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What a fucking cliche. “Down on her luck, a big city lawyer returns home during Christmas time and runs into her childhood crush” the hallmark movie practically writes itself.
Well this isn’t a hallmark movie this is my hot mess of a life.
How does one go from being the youngest partner in her firm to being put on administrative leave? The answer is assholes.
Kat understood that as a lawyer there were going to be cases she didn’t like but still had to defend. It rubbed her the wrong way but she was always able to separate her work from her life.
Then her ex-girlfriend sued her for rent even though her name wasn’t on the lease and she was no longer living in the apartment. She might have had a little break down during mediation that turned into a screaming match between her and her ex. That also might have involved the entire 5th floor hearing about how she liked her hair pulled during sex.
Not her proudest moment, but she was tired.
Tired of the long hours and now the loneliness post break up. It wasn’t as though she really cared about the money - she wasn’t paying it and was not going to be legally obligated to either - it was the humiliation. When Fran walked into mediation with the top lawyer of a rival firm, who also happened to be the same person Kat had caught her in bed with that led to the break up, something had just snapped.
It wasn’t about the money for Fran either - it was about the power. The way that Kat’s name was officially tied to a case- not as a lawyer. Fran had hated the long hours and the countless missed dates and Kat was woman enough to admit she had made mistakes, but she had never cheated. She never even considered cheating - she had thought her and Fran were of the same mind thinking they would hustle now and be able to live the life they wanted as they grew older.
Guess that was bullshit.
Taking the train back to her home town and having her GrandDa pick her up was humbling for sure.
She hadn’t completely told her family the truth about why she was here. She told them she had saved her days and was excited for a real Christmas back at home. Which technically wasn’t a lie - she loved Christmas on her grandparents farm. She loved the snow, the work of the farm tasks, and the animals. She loved the way Main Street would have Christmas lights up and wreaths in every window. There was something so cozy about it and it made her feel nostalgic.
Nostalgia must have been the reason she was wandering aimlessly around Main Street with a hot chocolate in her hand. She remembered doing this same route in middle school and high school. Some businesses on Main Street were staples - the diner, the post office, the bar - but usually there were 1-2 new businesses a year that tried to see if they could pass the test of time and become one of those staples. So far the craft store, bookstore, spa, nail salon, and thrift shop were thriving and becoming staples in their own rights - while the sound bath and soap store seem to be on their way out.
There was a new store, it looked like a florist named ‘The Greenhouse’. It didn’t look new even though it had to be since it wasn’t here three years ago when Kat last visited home. Whoever owned it took the time to restore the historic parts of the building, while keeping it clean. Even the logo matched the style of the other businesses on Main Street. There were two christmas trees on either side of the front door. Both were decorated simply with gold, red, and silver ornaments.
Walking in there were a bunch of twinkly lights on the ceiling and more mini trees that were decorated and each seemed to pay homage to other businesses on main street. Some of the ornaments on the tree for the diner were milkshakes and burgers, while the bar tree had mini champagne bottles and tequila shots. Each mini tree had a place for people to enter to win a gift card to said business.
Cute.
“I’ll be right with you!” A voice called out from the back.
Shit, was Kat about to have to actually buy something when she really was just being nosey. She guessed she could just buy a poinsettia for her grandmother who seemed to collect those plants like they were going out of style.
Looking at the selection she noticed a create your own bouquet bar.
Again, cute. Whoever was in charge seemed to actually be thinking about how to attract business and keep it going. Making bouquets would have been a cute date for high schoolers. They would probably post about it on instagram or whatever app they use now-a-days and that in turn would bring in more people in.
“Hello, how can I help yo-” Kat had turned around at the voice and damnit she was both happy and fucked.
“Terra Harvey.” Kat had a thing about saying the younger girl’s name. Terra had been a grade below Kat and had probably shaped way too many of Kat’s teenage fantasies. She had tits and ass and a face that looked like a fucking cherub. It wasn’t fair that she had gotten better looking with age. She grew her hair out and seemingly, finally, learned how to do a proper winged eye liner. Her clothes fit her better and she just seemed more sure of herself. She was still wearing the typical jeans, a tshirt, and combat boots, but somehow it just looked better than Kat remembered.
“Kat!” Terra was smiling and there were those damn dimples. Those things haunted her for years because seriously, who has that perfectly placed dimples?
