Mistletoe Motel

16. Holly

Chapter 16

Holly

H olly’s heart raced as she opened the door, coming face-to-face with her parents for the first time in nearly a year. The moment felt surreal, like a scene from a movie playing out in slow motion. Her mother’s eyes, brimming with tears, met hers, and before Holly could say a word, she was enveloped in a tight embrace.

“Oh, sweetheart,” her mother whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve missed you so much.”

Holly felt her own eyes welling up as she returned the hug, breathing in the familiar scent of her mother. It was a scent that brought back a flood of memories—childhood Christmases, family dinners, quiet conversations over cups of tea. For a moment, she allowed herself to melt into the embrace, to be that little girl again, safe in her mother’s arms.

When they pulled apart, Holly turned to her father. He stood a few steps back, his posture stiff, his expression unreadable. He had always been the more reserved of her parents, less prone to emotional displays. But as their eyes met, Holly saw a softening in his gaze.

“Hi, Dad,” she said.

He cleared his throat, nodding. “Hello, Holly.” There was a pause, and then, in a move that surprised her, he stepped forward and pulled her into a brief, awkward hug. It wasn’t much, but coming from her father, it spoke volumes.

“How did you find me?” Holly asked as she ushered them into the room. “I don’t remember mentioning the name of the motel on the phone.

“We started driving at three in the morning, as soon as the snow stopped,” her mother explained. “We didn’t want to wake you up, so we traced the number you’d called us on back to this motel. We wanted to bring you home for Christmas.”

Holly’s heart swelled at their effort, even as a twinge of panic set in. Her gaze darted around the room, suddenly hyperaware of every detail. The garish decorations seemed even more outlandish in the light of day, and she cringed inwardly as her parents took in the sight.

Her father’s eyebrows rose when he saw the modified wall art. “‘Don’t fall asleep without flossing’?” he read aloud, his tone a mix of confusion and amusement.

“Oh, that,” Holly said, feeling her cheeks warm. “It’s a long story. The room came with some…interesting decor.”

Her mother’s gaze traveled upward, and Holly’s stomach dropped as she remembered the mistletoe hanging from the ceiling. In her panic to get dressed, she had completely forgotten about it.

“Well,” her mother said, a note of forced cheerfulness in her voice, “they certainly went all out with the Christmas spirit, didn’t they?”

Holly nodded, grateful for her mother’s attempt to gloss over the awkwardness. She busied herself with making the bed, trying to erase any evidence of the night before. “Please, have a seat,” she said, gesturing to the small table by the window. “I’m sorry it’s not very comfortable. You must be tired.”

As her parents settled into the chairs, Holly caught her mother’s gaze lingering on the scattered candles around the room, and Holly felt a flash of defensiveness.

“We tried to make the best of the situation,” she said, her voice coming out sharper than she’d intended. She took a deep breath, reminding herself that this was supposed to be about reconciliation. “It wasn’t ideal, but Mack and I actually had a nice time.”

“Mack?” her father asked, his brow furrowing. “Is that the young woman who answered the door? How do you two know each other?”

Holly perched on the edge of the bed, facing her parents. This was it—the moment of truth. “We were both stranded, and when there was only one room left here, I offered to share it with her.”

Her mother cleared her throat. “In one bed? With a stranger?” The question hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Holly felt a surge of frustration. She was tired of hiding, tired of pretending. “Yes, Mom, in one bed,” she said firmly. “I’m an adult, and I can make my own decisions.”

Her father shifted uncomfortably in his chair but remained silent. Her mother looked like she was about to say something then thought better of it.

“Look,” Holly said, “I know this isn’t what you expected to find. But I want you to know that I didn’t plan any of this. All I wanted was to come home, to see you both. I was hoping we could start with a clean slate, with open communication.” She paused, looking from her mother to her father. “I was hoping for some form of acceptance from you. No, I didn’t plan to meet Mack or to share a room with her. She wanted to be with her family as much as I wanted to be with you. But at the same time…meeting her has been a blessing. We’ve had a wonderful time together.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Holly’s heart pounded as she waited for her parents’ reaction. It was her mother who moved first. She stood up, tears glistening in her eyes, and crossed the small space to sit beside Holly on the bed.

“Oh, sweetheart,” she whispered. “I want to start over too. I’ve missed you so much.” She wrapped her arm around Holly’s shoulders, pulling her close.

Holly leaned into her mother’s embrace, allowing herself to hope that maybe, just maybe, things could get better.

Their moment was interrupted by a knock at the door before Mack let herself in. Her arms were laden with a tray of coffees and a paper bag that smelled tantalizingly of cinnamon and apples.

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said, her eyes darting nervously between Holly and her parents. “I thought you might all like some coffee and pie.”

“That’s very thoughtful of you,” Holly’s mother said, rising from the bed. “You must be Mack.”

Mack set the tray and bag on the table. “It’s nice to meet you both,” she said, offering a tentative smile. “I wasn’t sure how you took your coffee, so there’s sugar on the side.” Her phone rang, and Holly watched as Mack’s face went pale, her eyes widening as she listened to the person on the other end. “Okay, I’ll try to get there as quickly as I can.” The call was brief, and when Mack hung up, she looked shell-shocked.

“Mack?” Holly asked. “What is it? Are you okay?”

Mack blinked, as if coming out of a trance. “That was my mom,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Sarah’s gone into labor.”

“Sarah?” Holly’s mother asked, looking between them.

“My sister,” Mack explained, her words tumbling out in a rush. “She’s pregnant—well, obviously. My parents didn’t want to let me know until they were sure. Apparently, there have been three false alarms in the past few days, but…it’s really happening now, and—oh my God, I need to pack and get to the bus station. Unless the airport has reopened. Do you know anything about that?”

“We’ll drive you. It would be quicker,” Holly’s father suggested. We’re going the same way, and it could take hours before the first flight or bus leaves.”

Holly’s mother nodded in agreement. “Of course. Please let us take you.”

Mack looked stunned. “Are you sure? I don’t want to impose…”

“Nonsense,” Holly’s mother said firmly. “It’s Christmas, and family is important. We’ll get you to the hospital.”

Holly felt a surge of affection for her parents in that moment. Despite their discomfort and the unexpected situation they’d found themselves in, they were reaching out to help a stranger.

“Thank you,” Mack said, her voice thick with emotion. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me.” As she began to gather her things, Holly packed her own bag. They moved around each other with a familiarity that belied the short time they’d known each other, and Holly couldn’t help but wonder what might have been if circumstances were different.

“I’ll just run down to the front desk to check you out,” Holly’s father said, excusing himself.

Holly zipped her bag closed and stopped him. “No, I’ll go. I want to thank the motel owner. Maude’s been wonderful, and it wouldn’t feel right to leave without saying goodbye.”