“Okay. Look after yourself. I love you bigger than the whole sky.”
Audrey smiled. Zora only said that when she was worried and desperate to reassure Audrey. “I love you bigger than the whole sky too.”
“Too right.”
Audrey laughed as they hung up, but the rock that settled in her stomach was difficult to ignore the closer she got to the car.
She threw her bag into the trunk and took a deep breath as she pulled open the door to the back seat.
Cal smirked as he looked over at her. “We left the back row open for you in case you brought someone this year…”
Audrey kept her breathing measured. “Good to see you both too.”
They laughed, and Cal reached over to whack her—ostensibly in a friendly way. “Same old Audrey.”
“I would have mentioned if I was bringing someone.”
Delaney shot her a look. “As if you would, though.”
Audrey felt sick. She tapped her fingers hard and fast. The whole thing was a disgusting game.
Cal laughed again as he started driving away from the airport. “Don’t worry, we’ll be back with everyone in a couple of minutes and you’ll have company.”
Audrey narrowed her eyes. “A couple of minutes?”
“Yeah, we’re going to Horrocks. Shopping to do. Whole family trip.”
“Right.” Audrey might have been more upset about a surprise shopping trip being sprung on her after the trek she’d had across the country if she didn’t love Horrocks so much. Itwas, perhaps, the only thing she actually enjoyed and looked forward to on these trips.
Chapter Three
Hallie looked across the parking lot at Horrocks. Picturesque Christmas lights glowed in the dark evening, rows of wreaths and pre-cut trees lined the sidewalks up to the doors, and a gentle sprinkling of snow was coming down around her. It was every bit as lovely as it had been billed.
Just like the Sinclairs were every bit the wreck they’d been billed as. Somehow even worse when she really thought about it. They’d been delighted to see River. Her parents had run out to meet Hallie’s car when they’d arrived at the designated home, and everyone had hugged her like they really were grateful to see her. They’d carried both River’s and Hallie’s bags. They’d made up their room at the rental with a welcome basket and multiple pairs of coordinating festive pajamas. They were generous.
And then they’d talked about Audrey. And the illusion started to unravel.
“It’s cool, right?” River asked, appearing at her side.
Hallie smiled. “Very cool. Can’t wait to see inside.”
“They have a whole wall of salt water taffy.”
“So I’ve heard.”
River hadn’t stopped talking about it all day. That wasn’t a Christmas special, apparently, so, any time River came, she beelined for the taffy. Hallie didn’t mind candy, but she’d heard there was plenty on offer in the savory category too, and she was excited to explore.
“Oh,” River’s mom, Jill, muttered, scandalized as she swept them towards the entrance. “Michele says Cal picked Audrey up and she’s alone again.”
Hallie thought she could feel her eye twitching.Whydid she sound so scandalized? They’d known Audrey was coming alone. And what did it matter?
She shook her head, unable to ask as Jill jumped straight into conversation with her husband, voices hushed like there was any point in pretending to be secretly distressed about the turn of events—which was nothing close to a turn and simply a manifestation of what they should all have been expecting.
She glanced around as they made it inside. The place was busy, warm, bright, and packed with Christmas spirit.
“We’re going to start with the alcohol,” River’s dad, Rob, called, grabbing a cart and heading quickly off in one direction.
Hallie found herself immensely relieved that the entire family didn’t stay together for this trip. She’d had visions of all twenty-something of them trudging around the store together.
