A Hero For Holly

by Kristy K. James

  “You’re not going to do anything foolish, are you?” John asked, concerned for the welfare of his son.

  “No, Dad. Don’t worry. I’ll talk to you later.”

  He stood up like it was more effort than he wanted to make and walked slowly to his car. There they watched him pause, probably recalling the happier drive when Holly and the boys had been with him, before getting in and driving away. The sound of his engine must have caught the attention of the women because they filed out of the house to join the men.

  “Is he okay?” Gina demanded of her husband. He just shook his head sadly.

  ~~~~~

  “Hi, sweetheart. It’s me. I just wanted to tell you goodnight. And to say that I love you, and I’ll be waiting if you ever change your mind. I miss you, Holly.”

  Tonight his soft voice didn’t say how much he loved and missed the boys. He’d said that last night. And the night before. But all five nights since the bonfire he’d been sure to tell her.

  After the first night Holly let her machine get it. She should have erased the message. Along with the others, but she hadn’t. No, that would be too easy. Instead she hit ‘Play’ and listened to it again. And then she listened to all of them a few more times, crying quietly so she wouldn’t disturb the boys. He always called after they were asleep. Of course after all this time, he knew their schedule.

  She supposed she could put a stop to it. If she insisted, he wouldn’t call anymore. But she wanted something to remember him by after she moved back home. The restaurant wouldn’t be her responsibility for much longer. Someone would buy the house eventually. Other than Jenna, and a few other acquaintances she’d made through the years, there was nothing to keep her here, so when Christmas vacation started, they would be moving to Ohio. Home, for her anyway.

  Not that the boys knew yet. The past few days had been rough on them. First she’d scared them Friday night with her meltdown, followed by a depression and lethargy so incapacitating that Jenna hadn’t left her side until the day before. So they had had more than enough turmoil for the moment. Maybe they’d all heal over the course of the next seven weeks. Doubtful, but miracles had been known to happen.

  Maybe Billy would be speaking to her by then. So far he hadn’t said a word to her since she’d torn him away from his ‘daddy.’ When he wasn’t crying, he was shut up in his room, inconsolable.

  How could something so beautiful become such a heartbreaking mess?

  ~~~~~

  “You need to lock your door,” Darby said softly, startling Sam so bad he jumped. She sat a covered dish on the table in front of him. “Cal thought you might like some lasagna. It was leftover from a luncheon this afternoon.”

  “Sure. Thanks.”

  If not for his friends checking on him, and insisting he have something every day, he doubted he’d have eaten a thing since Holly walked out of his life. In a way he wished he had an appetite. It was a crime to waste Cal’s lasagna like this, as only a means of sustenance, and not as the culinary masterpiece it was.

  “Come on. Eat,” she prodded softly, sliding the plate closer to him and removing the cover. Garlic bread, broccoli and a fork were also beneath the foil.

  “I’m really not hungry,” he murmured in a feeble protest.

  “I really don’t care. You know the drill. I’m not leaving until you’ve eaten, friend, so give in gracefully and get busy, okay?” She sat down across from him, never taking her eyes from him. Like everyone else who’d been forcing him to go on, he knew she was serious.

  “Fine.” He picked up the fork and shoveled a bite in his mouth. He could have been eating wood chips for all the pleasure he got from the meal.

  “If it makes you feel any better, Holly is miserable, too, Sam.” It didn’t make him feel better at all and he whispered,

  “I never wanted to hurt her.”

  “I know, sweetie, I know.” She covered his hand with both of hers and just sat quietly with him for a while.

  CHAPTER 11

  One more week. She only had to get through seven more days, and then the stress of McGinty’s would be off her shoulders. Only one of the burdens that weighed so heavily, but it was a huge one. Lyle had been sympathetic to her situation, and not minded at all when Holly told him she wouldn’t be able to work the evening shifts anymore. The boys needed her now.

