Chapter 21 #2
“There sure is.” Kat shot a quick look at Olivia, as if silently asking how much Janie knew about the process. Olivia gave a quick shake of her head. “And the stork will bring him or her in about five months,” Kat finished.
Janie’s eyes gleamed. “Is that baby gonna throw up too?”
“Oh, for the love.” Olivia face-palmed.
“So why didn’t you tell us?” Mom asked as everyone settled back into their seats.
Kat reclaimed the recliner with a groan.
“I haven’t told Devin yet. I wanted to surprise him Christmas morning, as his gift.
” She gestured toward Mason and Janie. “But these two with their whole truth thing earlier convicted me. I felt bad keeping such a big secret from you guys at the holidays—especially since you didn’t know why I was skipping stuff. ”
“Wait. Us?” Mason thumbed his chest. “What do you mean?”
“At the mall.” Kat waved her hand in the air. “We heard you ask Santa for the truth.”
Mason’s mouth gaped. “You were eavesdropping?”
“That’s illegal.” Janie’s face twisted into a frown.
Olivia wrapped one arm around her little shoulder. “Some rules mothers get to break.”
“Well, that wasn’t it. We wanted to know the truth about Santa. ” Mason sighed. “Not about all of you.”
The room quieted. Next to me, Nick shifted his weight.
“Yeah, we wanted to know if Santa was real and if this whole ‘be good’ thing is even worth it.” Janie crossed her arms over her stained sweater. “Because we have our doubts.”
“Ho, boy.” Olivia blew out her breath. “Guys, that’s a big discussion we can have really soon, okay? But maybe not tonight.” She caught Mason’s eye and quirked a pointed brow.
He returned a resigned nod. “Come on, Janie. Let’s be good and get ready for bed early—just in case.”
Janie released a sigh big enough to heat the room. “Fine. I’ll even brush my teeth twice.”
The two of them slipped from the living room and headed upstairs. I took the opportunity to look up at Nick, who offered a half smile and then took my hand. Our fingers threaded together and I relaxed. He was still acting a little odd, but the affection was reassuring.
Did he have a secret too? Or maybe he was feeling bad about our whole chaotic journey and felt burdened to share since everyone else was. I started to reassure him that he could, if he needed to, when Mom spoke first.
“I guess there’s just one more secret to share.” Mom chuckled nervously, then dipped her chin toward Ryan and Lydia. “Unless you two have one?” Her eyes lit with hope.
“Sorry, Mom. No buns in the oven here.” Ryan grinned. He did a double take at Lydia. “Right?”
“Right.” Lydia patted his back. “Maybe next Christmas.”
“Wait. There are two more secrets, then.” Olivia held up her hands. “And no, I’m not pregnant.”
“What is it?” Kat adjusted the blanket in her lap.
Olivia cast a look over her shoulder in the direction the kids had left and lowered her voice. “There’s another reason Paul isn’t coming until Christmas.”
Dad frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Things haven’t been easy lately. He’s been working a lot, and well…” Olivia lifted one shoulder in a shrug, her expression finally giving way to weariness. “It’s been a lot.”
My heart twisted for her and I gripped Nick’s hand. “Man. I didn’t see any of this coming when we sat down for this meeting.”
“Me neither.” His whisper tickled my cheek. “I guess no one has the perfect holiday, huh?”
“We’ve tried to keep our fighting from the kids as much as possible, which is also part of why he’s working so much.” Olivia sniffed. “But then it turns into a cycle.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom came to sit on the floor next to Olivia. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too, sis.” Kat’s lips twisted to the side.
Chloe frowned. “I had no idea.”
“That was the goal.” Olivia laughed a little as she blinked rapidly. “I think that’s why I was so hyper-focused on you and your alleged health problems, Mom. I didn’t want to think about my own issues.”
“Oh, Paul’s about to think about issues. ” Dad wrestled his cell from his pocket. “I have his number in here somewhere.”
“Dad, no. ” Olivia, Ryan, Chloe, Kat, and I all reached toward Dad at the same time.
“It’s not just him, Daddy. I’m guilty with the arguing and stuff too.” Olivia sniffed again as Mom smoothed the back of her hair. “We’re not separating or anything. It’s just been rough.” She drew a shaky breath. “I think we’ve both been hoping for a Christmas miracle.”
“You can always talk to us, you know.” Mom jutted her jaw to the side as she reconsidered. “Well, to me, anyway. Your father is a fixer.”
Dad sighed as he pocketed his phone. “I’m sitting right here, dear.”
“It’s a compliment.” Mom smiled up at him from the floor. “But sometimes we just have to sit in the truth and not try to make it go away.” They exchanged a lingering look.
