Imperfect Love (22 page)

The rest of the week flew by in a whirl. She didn’t know who was more excited about Friday, Jake or her. He’d finally finished with all of his tests, and was officially on vacation.

She would be able to see him every day now without worrying about his mom being upset. She would also have to fulfill some of her promises as he would be receiving his final results soon, and then it was graduation, vacation, and internship. Holly breathed out a huge breath just thinking about it.

Every Friday, Holly took a small weekend bag to work; she now spent every weekend at Jake’s. On this particular Friday, from three o’clock to be exact, time seemed to drag. It just didn’t want to reach the five o’clock mark.

However, she was super excited when Jake showed up early. He looked relieved. She didn’t want to think about next year, though, when he was going to have to work almost the entire week and then their time would be cut tremendously short, as if it wasn’t already. But, it was what she had to get used to. She was dating a doctor-to-be and not just any doctor, but a neurologist.

At five, they finally made their way out, hopped into his car and took another route back to Jake’s house.

“Are we going somewhere?”

“Yes, we need to prepare.”

“Prepare for what?”

“You’ll see, it’s going to be fun.”

“Oh, please, if it’s going to involve guns and paint again, God help you, Jake.”

Jake started to laugh. “No, I promise it’s not that bad.”

They stopped in front of a huge gate and once it opened, Jake drove into a complex. The houses within seemed to be more beautiful than the next.

They drove through another set of gates and approached a huge, gray house. It was nothing like his parents’ place, but it was still huge and modern.

Jake opened the door for Holly and she climbed out. Her expression was one of curiosity.

“We are preparing here?”

“Yes. Follow me,” he requested, his tone serious.

“For what exactly, Jake?”

He didn’t reply, but instead led her through the main door. Inside, she found Armand and Robin kneeling in front of a huge coffee table. On it and splayed around it on the ground were rolled out banners. Holly burst out laughing when she saw both her name and Amelia’s written in huge, bold letters.

“Where’s the glitter?”

“No glitter.” Robin pouted, looking up.

Amelia rounded the corner. “Hi, Holly. You ready for tomorrow?”

“Girl, I’m going to walk circles around you.”

They both cackled like loons. She motioned for Holly to follow her. On their way to the kitchen, Amelia shouted to the banner makers over her shoulder, “Enjoy!”

“We’re not helping them?” Holly queried.

“Holls, we are going to do all the hard work tomorrow. I think it’s only fair they pitch in and do their bit.”

Amelia set about making cocktails and when she was done she gave Robin, Jake, and Armand theirs before she and Holly sat at her breakfast nook. They chatted about everything.

Being with Amelia brought back memories, memories Holly had never wanted to remember, and before she knew it she told Amelia about Jamie. She never mentioned the fact that they had been twins, simply because people tended to ask the same stupid questions over and over, like was their bond special, where when the one twin got hurt the other would feel it, or were they identical and so on. She hated the fact that every time she looked in the mirror she would see Jamie. Or what Jamie would look like if she were alive.

Amelia had tears in her eyes when Holly grew quiet. “I don’t know what it would feel like to lose one of my siblings, just thinking about it…” She shook her head. “I can’t.” She gave Holly a lopsided smile. “Believe me, they are annoying as hell, but to never be able to speak to one of them again is unimaginable. How do you do it?”

Holly shrugged. “Take it one day at a time, I guess.”

“Well, you’ve got a bunch of sisters now. Jake just needs to get his shit in gear.”

They laughed like typical women would.

“I can’t have babies,” Amelia suddenly blurted.

“What?”

Tears pooled in Amelia’s eyes. “It’s true. The doctor gave me the news today. I haven’t even told Armand yet.” She breathed deeply.

“What did the doctor say, exactly?”

“He called it premature ovarian failure. My ovaries don’t produce enough eggs, and… ugh! It’s so wrong and unfair.”

Holly placed her arm around Amelia’s shoulders, hugging her. “You can never lose hope, Amelia. There have been a million cases where women fell pregnant against all odds, and doctors weren’t able to explain how. It’s called a miracle. Just hold on to that.”

“I am, but to be honest...” she trailed off, letting go of Holly to wipe a tear away. “Look at us, Holly. We’ve been bestowed with so many blessings that I don’t think a miracle will come our way soon.”