  Well, Zack did. He was far more subdued than he’d ever been, but at least he didn’t hate her like Billy did. Nearly two weeks since the bonfire and her youngest son had still not forgiven her. His only bright spot had been the Boy Scout meetings she hadn’t had the heart to call a halt to. But Jenna was transporting them for her because she couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Sam.

  Wiping a weary hand over her eyes, she tried to focus on the paperwork on the desk in front of her. She wanted to make the transition for Lyle as easy as possible by having everything in order next Monday. At the rate she was going, she’d bankrupt him first.

  It hurt to think, or even attempt to concentrate. Truthfully, all she wanted to do was crawl in her bed and not get out until her heart had stopped hurting. Somehow, she doubted that would ever happen.

  “Holly?” Beth stuck her head in the door looking a little shaken up.

  “What’s the matter?” she asked, making an effort to shake herself out of the doldrums.

  “Someone is out front and demanding to see you. He’s scaring the customers.” And Beth, too, from the looks of things.

  “Where’s Lyle?”

  “He took the trash out. Bobby just ran to get him. Should I call the police?”

  “Send the guy back, Beth. Maybe I can calm him down. If not, then call the police.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Not really, but we can’t have him frightening everyone can we?” A feeling of dread settling in her stomach, Holly got to her feet and braced herself for the worst.

  Only the worst was even worse than she’d ever imagined. Mike McGinty appeared in the doorway in a matter of seconds, a smile that sent chills down her spine on his still handsome face. Or what would have been a handsome face if his eyes hadn’t been so cold.

  “That’s quite a security system you have in place, Darlin,’” he drawled sarcastically, leaning against a file cabinet.

  “You need to leave, Mike. I said all I ever had to say to you the day you deserted your sons and I,” Holly said, looking him straight in the eyes. Wonderful. Her life already in a shambles, all she needed was her former husband showing up.

  “Well, what kind of a welcome is that, Darlin?’”

  “Stop calling me that.”

  “Don’t tell me you’re holdin’ a grudge now? How about forgive and forget? You used to be the sweetest thing on the planet, Holly. You couldn’t have changed that much in five years.”

  “Here’s a news flash for you, Mike. When you leave a pregnant wife with a four year old son, and a business you’ve run into the ground, not to mention a house and car you haven’t made payments on in two months, to run off with your mistress, you shouldn’t expect to be welcomed back with open arms.”

  “I suppose I can see your point. I was kind of a jerk back then, wasn’t I?” He pushed himself off the cabinet and ambled over to the desk, making his long frame comfortable in the armchair before it.

  Slick as ever, Holly fumed. He sat there, dressed in expensive charcoal slacks and a white silk shirt, the top three buttons unfastened, and she wondered if he was on the prowl again. His dark blond hair was spiky now, a change from the slicked back style he used to wear. How had she ever been taken in by his sly charms?

  “After all this time, what are you doing here? You signed away your rights to the boys and the restaurant. You have nothing here anymore.”

  “Well, that’s not exactly true, Holly. I was young and stupid, and I was thinking of maybe trying to get some visitation with my boys.”

  “They are not your boys.”

  “You didn’t get preg
nant by yourself now, Darlin.’”

  “No, but I sure raised them by myself.” Oh, she just wanted him to leave. “You’re not going to get visitation, Mike. Go away.” But he didn’t move so much as a muscle.

  “You’ve really built this place up, Holly. Someone sent me an article about how successful it is, and that you’re selling it this month. Bet you’re making a pretty hefty profit on it aren’t you?” Ah. Now she knew why he was here.

  “That’s none of your business.”

  “Given that you wouldn’t have the business at all but for me, I think it is. And I think you owe me, Holly.”

  “Owe you what?” she nearly shouted. Only the thought of the customers not twenty feet away kept her from getting too loud.

  “Oh. I think half the profits would be fair.”

  “Sure. After you left me with nothing but debts? Only you could do something like that, and think you‘re due profits earned by my sweat. You‘re crazy if you think I’ll give you so much as a dime.” She laughed bitterly. “I still have two sons to raise and send to college.”

