A Hero For Holly

by Kristy K. James

  “Not that it was much of a sacrifice on his part,” Sam was quick to point out. He’d learned a little more about that story over the course of the past few weeks. “He’d run the place to the brink of bankruptcy. Holly has built it into a very successful business.”

  “Sam.” From his vantage point, sitting behind Eileen, he could see that she was blushing.

  “It’s true, Holly. And you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

  “She’s always been an extremely intelligent and hardworking young lady,” Mrs. Barry said proudly. “It doesn’t surprise me to hear that. And I’d love to have supper there. If it’s all right with both of you.”

  “I never turn down an opportunity to eat there,” Sam said with a chuckle. “Best food in town, if you ask me.”

  “Sam,” she said again, flustered. Stopped at one of the many traffic lights, he reached over the seat and stoked her cheek with his finger.

  “Stop being so modest.” She smiled tenderly at him, then turned her attention back to the road when an impatient driver honked his horn. The light was now green.

  In no time they were pulling into the packed parking lot at McGinty’s. Mrs. Barry seemed suitably impressed, commenting that they may have to wait for a table.

  “No. I have a table in my office for the boys. We can eat in there, if you like.”

  “That would be fine.”

  Lyle, acting as host for the evening, greeted them at the counter. She had explained the situation to him when she’d asked to trade shifts, and he didn’t bat an eye when she introduced him to her mother.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Barry,” he told her sincerely, then apologized, “I’m afraid we’re a little busy tonight. We should be able to seat you within thirty minutes.”

  “That won’t be necessary, Lyle. We’re going to eat in the office, if it won’t be too much trouble.”

  “Not at all. I’ll send Kathryn right in.”

  “Thanks.”

  Sam seated both women before taking his seat in the third chair, then wished he were better at handling awkward situations. They sat there in silence for several long moments. It helped when one of the waitresses came in with water and menus. A few more minutes spent choosing their meals, and it was back to more silence until, finally, Holly asked,

  “Does Daddy know you’re here.”

  “He does.” The reply was clipped, though whether she was annoyed with Mr. Barry, or with Holly for asking, he wasn’t sure.

  “He’s not too happy about it?” she asked reluctantly. Sam’s heart went out to her.

  “I’m afraid not. But, frankly, I don’t really care.”

  ~~~~~

  “I can’t believe it,” Holly said again, after they’d dropped her mother off at the hotel.

  It had taken awhile to get comfortable with each other over supper, and they still had a long ways to go before they reached anywhere near the level of closeness they’d enjoyed pre-Mike, but her mother had opened up in ways that had stunned her.

  When Eileen had been unable to talk her husband into relenting in his decision to disown Holly, she had rebelled. A little, anyway. In the beginning she’d decided if she couldn’t be a mother anymore, then she needed something to occupy her time. So, even though it annoyed her husband, she’d gone to night school. At first it was just a class here, another one there. But she enjoyed learning. And, before she knew it, she decided there was more to life than merely cooking, cleaning, and washing clothes for a man.

  The most mind-blowing news came over a dessert of homemade apple pie ala mode. Her mother had taken a job as a legal secretary six years ago. Full-time, with benefits. And she loved it. The June Cleaver/Stepford Wife clone had turned into an independent woman.

  Add to that her growing dissatisfaction with the status quo, and the latest batch of pictures following Billy’s fourth birthday party, and she’d added resentment to the growing list of changes taking place in her heart.

  “I can’t believe she stood up to him,” Holly said in awe. “Nobody stands up to my father.”

  “You did,” Sam pointed out reasonably. Holly laughed nervously.

  “You don’t suppose he’ll disown her, too?”

  “I don’t know. They’ve been married a long time, and she’s still a very attractive woman. Intelligent, too. No offense, but he’d be a fool to throw all that away.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time he’s thrown away someone he claimed to love,” she said aloud, thinking about how easily he’d removed her from his life. A decision he seemed to be okay with, even today.

  “He’ll come around, Holly. I’d bet almost anything on that.” Sam glanced over at her for a second. “Your mother is so excited about meeting the boys tomorrow I doubt she’ll get a wink of sleep tonight. I think that when she goes back home she’ll be bragging enough about them, and you, that he won’t be able to do anything but give in and forgive you, regardless of whatever sins he thinks you’ve committed.”

  “We’ll just have to see if I’m a big enough person to forgive him,” she muttered, looking at the shadows outside the window. There was no question about it. He’d hurt her deeply. And she wasn’t sure if she could get past it now.

  “If he’s sincerely sorry, I think you’ll forgive him so fast it’ll make his head spin.”

  “Oh yeah?”

  “Yeah. I was there,” he said softly. “You were scared out of your mind that he might be sick or dead. You love him, and I have no doubt you’ll forgive him.”

  “You’re right,” she sighed, hating to admit it.

  “If you do make it up with your dad,” Sam said hesitantly, “do you think you’d move back to Ohio?” He was worried, and Holly felt a wave of tenderness well up within her.

  “No, Sam. I won’t. My life is here. I love my parents, but most of the people I care about are here.” She reached across the seat and laid a hand on his arm. “You’re here.” Sam covered her hand with his and squeezed it gently.

  “Thank God,” she thought she heard him whisper.

