Her mother sighed.“We went to the house first.Imagine out surprise when we learned that you sold it without saying anything to us.”
“And imagine my surprise when you didn’t show up for Gran’s funeral.Oh, wait.I wasn’t surprised.”
The woman fidgeted with her purse strap.“Anyway, this was our apartment before it was yours.”She pulled out a keyring from her purse and showed Holly a key.“See.”
Holly held out her palm.“Give it to me.”
“What?”Her mother frowned.“No.I won’t.”
Holly stepped up to the woman as Tater Tot resumed growling at her parents.“Give me the key.Now.”
There was a strained moment before the woman yanked the key off the ring and handed it over.Holly took it and stuffed it into her pocket.
“What are you doing here now?”There was absolutely no friendliness in Holly’s voice.
“Well, honey”—her mother’s voice took on a sugary-sweet tone—“it was my mother who died.We wanted to come back and take care of things.”
“She died six months ago.”Holly’s expression was unreadable.
“We explained that, honey.”Her mother took a step forward.When Holly took a step back, her mother said, “It’s all in the past.We’re here now.Let’s go upstairs so we can settle in.It was a long trip.”
Holly shook her head.“You aren’t staying here.”
“Yes, we are.”Her father stepped forward.“I don’t understand this hostility.I thought you’d be happy to see us.Now let’s go upstairs.”
“No.”Holly walked through the snow to get around them.She gave her parents a wide berth.
Colin followed her.When she came to a stop in front of the door to her apartment, she glanced over at him.The surprise shone in her eyes.If she thought he was leaving her alone with these two, she couldn’t be more wrong.
Her parents turned to her.Their lips were pressed into firm lines, as if they were holding back their words of frustration because Holly wasn’t falling into their arms.
“Where do you expect us to stay?”her father asked.
“I don’t know.”Holly sighed, as though she were tired of dealing with them.“That’s not my problem.”
Her mother stepped forward, but when she saw the formidable look on her daughter’s face, she stopped.“I can’t believe you sold the homeplace and moved here.You should have consulted me before doing any of this.”
Holly glared at the woman.“If you cared, you would have been here.”
“We had business to take care of.”
Holly shook her head.“I’m not talking about when Gran died.You should have been here years ago.Things have changed.”
“Holly, you’re just tired.Get some rest.We can talk in the morning.”Her mother sent her a tentative smile.
When the woman stepped forward with her arms outstretched, Holly held up her palm.“Stop.”
It was just one word, but it was enough to get her mother to do exactly that.
Holly turned and entered the building.Her parents hesitated on the sidewalk, as though considering following her inside.Colin couldn’t think of a worse idea.
“You should go now.”He wanted to tell them to keep going, straight out of town, but he resisted the urge.
Perhaps her mother was right.In the morning, Holly might decide to let her only family back into her life.He couldn’t see that happening, but stranger things were known to happen.Either way, it was Holly’s decision.And whatever she decided, he would have her back.
They are back.
They are back.
