Page 81 of Home for the Holidays

“Being left out is hard to deal with.” Sandy looked up then and saw Heidi standing there. She gave a grim smile before motioning for her to come in.

“Is this okay?” Heidi asked.

Zac looked at his mother and immediately started crying. He was across the room and in her arms before she could get another foot in the room. “I’m sorry,” he said through his tears. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, baby; it’s okay.” She smoothed her hand over the back of his head.

“I was so mean to her. She didn’t deserve that.”

Heidi sighed. “Nope, she didn’t.”

“How do I fix this?” He pulled away from her and wiped at his nose with the sleeve of his sweater.

She cringed and pointed at the box of Kleenex before they sat on the couch where Sandy was still seated. “You call her.”

“I tried. She won’t pick up. I even tried from Evan’s phone.”

“You need to keep trying.” Heidi wrapped her arm around his shoulders, and he leaned into her. She had missed this so much. He had always been her boy, the one kid she could joke around with and have fun with, the one kid who was emotional, who never shied away from her affection.

“Ma?”

“Yes?”

“Why is our entire family queer?”

She started to laugh. “Oh, honey, I haven’t the slightest.” She glanced over at Sandy, who surprisingly had a smile on her face. She looked far less upset than she had been earlier. Maybe they would be okay. Maybe they’d make it through this and be stronger on the other side.

She was about to say something else, but she lost her train of thought the instant Evan burst into the room, his handsome face pale.

“Uh, I’m sorry to interrupt, but…” He held Zac’s phone out to him. “It’s Vale Park Memorial. There’s been an accident.”

Heidi’s heart sank. “What are you talking about?”

Zac grabbed the phone. “Hello?”

“What did they say, Evan?” she whispered.

“It’s Iris,” he said softly as he kneeled in front of her and Zac. “They didn’t tell me anything else.”

Zac disconnected the call and stood. “We have to go. Right now.”

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX

“What happened to me?” Iris peeled her eyes open and looked around. “Why am I in a hospital? Why am I in a hospital bed?” She groaned when she moved too quickly, her body aching, her head throbbing. “Why do I feel like I was hit by a truck?”

“Oh my god, you’re awake,” Zac whispered as he hovered over her. “Youwerehit by a truck, you idiot.”

“What? A truck? Seriously?! All I remember is—” Her mind flashed back to the scraping sound. Fear filled her, and she heard the heart monitor next to her start to race. “My mind goes blank after.” She could feel tears streaming down her face. “How long have I been here?”

“According to the driver, you were pulled over, and he didn’t see you because of the snow.” Zac sat next to the bed and took Iris’s hand in his. “Miraculously, you’re okay. A few cuts and bruises. But that’s it. I mean, aside from the fact that you’ve been out for the past three days.”

“Three days?” She tried to sit up, but her head started spinning, so she decided against it. “I’m gonna vomit.”

He rushed to grab something, then was holding an emesis basin in front of her. “Here.”

She took a deep breath and talked herself down from barfing in front of him. “No, no, I’m okay. I think.” She grabbed his hand, though. “I have to say this. I’m so sorry, Zac. For literally everything. For your mom. For not telling you. For leaving like that. I should have stayed. And the Land Rover, oh my god.” Her mind was racing. Regret had permeated every cell of her body. The start of cleaning up a mess she created was always the worst part.

“Stop,” he said. “Please. You don’t need to apologize. I’m the one who should be telling you how sorry I am. I can’t believe I almost lost you, not once, buttwice.” He was crying so hard, but even with the tears streaming down his cheeks, it was the best he’d ever looked.

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