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Holland didn't like his sister Amber; they grew apart long before they moved apart, him in California and her in Florida. He barely heard about her, especially after she became cold and got with her boyfriend, so he was surprised when he learned that Amber was leaving him with her kids, let alone that she had any in the first place. He wasn't sure how that was legally possible, but that didn't matter. The twins already had a rough childhood, and they couldn't bear the thought of them in foster care. He and his wife, Charlotte, couldn't say no.
Holland hates his sister. She left him with confused and grieving 4-year-old twins. They could barely understand what was going on. One day, they were in Florida with an abusive dad, a neglectful mother, and an older brother; one day, they were not; instead, they were living with basically strangers. Holly was just born. He was scared to have just one child, and now he has three.
Sure, they had some challenges, but they wouldn't change it for the world. Grace turned out to have inherited anger issues from their ‘dad,’ and saying Colt was reckless would be an understatement. The number of times Holland or Charlotte would have to leave work early to pick up one or both of the twins because Ryland called someone stupid or Colt broke his arm again was too much to count.
Holly grew up to love her brothers even though they fought all the time. No one could ever deny that they were siblings. Hell, sometimes people confuse them as triplets. Holly bonded with Grace over books and school, and with Colt over their lack of fear in dangerous situations (much to their parents' horror).
Charlotte was the one who really kept the family together. Without her, Holland wouldn't know what to do. Holland considered himself in no way good at comforting, which the twins really needed. She always seemed able to calm the twins down, whether with her stories or just by being there for them. She was phenomenal. That being said, the twins definitely had a favorite parent, but they didn’t mind. Colt loved hearing stories about Holland's job as a detective, even when they sounded boring, and Ryland loved hearing about Charlotte's day as a teacher, each being inspired by the parents' respected jobs.
The twins were 9 when they started calling Holland and Charlotte “mom and dad”. That was one of the happiest days of their life. Holland could remember it as if it were yesterday. He and Charlotte were watching a show when the twins came running up to them, yelling, “Mom, Dad, Grace/Colt won't leave me alone.” They didn't even seem to notice they'd said it till they saw their parents' faces full of glee. They were family.
Holly was 9 when she lost her mom. The twins were 13 when they lost their mom again. The loss was hard on all of them, but especially the kids. Colt would get hurt more at school, Grace was failing classes he used to excel in, Holly would isolate herself, and Holland started to drink.
Their family started to crumble. Holland tried to hold on to it as much as he could. He tried his best to provide. He knows he isn't going to win the best dad of the year award anytime soon, but as long as the kids are happy, he is. Sure, he drank, like a lot, but never in front of the kids.
~
Today was supposed to be a normal day for the twins. They were staying in their cousin's new apartment for a week, helping him move in. It was also the start of summer, and they would have been bored at home. Holly would have come, but she was celebrating her birthday late to be with her school friends.
The twins were in the living room with the news on in the background, while Jacob was out, probably at a bar, knowing him. They didn't pay attention to what was on the TV, really. They were too busy arguing.
“Just please come, Tom is having a party, and he invited you, you can even bring, what's his name, Dan Dunce?”, Colt argued. He never really liked Dan, saw him as a bad influence, which says a lot about the people he hangs out with.
Grace rolled his eyes. For twins, they had completely different definitions of a fun night.
“You know it's Dunne, and no offense to Tom, but you and I both know you will never find me in any of his parties. Tom only wants me there cause we got a plug.”
“No, either way, I think you and him can really hit it off, you're both nerds, I mean, he's more of a movie nerd, but still,” Colt insisted.
“Look who's fucking talking, you know any quote from any movie. I had a class with him freshman year, and he's a brat, and you know it,” Grace noted.
” I don't see why you would want to be an education major if you don’t fix your anger issues and cursing. It lacks professionalism,” Colt said, ignoring the last part.
” Oh shut up, you know that I’m changing to a biology major instead,” Ryland retorted just as he was looking up at the TV. That's when he saw two familiar faces that he could not mistake for anyone else. His dad and his sister. Right there on the screen. There was another guy on screen, but that doesn't really matter. His dad and sister are in the news.
“Holy shit!” Ryland exclaimed.
“What,” Colt said before looking up at the screen, “holy shit!”
“ It can't be them,” Grace said
And with perfect timing, the broadcaster announced the familiar names, “and thanks to Holland March, Healy March, and Jackson Healy, we now know the murderer of Misty Mountain's famed adult actress…”
“It-It's them…” Colt stammered.
Colt and Grace got in the car as quickly as they could, barely even locking the door behind them. The car ride home should have taken 30 minutes, but with Colt driving (speeding), they made it in 20. On the way home, Grace texted Jacob that they had to leave and tried calling March, but he wouldn't answer. Damn him and his nostalgia for the 90’s and instances of using a landline.
~
The case really couldn't come at a better time for Holland. Don't get him wrong; he loves his sons, but if he had to deal with them plus Holly, he would have probably died from an aneurysm. It’s been a few days after the court proceedings, and Healy started showing up every day at their house. Holly doesn't mind really, she loved having him, he was like having a second, more responsible dad. And even better, he made her dad happy.
Holland, Holly, and Healy were on the couch, with Holly comfortably sitting in the middle of them, watching The Waltons, when there was a knock on the door.
“Holly, can you get the door?” her dad said, not moving a muscle. She was comfortable where she was, but she also didn’t feel like arguing, so she went up to the door, expecting maybe a package. What she was not expecting was her brothers showing up unannounced.
Before she could even register what was happening, Grace started to yell
“Holly, what the fuck, is your guy's phone broken?”
It was actually broken; they never got to having it repaired, but before she could reply, Colt yelled next to Grace, “Are you ok?!”
“Why the fuck were you on the news with dad !?” Grace interjected.
“Who is it?” Holland calls out.
“It's the twins,” Holly said calmly. She had gotten used to her brothers yelling by now.
” The twins?” Holly heard Healy say, confused. It wasn’t like they were trying to hide them from him; it just never came up. They had more important matters to attend to, like fixing the house and taking a break. The twins were off with their cousins, and in all honesty, Holland was scared to bring them up in front of Healy. Sure, it is hard to miss the photos of them around the house, but Healy never asked, so Holland and Holly never brought it up. “I’ll explain it to you later”, Holland whispered as he got up next to Holly.
“Have you lost your fucking mind? You didn't think to tell us you guys will be in the news?” Grace shouted, now talking to both of them.
“You guys know that I have neighbors and watch your language,” Holland grumbled.
“Look who's talking,” Grace scoffed.
“It was really just a case,” Holland explained.
“A case that landed you on the news.” Colt refuted.
“Both Holly and I are fine. Really, you know I was meant to tell you guys, but got distracted.”
“We talked yesterday, and you didn't even mention it,” Colt pointed out.
Grace threw his hands up in the air, exasperated, saying, “We had to learn from the news.”
“It's been a very busy week, ok” Holland tried to justify.
“You will explain everything to us,” Grace said, like a statement, and Holland knew he could not argue. He got the same.
“Fine, you guys are already here, stay for dinner either way, I want you guys to meet someone anyway.”
Grace looked at Colt with suspicion. Holland had never wanted them to ‘meet anyone,’ especially after their mom's death. Sure, they knew that their dad was a flirt, but his flings would barely last a week. He has never gotten serious enough with any of them to want them to be with him.
“When can we meet them?” Grace said, sounding defeated. He knew it would probably take some time before they got the full story from their father.
Holland opened the door wider to reveal Healy, “Now, actually.”