Page 80 of Home for the Holidays

“Did we do it?”

“Yeah.”

Heidi sighed as the memory of Iris rushing back into the café, grabbing her hand, and pulling her into the bathroom filled her soul. “It was inescapable,” she whispered.

“That’s romantic,” Karen said quietly.

“Yeah, well, we see how far romantic gets you. What am I supposed to do now?”

“First of all,” Karen said as she patted Heidi’s hand, “you probably need to take care of the situation with Sandy. She looked a little shell-shocked.”

“Fuck,” she whispered. Her shoulders slumped forward. “She’s the last person I want to speak to.”

“Understandable.” Karen chuckled. “But I think it’s an important step.”

“You’re right.” Heidi looked at Karen. “Merry Christmas, right?”

“Before you go, can I ask why didn’t you tell us sooner? If you’ve known for so long? You know none of us would have thought any less of you.”

Heidi searched her daughter-in-law’s face for an answer even though she already knew the reason. “Would you think less of me if I said it was fear? That’s it, plain and simple.”

“Oh.” Karen’s face softened. “It makes me sad that you were afraid of us. I love you, Heidi. You’ve been a mom to me since the first Christmas Oscar brought me here. There is not much you could do that would make me think less of you, which includes being honest with us, the people who love you no matter what.” She squeezed Heidi’s hands. “Do you hear me?”

She nodded.

“Now, go take care of your shit. I’ll get dinner started.”

Heidi expected to see Sandy when she burst into the living room, but Shaun and Adrien were the only ones in there. They both stood immediately.

“Ma, you okay?” Adrien’s comforting tone was almost enough to make her cry again. “A lot just happened, and you have every reason to spiral. You’re allowed to not be okay.”

“Oh, honey, I’m fine,” she tried to demur.

“No, you’re not.” He gave her a sad smile. “But you will be.”

“Sandy? Where is she?”

“Three-season room.” Adrien motioned with a tilt of his head.

“Great,” she whispered as she headed toward the back of the house.

The door was closed, but she could see Sandy through the glass with Zac. They had always had a weird connection. When he was still in high school, any time Sandy came over, Heidi would find them on the couch together, deep in conversation about something. Looking back, Sandy had been the first person to tell Heidi that Zac might be into Evan. She was definitely the first person Heidi had told about finding them in the laundry room together. It made sense that she was the only one Zac felt he could talk to now.

“I know it seems crazy, but honey, she is thinking clearly. Maybe for the first time ever,” Sandy’s muffled voice said. “Believe me, I’m not exactly thrilled about the outcome, but she’s my best friend, and I’m going to support whatever makes her happy. Don’t you think you should be acting the same way for you and your best friend?”

“I see what you’re saying, and I get it, but Sandy, I can’t get my head around it,” Zac answered.

“And why’s that? What are you really upset about?”

Zac shrugged.

“Maybe you’re hurt that they did it behind your back? Like, would you have been okay with it had either of them told you?”

He shrugged again.

Sandy tutted at that. “You need to stop being such a child about this, Zachary. They left you out because it ultimately has nothing to do with you.”

“Geez, Sandy, abrasive much?” He chuckled lightly, and she playfully nudged his shoulder. “Even if you might be on the right track.”

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