Holly's Heart Collection One (65 page)
CALIFORNIA CRAZY
When our plane landed in L.A., I was dying to get off. Being cooped up in an airplane with a chatterbox little sister is no fun when what you really want to do is replay in your head the events of a Christmas party gone wrong. Over and over.
I waited impatiently in the aisle for the man ahead of me. He was asking the flight attendant about the weather in Hong Kong.
Just my luck! I wanted to sprint down the aisle and up the ramp, but it was impossible because zillions of people were getting off.
At last, the line began to move, and we inched our way to the baggage claim area. People stood around in short sleeves and shorts, welcoming loved ones home for Christmas.
California was the place to be by the looks of things. By comparison, Dressel Hills seemed dull with its sting of cold—wintry and otherwise.
Carrie and I lugged our ski jackets, gazing at the sea of faces. One face stood out among them all. Daddy!
He waved, and soon his arms were around us both. The spicy smell of his cologne brought back a world of memories, and I was grateful, at least, for one thing. Daddy had come for us—alone—without Saundra. I was in no mood to deal with her tonight.
“Your stepmom stayed home with Tyler because of the late hour, but I have a feeling they’ll be waiting up for you,” Daddy explained. “How was your flight?” he asked.
“A little bumpy,” Carrie said, rubbing her eyes. It was only the second plane ride of her life. “But it went fast from Colorado to here.” She continued to jabber on about the flight attendants, the snack, and the turbulence we experienced as we headed for the parking lot with the other holiday travelers.
Warm, humid air hit my face as I walked beside Daddy, holding Carrie’s hand. Palm trees swayed under the lights as we found Daddy’s car. I slid into the leathery front seat while Carrie climbed into the back.
Soon we were on the freeway, heading for Daddy’s gorgeous beach house. An old Christmas tune came on the radio. “I’ll be home for Christmas,” the singer crooned.
Feelings of homesickness pricked my heart. Outside, the waves of the Pacific Ocean shimmered in the moonlight. I stared up at the moon. The same one was shining down on the mountains of Colorado. Thinking that made me feel more miserable than ever.
“It’s the ocean!” Carrie said. She strained hard against her seat belt, staring out the window.
“Yes, but wait till you see the view from the house tomorrow morning,” Daddy told her. He turned into a long, narrow drive. Palm trees lined the lane, casting moon shadows on the luxurious, wine-red car. “Saundra’s making Chinese food for lunch tomorrow.” He smiled. “How’s that sound?”
“You canceled your luncheon?” I asked, hoping he wouldn’t leave us alone with the wicked stepmother on our very first day here.
“It’s been postponed until Monday,” he replied.
I stole quick glances at him, wondering if we’d have time for a heart-to-heart talk. Then the house appeared out of nowhere.
Saundra stood outside on the porch, wearing a black-and-white polka-dot dress and black heels. She greeted Carrie and me as we came up the walk. But she hugged and kissed Daddy as though he’d been gone for weeks. I tried to remember Mom doing that. It was easy, except when the new Mrs. Meredith spoke. “Welcome to our home, girls.” Heavy perfume hung in the air.
“I’m thirsty,” Carrie said, waiting for Daddy to bring the luggage up from the car.
“And I have to call Mom,” I told Saundra, who held open the front door. It was decorated with an enormous wreath of seashells.
A wiry boy with auburn hair and freckles zoomed past us, wearing his pajamas and bathrobe.
“Oh, there you are, Tyler,” Saundra said. She turned to me. “Your stepbrother has been anxiously awaiting your arrival, Holly.” She smiled broadly, her red lips glistening in the porch light. Then she introduced her son to Carrie.
Tyler grabbed Carrie’s hand and pulled her into the house. I heard him say, “There’s a surprise in your room that’s way cool,” and with that, they were gone.
