Page 43 of Hero for the Holidays

The idea of that made her feel more peaceful than she had all afternoon.

“We all do,” said Fia. “And that’s what I want to be—that someone for you. So I want to know what you want. Because...I’ve never been a mother before. And I don’t know you, really. I know that my own parents left a lot to be desired. I think they tried. I think maybe. But not...not as much as they should have. Let’s just say that. They did not make it easy. And I got involved with Landry partly because we weren’t getting any support at home. We needed each other so much because we didn’t have anyone else. His dad was awful. His mom left. All of the Kings have a lot of trauma.”

“Really? They’re all so...great. They don’t seem at all like they have competition now.”

“Because they worked hard to make something better out of what they had before. It wasn’t easy. I know it wasn’t. And I respect Landry for that.”

“But not for much else?” Lila asked.

“Hey. He and I are going to do the best that we can. The best that we can with what we have. And however that looks...”

“But you were telling me about how complicated it is.”

“I think we just need to forgive each other. For what it’s worth.”

Lila looked at her, far too keenly. “Do you think you can?”

Fia wished she had an answer that wasn’t possibly a lie. But parents lied a lot. If she’d learned one thing from her own, it was that.

The least she could do was tell a lie that would make her kid feel better.

“I think we can do anything for you.”

And just then she pulled up to the farmhouse, so the conversation stopped.

“This is going to make a scene,” said Fia.

“The best thing ever was when he just brought me to the house for the first time without warning them.”

Fia gaped at Lila.

“You said he ambushed them with you, but you were serious?” Fia wanted to punch Landry for that.

Lila grinned. “I thought it was funny. It was maybe the best thing I’ve seen in forever.”

Fia knew she shouldn’t be bitter about that. That the ham-fisted way Landry was dealing with this was amusing to Lila. While she was trying so hard to be fair and measured and careful.

She sniffed. “I’m glad that you enjoyed the spectacle.”

“Are you going to?”

“No. I never wanted the spectacle, actually. But now that we’re here... I guess we might as well make a scene.”

“I think so,” Lila said cheerfully.

And bolstered by the fact that Lila was smiling, Fia got out of the car, ready to make a scene.

CHAPTER EIGHT

LANDRYHEARDTHEMwalk up the front steps. And he took it upon himself to open the door.

He had told his family that a special guest was coming to dinner tonight, and he hadn’t elaborated. The fact was, he had the sense that they already knew who Lila’s mother was. They just hadn’t said anything. Because they knew he wouldn’t tell them. Not until he was good and ready. And here he was, telling them exactly in the fashion he wanted to.

“Hey there, ladies,” he said, letting them in.

Fia’s green eyes connected with his, and he felt a strange shift in his midsection.

“How was your day?” he asked, lowering his voice slightly.

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