Page 21 of Home for the Holidays

Adrien pushed his hand through his hair, hiding his embarrassment as much as possible. “I’m pretty positive that he’s the one. He’s so lovely. I think you’re gonna like him.”

“Whoa. What happened to Teresa?”

Adrien shrugged. “I’m fluid, bro. I just love who I love.”

“Wait,” Zac said, stopping the flow of the conversation. “So you’re with a guy. And youtoldMom? And she was okay with it? Seriously?”

“Yeah, I mean, she’s a completely different person these days.” Adrien shrugged. “Also, Dad’s queer. A good chance always existed that one of us was going to turn out just like him. Right?” He placed his hand on Zac’s shoulder, which had fallen the tiniest amount.

Zac put both of his hands on Adrien’s face before he hugged him again. “You deserve all the happiness in the world.”

“Thank you,” Adrien whispered. His eyes brimmed with tears, and Iris realized she was intruding on a very special moment. She looked away—at the wood flooring, at her coffee cup, at her socks, at anything but at Zac and Adrien hugging.

Just then, a very tall, very handsome, very muscular black man came down the steps. His smile could have stopped traffic. “Good morning,” he said, his voice deep and beautiful.

“Shaun, honey, this is Zac. And this is hisgirlfriend, Iris.”

Iris heard the tone he used for girlfriend. He wasn’t convinced. She was going to have to ratchet up the intimacy. “It’s so nice to meet you,” she said as she wrapped her arm around Zac’s waist and pulled him close. He chuckled nervously when she kissed him on the cheek.

“Yes, so nice to meet you,” Zac echoed.

“I wondered when I’d finally get to meet the illustrious Zac.” Shaun winked at them both as he pulled Adrien into a hug. “Mornin’, baby,” he whispered, and Adrien’s giggle was too stinking cute.

Oscar cleared his throat. “Karen and Nora are sleeping still,” he said, “but Mom should be home any minute.”

Iris glanced at Zac, who hadn’t stopped smiling. He was so happy for his brother, and it struck her, had she ever seen him smile like that?

“She at the café?” Adrien asked as he poured himself and Shaun a cup of coffee, also helping himself to the Baileys, a light air of “Don’t mind if I do” accompanying his actions.

“Yeah, she said they had a shit ton of catering orders and staffing issues and wanted to make sure everything went smoothly. I guess the blizzard screwed things up.” Oscar shrugged. “The beauty of owning a business.”

“Wait,” Iris said as she looked at Zac, then at Oscar. “What café are you talking about?”

“The same one these pastries came from,” Adrien said around a mouthful of crumb coffee cake. “You gotta try this crumb cake, Shaun. It’s so good.” He held it up and Shaun took a gigantic bite of it. He made eye contact with Iris. “Did you bring these?”

Iris blinked a few times before she let out a panicky laugh. “What do you,wait, the café, Easy Bake Café? That’s yourmom’scafé?” No. That couldn’t be.No fucking way. Oh, my god.

“Yeah, I meant to tell you that. I think I forgot.” Zac’s face twisted. “I’m sorry.”

“Just add it to the list,” Oscar joked under his breath as he nudged Iris.

Suddenly, the back door opened, and Iris heard a voice say, “Zachary, you made it!” followed by an excited squeal. Zac was across the kitchen as fast as possible, Iris’s eyes following his every movement as he launched into his mom’s arms.

Into Heidi’s arms.

Heidi was hugging Zac.

Heidi who was now wearing a reindeer antler headband.

Heidi.

Oh, holyfuckingshit. That was Heidi. Heidi, whom she had had her fingers inside of literally twenty minutes ago. Hotas fuckHeidi was Zac’s mom? Hismom? How the hell old was she? She didn’t look old enough to have three grown sons. What the hell was happening? This had to be a dream.

Wake up, Iris. Wake the hell up!

“Mom, it’s so good to see you,” Zac said. Iris could hear that he was more than likely crying. And to be fair, so was she. This couldnotbe fucking happening.

“Likewise, my baby,” Heidi said.

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