  ~~~~~

  “You look pretty down in the mouth,” Dan observed, kicking back in the porch chair. “I thought things were moving along nicely with you and Holly.”

  “They were. They are. I hope,” Sam said wearily.

  “Nothing like being confident of your relationship,” he drawled, glancing over to watch Sam, who was watching the sunset with an air of dejection.

  “I think things are okay.”

  “I suppose she’s spending a lot of time with her mom this week?”

  “She’s staying at her house now.”

  “When is she leaving?”

  “Next Tuesday.” Four days away.

  “You don’t like her mother?”

  “Oh, no. She’s great. A really nice woman.”

  “So?” he prompted.

  “We just haven’t had much time together since her mother got here,” Sam admitted.

  “So we’re talking a little jealousy?”

  “No. Of course not. I couldn’t be happier that Holly has her mother back in her life.”

  “So spill it. What’s really wrong?”

  “That first night I asked her if she might consider moving back to Ohio if she ever made up with her dad.”

  “And?”

  “She said no.”

  “Then why are you worried?”

  “Because I’ve only talked to her on the phone once since then. She doesn’t need me around. If she makes up with her dad, too- What’s going to happen to us? What if she changes her mind?”

  “Sam.” Dan’s heart went out to him. He knew how he felt. The night he thought Jess was going to leave him had been the most miserable moment of his life. “Anyone with a brain can see that she really cares for you. And her father is so hard-nosed he’s still in Ohio, isn’t he? I’m just going to guess that if, and I do mean if, he ever grows up, it’ll be awhile. So you
’ve got time. Don’t worry about it until that time comes. If it ever comes.”

  “For her sake, I hope it does. But I don’t want to lose her. I just didn’t expect her to not even want to talk to me, you know.”

  “Do you know that she doesn’t want to talk to you? Or are you just assuming? They’ve got ten years to make up for. I don’t think it’s unreasonable that they’re spending time together.”

  “I know it isn’t.” Sam got to his feet and rested his hands on the railing.

  “You’re going to see her at her party tomorrow night, aren’t you?”

  “Yes. But she doesn’t know it. We don’t have any plans for the two of us, but she’s planning on spending an evening with a bunch of women.”

  “I know for a fact that Darby put a lot of pressure on her,” Dan admitted, wishing he could ease his friend’s hurt feelings. “Have you put pressure on her for a date?”

  “No. I wouldn’t do that to her.”

  “But Darby did. So there you go. Holly felt put on the spot, and even I know her well enough to know that she doesn’t like to offend anyone.”

  “You think so?” Sam asked hopefully.

