Holly's Wishes (16 page)

She tilted her head. “So you think by kissing me you’re going to throw my game off?”

“Well, to be honest, those lessons your dad and sister gave me didn’t help a whole lot, so this is my plan B.”

“I see,” Holly said, biting her lower lip. She grabbed the triangle and finished setting up. “Do you want to go first?”

“Sure, why not?”

He grabbed a stick from the rack on the wall and lined up the cue ball. Holly watched as he brought it back and slid it forward with a good amount of force. While he managed to hit the cue ball this time, he somehow missed all fifteen balls that were set up perfectly in the center.

“Um, Ben? Just curious—What happens if plan B doesn’t work?” she asked with a twinkle in her eye.”

Ben laid his stick down, raised his eyebrows, and put two hands flat on the table. “Well, Ms. Holly Haines, then we move on to plan C.”

He moved to his left and chased her in a playful manner as she shrieked, “Benjamin Oakes! Don’t you dare!”

In a swift, single move, he lifted her up, one arm around the back of her waist, and the other under her knees. Lowering her down onto the section of the table that was ball-free, he gazed into her eyes. “Did you just dare me?”

She threw her arms around his neck as he leaned down to kiss her once again.

Chapter 35

“What time is Ben coming?” Patricia asked as they finished cleaning the dishes from their Christmas dinner.

“He texted me about twenty minutes ago. His family is still eating. His parents apologize again they can’t make it, but they always go to his mom’s sister’s house.  Ben said he’s going to try to sneak out early, but he’s not sure he’ll make it in time for dessert.”

“Come on now, we all know he’s not coming for dessert anyway,” Tessa said, winking. “Well, he is, but not the kind Mom’s putting out.”

“Tessa!” her mother reprimanded. “That’s enough out of you. Honestly! I don’t know where that mouth came from.”

“What? I didn’t say anything wrong. I’m just talking about dessert.” She smiled and winked at Holly again.

“It’s a good thing Jenna is upstairs playing with her dolls,” Ava said shaking her head.

 “Speaking of,” Patricia said, “I’m going to go upstairs to see my little grandbaby. Call me when you’re all ready for pie.”

“Okay, Mom,” Ava said. “No rush.”

“Hey, Holly,” Tessa said, taking a seat on the couch, “Why don’t you show Ava and me the math rap you’re working on. I’m dying to see it.”

“Sorry. You’re going to have to wait two weeks like everyone else.”

“That’s not fair! Alex gets to see it, and he’s not even related to you,” Tessa said, pouting.

“Yeah, but he’s our stage manager.”

“Um, excuse me? I think I need to see his credentials. I’m the one with the theater background, remember?”

“And what about me?” Ava asked. “I won’t be here in two weeks. I’ll be back in California.”

Holly sighed. “You two and your peer pressure. But I can’t. It’s a duet, and my partner isn’t here.” She shrugged her shoulders and smirked. “Sorry.”

Tessa leaned over to Ava. “Don’t worry, you’ll get to see it when I post it on YouTube.”

“I swear, if you—” A knock on the door interrupted her sentence. “I’ll get it.”

She swung the door open expecting it to be a few of the neighbors caroling.

“Ben?” she asked in surprise.  “That was fast. I thought you were still eating.”

“I need to talk to you.” He looked over at Ava and Tessa sitting on the couch. “Alone if you don’t mind.”

“Let’s go see what the guys are doing downstairs, shall we?” Ava asked, heading to the steps.

“Uh, sure,” Tessa said, following her sister. She stopped to glance back at Holly before going down. “Holler if you need us, okay?”

“Yeah,” Holly said, feeling a knot forming in the pit of her stomach. “Ben, what’s the matter?”

“Can we sit?” he asked.

Holly nodded. “You’re scaring me,” she said as she sat down next to him.

He took her hands in his own. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to. I just — After I texted you, I got a phone call.” He looked down and pulled his hands away to run them through his hair.

Turning his head toward her, she could see he’d been crying. “From who? Is someone sick? Ben, please. Talk to me.” She slid closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

“It was from Michelle. I don’t know how to tell you this.”

“Michelle?” she asked, sitting back up. “Tell me what?”

Taking a deep breath, he let it out slowly. “She called me to tell me she’s pregnant … with my child.”

