Page 26 of A Holly Brown Christmas
“It is, and I thought I should call my sisters, but I don’t even know what to say to them. I feel like maybe I should have some sort of plan or suggestions or…I don’t know, something!” His frustration was mounting and he didn’t want to freak out and look like a crazy person to her.
“I get that. You don’t want to call and spend a whole lot of time beating around the bush or waste time tossing around ideas when you could just go to them with a plan already in place.”
“Exactly!” He paused again because he almost couldn’t believe he was going to say what he was about to say. “And…you seemed really excited at the idea of using the party to get my parents back together. So if you have an actual plan, I’d love to hear it.”
Her soft gasp was her initial response, but then her mouth moved, but no words came out.
“Holly? Are you okay?”
“Um, yes. Sorry. My mind is just spinning with all kinds of scenarios and I couldn’t seem to make any of them come out of my mouth!” She laughed, shaking her head. “I’m usually better at communicating than this.”
“I didn’t mean to just throw that at you and put any pressure on you. I’m just…I’m at a complete loss. I’ve never seen my parents behave this way.”
“So, does your dad want to reconcile?”
“It seems like he does. It’s my mom who’s kind of making things difficult.”
“Well…I’m sure she has her reasons,” she commented, and Lucas was sure she was trying to be impartial. “Even though they’re your parents, it’s not like you’re privy to what goes on behind closed doors and all that.”
“Right now they’re competing to see who can piss the other one off more. Mom’s sending pictures of the hot young guys working at the resort she’s at, and my father’s trying to buy a yacht so he can take pictures of it with a bikini model on it.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s beyond childish.”
“I’ll admit it seems petty. They’re both trying to make the other jealous, but it’s like superficial jealousy. Neither one is claiming to be seriously involved with anyone else. Your mom’s sharing pictures of random guys working at the resort. She’s not dating them. And your dad’s looking to essentially hire a bikini model, not date one.”
“Okay, but…what’s the point?”
“To me, it seems like they’re trying to provoke the other one into admitting it bothers them and saying that they’re jealous or even that they still care.” She sighed. “I hate that they’re resorting to this after so many years of marriage.”
“They’ve taken each other for granted. My mother likes to claim it’s all on my father, but…I can see where she’s done it to him too.”
“Let me think about this…”
They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. Shmoop begged quite loudly, but Holly mentioned that he wasn’t allowed table food. “Sorry, buddy. My hands are tied.”
“There’s a treat jar on the counter. I’ll get one for him.”
“I’ll get it,” Lucas assured her. The dog obviously understood the assignment and immediately jumped up to follow him across the kitchen and then danced excitedly on his hind legs until he had the treat in his mouth. It was kind of amusing.
But when Lucas sat back down, Holly suddenly perked back up.
“I’ve got it!”
“Already? Really?”
“If we can pull this off, it would be a miracle!”
“And…?” he prompted.
“Okay, you and I continue with getting the house ready and planning the party. We tell everyone at the office about the party, but emphasize that no one is to tell either of your parents.”
“Would anyone really tell my mother? I didn’t think she talked to anyone there.”
“She and I always used to talk and there are a few girls in HR that she has lunch with occasionally. Trust me, we are going to have to really drive the point home that this is a secret.”
He nodded. “And then what?”
“We should try to get your sisters and their families to come too, and then a few days before the party, you call your mother and tell her your father went ahead with the big party and he’s bringing someone with him. After that, you call your father and tell him your mother went ahead with the party and is bringing someone with her. Then they’ll both show up and you and your sisters can sit them down and make them see reason.”
“Um…I don’t know. What if they each actually bring someone with them? Like…Dad’s got some woman who’s younger than me who’s clearly a gold digger, and Mom shows up looking like a cougar with some young dude?”
