“I haven’t had a chance to read much of it yet. There are some other pictures I was looking at first. Those show close-ups of the damage to my face, but they could’ve been a lot worse.”

“Mind if I read it out loud?”

She was feeling encouraged enough that she didn’t hesitate. “Go ahead.”

As Seth began to read, Tia hung on every word. The article talked about the crash and how she’d had to put her career on hold while she recovered. It went over all the things she’d told them during the interview, but it also indicated that she might be able to return to acting some day and suggested that she was almost a shoo-in for the Oscar for Best Actress.

When he finished, Seth set her phone aside and looked over at her. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m good,” she said and realized it was true. The road ahead wouldn’t be easy, but she was a fighter, a survivor.

“I’m so happy for you,” he said. “Merry Christmas.”

Twenty-Eight

After spending the day in a house packed with happy, talking people, and kids loaded up on sugar and excitement, the quiet at Maxi’s seemed exaggerated.

“I love what you gave me,” Tia told Seth as she put the leftovers Aiyana had sent home with them in the fridge. “Thanks so much.”

“I love what you gave me, too,” he said. “That pouch is going to be perfect for me.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get it right away.”

“No worries. It’ll come.” He put down the sack of gifts he’d carried in and turned on the fire. “Did you ever get ahold of your family?”

Tia had tried calling her parents three times. No one had answered. This Christmas had been special in so many ways—she was trying not to let their lack of response ruin it for her. But now that she was no longer distracted by Seth’s family and all their festivities, she couldn’t seem to keep from feeling that slight. “Not yet,” she said, infusing as much cheer into her voice as she could so he wouldn’t know how bad it hurt.

But she didn’t fool him. His next words proved it. “I’m sorry.”

“It is what it is,” she said. “We’ve struggled to understand each other for some time now.”

He came over and pulled her into his arms. “That doesn’t make it any easier.”

She rested her head on his shoulder, letting the warmth and comfort he offered buoy her spirits. “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

“It’s only eight there. Why not try again tonight?”

“I guess I’m holding out hope they’ll think of me and want to respond.”

He kissed her forehead before drawing away. “I have something else for you.”

“Something else?” she echoed in surprise.