Journey to Her Dreams

by Iris Blobel

  Taken aback by his words, Hollie almost dropped the phone. “He did what?” she asked, almost whispering the words.

  “Love, why didn’t you tell me? I thought we could talk about everything.”

  Mixed feelings surged through her, and her feelings towards Jeremy became confused. “I’m sorry, Dad. I really am.”

  “Well, anyway. Tell me about your venture, now that we got this sorted.”

  “I love you, Dad.”

  “Hollie, I love you, too. Now before Jeremy has to work overtime to pay for this phone bill, you’d better give me some details. What do you think?”

  Hollie wiped a tear from her face when she heard Jeremy’s name, and then started to give Murray a quick rundown of how and when she had met Sam and how they had spent the last few days together.

  “Dad, I think good old Davo is quite fond of Sam.”

  Murray was quiet for a moment.

  “Dad?”

  “Sam? As in short for Samantha?” Murray finally asked quietly.

  “Yes, Dad, Samantha. Mind you, she doesn’t seem keen on that name.” Silence. “Are you all right, Dad?”

  “Yes, love. It is just a bit odd to think you’re all the way in Dublin and the voice is so clear.”

  “Dad,” Hollie said impatiently, “can we get back to the subject, please? I have met the woman in my dreams. I have finally found her.”

  “Love, did you talk to her?”

  “Yes, Dad. Are you listening to me? Yes, I did talk to her. We’ve spent the last few days together here at the coast. She was apprehensive at the start. But the more details I told her, and the more I assured her that once this is sorted she’ll never hear from me again, the more she relaxed. And behind these closed doors peeked out a woman who’s, in fact, rather nice. I think her husband has abused her so much she’s put up a wall around herself. Dad, can you believe this?” Hollie asked more to herself than to her dad.

  “Yes, love. Sorry, yes, I am listening. I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to hear all about it next week. And I’m sure Jeremy does as well.”

  Hollie’s heart sunk deep inside. “Dad, I hung up on Jeremy last week. I’m not sure—”

  “I know, love.”

  Her stomach churned in frustration. “Is there anything he hasn’t told you?”

  “He was pretty upset about it. He needed someone to listen, that’s all. I told him to wait until you come back, and you can both resolve everything then.”

  Hollie gazed into the distance. “I just needed—”

  “A friend like Alex and not Jeremy, I know. Having a relationship is not easy. He misses you dearly, love, and probably spoke more out of his heart than what was right.”

  “You sound like Dr. Phil, Dad.”

  “Who?” Murray was puzzled.

  “Never mind. I’ll think about what you’ve said, I promise. Can’t wait to come home!”

  After Hollie hung up she went back inside the cabin. Tomorrow they would be heading back to Dublin. It had been quite a few unusual days for Hollie—not only in finding Sam and getting to know her, but in understanding her and getting her head around what had happened with—and to—Davo. Even though Hollie had been angry and upset with Jeremy, the words her dad had said made sense. She had sent Jeremy a text but had not heard back yet. Probably busy, she told herself.

  Hollie was tired. Not only physically but emotionally, so she had agreed only to a dinner out, but not to drinks afterwards. In a way, Hollie also wanted to give Davo another chance to be with Sam on his own.

  They had agreed on the same pizzeria they ate in the first night.

  “So tell me about your dad, Hollie,” Sam said.

  “Dad?” Hollie said, trying gracefully to wrap the spaghetti around her fork. “Dad is one in a million!”

  Davo’s lips formed a smile. “I second that.”

  “Do you know him?” Sam asked.

  “Of course I do. Murray’s a great chap. Quite a dag at times. You should’ve seen him at Hollie’s birthday—proud as a pig in poo when he drove Jeremy’s BMW up to Devonport.”

  Hollie smiled, and so did Sam.

  “A BMW?”

  Hollie explained. “Yes. Dad only ever had his old Ute. He’s quite humble. All the money he’s made off the farm literally went into my education and later into my apartment.”

  “Are you close to your dad?”

