Page 97 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
“You’ll see.” I let out a sigh as I wiggled into a more comfortable position and toed off my boots. “I apologize in advance.”
“You’re not going to hold me down and Christmas me again, are you?” His panicked whisper seemed only half joking.
I choked back a giggle. “That would be preferable to what’s ahead, I assure you.”
“Are we ready to begin?” Dad’s solemn voice quieted even Janie and Mason, who were sitting cross-legged with Olivia onthe floor by the Christmas tree. Dad and Mom sat on stools in front of the stocking-adorned fireplace—yes,stools,like we were about to vote on new city curfews or park equipment or something. Mom had the official Family Meeting Binder in hand, the one with the floral pattern and the tired, creased spine that had seen many meetings over the decades.
And Kat hadn’t even gotten up from the recliner since we all barged in roughly ten minutes ago, talking over one another in our confusion about Ryan’s demand. She’d simply paused her movie with a scowl and tightened her ponytail.
No oneescaped a family meeting.
“Why are we doing this, again?” Chloe frowned, her arched brows pinching together as she leaned into Axel’s shoulder from their snuggled spot on the loveseat. “Ryan saw something?”
“Heardsomething.” Ryan leaned forward, which crowded my legs. I scooted closer to Nick.
Nick draped one arm along the back of the couch behind me, his posture noticeably stiffer. I shot him a questioning glance, but he was watching Mom and Dad, worrying his bottom lip.
“As always, let’s start with blessings.” Mom tapped the binder. “I have the list from our last meeting right here.”
We all groaned in sync. Axel perked up. “Blessings? Like, things we’re grateful for?”
Chloe nodded. “Every family meeting is like one giant Thanksgiving dinner.”
“It’s to help remember we’re all a unit. One team.” Dad nodded briskly.
“And that there are always more good things happening than bad.” Mom uncapped her pen. “Who wants to go first? Oh, never mind. I will. I’m blessed that we’re all here together this Christmas.” She wrote with a flourish. “Thomas?”
Dad nodded again. “Same.”
“He does that every time,” I whispered to Nick.
Mom pursed her lips as if she wanted to argue, but, miraculously this time, she didn’t. “Fine. Next?”
Janie raised her hand. “Candy.”
“Basketball.” Mason fist-pumped the air.
Olivia shot Mom and Dad a wide-eyed look. Then smiled down at her kids. “Family.”
“We can’t all put the same thing.” Kat rolled her eyes. “Isanyonecreative in this family?”
“I am.” Chloe sat up a little straighter and smiled. “I’m grateful that my last social media reel went viral.” She lifted her chin with pride.
Kat scowled. “That doesn’t count—”
“Next!” Mom barked. Then she stopped, pen hovering over the binder. “Actually, I think we should probably skip this and get to it, Thomas.”
Whoa.
Ryan shot me a look just as my gaze automatically went to find his. Skip the blessings? This was serious.
“You’re right. I think there’s been some confusion.” Dad looked at Mom, then met Ryan’s gaze. He squinted. “And it’s time we get to the bottom of it.”
“What confusion?” Olivia frowned. Then her eyebrows practically darted off her forehead into her hair. “Oh no—Mom, is this about your health? I was right, wasn’t I?” Her voice cracked.
My heart pitched in my chest.What?Surely we’d have known. But Olivia knew, didn’t she? Had I really been so caught up in revenge plans and operations that I hadn’t even noticed my own mother—
Mom coughed into her elbow and Ryan lurched to his feet. “See!” He pointed at Mom. “I told you!”
