It Must've Been the Mistletoe

4. Adeline

CHAPTER 4

Adeline

“Leaving already?” Jessica asked, drinking the last of her red wine. She set her glass down on the table and I hugged her tight. The DJ was still playing music and there were people out on the dance floor.

“You should be getting home too,” I told her. “You don’t want to be exhausted on your wedding day.”

“True.” She winked and hugged me goodbye again. “I promise I’ll head out as soon as Trent and the guys get back.”

“Okay, my darling. We’ll talk in the morning.” I squeezed her hands, then headed toward the front door.

“Adeline!” Margaret shouted.

Turning around, I watched her scurry across the dance floor with a sparkly, silver gift bag in her hand. She slid to a halt in front of me and pushed the bag forward until I took it. “This is for you. I wanted to catch you before you left.” She nodded for me to open it.

Tentatively reaching in, I pulled out a long, black box. Inside was a silver, heart-shaped antique locket. It was exquisite. There looked to be a crest symbol on the front, and on the back, my name.

“Margaret, this is so beautiful,” I gushed.

She grinned. “Jessica wanted to make sure her bridesmaids were taken care of. She wanted yours to be special, so I had it engraved.”

Tears filled my eyes. “Thank you.” I pulled out the necklace and she helped latch it in the back. When I opened the locket, there was a piece of mistletoe inside. Brows furrowed, I closed it back up. “What is that doing in there?”

Margaret beamed. “It’s supposed to bring many years of happiness to those who wear it. Why do you think I wear mine all the time?” She tapped the strand of mistletoe pinned on her jacket. “I figured it couldn’t hurt to put some in yours.”

I snorted. “Are you trying to tell me something?”

Her lips tilted slyly. “Maybe. It’s a shame you didn’t get to meet Trent’s brother tonight. I was very fond of his grandfather. Our families go way back.”

“Let me guess, Jessica told you she was trying to set us up?”

Margaret shrugged, but there was a twinkle in her eyes. “Even without interference, I have no doubt your paths would’ve crossed on their own. You seem like a nice fit.”

“I’m not too worried about it,” I said, propping the door open. “All my relationships fail at one point or another. Who says this one will be any different?” It was getting colder outside, the breeze funneling through the doorway caused a shiver to run down my spine. “It looks like I’ll need a Christmas miracle, Margaret. How else would I ever find my true love?”

I chuckled at my joke, but Margaret was studying me seriously. She stared right into my eyes, her brows furrowed. “So that would be your Christmas wish, would it? To find your one true love?”

I shrugged. “Sounds silly, right? But yeah, I’d love to find true love. Who wouldn’t?”

Margaret patted my arm and squeezed. “It’ll happen, sweetheart. You’ll see.” She glanced down at my necklace and grinned before meeting my gaze. “Have a good night, Adeline.”

“You too. See you at the wedding.” I stepped outside, and when I turned around to wave, she was gone.