Holly just looked at her kindly. “You’d be surprised at the things that happen daily.”

“Thanks for doing this with me, by the way. Tomorrow means a lot, and I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you are willing to take my dad’s place.”

“I’m doing it for the cause, too. I don’t understand how any woman could do that.”

“Me, either.”

Moving the conversation away from the sadness of the one they were having, Holly giggled. “So, your dad really walked two miles in high heels?”

Amelia threw her head back and abruptly brought it forward again, laughing as doubled over. The sound pierced throughout the entire house. “He dressed up and everything. I have pictures. Wait, you have to see them.” She hopped down from the high chair and ran out of the kitchen, returning a couple of seconds later with a photo album—a scrapbook photo album, and it was done beautifully.

Amelia showed Holly photos of the fundraiser, which spanned over four years, and laughed at one in particular where her dad had been wearing a sequined dress with the ugliest red shoes she had ever seen.

They continued in this light, going over photographs and having a few more cocktails, while Amelia paged through albums of their life. She even saw a couple of pictures of Mel, Jake’s previous girlfriend.

“She’s beautiful,” Holly admitted.

“She’s an airhead,” Amelia stated, but Holly laughed as Amelia’s expression was silly.

The night flew by, much like their cocktails. At one point, Holly felt so calm and relaxed, she started singing her special song. Amelia cracked up at Holly’s words, and in a matter of seconds Jake, Robin, and Armand came into the kitchen to see what they were up to.

“Bee Puke, are you drunk?” Jake asked, grinning wickedly.

“Nooo. Nope. I’m not,” Holly slurred, whilst waving a finger in front of her and throwing one leg over the other. She fell off the chair.

Amelia and Holly were beyond help, and their laughter erupted amongst snorts all over again.

Jake shook his head and picked Holly up off the floor. “I can’t take you anywhere. Tsk, tsk.”

Armand mimicked Jake, shaking his head at Amelia, but he had a huge grin on his face, too.

“We needed that.” Holly looked at Jake.

“Sure you did.” He looked at her, eyebrows arched, and that gorgeous grin that revealed his canines giving him away.

Holly couldn’t stop staring at them.

“Okay. I’m going to take this one home.” And with that, Jake threw her over his shoulder.

“Just remember, Holly, we need to be there by eight,” Amelia yelled.

“Eight is great. Eight is super. Eight is just perfect,” Holly practically sang. This only served to make her giggle uncontrollably, which was soon followed by her passing out on Jake’s shoulder.

THE SMELL OF ROASTED COFFEE BEANS filled Holly’s nostrils as she lay in bed. Opening her eyes slightly, she found a huge mug in front of her nose, but as soon as she tried to lift up her head, the pain made it ache so much it dropped back down onto the pillow.

“Yeah. I don’t think cocktails were the way to go.”

She grunted at Jake’s comment.

He chuckled close to her ear, nipping her lobe gently. “I’m going to run you a bath,” he whispered.

When he moved, the bed shook, like she was on a raft in the ocean. Bile rose up in her throat, but she quickly took a sip of coffee to force it back down. It would just be her luck to hurl, right here on Jake’s bed. She laughed at herself as that image jumped into her mind.
Very sexy, Holly. Not!

Jake walked out of the bathroom while the water still ran and handed her two capsules. “For the head.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “You are my life saver.”

“I know,” he replied, sounding really pleased with himself when he sat down on the edge of the bed.

She gulped the tablets down, hoping they would work fast. When she eventually sat up fully, she noticed she was wearing a Van Halen T-shirt, one that was two sizes too big. “And this?” She pulled on the shirt.

“My mom taught me not to go through a woman’s luggage.”

“So you decided to dress me in this?”

“It was that, or butt naked.”

Holly gave him the puppy dog eye treatment and leaned in for a kiss. He broke away before it got too steamy and led to something more than just kissing, which they really didn’t have time for right then.

“It’s already seven. You still need to bath, get ready, and eat before we go.”

“Bleh! Yes, boss.”

“I didn’t say you must sign up.”

She mumbled within the confines of the bathroom as she removed both the T-shirt and panties. Dipping her toe in, she decided that the water felt just right. She got in carefully, sat and lay back so that only her head stuck out of the foam. Sighing, Holly relaxed.

However, Jake didn’t give her a lot of time to soak and knocked on the door, what seemed like only a few minutes later. She jumped when she realized she had fallen asleep and quickly washed herself.

