Hannah hesitated, glancing between Maddie and Sam before nodding. “Okay. Just for a little while.”
Maddie opened the door, the warmth from inside rushing out to greet them as they stepped into the cozy living room. Schatzi was sitting in her armchair, Ernie curled up on her lap, but she looked up and smiled brightly when she saw them.
“Well, look who it is!” Schatzi exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as she spotted Hannah. “I was wondering when I’d see you again, young lady. Come on in, sit by the fire. You look half-frozen.”
Hannah smiled shyly and took off her coat, hanging it by the door before sitting on the sofa across from Schatzi. The fire crackled softly in the hearth, filling the room with a comfortingwarmth, and Maddie felt a sense of calm settle over her. The house was alive with the kind of warmth that wasn’t just from the fire—it was the warmth of connection, of family.
“How did things go?” Schatzi asked.
“They went all right,” Hannah answered. “Better than I thought they would.”
“That’s wonderful news.”
“How are you feeling, Schatzi?” Sam asked, leaning against the wall as Fargo, who’d stayed with Schatzi, trotted over to sit at Sam’s feet.
“Oh, you know me,” Schatzi said with a dramatic sigh. “I’m just sitting here, trying not to let this sling get the best of me. I’m not used to being fussed over so much.” She gave Maddie a teasing glance, though her smile was full of affection.
Maddie chuckled and shook her head. “Well, you’re stuck with me for now. So you’ll have to get used to it.”
Schatzi waved her hand dismissively, but her eyes softened as she looked around the room, taking in the sight of Maddie, Hannah, and Sam all together. “I suppose there are worse things than being surrounded by good company.”
Hannah smiled, but there was still a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Maddie noticed it, but before she could say anything, Schatzi leaned forward in her chair, her voice lowering.
“You’ll be all right, you know,” Schatzi said, her gaze locked on Hannah. “I don’t need to know all the details of what happened with your dad, but I already know you’re going to be okay. And I’ll tell you something I’ve learned from living in these mountains all these years: life gives us hard things, but that’s just to teach us how strong we are. You can do this.”
Hannah’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she nodded, her voice barely above a whisper as she said, “Thank you, Schatzi.”
Maddie’s heart swelled with warmth, the tension of the day easing as she watched Hannah relax in the comfort of Schatzi’s words. It wasn’t going to be easy for any of them—there were still challenges ahead, still fears to face—but to Maddie it felt like they were finally on the right path.
As the fire crackled and the snow continued to fall outside, Maddie glanced at Sam, who caught her eye and gave her a small, reassuring smile. There was something unspoken between them, a quiet understanding that they were in this together. Not just for Hannah, but for a bigger purpose. That of bringing new life safely into the world.
The weight of grief that had once felt so crushing now felt lighter, like it was something manageable that Maddie could carry with her, instead of something that held her back. The warmth of the house, the people in it, had melted away the protective ice that had surrounded her heart for so long.
Having other people to care about was definitely helping, too. It forced her to turn her focus outward instead of inward, as it had been since Jack had passed.
And as she sat there, surrounded by the quiet hum of companionship and the soft flicker of the firelight, Maddie realized that she was no longer just surviving day to day.
She was starting to live again.
Chapter Fourteen
The day of Christmas Eve arrived quietly, blanketing the mountain house in a stillness that felt both peaceful and heavy. Snow had once again fallen through the night, covering the yard in a thick white layer.
Maddie and Schatzi had both gotten up late, had a simple breakfast of cinnamon toast, and spent most of the day watching old Christmas movies. Lunch had been soup left over from the day before. Keeping things easy seemed to be the theme of the day.
Now the light was starting to fade outside. A cup of tea in hand, Maddie found herself standing at the kitchen window, watching the flakes continue to drift down. The world outside looked untouched, serene, as if it had paused to allow the holiday to settle in gently.
Inside, the warmth of the house was steady and comforting, though there was a tension in the air that hadn’t been there before. Maddie could feel it—something unresolved, like unfinished business hanging over the festive mood. Despite the crackling fire and the smell of pine from the small Christmas tree she’d set up in the corner, there was a sense of anticipation.
Maddie wasn’t sure what they were waiting for. Perhaps it was the fact that, for her, this was another Christmas without Jack—or maybe it was the lingering worries about Hannah’s future. Regardless, Maddie couldn’t shake the feeling that tonight would be important, a turning point for all of them.
She turned away from the window and busied herself in the kitchen, preparing the Christmas Eve dinner she and Schatzi had planned earlier in the week. It was nothing too over the top—a small turkey to roast, green beans, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potato biscuits—just the usual Christmas fare.
But it was enough to make the house smell like home. Maddie hummed softly to herself as she did the prep of peeling potatoes, the rhythm of the task calming her nerves.
In the living room, Schatzi sat in her usual chair, her knitting needles clicking softly as she worked on a scarf for Hannah.
Despite the sling, Schatzi had insisted on taking up her knitting again. She said it was her way of keeping her hands busy, of doing something productive while she recovered. Maddie had given up trying to stop her.
