Imperfect Love (20 page)

“That is debatable,” Jake grumbled.

“Eat your food and stop talking crap, both of you,” she shot back, wagging her finger between Jake and Gus.

Almost immediately, everyone started to eat if the sound of forks and knives clattering was anything to go by.

Holly couldn’t take her eyes off of Mara.

“Holly. Just so you know, I do believe I’m the only normal one in this family.” With that, Mara looked pointedly at Jake. “Don’t get me started, Jake.”

“No, please, do. What is so wrong with me, Mom?” He smiled.

“Let’s start with the head of the house, shall we?”

Gus glanced sideways at his wife, a piece of fried chicken halfway to his mouth. “What have I done?”

“Gus, you never take anything seriously, and I won’t even mention that awful prayer of yours.”

“Ha. You just did. And anyway, God loves my prayers,” he teased.

Mara slumped in her chair.

“Besides,” Gus continued, “you are serious enough for the both of us. Someone needs to keep this family balanced.”

Mara laughed. “Okay, okay.”

“Jake, where do I begin?”

Jake chortled.

“The married woman, Mom,” Robin piped up.

“Oh, yes.” Mara’s eyes were huge, and a playful smile illuminated her face.

Jake snorted. “Too late, people. Holly already knows about that.”

“You told her?”

“I did.”

“I’m still in shock that I went for a home- wrecker,” Holly announced, concentrating on her vegetables.

Mara almost choked on her wine as she started to laugh, pulling everyone in like magnets to do the same.

“I didn’t wreck any home.” He looked at her.

Holly looked up and shrugged. “Whatever makes you sleep better at night.”

He poked her hard in the ribs. “You are mean.”

“But you still like me, so it’s fine.”

The exchange between them was highly entertaining to Jake’s family.

“Okay, fine. I’m a home-wrecker, which by the way, I wasn’t. What else.”

“You’re a coward, because I raised you differently. I raised you to go after the things you want in life.”

“Even if she was married?”

“You had the chance to intervene, before she got married.”

“Well, I didn’t, and now I’ve met Holly. So, it worked out exactly the way it was supposed to.”

Holly’s heart dropped all the way down to her stomach and bounced right back up to her chest, like a yo-yo.
Wow, that’s nice.

“What else.”

“You were a hooligan,” Holly chirped in again.

“Excuse me, but I’m not the one who ended up with the broken hand that weekend, so I wonder who the hooligan is now.”

Mara cut in. “I have to admit, I’m glad your hooligan days are over.”

“So, I’m a home wrecker, a coward for the same reason I’m not a home wrecker, and I was a hooligan. Anything else, Mom? Holly?”

“You are plain crazy, Jake.” Before he had a chance to reply, she turned her gaze to Amelia, who had been patiently waiting for her turn. “Amelia is easy. She’s a psychiatrist,” she proudly stated.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” Amelia yelled, while Jake, Armand and his father grinned like lunatics.

“It takes a nut to treat a nut,” Mara answered.

“Well, and you can’t say anything about me?” Robin asked.

“You are just like Jake, honey. Sorry. I don’t even know where to start, but I can try. Let’s see.” She looked up at the ceiling. “Oh, yes, I knew I’d come up with something. Take the way you burst out laughing when you see a cripple.”

Holly gaped at Robin.

“I can’t help it. It just happens. I wish I could change it, but I can’t. It’s a sickness.”

“I rest my case, then.” Mara’s hand was up in the air now. “The only ones who are anywhere near normal are Ben and Kimmy.”

“Normal!” All excluded children protested, with Gus between them.

It made Holly giggle.

“You are
psycho mom
,” Jake grunted, throwing his hands up in the air.

“I’m not the least bit psycho. Neither am I a ‘psycho mom’.” She looked at Holly. “Don’t listen to him.”

When it was time for dessert, Mara served up sorbet with fresh fruit pieces—simply delicious. Jake’s hand touched her leg every once in a while, which always set free a million butterflies in Holly’s stomach. Every time he touched her was simply magical. Holly would never get tired of it.

Once everyone was done with dessert, Mara stood and addressed Holly. “Holly, would you like to give me a hand?”

“Mom, you have a dishwasher.”

“I do, and aren’t I lucky? But I need help loading it. In other words, hooligan, it’s so I can get to know her better.”

“It’s fine. I’d love to help.” Holly stood and playfully stuck her tongue out at Jake.

He just raised his left eyebrow. “It’s your funeral,” he joked.