Holly dried in record time, too, and dressed in knee-high pants, bra and a tank top. Never in her entire life had she walked in high heels on an open road.

Lastly, she brushed her teeth with one hand, while slipping on no-show socks with the other. And finally, she stepped into her high heels.

Exiting the bathroom, Jake was nowhere to be found, so Holly took the time to apply sunscreen, a smidgen of eyeliner, and lip gloss before pulling her hair through the back hole of a baseball cap. When she eventually ventured downstairs, she found Robin and Jake in the kitchen.

“How’s the head?”

Holly raised her upper lip in a snarl, and that was enough of an answer.

Robin chuckled. “Today is going to be
so
hard.”

“Shhh,” Holly hissed, sitting down with a plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and a piece of toast Jake had made for her.

Can this guy be more perfect?

Having had to rush through breakfast, she was glad that the drive to the starting line was a short one; it was practically around the corner from Jake’s house. As far as the banners went, she couldn’t help but shake her head at the terrible noise they made in the wind. Why on earth they’d brought that stuff was beyond her.

Holly eventually located Amelia, who was wearing a mini and a cut-off T-shirt, managing to look just as bad as she did. However, she couldn’t help her mouth from gaping when she noticed Amelia’s abs. It was probably safe to say that her friend wasn’t going to see her ass today.

Amelia put her arm around Holly’s neck when they reached Armand. “Last night was so much fun, but as much as I loved every minute of it, I’m really regretting it.”

Holly smiled. “Just think, we’ll definitely be sober after this walk.”

Amelia chuckled and immediately rubbed her temples. “Oweee,” she grunted.

“You want something for that?”

“She doesn’t believe in tablets,” Armand stated.

Amelia slapped him on the arm. “I don’t drink tablets for a hangover.”

“Same thing in my book.”

“No, it’s not. Go,” she shooed him away, “the walk is about to start.”

Jake comically started jumping in one spot. “Are you ready?” he yelled, with the same go get ‘em attitude he’d had at the paintball game.

“Oh, hell no. Go away!” Both girls yelled at him.

Jake stopped, but continued to smile at Holly. Bending down, he kissed her cheek. “Make me proud,” he whispered in her ear, while slapping her on the butt.

Rubbing her butt dramatically, Holly grunted, “I’ll be lucky if I make it through this in one piece.”

“Just remember that it’s for a good cause, Holly. You’ll be fine,” Amelia said, drinking from a water bottle.

Five minutes later, a guy dressed as a drag queen climbed onto a small podium. He took the mic. “Thank you all for being here today. I know that anti-abortion is very close to our hearts.” He went on to recite the statistics, as well as giving approximate numbers on how many clinics were in existence.

Throughout his talk, Holly noticed that Amelia had teared up. Shifting closer, she placed an arm around her friend’s shoulders and embraced her. The girls smiled at one another and continued listening.

“Today, we will all be called Sisters in Blisters; just remember that every single one of those blisters will be for this very important cause.”

Jake cheered loudly and everyone looked at him. He simply grinned.

He should be standing next to me, wearing heels and a dress
, Holly thought, grinning.

All too soon, the man got off the podium and joined the other women and men who were all wearing high heels. Participants readied themselves, and shortly thereafter a gunshot went off.

At first, it was chaotic, but soon both Holly and Amelia stuck to a pace they were comfortable with. For the first ten minutes, Holly cursed herself for having signed up, but Amelia had needed her support and, as she’d said, it counted for something.

Holly felt herself becoming nauseous twenty minutes later and wished the walk would come to an end. The girls didn’t talk much, so intent were they on not tripping and falling flat on their faces.

Holly kept looking at her watch, and the sun shone brighter and brighter. By now, they’d been walking for almost an hour.

How much longer is this going to go on for?

Holly was exhausted, and her toes and feet were killing her. A half hour later, she really began to feel the strain around her calves. To make matters worse, she couldn’t feel her feet anymore. She was convinced she was going to die, never mind throw up.

Amelia tugged her by the arm when she started slowing down. “Keep up, Holly. What happened to you walking circles around me?”

“I was drunk, then. But now? I think I might have been stupid, too.”

