Page 25 of A Christmas Changes Everything

“You’re right.” Stepping away from him, Holly slowly pulled her wrist free of his grasp. “And when you made yours eight years ago, awkward became our new normal.”

9

“Hi, Mommy!” Emme and Wren greeted Lyss with a wave the minute her face appeared on the computer screen.

“Hi, my babies,” she returned with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Did you have fun at the festival?”

Nodding, the girls bounced on their knees and launched into an animated play-by-play accounting of everything they’d seen and done at the Christmas in Hickory Ridge kickoff. One twin would begin describing an event or activity. The other would finish, with each adding their unique perspective about their day.

Lyss listened intently, commenting and asking pertinent questions whenever she could squeeze in a word. Otherwise, all she could do was nod as the twins prattled on.

Once they’d arrived back at the house, Holly texted Lyss to let her know they were home while Chace set up the video chat. He placed the laptop on the coffee table in the living room so both girls would have simultaneous and equal access to the screen and camera from their vantage points on the floor.

As soon as the call connected, Chace joined Holly on the sofa where they could also see and hear the call.

“She looks beat,” Chace observed, keeping his voice low enough so only Holly could hear. It was the first words either of them had spoken to each other since leaving the festival.

Not that Chace didn’t have plenty he wanted to say. Just not within earshot of the girls. Or anyone else, for that matter. At some point, the opportunity to continue their conversation would arise. And when it did, Chace would take full advantage of it.

Now, though, he focused every bit of his attention on his sister. The exhaustion and weariness from the last few days showed in the slump of her shoulders, the deepening lines bracketing her currently unsmiling mouth, the dull shadows in her denim-blue eyes, and the dark smudges beneath them. Just seeing how big of a toll Sean’s injury and being away from the girls was taking on her made his heart hurt.

It also told him she probably didn’t have any further news on Sean’s condition to alleviate her concern either. And that pissed him the hell off.

“Where’s Daddy?” Emme asked after they finished recounting the happenings at the festival.

Oh. Shit.

To her credit, Lyss didn’t even flinch at the question. Probably because, as the twins’ mother, she’d been expecting it. “Actually, he’s asleep right now.”

“Why?”

“Because we’re six hours ahead of what time it is there.”

“Then why aren’t you asleep too?” Wren piped up.

“Because I told Uncle Chace I’d wait up so I could talk to you after your day at the festival. I didn’t want you to miss the parade or any of the other fun it sounds like you had.”

“We missed you.” This from Emme, accompanied by a nod from Wren. “But maybe you’ll be back to go next weekend.”

Lyss nodded. “I hope so.” Sniffling, she pressed her lips together and took another deep breath through her nose.

Chace could see Lyss was barely holding herself together. He leaned forward to intervene. “All right, munchkins. I think we need to let your momma get some rest.”

“Will we talk to you again tomorrow?”

Lyss pasted on a smile. “Of course. But maybe a little earlier, okay?”

“Okay,” both girls agreed before they blew kisses, declared their I love yous, and said good night.

As if sensing he wanted to talk to Lyss without a seven-year-old audience, Holly shepherded them upstairs to get ready for bed. When Chace returned his attention to the screen, his sister was wiping tears from her eyes with the sleeve of her robe.

“You okay?”

Nodding, Lyss pressed her lips together again before speaking. “All of this is so hard, Chace. The endless waiting. The vicious loop ofwhat ifs. Imagining the worst and hoping for the best. Missing the twins.” Her voice broke. “I’m sorry.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Lyss. Not for Sean’s accident. Or for wanting to be with him. Or missing Emme and Wren. Nothing.”

“But it’s also disrupted your life. As well as Holly’s. And who knows for how long?”

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