21. Lydia

21

LYDIA

I gnoring Hailey's calls wasn't what I wanted to do, but I couldn't speak to her just yet, not when I didn't have answers. She left a message saying that Jake had told her what happened. I had no doubt she would try to persuade me to choose him. I wanted to choose him, but I had to consider Max and the repercussions if I let him go. That was why I wanted to talk to Margaret. I needed to know the rules of the Christmas magic she used on me. But unfortunately, Margaret never appeared.

Just like Rumpelstiltskin always said in the TV show Once Upon a Time, magic always comes with a price. If that was the case, I had to be careful.

For the rest of the night, I turned my phone on silent and watched Christmas movies. Now, it was Friday morning, and I was headed to work. I texted Violet to let her know I was coming in.

When I arrived at the gallery, I half expected Hailey to be waiting inside, but she knew me well. If I was ignoring her, she knew to give me my space. However, there was someone in the store I didn't expect to see, especially so early in the morning.

Ben and Violet stood by the desk, laughing and smiling as if they didn't have any cares in the world. It was such a joy seeing them together. I touched the mistletoe on my sweater, and it tingled against my fingers as if it were trying to tell me something. The answer was clear and right in front of my face. Margaret said the mistletoe would help guide me down the right path. What if it helped see other people's right paths? Ben wasn't mine, but maybe he was Violet's. If he was her happily ever after …

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks. This wasn't the first time the mistletoe reacted. It did the same thing when I watched my grandmother and John together. It was clear they were meant to find each other.

My heart hurt just thinking about how I could have potentially messed things up for the two people I cared most about. If I hadn't met Margaret or revisited the previous two years in my dreams, they would have never found their happiness. I wouldn't have met Max and my grandmother wouldn't have met John. Likewise, Ben and Violet would have never met. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Lydia, you okay?" Violet asked, hurrying over to me.

My eyes burned, but I held back the tears. "I'm fine. There's just a lot on my mind."

Violet grabbed my wrist and pulled me over to Ben. "We have some amazing news to tell you."

Excitement bubbled in my chest. "Tell me."

Violet let me go and wrapped an arm around Ben's waist. "All of Ben's prints sold this week while you were out sick. We didn't want to tell you over the phone."

"Oh my God," I squealed, hugging her tight. "We need to add more."

She laughed. "I know. That's what Ben and I are going to do today."

I moved to Ben and hugged him. "Congratulations, Ben. I'm not kidding when I say you're the best photographer I've ever met."

"Thanks, Lydia. That means a lot. But"he let me go and I stepped back to see his wide smile"that's not all I have to tell you." My heart stopped as I waited for his following words. He glanced over at Violet, and she waved impatiently for him to continue. Ben focused on me again. "A magazine contacted me about taking photos of golf courses nationwide. Jake had given them my name and they offered me a substantial contract. I'm talking huge, Lydia. This is what I've been dreaming about."

The tears I tried holding back earlier flowed down my cheeks. I hugged both him and Violet again. "I'm so happy right now. I don't think anything could make this day better."

Ben chuckled. "I'm sure I can think of something." He started for the door and glanced back at me and Violet. "How about some crème brulee coffee from Sarah's Café?"

"Yes," I called out. "That could definitely make this day better."

Violet raised her hand. "I second that. Thanks, babe."

Ben left and I couldn't begin to describe my happiness level. Violet bit her lip and stared at me; it was apparent something was on her mind.

"What is it?" I asked her.

She blew out a nervous breath and smiled. "Ben's going to be traveling for quite some time, going to all these fantastic golf courses. He's asked if I'd like to go to some with him. " She held up her hands. "That is, if it's okay. I'll still be here helping with the gallery. I promise I wouldn't be gone all the time; it'd just be a day or two here and there."

I grabbed her hands. "I don't mind at all. Don't worry about me and the gallery."

She flung her arms around my neck. "Thank you, sis. For the first time in my life, things feel right. I owe it all to you."

"Why me?" I asked, whispering the words.

Her face was wet with tears when she let me go. "I never would've met Ben if it weren't for you." The mistletoe sent another jolt of warmth through me, confirming my thoughts. My path to Ben led him to her.

She wiped the tears off her cheeks with her shirt and I cupped her face. "You have no idea how thankful I am that I met him on that trail. Seeing you happy means the world to me."

"And seeing you happy would mean the world to me," she replied. "Ben and I are going to the Mistletoe Mania Festival tomorrow. Do you want to double date with us?"

"Sure," I answered.

Violet raised her brows. "Do you know who you want to go with?"

I could only think about Jake, but I had to give Max a chance.

"I've already asked Max to go with me," I told her. I tried to hide the uncertainty in my tone and failed.

Her lips pursed. "Something's going on with you. Why do I get the feeling you want to go with someone else?"

"Jake told me he was in love with me," I blurted out.

Violet squealed with exhilaration. "Are you serious?"

"Yes," I said, nodding. "You wouldn't believe everything that happened yesterday. I overheard him and Hailey talking. He tried sabotaging mine and Max's dates, and even went so far as to walk around my house in a bath towel when Max showed up."

She burst out laughing. "I can totally see Jake doing that. Did you say you loved him back?"

I shook my head. "No. It's complicated, Violet."

"No, it's not," she argued. "He loves you and you love him. What's so hard about that?"

"Do you believe in fate? Or magic?"

Her eyes narrowed curiously. "To a certain extent. Do I think there are forces in this world that are beyond our imagination? Yes."

If anyone in my life was open to the possibility of magic, it was her. But even then, I knew I couldn't tell her about time traveling.

"What if Max was put in my life for a reason?" I asked.

"Do you feel like he was?"

I nodded. "I do. I feel like I owe him a chance, you know?"

She sighed and placed her hands on my shoulders. "I get that, Lydia, I do. If you feel that way, then see where it goes. I just hope you don't lose Jake in the process."

That was my fear. My heart already felt empty without him.

"I hope not, either," I whispered. "He means a lot to me."

Violet nodded. "Then figure it out. Have you kissed Max yet?"

"No."

She squeezed my shoulders. "Tomorrow at the mistletoe festival will be the perfect time for it. You'll know where your heart truly lies."

I already knew where my heart wanted to be. I just didn't want to ruin someone's life because of it. Max didn't deserve that.

All I needed was to talk to Margaret, but she wouldn't appear for some reason. I didn't know how to get her to. Until then, mine, Jake's, and Max's lives all hung in the balance.