Page 36 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
“Isn’t it wild?” Mary says. “How much he’s come out of his shell.”
“Yeah, I didn’t know Hollis before his accident, but he’s being more social, and I caught him whistling a Christmas song,” Kindred says as though that’s way out of character for him.
“What do you guys mean?” I ask. I only know one Hollis, the one that welcomed me with open arms and has given me a home, a ring, and these babies in my belly.
“I mean, he’s never been the life of the party, but he was somewhat social before the accident,” Mary tells us.
She’s his mom, and I’m sure knows him better, but I get the sense that Hollis was thrust into that world after his father’s death. He had to grow up quickly, and I don’t believe he had much of a choice.
Hollis did what was expected of him. I don’t think he ever enjoyed that world, even before the accident. I would never say that to his mom because I know that even if she had told Hollis he didn’t have to take the reins, he would have either way.
“He’s good with people,” Kindred says. “Do you think that he might want to go back to the city? I mean, if he’s returning to who he was.”
“No,” I answer before Mary can. “Sorry.” The word popped right out of my mouth.
It’s silly of me to actually think I know him better, but I can’t help it. We’ve spent all of our nights talking and learning abouteach other. I’d like to think he tells me things he doesn’t tell anyone else.
“Don’t be sorry, honey. Hollis is your fiancé. You have the right to speak for him more than anyone else.”
“Thank you.” Mary is so different from a lot of the people I’ve met in Max’s life. I was worried about how she’d be when we met. I wasn’t one of the girls she tried to hook him up with, but now I can see she was trying anything to get Hollis to come back to life again.
It’s my understanding that while he might be the mayor, he’s not all over town. He goes into town when needed but sticks close to home. Hollis has taken me into town almost every day since I got here. Until the engagement announcement.
Now, whenever I speak of something we might need from town for the party, he has someone else handle it. I’m sure he’s just busy but I hate the recent shift.
I don’t want to worry, but I can’t help myself. I know the Max situation still has to be handled, and Hollis says he’s got it.
But what if it’s something else? Could Hollis be getting cold feet? He went headfirst into all of this, and now with the days passing, I’m sure reality is sinking in. He went from being an eligible bachelor to me moving in, him being told he was going to be a dad of twins, and now he’s engaged. What if now that things have slowed down a bit and we’re falling into a rhythm, he’s decided that maybe he doesn’t want all those things or me?
“Isn’t this kind of late?” I seal another one of the envelopes with an invitation to the Christmas party. It’s almost here at this point. This might need to be a mass email to make sure everyone gets the invite that they want.
“They’re more for show. Keepsakes," Kindred tells me.
“They are really nice.” I have never felt paper this silky. I didn’t know paper could be this smooth.
“Are you bringing a date to the party, Kindred?”
Ope, is this Mary in action?
"Why would I do that?" Her face scrunches like she ate something disgusting.
"Only wondering. You think the sheriff will bring a date?" Mary pushes a stack of sealed envelopes to Kindred to use the wax seal on. She says it nonchalantly, but I can tell there is something behind it. She didn’t just randomly bring up the sheriff for no reason. I have to admit that I’m curious to see how Kindred is going to react too.
"I don't keep up with who Sheriff Hudson is dating or fucking." There is heat in her tone, and I don’t think I’ve heard her drop the F word before. Yeah, Mary is definitely on to something, and Kindred's answer all but confirms it.
Abort!I try to telepathically send Mary a message, but she doesn’t catch on. She keeps going down the sheriff path.
"Oh, so the librarian thing might be true? I thought that was the rumor mill. I was going to introduce him to Polly."
Kindred slams the wax seal down so hard on the envelope we all jump.
“Okay, I won’t introduce him to anyone.” Mary fights a smirk.
“I need to use the bathroom.” I push up from the chair at the formal dining room table. It’s been the command center for the holiday party. I don’t want to get mixed into whatever this is. Unless Kindred wants to tell me herself.
When I pass Hollis’s office, I peek inside to see him typing away on his computer while talking on the phone to someone.
“I’ll call you back.” He ends the call the second he sees me. “Did you need something?”
