Holly's Heart Collection One (64 page)

Carrie and Stephie came galloping downstairs. Stephie dragged my backpack behind her.

“Give me that,” I said, snatching it from her. Heading upstairs, I stopped in my tracks, remembering there was no privacy to be had in my bedroom. In fact, there was none anywhere in this house.

Furious about my dad’s mistake, I grabbed my jacket and fumbled to put it on. Then I dashed outside—behind the house—barging into the middle of the unfinished addition. The workers stopped their hammering and stared at me as I knelt down on the cold cement foundation and crumpled Daddy’s letter. I didn’t care what they thought. My estranged father had just ruined my entire Christmas—and maybe my life!

CALIFORNIA CRAZY

Chapter 8

“Why is this happening to me?” I sobbed into the phone hours later, telling Andie my sad tale.

She was doing her best to calm me down. “Hang on a minute, Holly. You can still go to the party. Just pack your stuff ahead of time and ask your mom to pick you up at Pastor Rob’s. You can leave for the airport from there.”

“That’s easy for you to say,” I said, sniffling. “Your guy friend’s not accepting gifts from gorgeous brunettes.”

“I thought we had that problem settled,” she scolded.

I sighed loudly. “Maybe
you
did.”

“So what are you gonna do, Holly? Confront Jared and make him mad in time for Christmas?”

Andie was right, as usual.

I blew my nose. “Okay, I’ll try it your way.”

“Look, I’ve gotta run,” Andie said abruptly. “Mom needs me.”

“Okay,” I said reluctantly, hearing the sounds of Andie’s two-year-old twin brothers in the background. “Hey, thanks, Andie,” I added. “You’re a good friend.”

“Don’t you forget it.” With that, she hung up.

I ran upstairs to survey my wardrobe for California before Mom and Uncle Jack arrived home. It was going to be tight, but I intended to get Carrie’s and my clothes washed and packed in time to head for the airport directly from the party.

Mom was agreeable when I mentioned it. “You don’t have to convince me of the importance of this church event, Holly-Heart,” she said, touching my head. “I know.”

I leaned against the sink, watching her chop lettuce for the salad. “Thanks, Mom.” I hugged her. “I’m going to miss you.”

She put the knife down and dried her hands. Then she wrapped her arms around me. “You’re my sweetie. You know that, don’t you?”

I nodded, blinking back the tears. It wasn’t going to be easy leaving her. It would be my very first Christmas away from her—and Dressel Hills.

“It’ll be nice coming home to my old room,” I said, wiping my face.

Mom motioned for me to sit at the bar. She scooted onto the stool across from me. “Your uncle Jack thinks a lot of you, Holly-Heart. The addition we’re having built isn’t just to make more bedroom space for his kids. It’s much more than that.”

“I think I know what you’re saying. It’s Uncle Jack’s way of showing how much he cares about
your
kids, too, right?”

Mom nodded, smiling. “Jack’s a wonderful man. I’m truly blessed to be his wife.” I could tell she meant it by the way her blue eyes twinkled as she spoke his name.

With Mom’s help, I was packed and ready long before the party. Mom stayed home with the rest of the kids until it was time to head for the airport while Uncle Jack drove Stan and me to Pastor Rob’s house.

“Feel up to driving the two of us home tonight?” my uncle asked Stan as we passed through the intersection of Aspen Street and Downhill Court.

“Sure.” Stan grinned. He needed the practice now that he had his coveted instruction permit, but there weren’t many times when the Patterson family van wasn’t packed with passengers.

Uncle Jack turned, casting a quick wink at me. “It won’t be long and I’ll be giving Holly driving lessons.”

“Yeah, in less than two years I’ll have
my
permit,” I said. Funny, I felt more confident about learning to drive than about seeing Paula in the same room with Jared.

When we pulled into the driveway, Stan turned picked up the present for his secret pal and turned around in the passenger’s seat. “Hope you have fun in the sun, Holly.”

“I’ll try,” I said, holding my gift for Jared.

“Let me know if you run out of money,” Stan said. “I charge twenty-five-percent interest.” He was joking, but I didn’t mind. It was his way of saying he’d miss me. He leaped out of the van, heading for the party.

“Watch out for suntanned beach bums,” Uncle Jack teased as I climbed out of the van. “Don’t go California crazy.”

“Don’t worry,” I said, thinking of my one and only crush. No way would I fall for some tall, tan surfer with Jared Wilkins waiting for me back home. I waved to Uncle Jack once more.

Inside, the house was bustling with zillions of kids. Pastor Rob greeted me and took my jacket. A tall Christmas tree stood in the middle of the window at one end of the room. It was decorated with red and white bows and homemade ornaments. I hid Jared’s gift among the many secret-pal presents under the tree.

At the other end of the room, a crowd of kids gathered around a grand piano. Andie was playing “Jingle Bell Rock,” while Stan leaned on the piano, grinning at her. Joy and Amy-Liz tossed popcorn into Andie’s mouth as her fingers flew over the keys.

When Joy saw me, she rushed over. “Merry Christmas, Holly,” she said, pushing a small gift into my hands. “I’m your secret pal,” she whispered.

“You are?” I said, pulling tape off the side. “I never would’ve guessed.” A white box peeked out of the wrapping. I tugged on it and opened the lid. Inside, nestled on the cotton lining, was a silver beaded necklace with a cross. “Ooh,” I whispered, and gave her a hug. “I love it. Thanks!”

“Who’s
your
secret pal?” she asked, her eyes bright with anticipation.

“I’m not telling yet,” I said, looking around for Jared. And Paula.

“Oh, in case you wondered, Jared’s in the kitchen pulling taffy with Billy Hill,” Joy said, heading back to the piano, where Andie was accumulating admirers and carolers.

