Holly's Heart Collection One (69 page)
Swimming back toward shore, Sean leaped out of the water and grabbed a surfboard near the beach towel where Sunshine dozed. “Watch this,” he called to us.
Curiously I watched as he whistled, long and low, to Sunshine. The Lab’s eyes popped open. Then Sean sprinted through the foam at the water’s edge, the board under his arm as he threw himself into a wave.
The sleek black dog leaped off the towel and into the ocean, swimming toward the calmer water farther out.
Treading water, I watched as Sean pushed the board under Sunshine. Standing up, the dog rode the board—rising and falling with the moving water. Then, up…up she went with the swell and roar of the wave, riding the crest as it pounded the surf.
Crash!
The wave fizzled to foam and the ride was over.
“Fabulous!” I said. “Did you teach her that?”
Sean nodded, obviously pleased with Sunshine’s performance. Then he dove under water, swimming to retrieve the surfboard. “Who’s next?” he asked, grinning.
“I’ll try it!” Carrie shouted.
“How about some more practice with the body board?” he suggested.
Sean was cautious, and I liked that. Reckless guys had never impressed me.
I floated lazily on my back as the warm California sun shone down. What a perfect way to spend the holidays. I’d gone California crazy, just like Uncle Jack had warned….
The day sped by so quickly, and I was sad to see it end. By suppertime, I was reluctant to say good-bye to Carrie’s and my new friend.
“I have an idea,” he said as I wrapped myself in a towel. “Meet me here at dusk on Christmas Eve. We’ll walk along the beach for a while.” He never winked or flirted or anything, but in his face there was eagerness. It excited me and made me nervous at the same time.
“Sounds good, but…”
“Something wrong?” he probed.
“It’s, uh, just that…” The words stuck in my throat. I couldn’t tell him I was struggling with my loyalty to someone else. A jerk named Jared.
“Tell you what,” Sean began. “I’ll make it easy, Holly. Think about it a few days, and if you don’t show by, let’s say, seven o’clock, I’ll know you’re not coming. How’s that?” He looked positively adorable as he flashed his easygoing smile my way.
It wouldn’t be easy deciding what to do between now and Christmas Eve, but I nodded in agreement.
“So you’ll think about it?” He wasn’t being pushy like Danny Myers had been, or flirtatious like Jared Wilkins. In many ways he reminded me of a surprising combination: Attentive yet hilarious Uncle Jack—and my handsome, sweet daddy. Adding to the fact that I was still totally crushed over the master of two-time, Jared himself, Sean’s invitation seemed to twinkle like the light of a zillion stars on the waves.
“I’ll think about it,” I said, gazing up at Sean. “I promise.”
CALIFORNIA CRAZY
Right after supper I confronted Carrie in her room. “It wouldn’t be so bad if this obsession you have with snooping was a onetime shot. I mean, if I had an older sister, who knows, maybe I’d snoop, too. But you…you never quit!” I sighed, anger building with each word.
Carrie looked repentant enough. Her lips were pursed together; her head hung low. “It’s just so…so much fun,” she responded, attempting to sound contrite. “I’m sorry, Holly. I’ll never, ever do it again.”
“I can’t trust you,” I said. “And how are you opening my diary without the key?”
She stared at me, her eyes wide. Pulling a toothpick out of her pocket, she held it up, her lower lip quivering like crazy. “This.”
I snatched it out of her hand and raced to my room. Flinging the bedspread back, I uncovered my journal. With Carrie’s toothpick, I picked the lock. “Amazing,” I muttered, my anger subsiding only for an instant. Then I heard a sound and spun around.
Carrie had followed me and was crying. I faced the little snoop squarely. “If you ever so much as think twice about revealing any of the contents of this…” I waved the diary in her pixie face, breathing hard.
“Please, don’t tell Mommy,” she pleaded.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to make you stop.”
“Like what?” She was sobbing.
“Like getting you down on your knees to repent to God while I listen,” I retorted.
“Just don’t tell Mommy, okay?”
I studied her hard, and then the truth dawned. “Oh, I know what you’re so worried about. It’s Christmas, isn’t it?”
Slowly, she nodded.
“You think you won’t get any presents if Mom finds out.”
She was silent, wiping her eyes. Carrie didn’t believe in Santa Claus, but she was still worried. Who knows, something coal black could end up in her Christmas stocking next week when we celebrated in Dressel Hills.
“Silly girl.” I shook my diary at her. “Do you promise to stay away from this?”
“I promise,” she echoed.
Somewhat relieved, I waved her out of my room. Then I sprawled on the bed, reaching for a pen to record the events of the day. Having someone like Sean interested in me was pretty exciting. It helped ease the snooping incident with Carrie. Calmly, I relived the day of surfing again and again. Sean’s every word, every gesture was embedded in my brain.
Comparing Sean with Jared was really dumb, but strange as it seemed, my thoughts turned back to Dressel Hills. Even though Jared and I weren’t actually dating, hanging out with another guy while I was still his girlfriend just wasn’t my style. I mulled that idea for a while.
But he’d never find out,
I argued with myself, imagining the fun of spending Christmas Eve on a beach bathed in moonlight.
