The first-time Iona and Blair had met they’d been in second grade and both of them were trying to be the top student in the class. Both were strong type-A personalities who had lived up to their potential. Her father hadn’t been impressed and it had only spurred Iona to work harder.
Blair and Jeff had been married for eighteen months and her friend seemed happy. She had started to cut back hours at the magazine where she worked as a feature editor and Blair had told her in confidence that Jeff wanted to start a family.
“Is there a reason why we are in the corner?” Iona asked. “Are you pregnant?”
“What? No. I mean, I don’t think so. I won’t know for a few more days,” she said. “I dragged you over here to ask about Mads. Are you with him?”
“No,” Iona said. “We just arrived at the same time.”
“Okay,” Blair said.
“He is cute, though,” Iona said. There was no denying it. The dark-blue button-down shirt he wore made it impossible for her to stop looking at his eyes. And his thick black hair begged for her to run her fingers through it. She knew that she’d never do it.
Mads and Sofia were complicated and she was busy. The Candied Apple Café didn’t leave any time for a social life. And the few times she’d tried … well it hadn’t gone well.
“He is. But he’s complicated, Io,” Blair said. “His wife died last year, just days after Christmas.”
“I know,” Iona said. She would have guessed that he had some sort of tragedy in his past, even if he hadn’t told her about his wife. There was an aura of sadness around him at times. He was talking with a group of men and she noticed he kept his eye on Sofia, who had drifted off with a group of children.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt,” Blair said. “I mean that matchmaker business and everything. How are things with Theo?”
Iona took a sip of her chocolatini before she answered. “Good. Well, awkward but good. Nico is really perfect for Theo and despite the fun we had together over the summer, there wasn’t any real passion between us. I mean, I only said yes to the matchmaker because of my mom.”
“And the fact that your dad is gone,” Blair said.
Iona shrugged. “Maybe … but really, it was more that everyone I know is getting married and settling down and I don’t have time to date so I thought it’d be a short cut.”
“Fair enough. If Jeff hadn’t been so persistent I probably wouldn’t be married to him either,” Blair said.
They both laughed at that. Jeff had fallen hard for her friend the moment he’d laid eyes on her and hadn’t given up, despite the fact that Blair had refused to accept a date with him for two years.
Jeff gestured for Blair to join him and Iona moved on to socialize with another group but noticed that Sofia was sitting on the floor by herself. She faced the plate glass floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a view of the plaza and the massive dark shape of the tree that would have its lights turned on shortly.
Ditching her martini glass on the tray of a passing waiter, she made her way over to the little girl.
“Can I join you?” Iona asked.
“Sure,” Sofia said.
“Tell me about your tree collection,” Iona said as she sat down.
“It’s really not that big but I have six so far. One for each Christmas. When I was two Mommy got sick and we couldn’t have a real tree.”
Iona hadn’t wanted to pry into Mads’ personal life and realized now that Sofia was telling her things that he might not want her to. “My brother is allergic to animals so we could never have a pet when I was growing up. My mom got me a large pink stuffed dog that I called Fluffy.”
“Papa says we travel too much for a dog,” Sofia said with more maturity than her years.
Just then “Must Be Santa” by Bob Dylan came on and Iona, whose mom loved Dylan, started to sing along, which made Sofia laugh and clap her hands. The music was catchy and the song had a lot of call and response, so soon they were both singing along, laughing. It was just a silly song and then in the middle there was a harmonica solo, which was fun.
This was what she loved most about the holidays, how a song could just lift the spirits. And she saw that Sofia was smiling the same way.
A deep tenor joined in and Iona looked up as Mads joined them, sitting down on the other side of Sofia. Sofia stopped singing along and watched Mads. Iona didn’t stop singing, just winked at Mads, who nodded at her. Sofia leaned into the curve of her father’s body and clapped her hands along with the song until it ended.
“That’s a funny song,” Sofia said.
“It is.”
She was a stranger to this family. A business partner, at best, and now that the little girl had her father with her, Iona should get up and leave.
Really, she should.
But she couldn’t.
She made small talk with the people that Mads introduced her to and she’d brought some Candied Apple Café business cards to hand out. But she didn’t really feel like working the room tonight. Instead her mind was focused on that little girl who had been singing until her father sat down. Mads doted on Sofia, so Iona doubted he would have cautioned her to stop.
That meant something else was at play here. Something that was none of her business, she reminded herself again. Blair had said that he was complicated. Iona knew that, but something about him kept her here. She wanted to help him. Wanted to … know him better.
“It’s almost time for the tree lighting,” Jeff announced. “Sofia, come over here with the other kids so you have a good spot to view it.”
She got to her feet and ran over to Jeff, who took her hand and led her to the other children. Iona knew she should get up and join the others, but Mads didn’t seem to be ready to get up so she stayed there.
“Why do you think Sofia stopped singing when I joined you?” Mads asked.
“Maybe she just wanted to listen to your voice,” Iona said. “She was watching you.”
