine. It’s all part of the process.”

“I have to admit, I’m curious to see how the Pike Family Saga ends. I’m really enjoying what I’m reading.”

Bronte wagged her eyebrows up and down. “Even if it’s sad and boring ?”

“I’m never going to live that down, am I?” Jonah groaned, scrunching up his face.

“Nope.” Bronte let the ending of the word pop. “Never.”

“Okay, I don’t normally do this, but today is a special occasion.” Jordi appeared, two steaming mugs clutched in her hands. “I brought you both hot chocolate. It’s a recipe I made up.” She leaned in closer and whispered, “And don’t tell anyone else, because it’s not exactly on the menu.”

“Thanks, Jordi.” Jonah didn’t know if he should be excited or nervous that the hot chocolate was from Jordi’s own recipe.

Jordi put a mug of hot chocolate in front of each of them and stepped back, waiting for them to take a drink.

But then, as if deciding she didn’t want to hang around to find out what they thought, she spun on her heel and made her way back to the kitchen, stopping and talking to everyone on the way.

“She’s fun.” Bronte smiled, her eyes following Jordi as she flitted from table to table.

“Yeah, she is. She left for a little bit after high school. Moved in with her grandparents in Boston. Holland was so bummed when she moved. You should see them together.” Jonah grinned just thinking about it.

“Holland can be on the more reserved side, but when she and Jordi get together, especially if there’s coffee involved…

well, it’s fun to watch. One time, when Jordi and Holland had just started high school, I was home on leave, and Jordi came over.

Apparently, Jordi and Holland had volunteered to make items for the school bake sale.

Not a big deal, they were always doing that, only this time they forgot about it until the day before they needed them.

Instead of crumbling under the pressure, they rolled up their sleeves, brewed a pot of coffee, and enlisted the help of all five White siblings.

It was well after midnight, but us, Jordi, a couple other friends who had the misfortune to wander in, and Mom and Dad were in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on one hundred twenty-four cookies and four dozen cinnamon rolls.

” Jonah paused and took a drink of his melted iced tea. “Those two are an unbeatable force.”

With a break in the Welcome home s, Jonah picked up his cold hamburger. It was halfway to his mouth when Jordi slid onto the stool next to him.

He sighed, putting it back down. “Yes, Jordi?”

“I just wanted to see if you were going to the Jonathon Island Christmas Ball next week.” Jordi grabbed a fry off Jonah’s plate and popped it in her mouth. “I’m helping Dani with some behind the scenes stuff and wanted to make sure you’ve got your tickets.”

“We haven’t talked about it.” Jonah looked at Bronte, eyebrow cocked.

He wanted to go. The Christmas balls were always fun, and he couldn’t remember the last one he’d attended, but really it had to be Bronte’s call.

He didn’t want to volunteer her for something and take away from her writing. “What do you say, Bronte?”

Jordi leaned around Jonah, her hands clasped together. “Please? It’s so much fun.”

Bronte looked back and forth between Jordi and Jonah.

Jonah shrugged his shoulders at her—hopefully she didn’t feel pressured into anything, what with Jordi giving those puppy-dog eyes.

Between his sisters and their friends, Jonah had been the recipient to many a puppy-dog gaze. It was hard to turn down.

“I don’t even have anything to wear to a ball.”

“Oh, I can take care of that.” Jordi brushed off her excuse.

Bronte looked as if she was going to say no, but then she shrugged her shoulders and said, “Why not? Sounds fun.”

“Put us down for two tickets, Jordi.”

Jordi jumped from the stool, throwing her arms around both Jonah and Bronte, tugging them into a group hug. “I’m so excited! Okay, I have to get back to work!”

“I think you might be on to something with Jordi and her coffee.” Bronte laughed as they watched Jordi disappear past the swinging doors into the kitchen. “And she is definitely a force to be reckoned with.”