She slapped him on the shoulder. “Stop being so mean to your mother.”

He pretended to be affronted.

“Thanks for the effort, Holly, but Jake is like that.”

“You are so mean.”

“Well, you still like me, so it’s fine.” Jake mimicked Holly’s previous answer.

Holly huffed, walking away with a stack of dessert bowls in her hands.

In the kitchen, Mara rinsed off all the plates.

“Just sit there, so we can have a little chat.” She pushed a chair out from the breakfast nook that connected with the island.

Holly sat down and her heart started to thump again.

“So, where are you from?”

“Here, not born but raised. My mother and I moved here when I was about four.”

Mara asked Holly a million questions about her family and life in general, and for some reason Holly completely opened up. She didn’t mention losing her twin, but she did tell her about her father, as well as how her mom’s heart had never healed when he up and left them. It had been mostly over losing Jamie that she had struggled with, but Holly didn’t burden Mara with that tale.

When Mara was done packing the dishwasher, she poured them each a cream liqueur and sat across from Holly, listening attentively as Holly recounted her childhood days. She then asked what Holly did for a living. Holly got the feeling Mara didn’t really approve but wasn’t sure if it was just Mara’s personality, or if it was really how Mara felt about her work.

“I could’ve easily gone off to university. My grades were up to par, but I hadn’t found a profession I truly liked so never enrolled. When I’m as passionate as Jake and the rest of your children are about something, I will enroll myself in a college or university and take it from there.” She was babbling now, as thoughts of Mara approving her current employment lingered in her mind.

“Well, being a doctor is great, but you don’t always have time for family. I guess that’s why Gus and I were glad we were in the same field. I almost went into marketing. I’m really good with predicting situations and growth by listening to people and knowing what they want. But, becoming a doctor was always what I’d wanted to be, and I’m glad I stuck with it and I am one. Some people struggle to discover what it is they were made for, but I promise you that when you do, it’s going to be the best feeling ever.”

Holly smiled at the older woman, feeling relieved.

“I’m really glad you decided to come with Jake today. I’ve asked him to bring you so many times, and all he could do was grunt every time.”

“Why is he like that?”

“It’s nothing for you to worry about. I’m used to it and don’t tell him this, but I do keep a close eye on him. He was the only one in my family I couldn’t predict.”

Holly giggled.

“So, you can just imagine how I felt when he came home from school one day saying that he wanted to learn how to fight. In a cage!” Mara’s eyes were huge and she shuddered at the sudden flashback. “It was the scariest four years of my life. Although, I have to admit, I cheered the loudest on the sidelines, but I’d never been that terrified, ever. Seeing your child fight like that gave me nightmares. When he eventually got the beating of his life…” her voice broke and she shook her head gently as tears glistened in her eyes.

“He told me about that.”

“It was so hard, Holly. I thought my boy was lost forever. But Leo, bless his heart, somehow pulled him through.”

“They are amazing people.”

“Do you know them?”

“Well, it’s how Jake and I met. I’m best friends with Bernice.”

“I’m so glad he met you. The married woman thing was really hard on him. He thought he would never get over it, and then he met you. I’m so grateful that you walked into his life. I haven’t seen Jake laugh so much in a long time.”

“Well, it’s important to laugh.”

“It is. And it’s a good sign, too.”

Silence filled the room.

Mara cleared her throat. “Can I please ask you something?” Mara looked at Holly, a frown pinching the skin between her eyebrows.

“Of course.”

“I know my son is neither a saint nor a monk, and I don’t want to know if your relationship is a sexual one, but I do beg you to use protection. He can’t study to be a doctor, and raise a baby. Gus and I did that with Jake and it wasn’t easy. I want him to graduate first. Would it be too much to ask you to go on the pill?”

Nobody had ever asked her a question like that before. Holly, as more than likely anyone else would be, should have been shocked, but she wasn’t. What Mara was asking wasn’t unreasonable.

“I want him to succeed in everything he does. You need to know, Mara, that I’m not one of those girls who thinks a baby can keep a couple together, and what you ask isn’t too much. I’ll get on it.”

Mara gave her a soft smile and pulled her in for a hug. “Thank you, Holly. That is another weight off my shoulders. Just do me a favor, please.” She looked at Holly again. “Don’t tell him I’ve asked you this. He would never speak to me again for intervening.”

“Your secret is safe with me.”

THEIR CHAT CAME TO AN END THE MINUTE JAKE      stepped into the kitchen. He walked over and stood behind Holly, stroking her back. “So, what are you two talking about?”

