Page 84 of Home for the Holidays

The smile that spread across her face was breathtaking. “I’m feeling pretty great so far.”

“Good,” he said. “Okay, so what are we talking about? Can I at least get a cup of coffee first?”

“By all means,” Heidi said with a laugh. “We need you caffeinated for the grilling.”

“Oh, okay, so we’re discussing our trip. Got it.” He laughed as he walked back to the table carrying a cup of coffee, his slippers scuffing the floor the entire way. That would have driven Heidi nuts in the past, but now she was so thrilled that he was home and happy that she didn’t care at all. “Let’s do this. I’m ready.” He leaned over and kissed Evan. Heidi’s stomach filled with pride. She was proud of him. And it thrilled her.

“Spill everything,” Iris said.

“All I told them was that we were going, nothing else.” Evan smiled.

“I mean, there isn’t much else to tell. It’ll be a real test, though, to see if we still like each other at the end of a month.”

“I have a hard time believing you won’t. You two have always been soul mates.” Heidi tilted her head. “I’m just happy I reconnected you.”

“Yes, you can pat yourself on the back for that one, Ma.” Zac was staring at Evan, a doe-eyed look on his face.

“I’ve always wanted to maybe buy an old, dilapidated house near a vineyard and fix it up,Under the Tuscan Sunstyle.”

Zac’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, I would love that. And I’m surprisingly handy.”

“You are? Since when?” Heidi asked around a batch of laughter.

“You’d be surprised,” Iris said. “He fixed a bunch of stuff at the apartment. And he taught me how to fix an electrical outlet.”

Heidi was shocked. “When did you learn all of this?”

Zac’s grin was adorable. “One of the guys I dated was a contractor. I learned a few things.”

Heidi glanced at Iris and then at Zac. The life he lived, the real one, the one he had kept from her, made her feel left out, like she had missed out on so many turning points, so many amazing firsts and loves and everything she wanted so badly to know about but truthfully wouldn’t have been able to handle. She had kept so much from him as well. The thought didn’t make her feel any better.

“I’m sorry you weren’t able to tell me those things,” she said softly.

“Ma…I can tell you everything now.” The sincerity in his voice was everything she needed.

She nodded and cleared the sentimental fog from her throat. “Carry on with the story.”

“So, anyway, we’re going to leave after New Year’s. We’ll go back to New York, and I’ll pack my bags, and then…” His voice trailed off as he looked at Evan. “I’m just so excited to start this new chapter.”

“You’re literally going to leave me with a New York City lease, aren’t you?” Iris teased. “You dick.” She laughed, though. “I love you and am very excited for you.”

“Thank you so much,” he said softly.

“Can we discuss the fact that I love Italy?” Heidi knew it was a good time to steer the subject away from sadness. “We should take a trip there.”

“We, hmm?” Iris was looking at Heidi now, her blue eyes shining in the early morning light.

“Yes, we. If you think I’m letting you go after all this, you’ve got another thing coming.” Heidi couldn’t help herself; she leaned over and kissed her.

“Gross,” Zac said, and they all started to laugh together.

Evan continued on with his trip plans. They were planning on hitting all the spots, Venice, Rome, Milan, Tuscany, Sicily before dipping into Greece possibly. Truthfully, it all sounded fantastic.

Heidi listened to Evan, but she watched her son’s face the whole time. She’d never seen Zac look so free, so excited, and so ready for change. As a kid, change had freaked him out, but now, he seemed legitimately prepared.

“It sounds like it’s going to be so much fun.” Heidi raised her brows to match her motherly tone. “Don’t forget to talk to each other about things when you’re all in your feelings.”

“I know. We both know. We’re not going to mess this up. I felt like, hey, change scares the shit out of me, so why not just jump headfirst into all of it and say fuck it?” Zac shrugged. “And I feel so okay with it.”

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