Page 34 of Christmas On Anchor Island

Her cousin crossed to the door and flipped on the light. “Henrietta Bloom, being independent doesn’t make you selfish. You’re one of the most generous people I know. Who put this idea in your head?”

Not wanting to throw Mia under the bus, she said, “I’ve just been thinking.”

“Well, stop thinking like that. You aren’t selfish. You give everything for your readers. You’ve let Aunt Olivia drag you into countless charity events when we both know you hate those things. And you spent months here earlier this year when I was on bed rest with the twins, and even after, to help once they were born.” Returning to the bed, she flopped down and tugged Henri’s chair until they were face-to-face. “You are not selfish. Do you hear me?”

“I hear you.” And she did. But regardless of her cousin’s reassurance, what Mia thought still mattered.

Henri had pushed her to come out so that they could be together. Then she’d walked away when Mia refused. After months of silence, she returned and once again gave her a hard time, then proceeded to take an emotional dump in Mia’s lap when she knew nothing had changed.

Since falling for Mia, Henri had not only been selfish, but self-centered and self-righteous. No wonder the woman wanted nothing to do with her. Henri and relationships simply didn’t mix. Ironic considering her line of work.

“Will you be upset if I leave early?” Henri asked.

Callie’s shoulders fell. “I figured you might after today. We’ll miss you, but I understand.”

“I need to go.”

“I know.” Leaning over the chair, she kissed Henri’s forehead. “We’re taking the kids to see Mama next month. Maybe I can help you do a little house hunting while I’m there.”

She remembered the plan about the income property. “That would be nice, but I have a confession to make.”

“Did you change your mind about getting a place?”

“No, but that bit about the contemporary loft was a bluff. The truth is, sales are down so I asked Sam to hook me up with someone who could find me an income property. An option where I could live in one part and rent out the other.”

Callie pulled a pillow into her lap. “Then I have a confession, too.”

Henri should have known. “He told you, didn’t he?”

“He did.”

“I’m not surprised. Anyway, he gave me a name and number, and I’ve already been in touch with the woman. I was going to wait until January, but now that I’m going back early, I’ll see if I can take a look next week at the three she sent me.”

There was one in particular she had her eye on. A large older home that offered the perfect office space and a high-end apartment on the top floor. The real attraction had been the outbuilding. The second she saw the picture, Henri knew it would make the perfect art studio.

A ridiculous idea that she needed to let go of.

“Send me lots of pictures,” Callie said. “Or better yet, call me and I’ll go through them with you via video. It’ll be like I’m right there.”

“I can do that.”

Hugging the pillow, she said, “Are you going to be okay?”

It wasn’t as if Henri had a choice. “Aren’t I always?”

“You’d like people to think so, but I know the real you, remember?” She set the pillow back in its place and rose to her feet. “You’re a ball of mush under that hard exterior.”

Henri laughed. “Keep that to yourself. I have a rep to protect.”

“I’ll keep your secret. Part of the reason I came up here is because Conner keeps asking about you. I don’t suppose you’d come down and help him build his new block set?”

With a sigh, she rolled to her feet. “That sounds like a perfect way to spend the evening.”

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