  “I know so. She cares about you. She has for a long time. Not that I noticed it. At least not until Jess pointed out the signs.” Maybe he’d ask her to give Sam a call because, no question about it, the man was bummed out.

  “I hope you’re right. You know, her parents hated her first husband so much that they haven’t talked to her in over ten years. Maybe her mother doesn’t like me either.”

  ~~~~~

  “Surprise!”

  Holly knew she was standing there with her mouth hanging open, probably looking stupid, but she hadn’t been expecting anything except a girl’s night out. She glanced from Jenna to her mother, and then to Sam and the boys. They boys were grinning from ear-to-ear, but she’d bet they hadn’t found out about the party until Sam picked them up a short while ago. Billy tried, but the child couldn’t keep a secret if you paid him. Sam was smiling, too.

  Except it wasn’t quite as bright or quite as enthusiastic as the smiles on all the other faces. Her own spirits sank a little as she was surrounded by his friends. Sam hung back until everyone had hugged her, then gave her a quick one of his own.

  “Happy birthday, Holly,” he said quietly, kissing her cheek.

  “Thank you.” Though it had only been a few days, she’d missed their nightly telephone calls, and the freedom to see him when she wanted.

  Yes, she was grateful for this long overdue visit with her mother. She hadn’t really realized, not for several years anyway, just how much she’d missed their relationship. She also couldn’t wait for the opportunity to pursue her relationship with Sam. If he was still interested.

  “Did you have any idea about the party?” he asked after a moment of tense silence.

  “No. None at all. You could have knocked me over with a feather.” Sam smiled again, and she noticed it didn’t quite reach his eyes. She wasn’t sure what it was she saw in them.

  “Holly, come here and see your cake,” Jess was saying, grabbing her hand and pulling her to the kitchen.

  “Oh my goodness.” Not only was it huge, it was absolutely beautiful. Cal had decorated it with white scallops along the edges, and the palest of pink roses.

  She was so touched at the trouble he’d gone to that she felt the prick of tears in her eyes. Truth be told, she didn’t know anyone here, except Sam, her mother, Jenna and the boys all that well. Yes, she’d been getting to know them over the past six months or so, and every one of them came to McGinty’s on a regular basis. She’d socialized with them all on several occasions, like the sleigh ride, and Dan and Jess’ wedding, but she didn’t realize that they cared enough to go to this kind of effort for her. She suspected it was as much for Sam’s benefit as it was for hers…and hoped it wasn’t a waste of their time.

  “Sam, go ahead and seat the guest of honor, and we’ll get this show on the road,” Cal commanded. “We’ve got the patio set up for supper, everyone.”

  This time Holly couldn’t stop a few tears. Pretty lanterns were set all over the patio, where three picnic tables were set with pristine white table cloths, beautiful china, sparkling silverware, and Waterford goblets. Vases of roses and baby’s breath were scattered about on the tables and the short brick wall surrounding the patio. Pink and white streamers hung from the trees, bushes and shrubs.

  “I don’t know what to say,” she whispered, awed at the work that had so obviously gone into this party. For her.

  “You don’t have to say anything,” Sam said softly, sitting beside her, “except thank you. They were happy to do it.”

  “You’re in for another shock,” Dan said with a grin. “Cal made lasagna.” He seemed to realize how that might sound, cleared his throat and added, “It‘s the best I‘ve ever eaten.”

  “Good save,” his wife said with a chuckle, settling baby Kate into a high chair at the end of the table where she and Dan were sitting. “Doesn’t say a whole lot for my lasagna, though.”

  “Well, Cal’s is second best. Of course my wife’s is better.” Even Holly laughed when he ran a finger inside the collar of his shirt.

  “Now might be a good time to introduce a new topic of conversation?” Ed Winslow suggested with a grin.

  “Anyone?” Dan asked, smiling at Jess.

  “Personally I’d like to hear Dan’s opinion of Cal’s salad and cake,” Jon said wickedly.

  “Oh, I think I’ve put my foot in it enough for one night, thanks. I appreciate the opportunity, but I’ll pass.” More laughter sounded as Cal and Darby carried out two trays laden with salads, and pitchers of lemonade and iced tea.

  Holly was impressed. If the salad was perfect, the lasagna was sheer heaven, and she wished she had a bigger appetite. Everyone ate it like they wished the same thing. Except Sam. While he didn’t exactly pick at his food, he didn’t seem to be very hungry either. Maybe he wasn’t feeling well. She hoped that was all it was.

  “So, do we want cake and ice cream now, or shall we wait awhile?” Cal asked, pushing his plate away and taking a deep breath. It would seem that even he enjoyed the fruits of his labor.

  “Later,” came a chorus of groans.

  “That was the best meal I’ve had in a long time, Cal,” Holly complimented him. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re welcome, Holly. I was happy to do it.” He smiled at her, and she didn’t doubt that he meant it.