“Where’s Shauna?” I asked, following Joy to the piano. Shauna and Joy were inseparable friends.

“She has the flu,” Joy said. “She’s missed out on everything all week.”

“That’s too bad,” I said, watching Andie’s chubby fingers bounce around the octaves in the bass. “Tell her I missed her tonight, okay?”

Joy nodded and smiled.

Andie stopped playing long enough to slide over on the bench. “Let’s sing ‘Carol of the Bells,’ ” she suggested, patting the bench.

I sat beside her, glancing around at the eligible vocalists. “Let’s make it a round,” I said.

“Good idea,” Stan agreed. “But some of us need the music.”

Andie rolled an arpeggio up the keyboard, holding the broken chord with the pedal. “I don’t.” She flashed a smile at Stan.

“Look out,” Joy teased. “Andie’s playing by ear again.”

Stan laughed and reached for the songbook. Scanning the index, his finger ran down the page. “Found it,” he said, holding the book open for Andie.

After another introductory flourish by Andie, the guys began to sing. Joy, Amy-Liz, and I came in with the repeated melody, creating a two-part harmony. Soon, Kayla and several other girls from the kitchen joined in.

Where was Paula?

At the end of our fabulous rendition, we clapped and hooted. This was going to be the best Christmas party ever!

I hurried upstairs to put my gift from Joy on the lamp table in one of the bedrooms. There, a mountain of jackets was piled on the bed. Back downstairs, I peeked into the kitchen and saw Billy and Jared pulling taffy. Pastor Rob was supervising.

“Come help us, Holly,” Billy called, motioning with his head.

Jared looked up just then; his face burst into a grin. “There she is,” he announced to everyone. That’s when I noticed Jared’s shirt. It matched my rosy-pink blouse!

I hurried to his side. “So that’s why you asked what color I was wearing,” I whispered.

He nodded, his arms stretched out in front of him. “Here, someone take my place.” He pulled his fingers away from the sticky taffy. Then, out of the crowded kitchen, Paula Miller emerged.

She picked up the taffy marked with Jared’s fingerprints and flashed her Colgate smile at me as Jared washed his hands at the sink.

Was I ever glad I’d traded names with Billy for the secret-pal gift exchange. I couldn’t imagine buying a present for pathetic Paula.

Jared and I headed into the living room. We sang several more Christmas carols and helped string popcorn on the tree.

“I have a surprise for you,” I said during a semi-quiet moment. “Let’s go out on the deck for a minute, okay?”

Jared followed me to the Christmas tree and waited while I found his present. He held the patio door for me as we walked into the frosty night.

It was colder than I’d expected, but the view was fabulous, just the way I’d imagined it would be. We leaned on the redwood railing, gazing at the mountains, black against the moonlit sky. Pungent smells of woodsmoke enhanced the atmosphere. Perfect!

I held up my gift to Jared. “Merry Christmas! I’m your secret pal.”

He looked surprised. “Really?
You
are?”

I nodded, shivering in the wintry stillness. “This present isn’t for just
any
secret pal, you know.”

Jared grinned down at me. Suddenly the light on the deck flashed on. We turned to see the faces of our friends pressed against the kitchen window. Paula was among the kids waving and laughing as the light blinked on and off, on and off.

“Not her again,” I muttered.

“What did you say?” Jared leaned his ear close to my face.

“Nothing,” I said, disappointed that our special moment had to be interrupted this way.

Still holding the present, Jared cleared his throat. “Should I open it now?” he asked.

Suddenly I felt shy. “If you want to.”

He ripped off the wrapping paper and stuffed it into his jeans pocket. Then, opening the clothbound book, he let out a low whistle. “Is this what I think it is?” He glanced at me. Then he read the title, “
A Heart Full of Poetry: At Christmas.”

“Original poetry by Holly Meredith,” I said, pleased by his response. I reached up and stuck the red ribbon on his head, giggling.

That’s when he caught my arm and gave me a quick hug. “Thanks, Holly-Heart. You’re too good to be true.”

I was thankful for the semi-darkness. It hid the blood rushing to my cheeks.

“I’ll read every word tonight when I get home,” he promised.

My teeth were chattering.

“Hey, I’d better get you inside. It’s freezing out here.”

I was reluctant to return to the loud party atmosphere. Mostly because Jared hadn’t surprised me yet with a gift. And time was running out.

Pastor Rob called everyone to the family room around the fireplace. Jared sat beside me on the floor during our devotional time.

Later, when the doorbell rang, I rushed to get it. Mom stood there, ready to drive me to the airport.

“Just a minute,” I said, letting her in out of the cold. “I’ll get my jacket.”

“Take your time,” she said, coming inside.

Dying for an explanation from Jared about the gift I was sure he was going to give me, I ran upstairs to get my jacket. Under the second pile of coats, I found my present from Joy. Putting it in my pocket, I headed for the stairs.

Halfway down, I noticed Paula and Jared standing in the corner of the living room, near the Christmas tree. I leaned on the railing. What were they doing? I kept watching, relieved that Mom was engaged in conversation with Pastor Rob.

My heart pounded as I observed the handsome twosome. Paula’s dark, shoulder-length hair was pulled away from her face with an elegant hair clip. Her face glowed as she gazed at Jared. He held something in his hands. What was it? I stared at the small, square box wrapped in red paper and topped with a white lacy bow. Paula flashed her pearly whites as he handed the gift to her. My heart sank as he beamed down at her.

Choking back the tears, I yanked on my jacket and zipped it up. Quickly, I thanked Pastor Rob for a terrific party and, without saying good-bye to anyone, not even Andie, stumbled to the car in the cold and suddenly bleak December night.