“Hey Ter.” She arched her eye at the younger girl to see where this was going. Terra had always been anxious so Kat was surprised to watch her approach and give Kat an awkward side hug thing. It was probably appropriate for two people who hadn’t spoken much in the 10 years since graduating high school, but she wished she had been able to get an armful of Terra Harvey.
“Your Grams didn’t say you were coming home for the holidays.” Terra took a step back.
“It was a last minute holiday decision - you know I love it here in the holidays.”
“I know.” Terra blushed at that. Kat had the vague recollection of them dancing at the winter formal her senior year - Terra in a hideous velvet blue suit and tshirt. Terra had been trying to get with Kat’s friend Dane and Dane had been trying to get with their other friend Riven. Riven and Terra had evidently kissed at some point during their freshman year and all that bullshit had unfortunately come out two minutes after Kat had worked up the courage to ask the shorter girl to dance.
“Do you own this place or do you just work here?” Kat could now see the little touches of Terra all around the shop. Little trinkets that she would bet were sent from Rose Harvey’s travels around the world without her children. A picture of Principal Harvey and Sam Harvey, Terra’s brother, coaching a little league team. And then there were the books. Terra always had some type of book in her hand and it seemed that habit was still alive and well. Kat counted no less than four books laid open on various flat surfaces of the shop.
“I own it. Just bought it two years ago and finally got everything up and running probably 18 months ago. “ Terra shrugged like it was no big deal.
“That’s amazing Terra. Very impressive, pretty girl.” Kat meant the compliment and she couldn’t resist throwing in the old nickname that always made Terra flush.
“And you! You’re a lawyer!” Terra made almost jazz hands at Kat.
“Not that impressive.” Kat scoffed, thinking about the amount of cases that she had worked on that found loopholes in leasing agreements and kicked small businesses owners, like Terra, out of their spaces to ensure office space for big companies.
“Kat, you’re a lawyer, living in the city - that was always your dream.” Terra said gently, biting her lip.
“And this is yours?” Kat gestured around the shop.
“Part of it.”
“And the other part?”
“I’m still working on it.” Kat had forgotten what butterflies felt like, especially when a beautiful girl was looking at her like that. Add on the fact that it was Terra Harvey and Kat was about ready to burst.
“Ter! You will never guess who’s back for the holidays so you can finally profess your undying love-” Flora, Terra’s cousin came barreling in the store stopping herself when she clocked Kat’s presence.
“Flora!” Terra groaned, putting a hand on her forehead and turning partially away from Kat.
“You’re here.” Flora was looking between the pair.
“Hello Flora.” Kat said politely. She had a love/hate relationship with the girl mostly because Flora never understood how her actions impacted Terra. Kat knew that Flora was technically the more conventionally attractive of the cousins, but she didn’t do it for Kat. Flora was beautiful, but she wasn’t Terra. Kat had no desire to touch or get close to her the way she wanted to with Terra.
“Well this is great!” Flora clapped her hands together.
“Great.” Terra echoed with less enthusiasm. Kat could see Terra pulling herself back and almost shrinking, self conscious now with an audience to their conversation. This was the type of shit that happened when Flora didn’t think things through.
“So Katherine - are you seeing anyone?” Flora batted her eyelashes and Kat cringed.
“Flora!” Terra reprimanded.
“What? That’s a totally normal question for someone we haven’t seen in years.” Flora waved Terra off while looking expectantly at Kat.
“Most people would ease into a question like that…” Terra grumbled.
“Well, I’m not most people.” Flora smiled between the both of them, “Well…?”
“Ah no, I’m not seeing anyone right now.” Kat looked down at her feet.
“And Ter?” Flora asked.
“And Ter, what?” Terra sassed at her cousin.
“Ter, are you seeing anyone?” Flora pressed, as Kat’s head snapped up to find Terra already looking at her.
“You already know that - " Cutting a bitten look at Flora, Terra took a deep breath and talking softly Terra said, "No…no, I am not.”
“Great! Then it looks like you both have time to get reacquainted this holiday season!”
Kat kept looking at Terra expecting her to say something, anything so Kat could know where her head was at.
Not to mention the fact that Flora said someone was back for the holidays that Terra could “profess her undying love for” and Kat would be fucking damned if some loser from their high school got to take Terra out before she did.
“Great.” Kat found herself smiling, a plan already forming on how to woo Terra Harvey this holiday season.