Page 83 of Home for the Holidays

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

Sleep? What sleep? Being up every hour to make sure Iris was okay was the only thing Heidi accomplished that night. The doctor’s discharge instructions were simple, check on her often, and that was precisely what she’d been doing.

The guest room was open after Adrien and Shaun left to go back to Chicago, but Zac made a great point. It’d be easier for Heidi to check on Iris if she was right next to her. Heidi didn’t fail to notice the smile and eyebrow wag he gave Iris when he said that. For someone who had been so upset with their news at first, he certainly was coming around.

Evan was already up and had made coffee by the time Heidi walked into the kitchen at seven a.m. She was enjoying having Zac and him there. The conversation about them leaving after the New Year to travel Italy together hadn’t happened yet, which was both frustrating and exciting. She wanted to talk about it, but she also knew Zac was waiting so he could tell her and Iris together. That was kind of him considering where his mind had been on Christmas Day.

“Here you go,” Evan said as he handed her a cup of coffee complete with cream. “Zac said you like it with enough cream to give a person a heart attack.”

Heidi snorted into her mug. “Yeah, he’s not wrong. It’s perfect, thank you.”

“Did you sleep?”

“I did not.”

Evan chuckled. “I figured. You’re going to need a nap today. We can help with Iris.”

“I’ll be okay,” Iris said as she wandered into the kitchen.

Heidi stood from the breakfast nook instantly. “Are you okay?”

“Actually?” She moved her arms from side to side and did a little dance. “I feel pretty great.”

“And no pain pill.” Heidi raised her mug as she sat again. “I thought for sure you’d regret that decision.”

“Thank you, by the way.” Iris leaned down and kissed Heidi on the lips. “For taking care of me.” She stood upright and was greeted with a cup of coffee from Evan. “Oh, you’re an angel. Thank you.”

Evan was all smiles as he raised his brows at her. Heidi couldn’t fight the dorky grin that was pulling at her lips, much less the blush that was filling her cheeks. It had been years since she felt this… whatever it was. Happiness? Contentment? She wasn’t sure, but she loved it.

Iris sat next to her and sipped her coffee. “No Baileys?” She chuckled. “I’m kidding. Obviously.”

“Yeah, I don’t know if you should be getting sloshed at seven in the morning after almost dying.” Evan laughed, then stopped abruptly. “Fuck, that was shitty. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry.” Iris patted his arm. “You’re adorable—and you’re right. Thank you for trying to call me, by the way. I have a feeling that was your number?”

“Yeah, Zac was a mess after you left.”

“You mean after I did what he told me to do?”

Evan tapped his nose. “Spot-on, my friend. But seriously? I’m glad you two are going to be okay. You mean more to him than I think either of you realize.”

Heidi placed her hand on Iris’s leg. “He’s not wrong,” she murmured.

“I’m sure we will have a very long, drawn-out conversation about how much we mean to each other at a later date.” Iris sighed. “And it’ll be much needed, and many tears will be shed.”

“Obviously,” Evan said.

“Another conversation we need to have is about your month-long tour of Italy.”

Iris’s hand landed on Heidi’s, and she intertwined their fingers. All Heidi could do was look down at them, at how perfectly their hands fit together, how everything about the moment felt so right. She had truly only felt like this two times in her life—with Stanley and with Eloise, though they were such completely different feelings that it was hard to lump them together. Stanley was always dependable, consistent, and charmingly steadfast. He was the path she had thought her life wassupposedto take. Eloise was wildly unpredictable and remarkably energetic. She was the path she had never thought her lifewouldtake. And now Iris. Dear, sweet Iris. She was unyielding optimism and pulsating vibrancy. She was the path Heidi had alwayswantedto take.

“Definitely a conversation we are going to have,” Evan said, a small smile on his lips. “I’ve been dreaming about this trip for quite some time. And when I told Zac about it, well, he said he wanted to come. So…”

Iris nodded and lifted her mug in a mock toast. “I love that for you two.”

“I’m not going to say anything else until Zac is here for the rest of this.”

“Oh god, what are we talking about?” Zac appeared in the doorway. His hair was a mess from sleep, and he was barely awake. He walked over to Iris first and leaned down to look at her in the face. “How are you feeling?”

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