I headed for the kitchen to call Mom. She would be waiting up, eager to know we had arrived safely. I glanced around at the enormous living room, brilliant with golden hues. A Christmas tree stood in the middle of an expansive wall of windows overlooking the ocean. It reminded me of another tree, a very simple one decorated with handmade ornaments—the tree at Pastor Rob’s house. Then, like a roaring avalanche, the painful memories of the evening came sweeping back.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I found the kitchen phone. No way did I want to sound sad when I talked to Mom. “We made it here just fine,” I told her when she answered.
“Oh, good.” She sounded relieved. “I’m praying you’ll both have a wonderful time. And Holly?”
“Yes?”
“Merry Christmas.”
“I miss you already,” I said, aware of the lump creeping into my throat. Again.
“Me too, sweetie,” she said. “I’ll see you soon.”
“I hope the time goes by fast,” I said softly so no one would hear.
When I finished talking, Tyler appeared around the corner, ready to guide me to my room—down a long, winding Cinderella staircase, its railing adorned with evergreen. Two large bedrooms with a sitting room between graced the lower level. Just as I had remembered.
Tyler took me into the bedroom where Carrie was. “Look!” He pointed to a telescope set on a tripod across the room. It was aimed toward the ocean.
“Fabulous,” I whispered. “Is this yours?”
Tyler grinned. “It’s my old one, but you two can use it for now.” Carrie couldn’t keep her hands off it. She adjusted the lens, peering through the peephole again and again.
Then I turned to see Daddy standing in the doorway. He was piled up with luggage. Tyler dashed across the room to open the wide maple closet doors.
“There’s plenty of space to hang things,” my father said, bringing Carrie’s bags into the room. “Make yourselves at home, girls. We’re glad you’ve come to spend the holidays with us.”
Tyler seemed impatient, shifting from one foot to the other. It was obvious he had other plans in mind that didn’t include unpacking or organizing clothes.
I went into my own room to rescue my overnight case. My hair stuff and other toiletries were inside, as well as my locked diary. Saundra followed me to my room. “As soon as you’re unpacked, Holly, we’ll have a dish of ice cream.” She stood in the doorway, watching my every move. “There are towels and linens in the bathroom closet if you want to freshen up.” She motioned for Tyler to scoot.
“See you upstairs, Holly,” he called.
“Okay,” I said, wondering where this nine-year-old boy got all his confidence. I could’ve used some tonight at the party. The scene replayed in my mind. In my imagination, I actually marched up to Jared and gleefully ripped my present—
A Heart Full of Poetry
—out of his hands!
In the bathroom, I opened a corner cupboard filled with elegant linens. I chose a thick blue towel and a washcloth to match. There were brightly colored tins filled with butterfly and bird soaps in blue and green hues. I lifted a green one to my nose and breathed deeply. Mmm! Almost pepperminty—like Mom’s tea back home in Dressel Hills. I wondered if she was sipping some right now.
Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was an hour later there. Nope, she was probably asleep by now. A twinge gripped me. I was already homesick for the angel of a mother I’d left behind. I longed for her gentle ways and listening ear. Of course, she couldn’t remove my hurt, no one could. But her soft voice and loving eyes would let me know I could survive—even without Jared as my friend.
After a warm shower I was too tired to engage in small talk or eat ice cream upstairs with Daddy…and especially Saundra. So, clad in a bathrobe, I excused myself and headed back to the huge room that was to be mine for the next two weeks. The thought of temporarily acquiring this major privacy eased the homesickness slightly.
Glancing at the strewn contents of my suitcase, I felt guilty about waiting till tomorrow to unpack. But I pushed the feeling aside and slipped between the silky sheets, reaching for my overnight case and a pen. Then I recorded the heartbreaking news of the day.
Friday, December 17. It’s late and I’m so tired, but I have to write these words on paper so I won’t explode. Jared Wilkins is absolutely despicable! More tomorrow…
I locked my diary with the key on the chain around my neck. Sliding the diary under the pillow next to mine, I reached for the massive lamp poised on the bedside table. In the darkness, I asked God to ease my pain and to please help me forget Jared Wilkins—ASAP!
