“At the mall.” Kat waved her hand in the air. “We heard you ask Santa for the truth.”
Mason’s mouth gaped. “You were eavesdropping?”
“That’s illegal.” Janie’s face twisted into a frown.
Olivia wrapped one arm around her little shoulder. “Some rules mothers get to break.”
“Well, that wasn’t it. We wanted to know the truth aboutSanta.” Mason sighed. “Not about all of you.”
The room quieted. Next to me, Nick shifted his weight.
“Yeah, we wanted to know if Santa was real and if this whole ‘be good’ thing is even worth it.” Janie crossed her arms over her stained sweater. “Because we have our doubts.”
“Ho, boy.” Olivia blew out her breath. “Guys, that’s a big discussion we can have really soon, okay? But maybe not tonight.” She caught Mason’s eye and quirked a pointed brow.
He returned a resigned nod. “Come on, Janie. Let’s be good and get ready for bed early—just in case.”
Janie released a sigh big enough to heat the room. “Fine. I’ll even brush my teeth twice.”
The two of them slipped from the living room and headed upstairs. I took the opportunity to look up at Nick, who offered a half smile and then took my hand. Our fingers threaded together and I relaxed. He was still acting a little odd, but the affection was reassuring.
Did he have a secret too? Or maybe he was feeling bad about our whole chaotic journey and felt burdened to share since everyone else was. I started to reassure him that he could, if he needed to, when Mom spoke first.
“I guess there’s just one more secret to share.” Mom chuckled nervously, then dipped her chin toward Ryan and Lydia. “Unless you two have one?” Her eyes lit with hope.
“Sorry, Mom. No buns in the oven here.” Ryan grinned. He did a double take at Lydia. “Right?”
“Right.” Lydia patted his back. “Maybe next Christmas.”
“Wait. There are two more secrets, then.” Olivia held up her hands. “Andno,I’m not pregnant.”
“What is it?” Kat adjusted the blanket in her lap.
Olivia cast a look over her shoulder in the direction the kids had left and lowered her voice. “There’s another reason Paul isn’t coming until Christmas.”
Dad frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
“Things haven’t been easy lately. He’s been working a lot, and well…” Olivia lifted one shoulder in a shrug, her expression finally giving way to weariness. “It’s been a lot.”
My heart twisted for her and I gripped Nick’s hand. “Man. I didn’t see any of this coming when we sat down for this meeting.”
“Me neither.” His whisper tickled my cheek. “I guess no one has the perfect holiday, huh?”
“We’ve tried to keep our fighting from the kids as much as possible, which is also part of why he’s working so much.” Olivia sniffed. “But then it turns into a cycle.”
“Oh, honey.” Mom came to sit on the floor next to Olivia. “I’m so sorry.”
“Me too, sis.” Kat’s lips twisted to the side.
Chloe frowned. “I had no idea.”
“That was the goal.” Olivia laughed a little as she blinked rapidly. “I think that’s why I was so hyper-focused on you and your alleged health problems, Mom. I didn’t want to think about my own issues.”
“Oh, Paul’s about to think aboutissues.” Dad wrestled his cell from his pocket. “I have his number in here somewhere.”
“Dad,no.” Olivia, Ryan, Chloe, Kat, and I all reached toward Dad at the same time.
“It’s not just him, Daddy. I’m guilty with the arguing and stuff too.” Olivia sniffed again as Mom smoothed the back of her hair. “We’re not separating or anything. It’s just been rough.” She drew a shaky breath. “I think we’ve both been hoping for a Christmas miracle.”
