Page 109 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
Huh. That was a little weird, but it didn’t necessarily haveanything to do with me. After everything that went down yesterday, I wouldn’t want to do business with my family either. “But you’re still selling to someone?”
“Yes, I believe so.” A disappointed frown creased her forehead. “If we can find another buyer we feel good about, that is.” She sighed.
“I want you to know I’m okay with it, if you move. I know I didn’t show it last night, but it just caught me off guard.” I took her hand and squeezed. “Because, well, I guess there’s still one more secret.”
Mom winced as if bracing herself.
I matched her expression. “I sort of got laid off.”
“Right before Christmas?” Mom’s eyes bugged. “Holly. I’m so sorry. That’s awful.”
“That wasmyfirst reaction.”
Mom frowned. “Do you need anything? I can get your father to—”
“Not right now.” I blew out a sigh. “I’ve come to terms with it. Honestly, I wasn’t happy there, and I’m sure my bosses could tell. I’m still a little worried about finances, but I have a fresh start ahead. A clean slate. And I realize now that’s what you and Dad want too. In Florida.”
“It is.” Mom looked past me, at the house, and a wistful smile slid across her face. “This farm was a gift. We raised five beautiful, talented, amazing children. But now we’re empty nesters, and it’s too much for us alone. I’d love to see it passed down to someone else with kids.”
My chest tightened again. Nick and his dream. Had I ruined that plan? Had I chased Nick away? But no, he was the one who knew the plan all along and didn’t bother to tell me. He had every opportunity to bring me in on it and chose not to. There couldn’t be a good reason for that. Definitely not one that would point toward his having any true feelings for me.
And way too many that pointed toward himnot.
“I think that’s why Nick’s idea intrigued us so much from the beginning. This wouldn’t just be a place for a few kids to grow up—it’d be a place for alotof them.” Mom squeezed my hand in return, then let go. “But who knows. Maybe it’s not meant tobe.”
The back door slammed. Ryan thudded down the steps toward us, huffing into his gloveless hands. “You two are going to freeze out here. It must have dropped ten degrees since we went in.”
“We were just heading in.” Mom set the box on the ground and stood, stopping to hug Ryan. “Merry Christmas Eve.” Then she bent over and pressed a kiss on my forehead. “And merry Christmas Eve to you, Holly Berry.”
This time, the nickname warmed a little instead of cut. There were still conversations Mom and I needed to have, but this felt like an amazing start.
She saw me.
I smiled back. “Merry Christmas, Mama.” At least one good thing had come from this night. Two, if you counted my little Grinch heart growing a few sizes.
I’d have to be content with that.
Ryan moved to stand directly in front of me as Mom slipped inside the house. “Look, I’ll get right to it, sis, partly because there have been enough secrets and partly because it’s ridiculously cold out here.” He stamped his feet a few times. “I’ve texted with Nick a little, and I can’t get a lot out of him,butI think I see some of the confusion here.”
“No confusion.” I looked past him at the dwindling remains of the fire. “I fell for Nick, but Nick never really fell for me. It was all just games and ulterior motives for him.”
“That’s not true.”
“It’s okay. I’m not mad, I promise. No more pranks.” I heldup both hands in surrender. “I’m moving on. It just stings a little.” Yeah, and the Grinch was just a little green.
“No, I’m telling you, Holly, thatcan’tbe true.” Ryan dropped to a squat in front of my chair so we were closer to the same level. “When Nick told me about Operation: Jack & Sally, he asked me not to tell you.”
“I know. And I really don’t want to relive that, okay?” I pushed my legs down and started to stand. I wanted to hang on to the bit of Christmas miracle I’d had with my mom, and Ryan dredging the Nick stuff back up was killing the vibe. “He just wanted to keep the charade going so Dad would think we were still together, and Nick could stay in the running for the farm.”
Of course, Mom said he’d backed out. But probably because he realized it was all too far gone to mess with now. His plan had failed.
“No!” Ryan batted at my knee like a cat. “Listen to me, Holly Berry.”
I narrowed my eyes and leaned forward. “Just because Mom used that nickname doesn’t mean—”
Ryan shoved his hand against my mouth. “Nick wanted to keeppretendingto date you because he wanted toactuallydate you.”
I pulled back and blinked at him. “What do you mean?” A tiny seed of hope sprouted, but I immediately doused it with weed killer. I couldn’t go back down that road.
