Page 75 of Home Ice

"Even the morning of Christmas Eve?"

Barrie winces. "I am sorry. I got here as soon as I could. Didn't even change." She motions down to herself.

"What do you do?" I regret asking as soon as Barrie looks at me. Her eyes squeeze back to small slits.

"Barrie is the best commercial real estate agent in Toronto."

The woman rolls her eyes in embarrassment, and for that second, I think she might not be as tough as she's letting on. "If your mom says it, it must be true, right?"

I look at Chloe. We both wince, and I sneak my hand around hers before she has a chance to pull away. She doesn't try, though. "Moms are… definitely something. That's for sure." I know he would never out me, but from the horrified look on Tracy's face, I know that Brant must have told her I don't get along with my mother.

"Why don't you go get changed, sweetie?" She tells Barrie. "We'll finish up, and then we can all go. And if you see your dad or your brother, tell them mission accomplished. They avoided doing any baking again this year."

Barrie nods, but she still stares at me, openly evaluating. "You know I would have been here if I could have. I'll pack everything up while you guys get ready."

"I know, hon." Her mom gives her a quick kiss on the cheek, and I turn away.

Barrie's footsteps through the kitchen are as harsh as her glare, and it's not until I hear her move into the living room that I finally relax. I look at Chloe. She nods, telling me that she's fine. I am too. So what if my boyfriend's sister hates me? There are probably lots of strong, healthy relationships where families hate the girlfriend. I swallow the worried lump in my throat, knowing that those families aren't close the way this one is. I'm doomed.

"Don't worry about her," Brant's mom comes behind me and rests her hand on my back like she knows exactly what I'm thinking. "Even now that Brant is more than able to take care of himself, she's still the protective older sister. More so after his ex."

"Serenity?"

Brant's mom nods. "Barrie never liked her, but I can already tell you're about as different from Serenity as a moon is from a cat. I know my daughter. She'll like you. Now, go get cleaned up. If I didn't know better, I'd think you two were flinging dough at each other. I'll finish baking the rest."

Chloe and I share a quick glance.

"I raised two spirited children. I recognize mischievous laughter even when I'm in the other room. Follow me. The guest suite is above the garage. I'll show you." She leads us down a short hallway and up a flight of stairs. At the top, there's a small landing with three doors. She points to the left and right. "Bedrooms. When Brant visits, he takes that one." She flicks her left hand.

"Is that the one he and Serenity stayed in?" I shouldn't ask. I've slept in the same bed he shared with her at his house. But doing it here in his parents' house just feels different.

His mom snorts. "That's how I first knew you were different. She would make him stay at a hotel in town."

"And he did?" It seems so unlike him. I can't imagine him not spending every second possible with his family during his visits.

She opens the other door, showing us the one bathroom in this section of the house. "Sometimes we think we have to pretend to be someone else in order to be loved. He's not pretending anymore. Anyway, you should have everything you need in the bathroom here. Just come down once you're ready. See you girls in a bit."

"What am I supposed to wear?" Chloe asks as soon as Brant's mom disappears down the steps. "And where's my bag? I need my makeup and hair gel." Her hair is still only a couple of inches long, so she spikes it like she's a punk rocker from the eighties. It's actually a really cute look.

"Check your room." I tick off fingers. "Wear that pink sweater you brought. It looks nice on you. And don't go crazy with the makeup. We don't want to scare the people at the senior center."

"You're the one who's going to scare them if you don't at least put on some eyeliner. One day I'll teach you my magic makeup ways." She sticks her tongue out and opens the door to her room.

CHAPTER 49

I'M NOW THE KIND OF GUY WHO HAS A FAVORITE KNUCKLE

BRANT

"Hey." I lean in to give Lily a quick kiss when she gets to the base of the stairs. "Dad pulled me out to his workshop to help him finish a project. He made a new rocking chair for the senior center."

"That's so sweet. Both of your parents are."

They are, but since I grew up with it, it just seems normal to me. They always taught me and Barrie that it's our obligation to help the people who have less than we do. Growing up, that meant volunteering over the holidays and during the summer. Now that I have a lot more money than time, it means donating. Except on Christmas. This is one of the things I love doing every year when I come home for my break.

"So, does this mean you have a hidden talent as a woodworker?" she asks.

I laugh. "Hardly. Dad started it as a hobby a few years ago, but he's gotten pretty good. So every year he makes something new for the center."

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