Page 47 of The Holiday Ex-Files

Both sets of siblings’ brows raised.

“I thought he should know about your mom, so I texted him.”

“You’re still in contact with Noah?” Ben asked like it was any of his business.

It caused Mara’s eyes to get all glinty with devious wonder. “Of course she is. They’re like BFFs,” she highly exaggerated. Although that’s exactly what Noah wanted us to be. At least I thought so. I wasn’t sure after yesterday.

“What did you guys do yesterday? School carnival with his nephews, right?” Mara really was driving it home.

The way Ben’s face erupted in fire, I knew exactly why Mara was doing what she was doing. She loved to get to Ben anytime she could.

Before I could even answer, Ben growled, “He’s never said anything.”

“You’re not his babysitter. He can hang out with Cami anytime he wants to,” Mara taunted him further.

Ben’s jaw and hands clenched.

I wasn’t sure why it bothered him so much. Noah and I used to hang out all the time together. Besides, Ben no longer had any say in my life.

“You guys can go up and see Mom. I’ll wait for Noah.” Ben marched toward the entrance he had barely just come through.

I stood, not sure what had just happened.

Mara looked absolutely delighted with herself as she watched her brother stomp away.

I linked arms with her. “You are a troublemaker. Even if I don’t understand why he’s upset.”

She spun us back toward the elevators. “Don’t you see the regret in his eyes when he looks at you?”

I shook my head. “All I see are eyes that used to judge everything about me.”

Mara pulled me closer. “I love my brother, but I hate what he did to you. I wish you would have told me earlier.”

“Me too,” I whispered.

Mara pushed the elevator button. “My dad does the same thing to my mom,” her voice swelled with emotion. “But she won’t leave him. I’m so glad you found the strength to.”

“Well, I had some help from dear old Claudia,” I choked on her name. “Where is she anyway?”

“Hopefully my brother left her in the desert, but she’s probably livestreaming in front of the hospital.”

“Maybe we should go photobomb,” I teased.

“Nah, I’ll just sign her up for a hemorrhoid cream mailing list or something.”

“Even better.” I giggled.

We stepped into the elevator; our arms linked together. It was only the two of us. For a moment we said nothing as we rose higher and higher, but I could hear Mara thinking. She pierced the silence by asking, “You’re happy, right?”

“I’m not unhappy.” I was finally honest with her.

She looked over at me, her beautiful eyes boring into mine. “That’s not acceptable.”

“I’ve kind of been thinking that.”

“Would it help if you watched a Hallmark movie?” She gagged a little.

I threw my arms around her. Just knowing she would support me in such an endeavor meant the world to me. “I don’t know, but I promise I won’t make you watch one with me.”

“You don’t know how much I love you for that.” She smiled.

“I love you too. Now let’s go face my ex-in-laws, I mean your parents.” I let out a deep breath.

“Mom misses you.”

“I’m going to change that.” I stepped out into what felt like a brave new world for me. Miss Sparkly was anxious to see both Kellie and Noah. And was she ever excited about the prospect of a Hallmark movie. I was trying to temper her expectations, but was failing miserably. She was listing all her favorites, including the holly jolly ones. I tried to tune her out, as we click-clacked our way down the tile hall toward Kellie’s room. The smell of hospital food lingered in the air. My guess was beef stroganoff or roadkill—it was a toss-up.

Mara barely tapped on the door before we walked right in. In my line of sight was Jay, sitting in the corner staring at his phone like he was bored. He was decked out in some tapered golf pants and long-sleeved polo shirt. He looked like a man in his mid-forties, instead of late fifties. He for sure dyed his brown hair. The gray in his five-o’clock shadow said it all.

Mara took my hand and pulled me all the way into the room.

Jay barely looked up and glanced our way. He gave me a passing hello before he focused back on his phone. It didn’t bother me, other than that he was just plain rude and inattentive to his wife, who was sitting up stick straight in her hospital bed applying a layer of lip stain. Kellie looked painfully perfect with her long, dark hair curled and makeup done just right. She was the master of contouring. She held her head high so that not one crease in her neck would show. Heaven forbid she showed any age.

I wanted to wheel her out of that room and into a place where she felt safe to be herself. But how could I help her when I was afraid of my own self? Mara and Noah were right, I needed to change that.

---