I had to travel a whole ocean, but I finally found where I belong and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
maisie
Effie and Callum’sChristmas feast was amazing. All the Omegas who are vacationing with us took so many videos and photos and I just know this is going to turn into more business for the Heather Beag.
When I first started helping Effie, I thought I was doing this to help her strum up business, but the longer we work together, I’m realizing how much I love every aspect of it. Granted, I have help across the board, but that’s what a community does, it’s what a family does. I’ve learned that asking for help isn’t a failure, it’s what you do for the people you love.
Quite simply the Heather Beag is the perfect job I didn’t know I needed.
We’re back at the B&B and the Omega guests are doing their gift exchange that I helped set up. They’ve already committed to booking next year and the rest of the calendar is booking up fast.
I’m in the dining room with my whole heart: my pack, my found family, my sister and the loves of her life. It’s still hard not having our mom here; I know she would have loved this.
Warm, solid arms wrap around me, the comforting scent of pine and juniper lets me know that it’s Greer.
“Happy Christmas, Maisie,” he says, resting his head on top of mine as I stare at the tree in the dining room. I told Effie that buying tons of decorations was well worth the investment. We can re-use them every year and the guests have been posting the decor all over social media. We even had Santa—aka Alan—come to the B&B so tourists and members of the town could get their pictures taken with him.
My pack was not pleased when he asked if I wanted to sit on his lap for a picture. I can’t help but laugh at the memory as Greer holds me tight.
“Merry Christmas,” I reply, squeezing his arm.
He already knows what I’m feeling. Grief is one of those things that never really goes away, it just stings less over time.
“I got you something else,” he says, even though we already exchanged gifts this morning.
He opens up his large freckled palm, and inside of it sits a dainty pillar necklace. On each side it has each Alpha’s name engraved, and Fergus on the last side, which is just precious.
“I love it, thank you,” I say, as I gather my hair and he helps me put it on.
Though he can feel my happiness down the bond, there’s still that underlying feeling of missing my mom and, of course, he notices, he always notices.
“I wish I could have met her,” he says, able to identify what I’m feeling with ease.
“Me too,” I say softly, holding on tight to his arms.
He doesn’t mention anything about me using deodorizers and I wonder if he’s suspecting anything, but I don’t worry about it as Birdie approaches me and Greer kisses my head before giving us some distance. I wrap my arms around my sister, the only person who knows exactly what this feels like, and she holds me back.
“I’m happy we stayed,” she says and I nod in agreement.
“Me too.”
“Mom would have loved this,” Birdie says, and both of us well up with tears, though both of us hold it together.
“She always made sure Christmas was special, even when things were tight.”
“Remember that year she ran around town trying to find two Furbys because there was no way we could share one?”
“Yeah, I remember. But she wouldn’t want us sulking. She would want us to live in the moment.”
“You’re right,” Bridie says as we hold each other from the side and look at the tree one last time.
We turn around to the dining table where Callum has placed a ridiculous amount of finger foods. We’re going to play games, drink, and just enjoy our evening.
The Heather Beag has become a second home to me, and Effie a second mom. This place and these people mean everything to me, and it feels so profound to be a part of something that brings so much joy.
“I love seeing you happy,” Callum says, while holding a piece of food to my lips. The man loves feeding me, and who am I to deny what he loves?
“Mmm. What is it?”
