Page 63 of Home for the Holidays

“You are my favorite. But I like Iris more.” She shrugged. “Is that okay?”

“Yes, little one, that is okay.” Zac reached over and covered Iris’s hand with his own. “Thank you,” he mouthed. His facial expression was filled with gratitude. She accepted the gesture because she had done him a solid. But at the end of the day, she had found something she didn’t even know she was looking for. Maybe she should be the one thanking him?

“Okay, okay, Nowaks, Iris, Shaun, and Evan,” Oscar said from the front of the room by the projector screen. “Welcome to our annual Home Alone marathon, a most treasured tradition that started because Mom wanted us to fall asleep so she could have a seat and take a load off.”

Iris heard Heidi chuckle from behind her. A chill shot through her body. The only empty seat now was the one next to her.

“Couple of rules first,” Oscar continued.

“There are rules?” Iris whispered as she looked over at Zac. Nora shushed her immediately.

“One, no full-on conversations. We tried the no-talking rule, and it failed. Miserably.” He glared at Adrien, who waved his hand at him as though he had no clue what his brother was talking about. “Two, no cell phones. If you need to text, go to the other room. We are a family, and we are spending this night together. And three…” He took a deep breath and groaned. “If you feel the need to quote scenes from the movie, do it quietly to yourself.”

Iris laughed. “Is he serious?”

“Oh, Iris,” Zac said softly. “He’s the reason that rule exists.”

“Maddie, move, please.” Heidi was standing next to the couch, gently encouraging Maddie to scooch so she could sit. When she sat, Heidi reached over and took Nora’s hand. “I thought you were sitting with me, little one?”

“Sorry, Gramma, I’m sitting with Iris.”

Iris grinned. “She loves me. What can I say?”

“She has good taste.” Heidi licked her lips, prompting Iris’s stomach to bottom out. She watched as Heidi focused her attention back on the screen, but she couldn’t look away. Glasses on, smile displayed, her wavy hair pushed behind her ear—Heidi was so fucking beautiful. Her skin, the tiny creases at the corners of her eyes, the smile line in her cheek. Iris was so taken by her, and fighting with herself about the rights and wrongs of her infatuation was beginning to wear thin. Being a responsible adult sucked.

When the first notes of “Carol of the Bells” started playing over the speakers, the sound enveloped her. WatchingHome Alonelike this? It was something she would never forget. She had chills all over her body, and she was loving every second of it.

Within the first ten minutes of the movie, sure enough, she heard Nora’s soft snoring.

“Is she asleep?” Karen asked as she looked over the back of the love seat in front of Iris. “Let me take her.”

“No, it’s okay.” Iris smiled over at Karen. “I don’t mind, I promise.” The look on Karen’s face was one of gratitude. It made Iris feel great that Nora liked her so much.

The only bad part was the possibility that she wasn’t going to be part of this family for much longer. Getting attached to anyone was probably not a great idea.

She shouldn’t get attached to Nora, little Nora with her curious soul.

Not Oscar or Karen, two people who accepted her and liked her without a second thought.

Not Adrien and Shaun, lovely Shaun with his fantastic hands and heart and Adrien’s unabashed sharing of his life.

Not Stanley and Kevin, who, even though they seemed like they could see through the façade, were still so kind.

Not Heidi…

Nora’s soft little snores made their way to Iris’s ears. She looked down at her, at her curly hair and little button nose and the look of pure happiness on her sweet face. Iris felt the tears before she realized she was crying. She wiped at them frantically, turning her face so no one could see.Pull yourself together, Iris. It’s a happy family movie, for Christ’s sake.

She allowed herself to look at Heidi, who was looking directly at her. Heidi slid her hand across the distance between them and linked her pinky with Iris’s. She pulled on her gently, her eyebrows raising slightly, her forehead wrinkling, as if to ask if Iris was okay. Iris pursed her lips and shrugged a solitary shoulder. She wasn’t okay. She was a mess. And it was all Heidi’s fault.

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE

The movie night was a success. They made it through two Home Alone movies andNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. Everyone retired after that. Apparently, sledding took it all out of them.

A part of her hoped she could somehow stay up with Iris, but when they were almost caught holding hands on the couch, she decided it was best to go their separate ways for the night. Later, she stared up at the ceiling of her bedroom. Alone. She was in way too deep for someone who should not be having these feelings for her son’s best friend.

“At least she’s not his girlfriend,” she whispered to herself. That would have been horrific. Maddie’s ears perked up at the end of the bed. She jumped down and trotted to the door just as a soft knock sounded on her door. She sat upright quickly and pulled the covers up. She had her pajama top on, but she’d been sleeping without her pajama bottoms on ever since the kids moved out. “Hello?” The door pushed open, and there stood Iris. A wave of joy slammed into her. “Hey,” she said softly. “Are you okay?”

Iris shut the door behind her, making sure to turn the handle so it didn’t make an awful racket, which warmed Heidi’s heart. She was constantly asking her family to stop slamming doors… The kids, Stanley, it didn’t matter. Someone was always shutting the door like they needed the entire house to know they were going to the bathroom or going to bed. And no one did as she asked. The fact that Iris just did it, without being prompted? God, it almost brought tears to her eyes. She knelt down to pet Maddie next, who was so excited to see Iris, wagging her tail so hard that her butt was also wagging. It was adorable.

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