  “Yes! That’s why we built the apartment in the loft of the farmhouse. He’s been there for me my whole life.”

  “Never interested in another woman?”

  “Nope. Mum was his soul mate. Even after she was gone, Mum was and still is a big part in his life.”

  “So you don’t get bored on the farm?”

  Hollie shook her head. “Oh definitely no, not at all. We’re close to Launceston and most of my friends are close by. I don’t think I could ever move anywhere else. Waking up in the morning looking at the Great Western Tiers is the best way to start a day!”

  “That’s the mountain range just outside Launceston,” Davo explained.

  Sam nodded thankfully to Davo before she continued her questions. “Is Jeremy your soul mate?”

  Suddenly uncertain, Hollie glanced over at Davo. “I don’t know yet. We’ve only known each other for a few months.”

  “He’s a good catch, though,” Sam smiled.

  Davo almost choked on his pizza when he laughed. “What is it with you and money?”

  Sam shrugged. “Makes life easier.”

  “Is your life easy?” Hollie asked.

  Sam sighed, looking into the distance.

  Placing her fork onto the table, Hollie caught and held Sam’s eyes. “It’s not the money that makes you rich. It’s the knowledge that the other person loves you and is always there for you, no matter what. That makes you content and, therefore, rich.”

  “Amen,” Davo commented with a big grin, which earned him a slap over the head from Hollie.

  Then she turned to Sam again. “Of all people, you should know money and appearance don’t make you happy.”

  “He’s not always like that.”

  “Once is twice too often,” Davo said, his eyes narrowed.

  Sam stared at Davo. “You always have to have the last word, don’t you?”

  “Yep!” He grinned. Then Davo became unusually serious. “Ladies, there are different kinds of happiness and each person needs to figure out what kind of happiness they’re searching for. If money and appearance make Sam happy, that’s her choice.” Then he said directly to Sam, “I do believe, though, you’re currently living a fake kind of happiness, and you need to address that situation.”

  Hollie’s eyes widened in surprise. She had never heard anything like this from Davo and was taken aback by his words. She started to see a completely different friend than the one she had known since kindergarten.

  Davo noticed her surprise and was amused by her reaction. “Don’t forget to close that lovely mouth of yours, sugar.”

  Chapter Forty

  “Are you sure you don’t mind me having another drink with Sam?”

  Hollie smiled. “No. You go and enjoy a great night out. Just be good.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Davo grinned. He pulled on his shirt, brushed his denim jeans with his hands, and slipped into his shoes.

  Hollie pointed at his legs. “Time to go home just for some clothes, isn’t it?”

  He nodded and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “See you later.”

  Davo went out to the car, where Sam was waiting for him.

  “Do you mind if we just stop at Mum and Dad’s? I need to grab some cash.”

  Davo raised his eyebrows. “Okay,” he said hesitantly. It seemed odd to him.

  Sam must have guessed his thoughts. “If it’s not on the credit card, Padraic won’t know.”

  “Oh, the eternal marital bliss,” Davo replied sarcastically, though as soon as he saw the hurt in Sam’s face he apologised.

  They quietly drove the rest of the
way, with Sam giving Davo directions here and there. Davo followed Sam inside the house, through the hallway and into the kitchen.

  “I’ll be right back,” Sam said.

  Davo couldn’t help himself and had a sneaky peek into the lounge room—and smiled. Exactly what he imagined an old people’s lounge room to be. His mum and dad had an old couch like that and he could have sworn his parents and Murray’s had the same—or at least similar—patterns to the one right in front of him. His gaze wandered along the bookshelves, a few photo frames spread all over the room, the small TV set and the small pile of wood next to the heater, when he suddenly heard Sam coming back down.

  He grinned at her. “I reckon once you’re over sixty, this kind of furniture is compulsory.”

  Sam laughed.

  He touched the tip of her nose with his finger. “Smiling suits you. You should try it more often.”

  “Are you flirting with me, Dave?”

  “Me? Far out, I don’t think so. No. I am well aware of the fact I don’t fit into your perfect image.”

