Page 71 of Home for the Holidays

“Baby, I just want you to be happy.” She had her hands on Zac’s face as he started to cry. “I love you no matter what. I know you aren’t with Iris. I know you only did that to make me happy, but you being yourself is the only thing that will make me happy. Okay?”

He practically collapsed into Heidi’s arms—into his mother’s arms—weeping with grief. The entire scene had Iris’s eyes filling with tears as she watched. His hand reached out, and he yanked her toward them so he could hug her too. Heidi’s arm wrapped around her for extra support. Iris was grateful for it; what a strange fucking morning so far.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner,” he said softly after he pulled away from the hug. “I was afraid to.”

“I know.” Heidi had her hands on Zac’s face, pure love and acceptance on her face.

“Iris kept telling me that you were going to love me no matter what. I don’t know why I didn’t believe her.”

“Because you’re stubborn,” Iris said softly as she wiped her own tears away.

“You’re right. I am.” He sniffled before he pulled her into another hug. She looked at Heidi, at the smile on her face. One hurdle had been crossed. Zac was successfully out to his mom. On accident, of course, because why not? Now for the next one.

“Do you think Dad will be upset?” Zac pulled away and looked at Heidi. “Was he mad about Adrien?”

“Honey, your father being upset would be like throwing stones in a glass house. He is going to understand and”—she paused, shrugged—“he won’t be surprised either.”

Zac chuckled. “I guess I’m not a very good actor.”

“The worst.” Heidi laughed along with him. “You know, I guess now’s a good time to tell you that I saw you that one day, back in high school. With Evan. In the—”

“Laundryroom? Are you serious?”

She nodded. “I acted oblivious. I’m a much better actor than you.”

Zac was blushing ten shades of red. “I am so dumb. I can’t believe I’ve been hiding this entire time and you’ve known. What the hell is going on with me?”

“Nothing, my love. Nothing at all.” Heidi pulled him back into her. “You’re perfect. Don’t give it another thought.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-NINE

One down, one more to go.

Once Heidi knew she was the next one who would come out to the family, it was far more stressful than she thought it’d be. She knew they’d be accepting of her. Half her family was already part of the LGBTQ+ community. There was no way they’d be disapproving.

They might feel differently when they found out who she wanted to date, though.

It had taken everything in her to not just spill the beans to Zac as they discussed his relationship with Evan. Seeing Zac happy and open to talking about his life was all Heidi had ever wanted. She loved the smile on his face, the relief in his eyes. He was free and looked lovely. But a part of her was jealous. She wanted to feel free and look lovely. Hiding wasn’t easy or fun. Zac was absolutely right. Hearing him say that if he had known then that she would have accepted him without any issues, he would have been honest with them was like a punch to the gut. He could have been honest with himself. Instead, he had stayed hidden for years and years. She had raised the kids with as much love and guidance as she could, but,oh god, did her love come across asdislike?

“You did a great job with your kids,” Iris whispered as she stood next to her in the kitchen, watching how happy Evan and Zac were.

Her heart clenched. “How did you know that’s what I was thinking?”

“I had a feeling.”

Iris’s hand landed on the small of her back, and Heidi looked over her shoulder. Iris’s eyes were so blue in the early morning light. There was something about the concern on her face coupled with the lightness in her eyes that forced Heidi to pull herself back from kissing her. It would probably not be the best way to come out.

She was so eager to not hide any longer, but as wonderful as it would probably feel, she was also nervous about it. Once she was out, it would mean being honest about everything. About her and Stanley’s time in Paris, about her friendship with Sandy, about her relationship with Iris. Being honest meant opening herself up to criticism, and criticism was not something she handled well, constructive or otherwise.

“Are you okay?” Iris’s question was soft.

“I will be.” She offered Iris a small smile. “This has been a weird couple of days.”

“Tell me about it.” Iris laughed. “I just wanted to tell you…” She stopped, looked around the kitchen to make sure they were alone, and finished with, “I trust you and know that you’ll do whatever you need to do, whenever you need to do it. Okay?”

A strong sense of relief flooded Heidi’s body. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“Also, it’s not good to steal the thunder of a recently out gay man.”

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