Page 60 of Mistletoe & Magic
“Junie has a Christmas program coming up,” I say, and all three of us make plans to attend together.
Tate calls goodbye from across the room as he leaves with a bag of scones. Mrs. Callahan from the florist pops in to pin a flyer for the Holiday Bake Sale to the community board. Someone asks Willa about a book club pick. Rowan dips through the new opening between the shops. She helps Willa, and Willa helps her. Having adjoining shops was a genius idea.
Donna waits until I have powdered sugar on my mouth to slide a canvas tote across the table. The bag looks ordinary, but it lands with the weight of a gift.
“For you,” she says. “A little light reading.”
I peek inside and freeze. The covers are unfamiliar, and yet I recognize the names. Top romance authors. All galleys. All not out yet. Books people wait months for and would sell a kidney to access. Books I used to preorder to the Kindle I had to hide from Derek. God, why didn’t I see the red flags with that guy sooner? Sometimes I remember something with him and question all of my choices.
“Are these for me to borrow?” I ask, even though I know the answer. My hands shake in the best way.
“For you to keep,” she says, “And if one of them makes your heart flip, no pressure. If you hate them, hand them back to me and blame my poor taste. But I think you will love at least three. Maybe five. I know your favorites.”
“I have not read in ages,” I say, throat tight. “Not for fun.”
Donna tilts her head. “Why not?”
Willa looks over like she wants to answer for me, but she stays quiet and slides a plate of bacon over.
“Derek,” I say. The name tastes like stale gum. “He didn’t like that I read books and said that romance novels were unrealistic. That they gave women dumb expectations.”
Donna’s mouth falls open. “Expectations of what?”
I laugh, a quick burst. “If I had a book in my bag, he would say, you know that stuff never happens in real life. I got a secret Kindle and kept it in my purse, so he couldn’t see what I was reading and judge me.”
My mom, Lilith, arrives and carries the scent of the harbor in on her coat. She kisses my cheek, then hugs Donna, then peeks into the tote.
“Presents,” she smiles. “Good. She needs them.”
“We were talking about Ivy’s ex,” Donna says gently, then catches herself. “Sorry, darling. Should I not say his name out loud?”
My mom’s smile is bright. “Derek could not measure up to the bare minimum. There. I have said my truth for the day.”
Donna looks floored and a little delighted. “I agree after what I’m hearing.”
My mom shrugs and steals a piece of bacon. “Romance is the best,” she says, as if we are stating the weather. “If we don’t believe in romance, what are we even doing?”
Donna points with her fork. “Put that on a T-shirt.”
Willa reappears with a pot of coffee and tops us off. “We can hang the T-shirt in the front window,” she says. “Next to the display for Donna’s new book.”
“Speaking of,” Donna says, then pretends to hide under the table. “I have a new one due to the editor next week, and I am a monster until launch day on the current one. Please forgive me in advance for texting you all at two in the morning to ask if the ending makes you sob in a good way.”
“It does,” Willa says. “I read the last pages last night and then cried myself to sleep because we have to wait so long for your next one.”
I am smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. I love spending time with all of them. The tote sits against my calf like a bag of gifts. I let myself imagine a night where I climb into bed and open a book, and no one makes a face about it. The thought lights me up from the inside. No way would Remy ever make fun of romance books. His mom is a romance author. And for that, Remy has never made fun of me for anything. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him make fun of anyone for something they love. Except maybe Finn. Those two give each other hell like brothers daily, and it’s kind of funny.
“Books are so important, honey. Anyone who makes fun of someone for reading is ignorant. I know my sons would never,” Donna says with a pointed look.
“I’ve missed this,” I say. “Not just reading. Being back here.”
Donna reaches across and covers my hand. Her fingers are warm and steady. “You get to have all of it,” she says. “Love in your life and love on the page. Anyone who tells you differently doesn’t know how good it can be.”
My mom nods. “Your heart knows what it wants. It always has. It picked Wisteria Cove. It picked your sisters. And now it has picked a man who finally puts you and your feelings first.”
“He reads to Junie at night,” I say, and I don’t tryto swallow the emotion in it. “He voices all the characters. She lives for it and then she falls asleep on his shoulder.”
Donna dabs at her eyes with a napkin. “I am fine. Carry on.”