Next to me, Nick rubbed his thumb over the top of my hand. I smiled at him, but worry glazed his eyes. “Holly, we need to talk.”
My stomach bottomed out. “Um…sure.” I hesitated. “Now?”
He inhaled. “I think so. Before—”
“I just wanted to get that out.” Olivia flapped her hand. “No more focusing on me. It’ll all be okay.”
“If you’re sure…” Mom carefully stood.
“I’m sure. What were you guys going to say?
” Olivia hugged her knees to her chest. Chloe slipped off the couch and came to sit next to her in the spot Mom vacated.
Axel leaned forward, watching intently as Mom reclaimed her stool.
Kat shifted into a different position in the recliner, the chair squeaking, while Ryan cleared his throat. Then the living room fell still.
Nick’s grip on my hand tightened. Somehow, I knew we were too late for this talk he wanted. My heart thudded. What did he know that I didn’t?
Dad ran a weary hand over his face. “That was, well, who knew practically everyone had a secret?” He chuckled a little. “Your mom and I just had a little announcement to make, is all. We weren’t sure how you kids would take it.”
Kat frowned. Chloe’s face tightened. I squeezed Nick’s hand. “What kind of announcement?”
“Your mother isn’t sick. All the things you’ve been hearing and misinterpreting”—Dad gave Olivia a pointed look—“have been related to something else.”
We all collectively held our breath. Nick stiffened. What was going on?
Mom pasted on a cautious smile as she looked at all of us. “We’re going to sell the farm. And…move to Florida.”
Nick’s fingers flexed under mine. Dad leaned back on the stool and crossed his arms. The room stilled. Except for my suddenly erratic heartbeat.
I blinked at my parents. “Florida?” The word fled my lips with the same emphasis as if they’d said outer space or Poughkeepsie.
“Florida?” I sounded like a parrot. Weren’t there a lot of parrots in Florida? Wasn’t that a tropical thing?
“So, you’re really not sick?” Olivia’s voice, timid and insecure, sounded much younger than her thirty-five years.
Mom spread her hands wide. “I’m not sick.”
“Sick of snow, maybe.” Dad laughed. “I’m coming up on retirement, and well, we need a new adventure.” They linked hands and then looked expectantly at us.
At once, as if receiving a signal I missed, my siblings flocked to them with hearty hugs and congratulations. Everyone wore a big smile, while a tear of relief slipped down Olivia’s cheek. Even Axel got up and crowded them, whooping and hollering—like he had any skin in the game at all.
Nick and I remained on the couch, my hand limp in his as a dozen emotions roiled through me. “I…” I tried to paste on a smile, to be included, but it immediately fell.
“You okay?” Nick shifted to face me, concern sketched across his face. “I figure this has to be a big shock.”
“It is. This is the only home I’ve ever known.
” I swallowed, keeping one eye on the festivities crowding the fireplace.
Where on earth had Axel found confetti? Red and green snippets showered over Mom, who grinned and turned her face into it, and Dad, who pursed his lips as he watched the infinite tiny bits land on the carpet.
I looked back at Nick, grateful for the commotion that let us talk semi-privately for a second.
“Being home the past week reminded me of all the reasons why I didn’t come home more often.
” I cut my eyes to Lydia, who was still hugging Mom.
“But it’s always been a safety net, you know?
Being able to come here. It’ll be weird to not have that.
” Especially if I didn’t find a job soon in Detroit.
Oh my gosh, now I had no backup plan. My heart shifted into overdrive.
“I’m sure it’ll be a big change.” Nick rubbed his thumb over my hand, the gentle circular motion bringing a measure of peace to the surprise—and regret—still surging through my body.
I took a shaky breath. “It’s my fault.” I swallowed. “I should have taken advantage of coming home more often. I really don’t have any right to complain.” But Florida? Florida? “Shock” was putting it mildly.
But wait.
Why was Nick not shocked like the rest of us?
I squinted at him, and he held my gaze, resignation creasing his temples. His thumb grazing the top of my hand slowed to a stop. “Holly…”
“There’s one more detail that’s pretty interesting.” Dad waved his hands to quiet everyone down. Axel began crawling around on the floor, picking up the confetti while Mom smiled her approval.
“Don’t tell me. You’re going to get a beachfront condo?” Kat grinned as she eased back toward her recliner. “With rooms for all the grandkids?” She patted her stomach.
“Sign me up.” Olivia grinned as she reached up to fix her loose bun. “Me and the kids will be there faster than you can say ‘sunblock.’?” She pointed at Kat, bossy Big Sister mode activated. “Speaking of—sunblock on babies is crucial. Organic, though.”
Kat saluted. “Add it to the list you’re making for me. Because I know you’re already doing that in your mind.”