Both burst into giggles. Thankfully, Holly noticed people handing out water a couple of feet away. Each grabbed a paper cup as they walked past. Holly actually stopped to drink hers, but Amelia pulled her by the arm once again.

“We’re halfway, so let’s make this one good, okay?”

Oh. My. Soul!
Holly nodded anyway and tried her very best to keep up with Amelia.
If she asks me to do this again next year, I’m going to shoot myself before an answer is required!
“How the hell did your dad do this?”

“With lots of cussing, but it was hilarious to watch,” Amelia replied, laughing.

When they’d made it to the quarter mark, she could hear Jake and Armand yelling their names.

“Ignore them. Why on earth do they make those ridiculous banners every year? I swear it’s to piss me off, or something.” Amelia smiled.

“I think they are awesome.”

Amelia laughed. “The banners or the guys? Regardless, they sure are a crazy bunch.”

Holly pouted, stuck her tongue out, and then waved at Jake as she walked past him. She almost lost her balance due to her antics, but thanks to Amelia grabbing her arm, she managed to right herself. But when she ventured another look in Jake’s direction, he was laughing his head off.

“Almost there,” mumbled Amelia.

Holly bit down on her resolve and kept up, and for the last couple of meters both upped their pace.

Soon, they reached Jake and Armand at the finish line. Sweat dripped off both girls. Holly felt surprisingly good about having signed up for the walk, now that she was finished, of course.

“Two freaking hours! I do not want to know what my feet look like.”

“Poor, baby. You deserve a foot rub and massage,” Jake said.

“Only if she’ll let you anywhere near her feet.”

Holly placed a hand on Jake’s shoulder and bent to remove her shoes. The white no-show socks were soaking wet. A yelp left her lips when she took off her socks to inspect her feet.

“It was worth it, Holly,” Amelia said, as she too, removed her shoes.

“I guess. Mind you, it wasn’t that bad.” Holly looked at Amelia.

A disgruntled Jake groaned. “Oh, hell. Am I going to have to be here every freaking year with a banner?” Jake complained.

“It’s for a good cause!” Amelia and Holly yelled in unison.

Amelia gave Holly a one arm hug and kissed her on the cheek. “Thank you so much, Holly. It was awesome. Next year, we can do this again.”

“Deal,” Holly agreed, even though her feet ached like they’d never ached before.

They made a quick stop at Amelia’s house so the girls could shower, and thereafter went for lunch at a restaurant in the mall.

Holly continued to notice the looks directed at Jake every time they went somewhere, but they didn’t affect her as much as before.

During lunch, Holly found herself laughing at Amelia. Armand, too, was extremely funny. Jake on the other hand showed a dry personality when he was with Armand, which Holly loved.

After lunch, the girls decided to do some shopping, while the boys watched a basketball game at the pub. Whether they watched a replay of a previous match or a live game, Holly didn’t know and didn’t really care, she was just happy to spend some quality time with Jake’s sister.

In the interim, Amelia had taken a call; it had been Robin, who’d be joining them on their shopping spree. Shortly thereafter, Robin joined them and couldn’t stop talking about her new boyfriend. Amelia didn’t like him much, but the worry on Robin’s face as Jake’s name was mentioned was evident.

“I don’t think he’s going to like Quinton. He’ll probably think the guy is a bore. It’s only you who doesn’t think that, Robbie.”

“He’s not a bore, okay? What he is, is a bit of a caveman, but I like that in any case.”

“Our brother isn’t going to.” Amelia gave Robin a serious look.

Holly looked at Amelia.

“Jake made a deal with us when we were younger, to sort of be the judge and jury when it came to our boyfriends.”

Robin scrunched her nose. “Amelia went through hell before she met Armand.”

“It wasn’t that bad.” Amelia tried to look convincing.

“Pft! You had like, what, seventy thousand boyfriends before he approved of Armand?”

“I did not. I have to admit, though, it was hard for me in the beginning. At first, I didn’t want to break up with what’s-his-name. He was so cute. But I eventually saw what my brother did in him, and I had to admit he was right.”

“So… let me get this straight, he chooses your boyfriends?”

“No, we do, but if he gives you the shake of his head—”

“Or the lip,” Robin interrupted.

“Let’s not forget the raised eyebrow,” Amelia added, making everyone laugh. “We used to know that we were basically wasting our time with just that one look. My brother is really good when it comes to reading people.”