  ~~~~~

  “I think there’s trouble in paradise,” Jess whispered to Dan as she rinsed the dishes the others were bringing in from the patio. Dan loaded them expertly into the dishwasher.

  “I noticed.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone. For a moment, anyway. “I know Sam was worried, and now I think I see why.”

  “Why?”

  “Holly’s acting a little standoffish.”

  “Holly’s acting confused, Dan. Sam’s been really quiet since she got here, and I think she’s probably wondering why. You have to admit he hasn’t exactly acted like he’s in love with her tonight. And usually he can‘t be attentive enough. It could make her wonder if he‘s losing interest, you know.”

  “Well, yeah,” he admitted, clamming up when Emma carried in the last of the glasses.

  “Need any help out here?” she asked, sitting them on the counter next to the sink.

  “We’ve got it covered,” Jess said with a smile. “You can go make sure that Kate isn’t being spoiled too much.”

  “You know, you two can’t do all the spoiling, don’t you?” Emma said saucily as she sauntered out of the kitchen. Presumably in search of their daughter, to do a little more spoiling of her own. Dan waited a few seconds to make sure no one else was coming out.

  “I need to get Holly aside and have a quick talk with her.”

  “About what?”

  “The things Sam told me last night.
Not all of it,” he said quickly, as she was about to protest. “Just enough so that she knows he’s not losing interest.”

  “I think that might be a good idea.”

  “Well, I can’t sit back and let misunderstandings make them both miserable.”

  “Me either.”

  “Do you think you can distract Sam for a while?”

  “I know I can. Let’s just wait for a good moment though. I don’t think he’d appreciate our interference. We need to be discreet.”

  “I’m the soul of discretion,” Dan said smugly. Jess laughed merrily, wiping her hands on a dish towel. And then kissed him quickly to take the sting out of it.

  ~~~~~

  “Holly, can I talk with you for a minute?” Dan asked, drawing her out to the now deserted patio. “I’d like to pick your experienced motherly brain, if I could.”

  “I don’t know if I’ll be much help,” she said with a laugh. “Boys and girls are a little different, but I’ll be glad to help if I can.”

  “Let’s just walk out by the pond,” he said very quietly. “I don’t really want to talk about Kate.”

  “You don’t?”

  “No. Just a little farther. And don’t look at me like that. Jess is trying to keep Sam busy, and I don’t want him getting suspicious, okay?”

  “What? What in the world are you talking about?” Dan stopped under a tree, pasting what he must have thought looked like a cheery smile on his face.

  “Sam. Something is up with you two and I need to know what it is.” Holly could feel herself bristling at his nosiness.

  “There’s nothing up with Sam and me,” she muttered irritably.

  “That’s not entirely true.” He stared at her until she glanced away. “Are you tired of dating him?” Holly closed her eyes and shook her head.

  “No. Not even close. I’m not really sure how he’s feeling though,” she admitted slowly.

  “Trust me, you have nothing to worry about.”

  “That’s why he’s barely talked to me tonight?”

  “Laugh a little, and I’ll tell you a story.” She laughed a little. Very little.