Page 95 of Home for the Holidays

“I’m considering leaving New York City.” Iris licked her lips. “I’ve felt stuck for a while now. Just stagnant and spinning my tires and every other cliché you can think of. I want to make a change.”

“Iris, honey, I think that’s wonderful. Where are you thinking about relocating to?” Heidi held her breath. Was this really happening?

“Well, I spoke to Stacey, and of course we’ll have a much more intense conversation when I get back about the ins and outs of everything, but I was considering… Vale Park.”

“Iris—”

“Wait, let me finish.”

“Okay.” Heidi waited as patiently as possible as Iris continued.

“Before you, I was done. Done with how my life was going. I love my work, I love my clients, I love having a practice with Stacey, but ultimately, everything else in my life was just sort of there. And then I came here. Reluctantly, I might add, and ever since? I’ve had to literally tell myself to stop smiling. I’ve never been this happy before. I’ve honestly never been this at peace before, either. And I’ve obviously never been this in love before.” She took a deep breath. “I don’t want to move in with you, though. I want to find a place and we can move at a pace that works for both of us. But let’s face it, neither of us was going to want to do a long distance relationship.”

Heidi chuckled. “No, I absolutely didn’t want that but I would have done it for you. I will do it for you if that’s what you really want. I don’t want you to leave the city if that’s where your heart is.”

Iris reached forward and placed her hand on Heidi’s chest, right over her heart. “This is where my heart is, Heidi. Right here. And I don’t want to be anywhere you’re not.”

Heidi pulled Iris into her and kissed her. “I love you,” she whispered against Iris’s lips. “So very much.”

“I love you, too. More than you know…”

* * *

The café was packed.Heidi always took the week between Christmas and New Year’s off, but it was never a bad idea to make an impromptu visit. This time, she brought the entire household with her. Why not? She was a glutton for punishment, obviously.

Donna was the first person she ran into. She was bellied up to the bar, a cup of coffee in front of her and, “Donna, is that aMacBook Pro?” Heidi gasped as she took in the sight of her bookkeeper in front of a streamlined, new laptop. “What happened to you? Did you finally give the old monitor the heave-ho?” She placed her hand on Donna’s forehead. “Do you have a fever? Are you okay? Have you been kidnapped? What’s our safe word?”

“Fuck off.” Donna cackled as she swatted her hand away. “The kids.” She motioned to the employees of the café. “They all pitched in and got it for me. It’s for personal use. Not for work. Remember that.”

“Oh, so are you not working today?”

“Do you not read the schedule I so meticulously create?” Donna rolled her eyes. “No, I’m off today. Charity is running the place. She’s doing a damn good job too.”

“And Marge is in charge of the bar area, I see.” Heidi smiled and waved at Margaret, whose smile could have lit up an entire room. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s fantastic. We’ve got a great team. I’m going to be sad if any of them decide to go get real jobs.” Donna held her hand up. “I mean go to college and become doctors or whatever.”

“All jobs are real jobs, my dear,” Heidi said with a smile.

“Wait a second.” Donna slid off the barstool. “Is that Zac? As I live and breathe!”

“Donna, hi, how are you?” Zac bent down and hugged her. “You look amazing as always.”

“I look like hammered shit.” Donna’s smoker’s laugh was perfectly timed. “How much longer are you in town—and who is this fine-lookin’ hunk of man? Is that…” She gasped. “Is that Evan Childers?”

Zac’s cheeks filled with pink. “Yeah, it is.”

“It’s about damn time.” Donna smacked him on the arm. “You two were so cute in high school. I wondered when y’all would finally, y’know.” She clapped her hands together. “Fantastic.”

“And this is my best friend and roommate,” Zac started as he grabbed Iris. “She’s dating my mom now.”

“Zac.” Heidi rolled her eyes. “Your timing is awful.”

“Oh?” Donna extended her hand and waited for Iris to take it. “You’re dating her?” She jerked her free thumb toward Heidi, and Iris nodded. “That’s great, sugar. But you hurt her? I’ll kill you. You hear me?”

Iris’s eyes widened. “I don’t plan on hurting her,” she said softly. “I promise.”

“Donna, for Christ’s sake,” Heidi said with a laugh. “The only thing you’re missing is a rocking chair and a shotgun across your lap.”

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