Page 101 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
“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, whoknew 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 saidouter spaceorPoughkeepsie.
“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 adozen 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 Nicknotshocked like the rest of us?