  He gazed at her and noticed again how good she looked even in a simple pair of denim jeans and the white button shirt. Sam moved one step closer, and he suddenly felt out of his comfort zone. He was not able to read what was on her mind. Sam’s invitation to come out for another drink had surprised him. They had gone out the first night, but at that stage he was just the information carrier who Sam needed to squeeze a bit. Yes, they had spent a bit of time together, but always with Hollie around. So what was it she wanted tonight?

  Davo put his hands in his pockets and rocked on his heels. “So Sam, tell me, what are we doing here? Better yet, are you sure you want to go out with a bear like me?” he teased her.

  “I can’t believe she told you,” Sam said with evident embarrassment.

  “I can’t believe someone like you is getting all shy over something like that.”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “Must be your presence.”

  “Seriously. A bear like me and a beautiful woman like you? What’s the deal?”

  “I like you,” Sam said matter-of-factly. “What did you mean when you said a woman like me?”

  “A woman like you, coming across with a lot of self-confidence, beautiful, straightforward, occasionally abrupt, and standing up and above people like Hollie and me.”

  She met his gaze. “Who are the people like Hollie and you?”

  He shrugged. “Country people. Casual people. People who care for each other and not themselves.”

  “Is this why you’re here with Hollie?”

  “Yes. Jeremy, my cousin, was concerned the big wide world would have been a bit much for our little Hollie.”

  “I am truly sorry if I have come across like the person you just described. I have to say I had the best couple of days with you two for too long of a time. Talking to Hollie and facing the problems, I’m, sort of, you know…the situation I’m in has been quite…well, sort of eye-opening.”

  He lifted his left eyebrow. “Why are you telling me?”

  “I told you already. I like you. Actually, I like you a lot. Not sure what’s going to happen when I get back. Everything’s so easy with you guys around.” Sam bit her lip and gazed past him.

  He leaned in a bit closer and asked in almost a whisper, “Sammy, are you telling me you’re going to miss your Big Bear?”

  “It’s Sam, not Sammy,” she snapped.

  His mouth curved into a smile when he placed one hand on her cheek and caressed her face. “I’m not sure. I like Sammy.”

  Davo moved even closer and gently touched her lips with his. Her lips were soft, and he relished each touch to her skin.

  Until Sam slowly moved back, her eyes firmly fixed on the space between their feet.

  “I just…I’m…”

  He closed the distance between them again and his lips touched hers again, with his thumb tenderly stroking her cheek. Sam lifted her head to meet his eyes, and hoarsely whispered, “I’d love to go down that path, but I’m married.”

  She stepped back. “I’m sorry, Dave. I shouldn’t have been coming on to you as I did. I feel terrible. Your touch feels so nice and I got carried away.” Her eyes were tearing up. “I didn’t…I don’t…” She sighed. “Please understand. Though he’s not treating me right at the moment, Padraic is still my husband.”

  Davo nodded. “I understand.”

  "Thank you,” she whispered.

  Davo was silent for a moment, taking in the outline of her face with all his senses. Then he bent over, his lips softly brushing the bridge of her nose.

  Chapter Forty-One

  The last few days had gone by like a whirlwind. Busy with their travel back to Dublin, organising souvenirs, and a last dinner out with Linda and Stephen, kept Hollie and Davo on their toes.

  But then it was time to go back home to Australia.

  “Ready to go home?” Hollie asked.

  “Ready as I’ve ever been.” Davo rubbed his hands.

  They checked in at the Dublin airport for their return voyage to Launceston. Hollie wasn’t necessarily looking forward to flying for some twenty-odd hours, but she couldn’t wait to get home.

  Home!

  With any luck, everything had been sorted, and she would now be able to enjoy wonderful sleeps with, hopefully, only wonderful dreams. Davo had been unusually quiet the last few days. She hadn’t heard him coming back to the cabin that last night at the coast, and he hadn’t talked much about it. Even during the dinner with Stephen and Linda he had been unusually reserved.

  “I’m just tired,” he’d said.

  “Hollie!”