“Nothing for you to worry about.” Mara was quite blunt. “We’re just getting to know each other. Is that a sin?”

Jake squinted at his mom, a suspicious smile playing over his lips. “No, I guess not.” He didn’t push, deciding to leave it at that.

The rest of the afternoon went by in a whirl. Holly couldn’t remember when she’d had so much fun with strangers. She’d enjoyed meeting and spending the day with Jake’s family.

His dad was funny and she’d laughed so hard at his jokes. Mara, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. She was more often than not serious, and it was evident that at times she completely missed the boat on some of his jokes. Mara’s humor was of the darker variety, which meant that Holly was going to struggle to differentiate between when she was really joking and when she was being serious.

Amelia was a darling. She had a mouth on her, though, and didn’t shut it for anything or anyone. Holly wished in so many ways that she could develop the strength Amelia carried in her—she didn’t seem to be afraid of anything.

Her husband, Armand, reminded Holly of someone who simply tagged along. He only had eyes for his wife, though, and it was quite clear that he had a gentle side to him. When she’d first seen him at the paintball game, she’d had to look twice, because he neither seemed nor looked like Amelia’s type. Armand was a bear of a man but looked like a total geek, right down to the glasses, although a really smart and super awesome person.

Robin was a lot like Mara, but in many ways like Gus. She was also a bit of a tomboy.

Lisa continuously played on her device and when she got bored, would go into the house to watch TV.

Kimmy was only eight so still loved to play with dolls, which was exactly what she did after lunch.

Ben was one hell of a cute boy and a mini version of Jake, except he had a missing tooth— something he was proud of. He’d had this long discussion with Armand while sitting on Jake’s lap regarding the Tooth Fairy.

Holly had found him adorable and laughed wholeheartedly as Ben told both Armand and Jake his intricate plans to catch her.

“She won’t make an appearance tonight if you mention your plans out loud, my boy,” Gus chirped from the opposite couch.

“She will come,” he said adamantly. “I left her Oreos, and Armand said that she has a craving for Oreos. So I figure she will eat until she’s so fat, she won’t be able to fly away.” Ben’s logic brooked no argument.

Everyone had a good chuckle at that.

“Mom did say you were the sanest,” Jake said to Ben. “Hmph! I think she should re-think her words.” Jake looked at the five-year-old who cackled with laughter.

Holly really tried not to laugh at their antics, but it was impossible with that family. Despite the day having been beyond amazing, all good things had to come to an end. At around five they bid their farewell. As Holly put her coat on, Robin and Amelia took turns to give her a hug.

“Okay, let her go,” Jake intervened, which earned him a scold from Amelia. “Don’t look at me like that. If she doesn’t come back next Sunday, it’s not my fault.”

“Whatever. Just go. Bye, Holly,” Amelia repeated.

Holly waved as Jake led her to the car.

On the way home, they decided to stop at the mall and caught the eight o’clock movie; a beautiful romance, both quirky and funny. They enjoyed it tremendously, especially the kissing they were able to do in the inky blackness of the theater.

At around ten, they had to say goodbye again. It was becoming harder and harder for Holly to only see Jake on weekends—at least she knew that he was studying and not fooling around with another girl.

She was sitting on his lap in the car, as she always did on Sunday nights. Weekends seemed to fly by when she was with Jake, something she hated.

“Charge your phone, missy. I don’t want to struggle in trying to get hold of you.”

“Are you ready for this week’s tests?”

“Easy.” He scrunched up his nose, pretending that passing tests was easy and had to do with blood, DNA, and other medical terms Holly never could remember. In other words, it ran in the family.

“Tell you what, for every A you get, I’ll give you the best blow job you’ve ever had.”

Raising his eyebrows, Jake asked, “Oh, really? Can we shake on that?” His voice dripped seductiveness, making Holly squirm.

“We can, if you don’t want to take my word for it.”

“Interesting. And for every A+?”

“Are you that smart?” She raised her own eyebrows, looking straight into his soul searchingly.

“Maybe…”

“Okay, for every A+”—she looked at the roof, trying to think of something that would make her deal worthy of an A+—“I’ll give you a lap dance, an oil massage, and the best sex you’ve ever had and will ever have.”

She leaned her head closer to his as he stroked the side of it softly. When their lips touched, it immediately turned into a burning hunger. She started to move into him, and those ever present butterflies erupted in her belly when his hands dipped under her summer dress, caressing her hips and butt.

