"Will you-will you sit with me?"
"Yes."
"Okay. Good."
She nodded, suddenly looking shy. "Yes," she murmured. “Yes, it is.”
"Don't you need to call your family?"
I shook my head. I finished chewing my burger and swallowed. I sipped my coffee, trying to figure out the best response. "They, ah, didn't know I was on my way."
"Oh, you're surprising them? I'm sure Tom will get your car fixed and you'll make it. They'll be thrilled."
I snorted. "I doubt thrilled is the right word."
She wrapped her hands around her mug of coffee, studying me over the rim. I noticed how small and delicate her fingers were, barely reaching around the mug.
"What would the right word be?"
"Surprised. Maybe slightly displeased."
Holly frowned. "That would be a strange reaction to have when family comes to visit at Christmas."
"They aren't—" I drew in some much-needed oxygen "—like most families."
She tilted her head as she processed my words. "Why would you say that?"
I sighed. "I don't get on well with my family, Holly." I chuckled dryly at the understatement. "When my car broke down, I was wondering if it was a sign I was stupid for making this trip."
"Why did you make it, then?"
I shrugged. "I haven't had a Christmas with them in years. My sister had a baby a couple of months ago. I thought maybe I should try to reconnect. Enough time had gone by, I thought perhaps I needed to make the effort."
Her tone was gentle. "What happened, Evan? Can you tell me?"
Her eyes were tender and kind. There were no demands in them, only concern. For the first time ever, I wanted to tell someone. I wanted to share. Unconsciously, I reached out my hand, and she met it halfway, wrapping mine between both of hers. Again, I felt a surge of warmth flow through me at the contact. I noticed the contrast between our skin. The tan on mine was still visible from all the work I did outdoors. My skin was rough and callused. Holly’s skin was pale, supple, and her hands looked small holding my larger one.
I glanced around. The diner was deserted except for a couple of truckers eating at the booth in the corner. They had already paid their bill and were finishing their coffee and pie. The cook was busy in the kitchen. No one was looking at us or paying attention to our discussion.
"I have two siblings. Both perfect in my parents' eyes. Popular in school, excellent at anything they put their mind to. Well-rounded students and now very successful adults. At least, their version of success. My sister is married, my brother an eternal bachelor. Both have great, high-profile careers." I smiled sadly, lifting one shoulder. "And then there's me. The baby of the family."
Holly smiled. "I thought the baby of the family was the most spoiled—the most loved."
I shook my head. "Not in my family. I've never quite measured up. I was always shy, quiet. I did well in school, but not like my siblings. I didn’t participate in all the activities they did. My grades were good, and I liked to study and read. I liked to fix things and be on my own.”
Memories pushed on the edges of my mind. My mother ordering me from the garage, telling me to stop working on a damaged table I had found and wanted to fix for my room.
“We do not have castoffs in this house.” She grimaced in horror. “Throw it back in the garbage where it belongs.”
She refused to listen to my pleas.
My father frowned at our exchange and muttered about my lack of ambition.
“Get your head out of your ass and concentrate, Evan. You’ll never amount to anything at this rate. Brooks men don’t use their hands like common laborers. We use our brains.”
It never changed. I was constantly in trouble for wanting to fix and mend things I found and liked. Eventually, I stopped taking them home—instead using a friendly neighbor’s garage, a man who liked to tinker and mend things as well. He taught me so many things I still used to this day. The day he died was one of the saddest days of my life. It felt as if I had lost my only friend, and I had no one to share my grief with. My family hadn’t noticed how much time I spent with him. As long as I wasn’t bothering them or doing anything to embarrass the Brooks name, they didn’t really pay attention to me.
I shook my head to clear it, meeting Holly’s eyes and returning to the present.