Page 95 of Bright Lights, Big Christmas
“Oh?”
She went into the studio, got her jacket, hat, and gloves, and the sketchbook, which she placed on the table near the old man. “I’ll be anxious to hear your thoughts.”
The streets outside were eerily quiet. Traffic noise from passing cars and buses was muted. More snow had fallen overnight and everything in the pocket park was blanketed in a thick white frosting. She greeted Taryn, who was watching as her husband helped the twins build a snowman. Queenie gave a short happy bark of recognition at the sight of the boys.
“You’re still here!” Taryn exclaimed. “I saw that your tree stand had been taken down and the camper was gone, so I just assumed you guys had headed for home.”
Kerry explained about the slashed tires and the impassable roads and Heinz’s health scare.
“I’m sorry about Spammy, and Heinz’s illness, but selfishly, I’m glad you’re still here. I’ll bet Austin and Patrick are glad too.”
“I think they are,” Kerry said.
“Will we be seeing you at all after Christmas?”
Kerry hesitated.
“Never mind,” Taryn said. “I am a hopeless romantic.” She gave Kerry a quick hug. “Merry Christmas, Kerry. I hope you and Patrick find a way to be together, no matter what.”
“I gotta go,” Kerry said, blushing. “Queenie and I have been cooped up inside all day. We both need to stretch our legs.”
When she returned to the apartment she found Heinz in the studio. He was bent over the easel, paintbrush in hand, but when she walked in, he quickly threw a cloth over whatever he’d been working on.
“You’re painting?” she asked.
“Dabbling. Sit, please.”
She did as he asked and he pointed to the sketchbook. “Kerry, I must apologize. You are an adult and you are perfectly capable of deciding how you want to live your life and pursue your art. I had no right to speak to you the way I did.”
“Sure you did,” Kerry said. “After all, I broke into your home, forced you to let me and our dog stay here, forced you to accept medical treatment. I’d say you have every right to speak your mind. Besides, you were absolutely right.”
“Is this where I say I told you so?” He smiled and tapped the sketchbook. “I saw that you left the last chapter of Austin’s story unfinished. So I took the liberty of assuming you meant for us to write the ending together?”
“Exactly,” Kerry said. She pulled the chair closer to the table and Heinz opened the sketchbook to show her what he’d drawn.
“It’s perfect,” she declared. “Except for one thing I think we need to add.”
chapter 53
The doorbell rang shortly after six and before Kerry could answer, Austin burst into the apartment, followed closely by Patrick, Murphy, and Claudia, all of them loaded down with shopping bags.
“Merry Christmas, Kerry,” Austin called out. “Guess what? We brought lights for the Christmas tree. And presents. And pie!”
“And dinner,” Claudia said, standing in the middle of the living room taking in the view of the apartment. “Wow. What a place. Now, where’s the kitchen?”
“Oh my.” Heinz looked at the faces gathered around his dining room table, at the remnants of the four-course feast Claudia had provided, and his own half-finished dish of tiramisu.
“I am… overwhelmed,” he admitted.
“I know, I know. Too much rich food. My mom always did the same thing. Blame it on me coming from a restaurant family,” Claudia said. “But you hardly ate anything, Heinz.”
“This is the most food I’ve eaten in a very long time, and what I did eat was delicious,” he said. “No, what I meant was, I’m overwhelmed, at all of you—for your kindness, for caring for me.” He tossed Kerry a knowing look. “For rescuing me despite myself.”
“You were really, really sick,” Austin said, scraping the last bit of whipped cream from his dish. “But you look a lot better now.”
“I feel better,” Heinz admitted.
Austin looked around at the apartment. “Are you mad at us?”