Holly shut her eyes, feeling her body shut down piece by piece. First her mind, then her lungs, and finally her heart, as it shattered into a million pieces. “I need air,” she whispered, running outside.

“Holly, wait!”

The bitter cold stung her skin as she crouched onto the front lawn, her tears almost icicles.

“Holly,” Ben said, wrapping his coat and arms around her. “Please, come back inside, it’s freezing out here.”

She let him take her hand and guide her back into the house. Keeping his coat wrapped around her, she sat back down on the couch, paralyzed by her thoughts.

“Hol, this doesn’t change anything between us. You are the one I love. Only you. I can help raise the baby without being a part of Michelle’s life.”

She willed herself to speak. She needed to get the words out, regardless of the pain they would inflict upon her soul.  Unable to look him in the eyes, she spoke in a voice filled with despair.

“No, this changes everything. You have a child to think about. You have to at least give it a try with Michelle. I could never forgive myself if you didn’t. Family means everything.”

“Holly, don’t do this…”

She stood up tall on shaky legs and handed Ben his coat. “I think you should leave now.”

Chapter 36

“Hello?”

“Hey, hey … It’s New Year’s Eve! Who’s the party girl? It’s Holly! Woot!” Alex and Dan screamed together into the phone. Holly pulled the phone about a foot away from her ear so as not to result in any permanent hearing loss.

“Um? OK?” she said, laughing.

“It was a rap. Couldn’t you tell?” Dan asked.

“I told him it sounded more like a cheer,” Alex chimed in, “but he didn’t believe me.”

“No, it was great,” she said. “Sort of like a chap or a reer. I loved it.” Judging by the background sounds of the television, they were on speakerphone in their family room.

“Oh, you know, we’re just trying to cheer you up. So, what’s the plan for tonight?” Dan asked. “Something spectacular I hope?”

“Well, nothing big really. I told Tessa I might meet her out later for a drink, but I’ll probably pass. She’s going to a bar that’s having one of those huge New Year’s Eve dance party things. It’s going to be crazy. I’m not in the mood for that.”

Holly sat down on her bed. She missed the New Year’s Eve days when she was younger and she and her sisters would all sit around the television in their pj’s watching the ball drop. Now with Ava back in California, Tessa preferring to hang out at parties, and Ben back with Michelle, Holly didn’t know where she fit in.

“I guess I’ll work on lesson plans while I watch the ball drop with my parents.”

 “Nonsense!” Dan squawked. “As your boss, I’m telling you there will be no work tonight. That’s an order. And as your friend, I’m telling you we’ll be by in an hour to pick you up. Make yourself pretty, Ms. Holly Haines, we’re taking you out for a nice dinner, and after we’ll go back to our place to ring in the new year in style.”

“And by style,” Alex interjected, “he means falling asleep with nachos hanging out of his mouth ten minutes before midnight.”

“I’ve only done that twice,” Dan said.

“But—”

“No buts! Don’t make me start rapping again, because I’ll do it.”

“Oh, he will,” Alex said, sounding terrified. “Please, Holly, I’m begging you. For the good of all mankind, do what he says!”

“Nah,” she teased. “I don’t believe him. He doesn’t have it in him.”

“What?” Dan retorted. “You know I will. First thing Monday morning when we’re back from winter break, I’ll rap all about how Holly Haines sat home all alone on New Year’s Eve … over the intercom.”

“Hah! That sounds like a nursery rhyme gone bad or something,” Alex told them. “You don’t want him to do that. It could get ugly and scare the kids.”

 “Then,” her boss continued, “I’ll send Gus Shaw and Elaine Fairview down to your room. I’ll tell Mrs. Fairview you’re the one who came up with the idea of adding an extra math section to each grade. She’ll never leave you alone. Finally, I’ll tell Gus you think all of the math teachers should wear a standard uniform, and that he should be the guy to design and make them. Before you know it, you’ll be a human calculator. Kids will be coming up to you, poking you all day long.”

“Ew, that’s obscene, Dan,” Alex said. “I kind of like it.”

“Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, Alex,” he said. “That’s not where the buttons would go! I’m talking about kids here.”

“No, please! Stop! I’ll go. Just.stop.now.please.” Holly was laughing so hard she could hardly catch her breath.

“Ah, I had a feeling you’d see things my way. See, Alex? I knew I could persuade her.”

