Page 116 of Truck You

He lets out a deep exhale and flexes his fingers before he glances at me. “Can’t help it. I’m nervous. What if they’re just like Heidi?”

Translation … What if they hate me?

At first, Mac wouldn’t even talk about the news his mother dropped on him like a nuclear bomb. He tried to hide behind anger and apathy, but I saw through his armor. He may never truly get over the pain of his mom’s abandonment. Finding out he has three half-siblings has only made it worse.

There’s not much that means more to Mac than family. To any of the Mutters, really. He’d do anything for his brothers. If he’d known he had three more siblings, he’d have done anything to make them a part of his life too. But Heidi robbed him of that chance. She robbed him of so many things, and this secret is just one more nail in the coffin of their relationship.

His brothers tried to convince Mac to invite his new siblings to the house so they could meet them too. Mac refused. He’s not ready to bring a part of his mother’s world into his. He’s scared that they’ll be too much like Heidi, and they’ll never have the chance to know each other the way siblings should.

I get it. He and I may have worked things out, but he still has trust issues.

He trusts me now—mostly, he’s a continuous work-in-progress—but he’s not ready to bring strangers into his close circle until he meets them first.

He refuses to let anyone close to his brothers that might cause them pain. The Mutters have suffered way more than any one family should. I can’t fault him for wanting to spare his brothers more pain and suffering.

I smile and run my fingers through his hair. He leans into my touch and some of the tension leaves his body. “Today will be great. Millie seems like a really sweet girl. She says they’re all excited to meet you.”

He nods and keeps his eyes trained on the road.

Millie is the oldest of his half-siblings. She and I have exchanged a few phone conversations over the past couple of weeks as we worked together to set up this meeting. She’s eager to meet Mac and be a part of his life. She says the same is true for the younger two, Greta and Ben.

We’re about ten minutes away from the restaurant where we’re meeting them for lunch. The closer we get, the more tension he holds in his jaw.

He reaches for my hand and laces our fingers together before he kisses my knuckles. “Thanks for doing this with me. I never would have reached out to them if you hadn’t pushed.”

“I know.” I squeeze his hand. “And I know this isn’t easy for you. I’m proud of you for taking this step.”

He gives me a side eye glare. “You didn’t exactly give me a choice, Red.”

I chuckle, lean across the center dashboard, and kiss his cheek. “Just promise me you’ll give them the benefit of doubt. Don’t assume they’re like Heidi.”

He sighs and leans into my touch. “I’m trying. I really am.”

My phone buzzes from where it’s sitting in the cup holder and he tightens his grip on my hand. I grab it with my free hand to see who’s calling. “Relax, Mac. It’s my dad.”

Ever since we set the date and time to meet, he’s been waiting for them to cancel. He’s holding his mother’s transgressions against them. He doesn’t mean to. He doesn’t even realize he’s doing it most of the time. He knows it’s not their fault Heidi abandoned him, started a new family, and never told anyone he existed. But it’s hard to squash a lifetime of pain.

I swipe to answer. “Hey, Dad.”

“Pumpkin! How are you?”

“I’m good. Mac and I are driving to a lunch date in Circleville. We’re almost there, so I don’t have much time. What’s up?”

“Your mom asked me to confirm your Christmas plans. You and Mac decide what day you’re coming?”

“Yeah, I think so. We’ll be there on the morning of twenty-fourth and stay until the twenty-sixth if that’s okay.”

“Of course. You two can stay as long as you like. Your mom is fixing up your room so it’ll be ready.”

“My room?”

Dad chuckles. “Yes. Your room. We know you’re not a little girl anymore. You two can stay in the same room. This is the first boy you’ve been serious about. Your mom is beside herself with excitement.”

“Even though he’s a racecar driver and encourages my own dreams to race?”

“Yes, pumpkin. We just want you to be happy.”

I glance over at Mac, and he gives me a wink. He may not be able to hear everything my dad is saying, but he gets the gist of the conversation. “I am happy, Dad. Very happy. I’ll see you soon.”

---