Page 48 of The Holiday Ex-Files

Kellie’s eyes began to water, as I approached her ever so carefully. It had been a long time since we’d seen each other.

“Hi,” I whispered. “How are you feeling?”

She placed her lip stain on the bedside table and gave me a small smile, showing off a glimpse of her capped teeth. “Better now that you’re here.”

That gave me the courage to inch closer to her. She helped me out, by holding out her perfectly manicured hand with nails the color of pink ballet slippers. I grasped for her and let her close the distance between us.

She gave me a good once-over. “You’re beautiful. I love the hair.”

“Thank you.” I almost said she looked beautiful too, but I felt like she needed to see that she was so much more than a gorgeous face. Instead, I said, “I’ve missed you.”

“Darling,” her voice hitched. “I’ve missed you more.”

I’d missed me too.

Mara stood on the other side of the bed and took Kellie’s free hand. “Ben’s here.”

Kellie’s brown eyes lit up. “I didn’t think he would come.”

“The bonehead is full of surprises,” Mara quipped.

Kellie gave her daughter a disapproving stare.

“What? You know you agree with me.” Mara kissed Kellie’s head.

Kellie softly laughed. “Where is he?”

“He’s waiting for Noah. We’re all worried about you.”

“All my kids.” Kellie sounded like her heart might burst. Judging by how thin she was, that was probably a possibility. Get this woman some of that roadkill, stat.

Mara and I each took a seat on the bed next to her.

“So, tell me what you’ve been up to?” Kellie asked me. “I mean, Mara tells me everything, but I want to hear it from you.”

I didn’t even know where to begin. “I bought a little place off the slopes that needs to be updated, but I love it.”

“Are you still skiing every chance you get in the winter?”

I nodded. I loved skiing, and as a bonus, it was a sport I could do on my own, and with all the gear, no one even recognized me. Except that wasn’t sounding as appealing to me as it did the last couple of seasons.

Noah loves to ski, Sparkles reminded me.

I was well aware of that. I was more aware of how much fun I knew it would be if I invited him to join me, once the resort opened next month. Memories of playing follow the leader and tag with him on the slopes made me smile. I tried to omit the fact that Ben had been there too.

“I’ve been following you online,” Kellie brought me back to reality.

I bit my lip, not sure how she would feel about my antics, especially the one where I outed her son as a cheater.

She squeezed my hand, and with this steel determination, she said, “I admire your strength more than you will ever know.” Her gaze drifted toward her inattentive husband.

I so badly wanted to tell her that she didn’t need him. That it was okay if she loved herself and left him, but I wasn’t sure how Mara would feel about me trying to break up her parents—and we had company.

Noah and Ben showed up. Each of them wore a scowl on his face. And if I wasn’t mistaken, they were purposely keeping several feet apart from each other.

Noah’s eyes landed directly on me, and my other half couldn’t help but stare at him. He looked like he had just come from the gym, in athletic shorts and a tight tee that showed off how ridiculously built he was.

I popped up like an idiot when I realized I was ogling him. Our eyes locked, and the brooding attitude he was sporting slowly dissipated when he smiled at me.

“Hi,” my voice squeaked.

“Hi there,” Noah’s gravelly voice filled the room.

Every set of eyes in the room was ping-ponging between us, especially Ben’s. I caught a glimpse of him looking at Noah, like he might throw a punch.

I think Kellie noticed, too, and quickly acted. “Boys, it’s so good to see you. Come hug your mother.”

I backed out of the way.

Awkwardly, both Noah and Ben came to my side to hug Kellie. When Noah noticed, he backed off and went to Mara’s side.

Mara stared with interest between Noah and Ben. Their dynamics were all off. Normally it was all fun and games between them. Or at least it used to be.

Meanwhile, Jay went back to staring at his phone. I was calling him all the bad words in my head. And thanking God, more and more, that I’d caught Ben cheating on me. If not, in thirty years, it could have been me in that hospital bed, with an uninterested husband wishing he were anywhere but there with me. And what about his kids? Did he have nothing to say to them?

My focus switched back to Kellie, who was tenderly patting Noah’s stubbled cheeks. “It is so good of you to come.”

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