Page 70 of Mistletoe & Magic
I nod, throat tight. “I love it. Every single one. But…” I hesitate, dragging a hand over the back of my neck. “You’re not in any of them.”
Her brow furrows with confusion. “What?”
“There’s pictures of me, of Junie, Finn, Mom, even Tate,” I say quietly. “But none of you. Not anywhere.”
“Oh.” She blinks, surprised. “I just…I didn’t think to put myself in them. It felt like it should be about you and Junie.”
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. “Ivy, you belong in this house. You belong with us. And I guess…I just need to know if you’re going to stay.”
Her eyes go wide, her book forgotten in her lap. “What do you mean? Why would you ask that?”
I watch her and make myself say it. “I want to know where you see this going.” I hold her gaze even when my throat tightens. “You have moved a lot. Jobs. Places. And I…” My voice frays. I steady it. “I cannot go through losing someone again. Junie cannot, either. She has had enough people leave.”
Her lips part like I have knocked the wind out of her. “Remy. This is not just a job. I cannot imagine leaving unless you wanted me to. I thought we talked about this.”
Something in my chest loosens. That hard knot from this morning eases. I nod, but I don’t let it end there. “We did. I just need to hear it again sometimes.” I reach for her hand. “And I need to say it back. I want you here. Not just because of how good you are to Junie. I want you because you are you. This is your home with us if you want it. Not just for the season. For good.”
She scoots closer until her knees press against mine. Her eyes shine, careful and hopeful all at once. “I feel like I have been searching for my place forever. Maybe it was here all along. With you and Junie.”
I exhale and cup her face and kiss her, slow and sure, relief making the room tilt. When I pull back, I rest my foreheadagainst hers. “I know forever is a hard word,” I say quietly. “It’s hard for me, too. But I love you. And I can’t picture this place without you in it.” I swallow and let the last piece out. “I don’t want to.”
She closes her eyes, then opens them and lets me see what’s there. “I love you,” she says. “I want this. I want you. I want us.”
I press her hand to my chest so she can feel the way it kicks. “Then we do it together,” I say. “When it gets hard, we say so. When the old fear shows up, we talk about it.”
She nods, a small, shaky laugh breaking loose, and tucks herself closer like she is choosing the spot that already fits. The knot inside me is gone. In its place is the steady weight of something I want to spend the rest of my life keeping.
I press my forehead against hers. “Then we’re taking pictures of you tomorrow,” I murmur. “And putting them on every damn wall in this house.”
The school gym smells like old cafeteria food and construction paper, with the little stage strung with twinkle lights and dangling paper snowflakes. The whole town must be here. Donna’s in the front row with Pete, a tissue already clutched in her hand. Lilith waves us over to save seats, Tate and Willa tucked in beside her. Even Finn and Rowan are here, bickering softly but sitting close enough that their shoulders touch.
Junie bounces nervously backstage, her new Christmas dress sparkling under the lights. Ivy crouches in front of her, braiding her hair one last time while Lola sits obediently at her feet.
“You look perfect, Juniebug,” Ivy whispers, kissing the top of her head.
Junie grins and runs to join her class. I snap a picture just asshe turns around and waves, and the whole row of us laughs and waves back.
When the music starts, the kids sing with all the enthusiasm of five-year-olds, Junie the loudest of all. My chest swells so hard it almost hurts. I sneak a glance at Ivy, who’s smiling so big she’s practically glowing.
Pete claps so hard at the end I’m surprised he doesn’t throw out his shoulder, and Donna’s wiping at her eyes like she just watched Junie graduate from college.
Afterward, we all spill into the cold night air, our breath puffing in little clouds. “Dinner?” Tate calls, and everyone agrees.
The Wisteria Cove diner is packed but we cram into two big booths, eating burgers and passing plates of fries and onion rings back and forth, laughing until my cheeks ache. Junie is still buzzing from the performance, proudly showing everyone the glitter star the teacher pinned to her dress.
Afterwards we head to the bookstore to hang out.
“Remy,” she says, smiling up at me.
I pull her close and kiss her, slow and deep. “You make me so damn happy,” I murmur against her lips.
And I realize it’s true. Life can’t get any better than this.
The night felt perfect. The bookstore is closed, but we’re all just hanging out inside, even though the closed sign is on the door. The fire is low, the lights twinkling, everyone lingering with cocoa and half-empty dessert plates. Willa is curled up with Tate near the fireplace, Rowan is perched on the counter teasing Finn, and Ivy is humming quietly as she stacks mugs by the sink. Junie is on the floor coloring, still wearing her glitter star from the program.
Then the bell over the door jingles.
The whole room goes still. I turn around to see who came in that’s making everyone go silent.