  “Maybe.” There was a hint of threat in his voice and her breath caught in her throat.

  “What?”

  “Here’s the deal, Holly. I’ve had a streak of bad luck this year. I figure you give me the money so I can make a fresh start, and I’ll be out of your hair quick as a wink.”

  “No.”

  “No?” He smiled again and nodded. “Well there are other ways I suppose.”

  “Maybe you should look into them then.”

  “Sure are. I’ve done quite a bit of research on the internet and you know what, Holly? There’s quite a market for good looking little boys. And our boys sure have grown up pretty.” Holly felt the blood drain from her face. “Now you probably don’t bother with websites like the ones I’ve seen, but I’d be happy to show you. Is your computer online? Our boys could be famous as, oh, let’s call them models.”

  “Stop it!” This time Holly did shout. “You’re sick. A monster.” How could he even suggest such a thing?

  “You’re entitled to your opinion. But know this, Holly. I want cash, and I want it now. You can’t watch them every second of every day. And believe me, if I didn’t care what happened to them five years ago, I certainly don’t now.” He proceeded to tell her where they were this minute, who Zack’s teachers were, when he had lunch, music and gym class. When their scout meeting was, who their friends were. He even knew who their pediatrician was. Her knees gave out and she almost fell into her chair.

  “How much do you want?” she whispered, closing her eyes tightly, not able to even bear to looking at him. She winced when he named the sum. Exactly what Lyle would be paying her for McGinty’s. Apparently he’d invaded every area of her life.

  “It’s not like it’ll leave you hurting, Holly. That fiancé of yours is loaded. So why don’t you pay up like a good girl, and you’ll never see me again.”

  “I don’t have that kind of money right now.”

  “Bull.”

  “I don’t. We don’t close on the restaurant until the fifteenth.”

  “Fine. I can hang around that long. Maybe you could introduce me to the boys.”

  “You stay away from them!” she cried out.

  “Don’t be giving me orders,” he threatened, getting to his feet and resting his hands on the edge of the desk. He leaned closer. “Don’t try anything stupid either. Because I’ll turn up again someday like a bad penny. And when I do, no matter how old I am when I do, it won’t be you I’ll deal with, Holly. It’ll be your sons and your fiancé. That is a promise you can take to the bank. Are we clear on that, Darlin‘?”

  “Yes,” she whispered

  “I’ll be in touch, Holly. Good doing business with you.” With a mock salute, he walked out of her office, leaving her shaking like a leaf.

  “God, help me,” she begged, burying her face in her hands and crying.

  How could this be happening? After all this time, how could he have known? How could he threaten the boys like that? Just the thought of what he had insinuated made her skin crawl. How could any man, whether he loved his sons or not, consider doing anything to hurt them?

  Zack and Billy.

  She shot out of the chair and grabbed her purse. She had to get to them. What if he had headed to the school or daycare when he left? Passing Beth on the way out, she babbled something about an emergency and headed for Charlotte.

  ~~~~~

  “I didn’t know who else to call,” Lyle mussed on the other end of the telephone.

  Sam had broken out in a cold sweat when he’d told him about the threats that Holly’s ex-husband had just made. Having listened outside the office door, Lyle had decided to follow Mike McGinty when he left. Now he was sitting in a parking lot across the road from a seedy motel on the outskirts of Lansing. He had Mike’s room and license plate numbers, which Sam had written down with a hand that shook.

  “I appreciate your telling me, Lyle. Trust me. I’ll take care of it. He won’t hurt Holly or the boys.” No matter what he had to do, they wouldn’t be harmed.

  “Thank you, Sam. If you could have heard the way he was talking to Holly- He even scared me.”

  “I can understand why. I’ll get on it right now, and I’ll let you know when it’s resolved.”

  “Thanks again.”

  Sam felt like putting his fist through a wall. Or through Mike McGinty’s face. Instead he dialed Ed’s cell phone, because sure as anything, he was going to need his help. If for no other reason than to keep Sam from putting Mike out of Holly’s misery…permanently. He might not be able to do anything for her ever again, but he would make sure that she and the boys were safe.

