Page 127 of Theirs for the Holidays

“She’s having a panic attack.” Sawyer’s tone is deadly serious. “And if you can’t be useful, then you can get the fuck out.” He comes over to me, putting his hands on my shoulders as his voice softens. “Hey. What happened, Peaches? Can you tell me what happened?”

“She’s just being dramatic,” Isabelle says, talking louder. “I told her something she didn’t want to hear, so now she’s throwing a fit.”

“That’s it,” Rhett bites out, drawing himself up. “Time to go.”

“What?”

“It’s time. For you. To get out.” He enunciates each word, raising a hand to point for emphasis. “You’re not helping, and this is obviously your fault. So get the fuck out.”

He doesn’t back down until they’re gone, and I hear the front door slam behind them. Then he comes back, joining his brothers as they hover around me.

“What can we do?” he asks.

I shake my head. I don’t know how to answer them. I can’t breathe properly, and my head is spinning. I just keep thinking that I’m losing everything. Isabelle always wins, and even this, the one thing I thought I could never lose to her, is about to be snatched away from me.

40

LENNOX

I keepmy eyes on Violet, relieved when Rhett makes her horrible sister and Andrew leave. This isn’t the first time I’ve seen a panic attack, and I know it has to be handled delicately.

“Violet,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “Can you hear me?”

She looks at me with big, wet eyes and nods.

“Good. Okay. Is it okay if I touch you?”

She nods again, and I don’t waste a second before pulling her into my arms. She clutches my sweater with both hands, shaking against me. Her eyes are full of tears, and they spill over, running down her cheeks as she falls apart.

“What can we do?” Sawyer asks quietly.

“Get her some water and one of the big blankets.”

He nods and he and Rhett go to do that. I take Violet to the couch and coax her to sit down, keeping my arms around her.

“You’re here with us,” I murmur. “You’re safe. We’ve got you.”

I don’t tell her she’s okay because that’s clearly not the case, but it’s important that she knows she’s not alone with this. Whatever this is that set her off.

Sawyer and Rhett come back with the water and blanket and I have them join us on the couch. “Okay, Violet, I need you to breathe with me. Can you do that?”

She shakes her head, closing her eyes.

“Yes, you can. Come on, look at me, pretty girl.”

It takes a second, but Violet obeys, looking at me again.

“Good. Good girl. Now I’m going to put your hand here, alright?” I put her hand on my chest, spreading her fingers out so they’re splayed open. “I want you to feel my breathing and breathe when I do. It’s going to be hard at first, but keep trying, okay? Can you do that for me?”

She nods once more, and I take a deep breath, holding it a bit.

It takes her a few tries to be able to breathe steadily, but soon enough we’re breathing in a rhythm together. I keep praising her, and my brothers join in, telling her she’s doing well.

We breathe together like that for at least five minutes, and finally, some of the shaking has subsided in her.

“Here,” I say, picking up the glass of water. “Sip this slowly for me.”

Violet takes it with trembling hands, and Sawyer reaches over to help steady the glass. She sips at it a bit, and some of the horrible paleness recedes from her face, letting her natural color back in.