CALIFORNIA CRAZY
During lunch the next day, I watched Daddy sprinkle soy sauce on his rice. Saundra sat to his left, passing seconds to him, only to have them refused. I wished she’d back off. How many times did he have to say he was dieting, anyhow?
I decided I wouldn’t call her Saundra this visit. The way she pronounced it gave me the creeps! Besides, it wasn’t polite to address her by her first name anyway. Calling her “stepmom” seemed somewhat cold even though it fit her austere personality. So I resolved to avoid calling her anything. At least for now.
Tyler sat across the table from me, rolling his eyes at everything his mother said. “Sit up straight, dear,” she’d say. “Lean over your plate,” or “Don’t poke at your food.” On and on.
Carrie seemed entertained by his antics, however. And Tyler milked it for all it was worth, acting out and being rewarded with giggles from Carrie. I could see the two of them were quite a pair. And Daddy and Saundra, er, Mrs. Meredith the Second, were also quite taken with each other. As for well matched, though, I didn’t see how that could possibly be.
I couldn’t help it; I thought of Jared. In many ways we were opposites, too. I was loyal to the bone, but he…? What he’d done was unforgivable, especially after those special moments we’d spent together on the deck…
“I’ll read every word when I get home,”
Jared had said about my book of poetry. I wanted to wring his neck—Paula’s, too!
Andie’s advice rang in my ears.
Ignore Paula.
Right! How could I when it was obvious that Jared couldn’t?
Daddy reached for Saundra’s hand and squeezed it. They were quite a couple. Where did that leave me? Furiously, I snapped open a fortune cookie. The thin strip of paper stuck out, but I crumpled it without reading it and stuffed it into my shorts pocket despite Saundra’s disapproving look.
Tyler excused himself, and he and Carrie ran off to play. Daddy kissed Saundra and left the table, too. Saundra sat across from me, her reddish hair swept up away from her face.
Uncomfortable with the silence, I attempted to clear the table, but she interfered immediately, declaring that this was my vacation and I was not to lift a finger to help in any way.
Okay,
I thought.
I can handle that.
I wandered off to find Daddy—the perfect excuse to avoid direct conversation with her.
Daddy’s study was lined with wall-to-wall books, shelved in rich, glowing cherrywood. Not surprising—everything in this house was polished to a high gleam. I stared in amazement at his collection of books, ignoring the thought that some of them probably belonged to Saundra.
I tiptoed behind Daddy’s chair and peeked over the back. He was reading a book of poetry. He chuckled. “Mice are quieter than you,” he said, motioning for me to sit on his hassock. “What’s on your mind?”
“You are,” I said courageously, curious about the poetry he was reading.
He held it up, surveying the title. “It’s free verse,” he said.
“What’s your taste in poetry?”
“Rhyming’s my favorite.”
“That figures,” he said, with a faint smile. “Your mother always preferred it over a loose rhyme pattern, too.” He mentioned her so effortlessly, I wondered if he thought of Mom often.
“You remember?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable about his easygoing approach.
He nodded, touching my head as I knelt beside his chair. “There are many happy memories.” His crisp, articulate voice turned suddenly soft and intimate.
Deep and dark, The Question stirred within me.
Now!
it urged me.
Ask now!
My lips formed The Question, but the words remained locked up. Dense pain concealed it, forcing it down…deep into the most secret places of my being.
“I’ve missed so much of your life, Holly,” Daddy was saying. Unexpectedly, he wrapped his arms around me. I hugged him back, feeling some of the pain of those lost years.
And then, he was reading a winter sonnet, the sound of his voice soothing me, even though the poem reminded me of cold, snowy Colorado. I didn’t mind. Having Daddy all to myself like this was sweet.
Just then, Saundra broke the spell by carrying in a tray of sodas for three. She sat across the room, silently sipping hers. I cringed. The special moment had ended for me with Saundra’s intrusion. I felt cheated…and hurt.
That night in my journal I had a few choice words to say about my wicked stepmother.
I awakened to knocks at my door the next morning.