  ~~~~~

  “You know I will lose my job if anyone finds out,” Ed reminded him as they wheeled into a parking space at the motel Mike McGinty was staying in.

  “I didn’t ask you to come along. I asked you for some advice on how to handle this,” Sam reminded him, turning the key off and dropping them into his jeans pocket.

  “Yeah, I know. But it sounded like too much fun to miss.” Sam glanced sharply at him. “Besides, I’m better at this kind of stuff than you are.”

  “Fun?”

  “It’s always fun shaking down a bully. Deep down they’re all a bunch of cowards, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit to getting a kick out of it when their true colors start showing. When McGinty crumbles, you’ll enjoy it every bit as much as I will. Trust me.”

  “You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. You’re sure this will work?”

  “I’m sure. McGinty is only brave when he can intimidate someone. Like a woman. When faced with a threat from real men he’s going to take off running with his tail between his legs.”

  “Good. Because if he doesn’t, you may be arresting me, coach.”

  “Na. You’re not that stupid. Besides, even if you were, I’m a cop. Unlike the idiots who write cop shows, I know how to hide a body. Not that I’ve ever had any experience, mind you.”

  Sam took a deep breath. Now that the moment was here, he was afraid. Afraid that Ed was wrong, and they might make things worse for Holly instead of better, and that was the last thing he wanted.

  “Calm down, kid. Breathe. Everything is going to be fine.”

  “I hope you’re right. We should have done this two days ago.”

  “Nope. This way we catch him off guard. And when we make him call Holly, it’s going to look a lot more legit. Like he’s had some time to think it over, feels bad, and is leaving town without the money. Only the three of us will know that he had a little, oh, let’s just call it motivation.”

  ~~~~~

  “Hi, sweetie.”

  “Hi, Mom.” Holly found it difficult to work up any enthusiasm, even for her mother.

  “How are you doing?”

  “About the same.”

  She sat in her rocking chair in the parlor, staring at the
answering machine. Hoping that Eileen would hang up before Sam’s nightly phone call. Hoping that she wouldn’t.

  “Holly, I checked on the rentals around town. Unless you want to move the boys to a cracker box apartment, you’re not going to be able to afford anything. Not in a decent neighborhood anyway.” The heaviness that had lodged in her heart for almost three weeks grew.

  “Then I guess we’ll have to go with an apartment, Mom.”

  “You know Zack and Billy aren’t going to adjust well to that. Not after being used to having the run of their own home,” she pointed out.

  “It sounds like you don’t want us to move back home,” Holly accused, then gasped when Eileen answered.

  “I don’t.”

  “What?”

  “I don’t want you to move home, my darling. Much as I’d love to see you every day, you’re making a mistake.”

  “I can’t believe you said that.” Now her own mother was against her.

  “Holly, I know you feel like Sam lied to you, and I guess, technically you could consider it a lie. But it was a lie with the best intentions.”

  “No it wasn’t. It was pure selfishness on his part,” Holly spat out. “Right now he wants to play at being a husband and father. But when he grows up, and he will grow up and mature, he’s not going to want to be saddled with a wife who is seven years older than he is. When I’m forty he’ll only be thirty-two.”

  “For a couple of months. You make it sound like you’ll be an old lady. Holly, listen. If it were you who were twenty-five and Sam who was thirty-two, would it matter so much?” When she didn’t answer, Eileen did it herself. “You know it wouldn’t, because there’s quite a double standard in our society, honey. A standard that says a younger man is nothing but a boy toy, and any woman who’s with him is a dirty old lady.”

  To her astonishment, Holly burst out laughing. Her mother using the term ‘boy toy?’ Now she’d heard everything.

  “It’s true. And you know it. You also know it’s wrong, Holly. I met the man. He is completely in love, and committed to you and the boys. There is no doubt in my mind. He’s the polar opposite of Mike.”