“I know. She’s been so … I don’t know what to do this holiday season. Gill used to sing songs with her all the time and I never wanted to intrude on that. You know, it was their thing. I just don’t want her hurt. Songs don’t hurt, in fact they usually cheer her up.”
“I’m sorry. I really don’t know what to tell you to do,” Iona said. “My own relationship with my dad was complicated. I think you and Sofia are figuring it out.”
“I hope so. Thanks for giving me an outsider’s perspective. I’ve been so focused on Sofia and making sure that her mom’s death doesn’t dominate her childhood.”
Iona felt like she was on the cusp of being more than a business associate to Mads. She could just smile and get up and leave or she could ask more questions and really try to help this little duo out.
“When did her mom die?” Iona asked gently. It wasn’t in her nature to not ask questions.
“December 27th,” he said flatly. His voice had gone cold and his eyes were that icy blue again.
Iona scooted closer and hugged him. He held himself stiffly in her embrace and she sighed. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too,” he admitted, his arms coming around her briefly and then they dropped.
But their eyes met and he didn’t look away. He tipped his head to the side and she sat there waiting. Normally, she would be the aggressor, but nothing with Mads was normal. He wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger and then pulled his hand back. Leaning in, his lips brushed hers so lightly that she almost felt like she’d imagined it. Except for the shivers of awareness sliding down her spine.
“Papa!”
He pulled back, getting to his feet as Sofia joined them.
“Papa, come on. You’re going to miss the tree!”
He turned away from Iona and she stood there watching him walk away with his daughter.
***
Keeping his eyes off of Iona was proving a problem for Mads as the evening wore on. He knew he had no business kissing her and his rational mind hadn’t been a part of that decision. It had been pure instinct. It had been a long time since he’d felt anything around a woman or really even noticed one. But Iona wasn’t the kind of woman who could be ignored. Something that many of the other men in the room were noticing.
She was easy to talk to and laughed frequently. She had come over to Sofia and him right after the tree lighting and posed with them for a photo. “There we go. You can add this to your tree collection, Sofia.”
“Oh, thank you,” Sofia said. “I heard there are cookies … Papa?”
“Go and get one,” he said, ruffling her hair and she ran off to the table with the large cookies on it. He watched his daughter as she carefully walked along the table checking out all of the offerings before making her selection.
“This was a lot of fun, but I’ve got an early meeting, so I’m going to head out soon.”
“No problem. Sofia really likes you. You make her laugh and that is something she hasn’t done a lot lately,” he said. But he didn’t want to keep talking about his daughter; he wanted to know more about Iona. “I have heard a lot about your father from Jeff. He mentioned that he was impetus for you to start your own business.”
Iona blushed and shook her head. “You asked about me?”
“Well, Jeff volunteered,” Mads said.
“It’s okay. Jeff does business with Summerlin Industries so he knew my dad pretty well.”
“That explains why he brought it up. I guess it wasn’t an easy relationship,” Mads said. He wasn’t going to push it but he’d told her more about his personal life than he’d meant to.
“No, it wasn’t. He pushed me hard and never really gave me a compliment … that I needed him to do.”
Mads put his hand on Iona’s shoulder to comfort her but he admitted to himself that it was also because he liked touching her. “You’re entitled to want your dad to say you did a good job.”
She tilted her head to the side. “So true. But he’s gone now so I probably should get over it.”
“If only we could tell ourselves that and make it happen.”
“Sorry, I forgot that you have …’
“Don’t do that. Don’t belittle what you’re feeling,” he said. So many times over the last year he knew his friends had pulled back from him, afraid to share anything because of his grief.
“It’s just compared to what you’ve lost, my thing isn’t a big deal.”
Mads had heard that before. Many of his friends had stopped calling and dropping by when Gill had first gotten sick and then distanced themselves even more after her death. It was as if they didn’t know how to act around him anymore.
“I’m glad you feel that it isn’t a big deal,” he said. “No one should have to feel what I did. And you know I’m not judging you for having fun or not grieving. One of the hardest things for me to accept was that life moves on.”
“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.”
“Good luck. If you’d like I can send a basket of Candied Apple goodies over in the morning for any of your displaced guests,” she said. The gesture would be a nice promo opportunity.
“That would be a nice touch. Thank you.”
“No problem. Just text me the number of baskets needed and the guest names.”
“Thanks,” he said. She nodded and took a step away from him, but he caught her arm in his hand.
She stopped and half turned toward him. Their eyes met and he closed the gap between them.
“I told myself this was a bad idea, but I can’t stop wondering what it would be like to kiss you,” he said.
She just leaned in the slightest bit, their lips met and a tingle spread down her neck through her body. His lips were firm but soft and parted against hers. She felt the warmth of his breath in her mouth and then the brush of his tongue over hers. She reached up, grabbing onto the lapels of his coat to steady herself.
She opened her eyes and shifted back from him. He just traced his finger over his mouth, then nodded. “Good evening.”
He walked away and she watched him leave. Blair’s comment from the night before ran through her mind. Iona had thought she understood what “complicated” meant, but she really hadn’t.