Upstairs I borrowed some gift wrap, a scissors, and tape from Saundra. Then heading down the hallway, I noticed Carrie whispering to Daddy in his study. There, among his classic books of poetry, he was quietly conversing with her.
Inching closer, I smelled the magic of old books mixed with Daddy’s spicy cologne. The scent stopped me in my tracks. Then I heard his gentle laughter.
I slipped unnoticed into the room, investigating Carrie’s face as an impish smile burst upon it. “What’s going on?” I asked.
Daddy’s face lit up like the white candles in each of the windows. “Christmas secrets,” he whispered.
“Never ask questions before Christmas,” Carrie protested.
“Hmm,” Daddy said. “Both my girls in the same room at the same time. Can it be?” He pulled me down on one of his knees while balancing giggly Carrie on the other. I placed the wrapping paper and scissors on his desk.
“It’s gonna be such a cool Christmas,” Carrie announced, eyeing the wrapping paper. “I can’t wait!”
“Three more days?” Daddy teased. “We open gifts around here on Christmas Eve.”
“Really? Christmas Eve?” I muttered, thinking of Sean’s invitation.
“That’s cool,” shouted Carrie, racing off to tell Tyler, no doubt.
My tentative plans with Sean were at stake. “What time are we opening presents?” I asked, concerned.
Daddy patted my hand. “Don’t you worry, honey; I’m sure we can work around your schedule.”
Does he know about Sean’s invitation? And if so, how?
I turned to look for Carrie, the little rat. “Uh, excuse me a sec,” I said, getting up.
“What’s your hurry?” Dad asked.
“I need to talk to Carrie about something.”
Daddy cleared his throat. I could tell by the look on his face he was about to defend her. “If you think Carrie let anything slip, you’re wrong. Sean called while you and Saundra were cleaning up the kitchen.”
This was news to me.
Daddy continued. “He asked permission to spend some time with you.”
“You’re kidding.” I was dumbfounded.
He leaned back in his chair as I stood up, facing him. I wondered what else he knew about my friendship with Sean. “A really terrific kid, that Sean Hamilton,” he said, reaching for the newspaper. “It’s good to develop friendships with lots of boys, Holly. You’re awfully young to be tied down to one fellow.”
I sighed.
How does he know about Jared?
“Mom says that, too,” I said, picking up the bows and paper and stuff. “I, uh, have some presents to wrap now.” I fled from the study, wondering if Carrie had blabbed the entire contents of my journal to Daddy.
Closing the door to my room, I switched on the clock radio beside the bed. Christmas songs, old and new, filled the room with cheer.
I was nearly finished wrapping my purchases when I heard it. The strains of a familiar tune—“Jingle Bell Rock.” The jazzy song brought back memories of the Christmas party at Pastor Rob’s house. Andie had played her rendition of it while Joy presented me with the secret-pal gift. Two hours later, I had witnessed Jared’s gift-giving rendezvous behind the Christmas tree.
Flipping the knob on the radio, I refused to shed another tear over Jared Wilkins, King of Deceit!
Instead, I told my diary the latest delicious facts about Sean Hamilton, Prince a la Proper.
The next day, Tyler delivered a stack of Christmas cards to the house. Three of them were addressed to me. One was from Mom and Uncle Jack, another from Andie, and the third was from none other than Jared.
I went to the kitchen, sliced the envelopes open with a letter opener, and raced downstairs to read in privacy. For some unknown reason, I pulled out Jared’s card first. Enclosed was a letter.
Dear Holly-Heart,
Hope you’re having fun with your California family. You’d better be, otherwise I’m missing you for nothing. I wish we could’ve said good-bye before you left. Why’d you disappear like that?
It won’t be long and you’ll be back in Colorado. Thanks again for
A Heart Full of Poetry
. It’s outstanding and so are you! Please write soon. Honestly, nothing’s the same here with you gone.
Always,
Jared
“What a con artist,” I sneered, stuffing the card and its contents into the envelope. I had more important things to attend to than reading lies from the pen of Jared Wilkins.
At last, December twenty-fourth arrived. Daddy and I spent the morning running errands for Saundra. She’d ordered expensive trays and platters and things. Never in a zillion years could I imagine my mom spending so much money on prepared food. But it was interesting and perfectly lavish, Daddy’s new life.
“What do you think of California so far?” Daddy shot the question to me as we waited in bumper-to-bumper holiday madness.
“
This
stuff I can live without,” I said, referring to the traffic on all sides of us. “But the ocean’s nice. So is the weather.”
“And…what about the people?” he asked.
I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “The only people I really know here are you, Saundra, and Tyler.”
“Tyler seems quite taken with you and Carrie.” He took his foot off the brake, and the car inched forward a few feet.
“Tyler’s a cool stepbrother,” I said, wondering what he was going to ask next.
“And your stepmother?” He stared straight ahead.
“She’s nice, actually. We, uh, had sort of a heart-to-heart talk the other day.”
“I’m happy to hear that, Holly.”
“There
is
something that bothers me about her, though.”
He turned toward me, a question mark in his eyes.
