Page 37 of Holiday at Home
Violet swats me in the arm. “I got that, silly. But why? Why did you stay?”
“You’re not going to like my answer.”
“Since when has that stopped you from doing anything?”
I shove my hands into my pockets. “I stayed because I was worried about you.”
Violet’s jaw drops, her eyes going wide, then narrowing. “You didn’t go on your family trip… because of me?”
“You kept saying you were fine, but I knew in my heart you weren’t. And I just couldn’t leave until you were. So every day I told myself,today will be the day I’ll go.But then I’d see you, and I couldn’t.”
“But I am fine,” she says. “Now. I’m so much better than I was. And I’ve loved spending all this time with you, but if you’re staying because you think I’m in a bad place, then go. Get on thatplane. You’ve already helped me so much. I’m in a much better place now.”
I cup her cheek, my fingers threading into her soft hair. “I see it. I know you are. But that’s not why I’m staying now.”
Even as I’m speaking, I sense the truth in what I’m about to say, a truth I hadn’t recognized, but knew deep down.
“Then I’m confused,” Violet says. “Because I thought you just said you were staying because you were worried about me.”
“At first, I stayed to make sure you were okay. Now I’m staying because I can’t leave.”
Violet blinks up at me, silver-gray eyes filled with awe and wonder. I slide my hand to the back of her neck, fingers tangling in her hair, and draw her face toward mine. I kiss her gently, then deeply, pulling her into my arms because I can’t imagine another day, another moment, without her fully in my life.
Something clicks in place in my heart…
This knowing that my time in New York is over…
That my future is here, in Stillwater Bay, with the love of my life.
Turns out the thing I’d been searching for in boardrooms and coffee shops and endless city lights was the same thing I once held in my hands and let slip away. My past wasn’t behind me—it was the map leading me home.
My pastismy future.
But what I do with that revelation is an entirely different story.
“I knew there was some magic working here!”
Erin Rochester stands in front of us, hands on her hips. “You said you weren’t back together at the tree-lighting ceremony, but I could see you were lying. You can’t hide true love! I’m so happy for you two!”
With that, she hugs each of us, pats us on our cheeks, then walks away, leaving us to stare after her.
15
Violet
Learning that Simon chose to delay his Colorado trip for me eradicates my resistance tous.Not resistance to the long-term fantasy of us. I’m not stupid. Our lives took us in such different directions, long-term is out of the question. But short term? While he’s home? Is it really so bad to have someone with me? Someone to lean on? Talk to?
And make out with from time to time?
Heat curls through me at the thought, treacherous and warmlike rum-soaked cider, and the question answers itself before I even finish asking.
No. It’s not bad at all.
In fact, it’s the best I’ve felt in a long time.
So, as Erin Rochester walks away, shaking her head in delight at finding me in Simon’s arms, I thread my arm through his and lean my head on his shoulder. His coat smells faintly of coffee and cedar, and when the wind lifts, the Christmas lights shimmer across the market like they’re blessing this tiny act ofsurrender. I sigh in contentment, letting myself enjoy the feeling of having someone.
And not just any someone.