She could kiss him forever. It didn’t stay in the kissing zone as neither of them really wanted to say goodbye. When Holly finally pulled back from their kiss, they were both out of breath.

“If you tell me it’s time to go, I swear I’m going to kidnap you and lock you inside my closet,” he grunted in her ear.

She laughed softly, thinking about his proposal. She definitely wouldn’t mind being his prisoner. “Don’t temp me. But I really have to go.” She opened the door and almost fell out. Hot flushes washed over her body, and her arousal made her blind. She shook her head, letting the cool air do its trick. Once she was steady, she bent down and kissed him through the open window one last time before entering the house.

He always waited for her until she was safely inside. Holly watched as his car lights faded away, until darkness replaced them.

How could I have fallen so hard for a guy in such a short amount of time?

The next two weeks flew by, and soon the end of the school year was upon them. Holly and Jake couldn’t wait for that last week to be over. It was his final year of medical school before starting work as an intern. He was really excited yet nervous, because he knew his already limited time with Holly would be cut in half.

There would be no more free weekends; he’d have only one week of day shifts before night shifts started, with the latter allowing no one-on-one time to spend with her. This meant that she’d only see him for a couple of hours during the odd day shift. It all sounded awful. However, before that horrible period—and it would be horrible—started, Holly would be able to see him every single day for almost an entire month.

On the Sunday, they paid his family a visit and had lunch.

“So, are you in?” Amelia asked Holly while they helped Mara with the dishes again.

“For what?”

“A two mile walk. It’s not so far, and it’s for a good cause.”

“What cause would that be?”

“Don’t do it, Bee Puke,” Jake warned.

“Shush,” Amelia slapped the air playfully in her brother’s direction, as if she was shooing him to be gone. “Anti-abortion. My dad usually does this with me, but this year he can’t. He’s on standby next Saturday, and I have no one to do it with. Armand is such a pee-wee when it comes to things like that. Although, everyone’s always clearly stating that they are all for the cause. I need you there, Holly.”

“Sweetheart, you don’t know what Holly’s beliefs are,” Mara spoke softly.

“No, I’m against it as well. Sure, why not. How much does it cost for this amazing two mile walk?”

Armand and Jake chuckled, earning them a glare from Holly. “Okay, what is going on. Is there something I should know?”

Amelia rolled her eyes at them, throwing a napkin in their direction. “Tell her, you can’t wait to, anyway.” She looked at Jake.

“And spoil all the fun?”

“Tell me what?” She looked at Jake.

“The amazing two mile walk? You do it in high heels.”

Holly’s head snapped back to Amelia.

“Please, Holly. I really don’t want to do this alone.”

“Your dad does this with you?”

Through everyone’s laughter, Amelia replied, “Yes. He’s the best dad a girl could ask for. I’ll even pay the fee, you just need to bring high heels.”

“Oh. My. Soul. I’m going to have blisters the size of watermelons, aren’t I?” She looked at Amelia for confirmation.

“It’s for a good cause,” was all Amelia said.

“Fine. Just as long as you remember this; you are going to owe me big time, missy.”

Amelia clapped her hands excitedly, which made Holly laugh.

“Seriously, Amelia. You taking Holly away on one of the last few days I’m going to be able to spend with her.”

“Don’t give me that shit, Jake. You are finishing this Friday, so you can see Holly any day of the week.”

“Fine,” he said, looking at Armand. “I guess me and you are on banner duty, then.”

The girls giggled. Holly could just imagine Jake cheering her on with a huge banner that read: Go baby, go!, or something like that, written in huge, big bold letters.

“This is going to be fun,” Holly admitted.

“You bet, sister,” Amelia concurred, lifting her hand to Holly for a high five.

Holly complied and slapped it, a warm tingling feeling spreading inside her chest. Nobody had called her sister in the past nine years.

But looking at Jake dangling his car keys in his hand, she wanted to cry. She knew their time was going to be cut short as he really wanted to study for tomorrow’s test. He kissed his entire family goodbye, and it was at this moment that Holly realized she’d fallen in love with them all.

Just before they left, though, his father gave him a quick quiz. Holly didn’t know if they were pulling one another’s leg or not as the terms were foreign, but by Armand’s shaking body and Mara’s eyes, Holly assumed it was bullshit.

“You are going to ace that test, Son.” His father slapped him solidly on the back when they’d reached Jake’s car. Gus turned to Holly and gave her a bear hug just before Jake opened her door.