Hannah scrunched up her face, “And that means what?”
“Instead of imagining my life without you. Cathy challenged me to imagine my life with you.”
Kate clutched Hannah’s hand. Hannah was stunned to see tears swimming in Kate’s brilliant green eyes. Hannah’s heart began to beat faster. “And you imagined this?”
“I did.” Kate wiped the corners of her eyes, catching the unshed tears.
“What else did you imagine?” She held her breath, waiting for Kate’s answer.
“You and Smoky living with me. You and me having a couple of cute kids. You and me getting old.”
Hannah gasped. “And that’s your wonderful life?”
“Only if you can put up with me,” Kate said, dropping her eyes from Hannah’s and wrapping her arms around Hannah’s waist. She kissed Hannah’s belly through her fleece jacket.
It was Hannah’s turn to tilt Kate’s face up to hers. “All I want for Christmas is for you to be my family.”
The corners of Kate’s mouth ticked up. “I’m your forever home?”
“Yes, you are.” Hannah felt her heart expand until it filled her chest. This was all she had wanted. A home of her own.
Kate stood and took Hannah in her arms. The last stragglers had long passed them, and they could hear the start of the Marley Creek Madrigals. Kate pressed her thin lips to Hannah’s. Unable to restrain herself, Hannah took Kate’s bottom lip between hers. A quiet moan left Kate’s mouth. Need thrummed through Hannah, and she slipped her tongue into Kate’s mouth. She was eager to taste Kate, and from the way Kate was pressing against her, Hannah knew she felt the same. Their tongues entwined, and Hannah decided breathing was overrated.
Then the wind shifted, and the melody of the carolers met their ears. Kate pulled away from their kiss and laughed into Hannah’s shoulder. Of all the Christmas songs, the carolers were singing “You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.”
“God, I love our life,” Kate said. “I can’t wait for you to move in next week. I could never have imagined when I first arrived in Marley Creek that a couple of years later, I’d own my own building and share my life with someone like you.”
“The Three of Cups!” Hannah said suddenly.
Kate scrunched up her face. “Come again?”
“Happiness in relationships, celebrating connections with our loved ones, and a deep sense of belonging. That’s what this Christmas has brought me. I’m living the Three of Cups. And I’ve found my happily-ever-after. I love you so much.” Hannah caressed Kate’s cheek.
Understanding dawned in Kate’s green eyes. Hannah watched as the corners of her eyes crinkled with her smile. “I think I’m a big fan of the cups. Can we just keep living the cups life forever?”
“Well, life without some wands, swords, and pentacles would be boring, but we have each other.”
Kate wrapped her arm around Hannah’s waist and kissed her cheek. “Forever and ever, my love.”
The love she felt kept her toasty warm as they walked over to join the caroling. Big, fat flakes drifted down, blanketing the world with snow that sparkled as it landed.
Epilogue: A Year Later
The meeting room that was usually used for preparing potions and making crystal talismans was decorated on virtually every surface with rainbows. Hannah raised an eyebrow and stared at Kate.
Kate smiled and shrugged. “What can I say? I’ve always been a fan of rainbows.”
“It’s fine, as long as you help me take down the decorations after the meeting tonight.”
“Of course, my love.” Kate wrapped Hannah in a hug. Hannah rested her head on Kate’s shoulder. She couldn’t help but put a few kisses on Kate’s neck. Kate toyed with the necklace Hannah was wearing. She’d given it to her for their six-month anniversary. It was a delicate gold chain with a heart-shaped pendant. In the pendant was a tiny scroll that simply said Home.
Home, Kate was her home, and she was Kate’s home. “I was thinking…” Hannah said.
“What’s up?”
“Meeting seems too formal and businesslike for what we are trying to build here. What if instead of meetings we had gatherings?”
“Gatherings,” Kate echoed. “I love it.”
