Christmas at the Candied Apple Café

“How do you mean?” Iona asked.

“Just that the world didn’t stop when Gill exited it. Sofia had school to go to. I had meetings to focus on. It was like Gill was gone but everything else kept moving forward and at first I wanted to stop too,” Mads said.

He didn’t want to analyze why he was telling Iona so much of this stuff. But honestly, it felt good to talk to someone who hadn’t known Gill or him back then. He didn’t feel like he had to couch his words to protect the family they’d been. Sofia is the reason I get up each day.”

She reached over and squeezed his upper arm in sympathy. “She’s a very good reason to stay motivated. I have my partnership in the Candied Apple Cafe and, for me, that’s reward enough.”

He noticed her smile when she mentioned her friends and he envied her that close relationship. He had Sofia, of course, but he and his brother had drifted apart over time and he’d stopped trying with his friends when Gill had gotten sick.

Iona’s watch pinged and she looked down at it. “I really do have to go. I enjoyed talking to you tonight.”

“Me too,” he said. I think we’ll call it a night as well. We can share a ride home?” Mads asked.

“Thank you,” she responded.

She waited while he got Sofia and the three of them left together. Jeff and Blair came over to give Sofia a gift bag and he thought he saw concern in their eyes.

He felt that twinge of guilt at the thought he was forgetting Gill. He’d never thought he’d feel any real emotion towards another woman, but he liked Iona, remembered when he’d almost kissed her and knew he wanted more than a brief brush of lips. Maybe more than liked her.

***

Sunday was for lazing around in bed and Iona had enjoyed that very much. She had partially decorated her Christmas tree, meaning she’d gotten the lights on and then had spent the rest of the day sitting around in sweatpants, binge- watching all the Santa Clause movies and trying to dwell on Mads. He’d almost kissed her. That brief brush of lips had intrigued her. Awoken something she’d ignored pretty successfully for years. Heck, she’d even been willing to have a passionless marriage with Nico before everything had shifted and they’d both realized why there was no passion between them at all.

She felt like a bit of a slug by six p.m. Forcing herself to take a shower and put on clothes and make-up, she texted Cici and Hayley to see if they wanted to go out for dinner.

Can’t tonight. Holly, Hoop and I are on our way back from the Hamptons, Cici texted.

Then Hayley replied. Ugh. I wish I could but I have to get in extra early tomorrow to finish up our special truffle box. I want you both there early as well.

She texted back with emojis since Wah, why won’t my friends come out and play with me? wasn’t very adult. She could order in. But she hadn’t left the house all day.

She decided she’d go to Korali Estiatorio on Third

and pick up spanakopita for dinner. She opened her door just as someone was knocking and looked down to see little Sofia standing there.

“Hello,” Iona said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to bring you something I made for you,” Sofia said, holding up a small pastry box with the Common logo on it.

“Thank you,” Iona said gratefully, taking it from her. She glanced down the hall and saw a woman in her twenties only a few feet away.

“Hi, I’m Iona,” she said to the woman.

“Jessie. I’m this scamp’s nanny.”

“I was on my way out,” she said. She’d pretty much decided last night that she needed to steer clear of Sofia and her too-cute father. She had lot of big plans and only by focusing on them was she going to achieve them. She’d learned a lot from her father’s example.

“That’s okay, we can’t stay,” Jessie said. “But she wanted to make sure you got her gift today.”

“Want me to open it now?”

Sofia nodded. It was really hard for her to keep her distance like she knew she should. She liked Sofia. Saw a little bit of herself in the lonely little girl. Though she’d had Theo, he’d been the golden child and everyone had adored him and Iona had always felt isolated.

She stooped down so she was on eye level with Sofia and then opened the box. The cookie was decorated in her image and made her smile.

“Thank you, sweetie. I love it.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Okay, scamp, let’s go. We’re under strict orders to get right back,” Jessie said.

From Mads.

He was probably of the same mindset that encouraging a friendship between her and his daughter wasn’t a good idea. But Sofia clearly needed something from her. Iona made up her mind to resolve the business issue as soon as possible.

“Better get back, then,” Iona said.

“It’s just ‘cause he has to get back to the hotel,” Sofia said.

Iona remembered his call at the brunch and imagined that running the hotel took up a lot of his time. Yet he did seem to manage being with Sofia as well.

“Maybe we will run into each other again,” Iona said, stepping into the hall and closing her door.

“I’m sure we will,” Sofia said. “Bye.”

Jessie and Sofia walked down the hall in the opposite direction of the elevators and Iona was tempted to turn and watch them, hoping again for a glimpse of Mads, but instead she forced herself to keep walking.

Eye on the prize.

Her father’s voice echoed through her mind. He’d been a great one for dishing out advice and well-meaning “honesty” about ways she could improve herself at in her role at work. She worked longer and harder than anyone else on her marketing team at Summerlin Industries and never had he acknowledged it. Just told her how good Theo was doing in his role as COO. Even finding a way to turn the long hours she spent at the office into her trying to avoid dating and finding a man.

Iona paused in the lobby.

She hadn’t realized how much of that anger she still carried around towards her father. He’d been gone for over two years now. She missed him, but a part of her acknowledged that she wanted him to still be here to see her successes. But would she have had the courage to leave Summerlin Industries if he’d still been alive?

She stepped out of her building into the brisk December night and inhaled the cold air, tipping her head back to see that the sky was cloudless. It was so clear, she imagined that if she wasn’t in the city she might be able to make out the stars.

The door to the building opened, she stepped out of the path of the person glancing over her shoulder and meeting the icy-gray gaze of Mads.

“Iona.”

“Mads.”

“Are you going in?”

“No,” she said. “Heading to dinner. Sofia mentioned you were heading back to the hotel.”

“Yes. We have a leak above our retail shop. Turns out the problem is bigger than originally believed and I have to get down there to soothe one of our longtime guests.”