Page 17 of Christmas On Anchor Island

Chapter Five

Mia feltas if she were sitting on a bed of nails. She had no fear that Henri would say the wrong thing or reveal her secret. The fear was about herself. Mia’s acting went only so far. Keeping Grandma in the dark had been easy enough because she was only hiding her identity, not her feelings.

Never dating a woman meant not having to hide her actions. Not that she and Henri were dating, but they would be if Mia had more guts. She longed for this person. She wanted to be able to hold hands and kiss her in public. Not doing so was one thing. Not showing that she wanted to do so was another.

“What other books have you read?” Henri asked once the kids were settled and the waitress had taken their drink orders.

Nota looked to Mia. “I don’t remember the names of them. What are they, dear?”

Pointing out her grandmother’s burglar-y ways, she said, “I couldn’t say since I don’t know which ones you stole.”

“You make me sound like a criminal.”

“I know what to do.” Henri whipped out her phone. A few swipes later, she set it on the table between herself and Nota. “Do you recognize the covers?”

Grandma pulled out her reading glasses and held the phone at a distance. “The pink one looks familiar. And the one with the smiling blond woman.”

“The one with the mechanic hero?”

“Yes!” she exclaimed. “I wanted to hug him the whole time.”

Henri nodded. “I felt the same way while writing him. How about this one?” She pointed to a spot on the screen.

Brows drawn, Grandma said, “I don’t think so. What’s that one about?”

“It’s the story of two women who fall in love when they meet while on vacation.”

“Oh.” Grandma put the phone on the table as if it had burned her. “I don’t know that I’d like that one.”

“It’s a beautiful story,” Callie cut in. “Very empowering with all sorts of sweet, romantic moments.”

Grandma did not look convinced. “Two women though…”

“Love is love,” Sam said, getting in on the act.

Mia knew what they were doing, and she was touched by the support, but they were wasting their time.

“That is true.” Wait. Did her grandmother just say that? “Is there… you know?” she asked.

With infinite patience, Henri shook her head. “Not in that one. There are a few kisses though.”

Holding her breath, Mia waited for her to say she wasn’t interested, but instead, Grandma nodded. “Okay, then if you send that with the others, I’ll read it, too.”

“I’ll send the message off to my assistant right now.” Henri clicked away on her phone as Callie cut Mia a knowing smile.

What had just happened? And when did Grandma become so open-minded?

“We should start a Henrietta Bloom book club,” Callie suggested.

“That would be wonderful,” Grandma said. “Count me in.”

As Mia processed her grandmother’s change in attitude, the waiter arrived to take their order. Since they’d all eaten at Dempsey’s countless times, none of them had to look at the menu. The conversation throughout the meal bounced from holiday traditions to the twins’ first Christmas and on to Conner talking passionately about all of the Lego sets he was hoping Santa would bring him. All the while, Henri showered Grandma with her boundless charisma to the point that Mia couldn’t help but love her even more.

The thought nearly short-circuited her brain. She liked Henri. A lot. She wanted to date her and get to know her and… do other things with her. But love was something else entirely. She wasn’t in love with Henri Bloom. Was she?

Watching her charm Grandma into fits of childlike giggles gave Mia her answer. Holy crap.

She loved this woman.

---