“You are good,” he agreed.

 “So, see you in an hour, then? And wear that little floral dress you have. It’s really cute.”

“Good-bye, guys,” she said, still chuckling.

Holly hung up the phone and smiled. Her life might be falling apart, but she could always count on Dan and Alex to cheer her up. She pulled the floral dress out of her closet and held it up against her body, staring at her reflection in the mirror. Yes, the floral dress was definitely the way to go.

~~~

Dan and Alex made reservations at the Woodland House even before Holly agreed to go out with them. They picked the restaurant, knowing she would want something low-key, charming, and out of the main thoroughfare of partiers. They were right. It was the perfect place for them to have a relaxing dinner. They were good friends. The best she’d ever had, outside of her sisters, of course.

“Now, isn’t this better than worrying about ex-boyfriends and lesson plans?” Dan asked, digging in to the apple pie he ordered.

“Much,” Holly agreed. “Thank you.” She scanned the restaurant. “I’m surprised this place isn’t more crowded for a major holiday.”

“Oh, it will be,” Alex said. “Their New Year’s festivities haven’t kicked in yet. They’ve got the fancy five-course
prix fixe
menu like everyone else,” he stated in his best snooty tone. “I wanted to eat normal food, so we came before that began.”

“That’s code for we’re cheap,” Dan chimed in. “I promised the maître d’ we’d free up his table before eight. We’d better hurry up before they boot us out.”

“Nonsense,” Alex said. “I’ll stay until I’m good and ready to leave.”

The waiter walked by and placed the check on the table without asking if they’d like to order anything else.

“Um, I think they’re trying to tell us it’s time,” Holly said, laughing.

“Oh, fine,” Alex said, shoveling in the last bite of his dessert.

She reached down for her purse, but Dan grabbed her hand.

“No you don’t. This one’s on us. We never did get to take you out for your birthday.”

“You guys are too good to me,” she said, smiling. “I’m going to go use the ladies room. I’ll be right back.”

Pushing her chair back to stand up, she accidentally knocked into someone. “I’m so sorr—”

“Ugh,” the shrill voice began. “Look what you’ve—You! You’ve spilled my drink all over my dress.”

Holly couldn’t help but stare at her protruding belly. “Michelle,” she said, taking a napkin off the table and handing it to her. “I didn’t see you there. I’m sorry.” Looking around, she wondered if Ben was with her.

“Madame,” the waiter said, rushing to her side, to take her glass, “Please, let me get you another Perrier.”

Through the distance she saw him approaching. “Sorry about that,” he said as he made his way up to her, “there was a line at the coat room. Oh.”

Dan and Alex immediately stood up, apparently realizing who this woman was now that they saw her with Ben.

“Holly, we should go,” Dan said. He threw a bunch of bills on the table and gently took her arm.

“Yes,” she said, unable to take her eyes off of him. “O-okay.”

The tears started before she reached the exit.

Chapter 37

 “Are you sure you’re doing okay?” Ava asked.

Holly adjusted the gold chain around her neck. She promised Dan she would be back at school no later than a quarter to seven as they were due to go on stage at seven o’clock. He wanted her there earlier, but she needed a break from him. In an effort to keep her mind off Ben, he and Alex had her in rehearsals nearly every waking moment she wasn’t teaching. It was exhausting, although she did appreciate the sentiment. Dan meant well, and for that she loved him. She loved both of them.

“No, but I suppose I will be. I don’t really have a choice. I look ridiculous by the way,” she laughed under her breath while staring at herself in the mirror.

She wore black nylon track pants, which had white stripes going down the sides of the legs, and a matching black T-shirt with an iron-on decal across the front that read: Don’t be a Fool, Math is Cool. Topping off the ensemble were the accessories: gaudy fake gold chains as well as sweatbands on her head and wrists. Dan would be wearing the exact same outfit. The attire was Alex’s idea. Holly felt completely absurd. She looked like … she wasn’t quite sure what … some sort of a rejected athlete wanna-be from the eighties or something. She certainly didn’t look like a hipster rapper. Of course, it was still better than the giant puffed out addition and multiplication sign costumes Gus had proposed.

“Text me a picture,” Ava insisted.

“Um, no. Anyway, I have to run. Wish me luck. But no leg breaking, please. I have enough problems.”