  Hauled back from her thoughts, Hollie quickly grabbed her boarding card and turned around.

  “Sam?”

  Sam was out of breath. “Hi there.”

  Hollie didn’t know what to make of this. “How did you know…?”

  “Dave told me the other day. I didn’t want you to leave without this.” Sam held a little wrapped box and handed it to Hollie. “I’m sorry I left so abruptly the other day without saying goodbye. I’m not sure how much Dave has told you.”

  Hollie stared inquisitively at Davo, who just rolled his eyes.

  “He hasn’t told me anything. Is there something I should know?”

  Sam’s lips curved into a shy smile. “I’ll leave that up to Dave. Anyway, this is a thank you.”

  Hollie stared down at the little box. “Thanks, but you didn’t have to.”

  “Yes, I think I did. I hope you’ll sleep well from now on. I’ve had a few conversations with a certain person.” Sam took her bag and pulled out a photo. “And this is for you, as well. It’s me with my little teddy bear—this time I am smiling, though.”

  Sam handed her the photo. “I like it,” Hollie replied as she gazed at the picture.

  Sam hesitantly moved forward to give Hollie a hug. Then she turned to Davo.

  “I’d like to see you again, my Big Bear,” she said quietly.

  Davo took her face into his hands, gently pulled her closer and kissed her softly on her cheek. When he moved away, Hollie noticed, Sam didn’t open her eyes for a moment.

  “I’ll be there waiting if you ever come to Tassie,” he said equally quiet.

  Sam placed her hand on Hollie’s arm and gazed at Davo. “Have a grand flight!” she said before she turned and left.

  ****

  “Big Bear?” Hollie raised one eyebrow in surprise. What had just happened?

  Davo shrugged. “Yep.”

  “So I suppose something did happen.”

  “A good night out, that’s all. Guys like me don’t hook up too often with girls like her.”

  Hollie punched him on his arm. “Stop talking crap.”

  She was about to pick up her hand luggage when she remembered the little box in her hand. She slowly opened it, and it almost took her breath away when she saw the little silver shamrock pendant with a small amethyst centre stone.

  “Oh my. Look at this
one.”

  Davo glanced at the necklace before he took it out of the box and gently placed it around Hollie’s neck. “It suits you perfectly!” He winked at her, and Hollie noticed the heat in her cheeks.

  The flight home was long and mostly silent. Hollie thought of Jeremy and wondered why he hadn’t texted back. Busy as usual probably, she thought and then convinced herself that all would be good and sorted once she returned home. She joined Davo and spent most of the time sleeping or watching one of the many movies on offer.

  Once they were approaching Sydney, Hollie couldn’t help but stare outside for a single glimpse of the Opera House and broke into a big smile when it finally came into sight. One more stopover and she’d be home. She thought of Jeremy again and sighed. She was supposed to spend a day here with him, but had changed it a few days earlier. All she wanted was to go home and be with her dad and Alex.

  Hollie opened her mobile. Another message from Alex! She had texted Alex from every stopover to let her know she was on her way, and by now Alex was just as excited. When Hollie checked her message in Sydney, Alex was already at her dad’s house to pick him up.

  ****

  Finally!

  She stepped out of the plane, went into the airport lounge and rushed straight into her dad’s arms.

  “Welcome home, love,” Murray said fondly.

  Hollie sighed. “No place like home, is there?” They shared a smile. Hollie gazed around, and without saying anything, Murray knew.

  “She’s on the toilet. Talk about bad timing—” He hadn’t spoken the last word when she heard a loud scream. Alex was rushing towards Hollie, who wasn’t able to hold back on her vocal excitement either.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Murray shaking Davo’s hand. “Welcome home, son. Thanks for bringing back my girl in one piece.”

  “No worries, Murray. It’s been my pleasure!”

  “Well, I’m not sure about these two, but I suppose we’d better get the suitcases and give you a lift home.”

  “Thanks, Murray, but Dad’s over there, as well as a few friends.” And with that, he went to Hollie. “Will catch up with you soon, Hollie.”