Holly's Heart Collection Two

by Beverly Lewis

  “She does?” It was hard to believe his mom was still babying him.

  He nodded. “Boy, I would love to take my niece and nephew skiing here in Colorado,” he said. It was obvious they were one of his favorite topics.

  Ten minutes zipped by, maybe because Sean was so easy to talk to. Soon Daddy came downstairs.

  “Hello, girls,” he called to us. I stood up to greet him. But his hug stirred up strange feelings of resentment in me. It was still hard to handle—him leaving us behind just for a new job. I covered up by smiling and enjoying the scent of his spicy cologne as he held me tight.

  “Let’s hit the slopes,” hollered Tyler.

  “Yippee,” Carrie shouted.

  Sean held the door for us, and his smile warmed my heart. It was going to be a fabulous day after all.

  While Daddy bought lift tickets, we unlocked our skis from the rack and snapped them on. Soon we were in the lift line, eager to ski down the mountain. Tyler and Carrie, Daddy and me, and Sean—alone—behind us.

  At the last minute, the lift operator motioned for a girl to share the lift with Sean. That’s when I wished I’d let Daddy ride by himself.

  Up, up the cable pulled us toward the cloudless sky. The sun sent its rays, warming our faces, and just below us on the slopes, three guys were skiing in shorts, without their shirts.

  “It’s not that warm today,” I commented. “Even for spring ski season.”

  Daddy seemed preoccupied with his own thoughts. A soft breeze tickled my face as I glanced at him.

  “Your grandmother wrote to say that you’re moving,” he said. It was like he’d been waiting for just the right moment to bring it up.

  Oh great. Not that.

  “Yeah. Next weekend,” I said, feeling my throat constrict. It was awkward discussing this. The exact same situation that had set him and Mom up for the fight of their lives.

  “How do you feel about living in Denver?” He was probing, and I hated it.

  “Nobody wants to leave best friends behind,” I said, blowing air through my lips. “Especially not me. This place is my life.”

  “How is your best friend taking it?” Daddy asked.

  “Andie hates the idea, too, but she’s not my only best friend,” I explained. “Paula Miller is also a close friend. The three of us do everything together.”

  “How’s school?” Daddy asked.

  “Fine.” I told him about the blizzard and being stranded overnight last week. “Up here, the weather changes so fast.”

  I could see the lift landing coming up quickly. Thank goodness it was time to get off. I was tired of making small talk with Daddy. What I really wanted to say to him would have to be said in private. Someday.

  Tyler and Carrie waited for us. Then, when Sean joined us, we split into two groups. Daddy went with Carrie and Tyler, leaving Sean alone with me.

  The morning flew by as we skied down the blue runs together. My time with Sean actually seemed to evaporate as the day progressed.

  Soon it was lunchtime, and Daddy treated us to a cozy dinner in the lodge—in the most expensive section—complete with candles on each table. He could afford it, all right. Like Mom said, his business out west had gone well. Too well, maybe.

  Sean seemed reluctant to say good-bye at the end of the day. “I hope we can ski together again sometime,” he said with a warm smile.

  “That’d be fun.” I wished Carrie and Tyler wouldn’t hang around so much then. “Let me know when you’re flying out again.”

  He reached for a tiny blue address book from his inside pocket. “Mind if I get your phone number?” I told him, and he wrote it down quickly. “You’ll have to send me your new address when you get settled in Denver.”

  I felt giddy, just the way I had when we’d first talked on the beach. I excused myself to call Mom to pick us up.

  Sean was eager to talk again when I returned from the phone. “I want to be sure to keep you informed about your dad,” he said, a serious look crossing his face.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, suddenly concerned.

  “I know you’ve been praying for him—Tyler told me you were a Christian.”

  “Then you must be, too,” I said, excited at this tidbit of information.

  He burst into a near-angelic grin. “I can hardly wait for your dad to accept Jesus.”

  “Do you know about Daddy’s friend? The one at the office who gave him the gospel of Matthew?” I was dying to know more about that.

  “You bet I do. He’s my oldest brother, the father of my niece and nephew,” Sean said, eyes shining.

  “Wow,” I whispered. “Small world.”

  “Sure is,” he agreed. “I only wish Colorado were a little closer to California.”

  I knew I was blushing right through my sunburn about now.

  And that’s when Carrie waved me over. Mom had pulled the van up and was waiting outside for us, the engine running. Carrie and I said our good-byes to Daddy, Tyler, and Sean.

  “We’ll be in touch,” Daddy called after us as we headed out the door of the lodge.

  “Bye, Daddy,” Carrie said. “Come back to Colorado soon.”

  As we hauled our boots and skis to the van, I hoped with all my heart Sean was right about Daddy. Was he really that close to making the all-important decision?

  GOOD-BYE, DRESSEL HILLS

  Chapter 18

  I knew something was brewing as soon as I showed up for Sunday school the next day. The second I walked in, the kids clammed up. Even Jared and Billy, who were usually boisterous—till the teacher told them to cool it—were silent.

  Things were winding down fast, with only six days remaining in Dressel Hills. Six days to say good-bye to lifelong friends. Besides all that, today was my last day at church. No wonder everyone was so solemn.

  Jared was actually nice to me. Danny too. But then, Danny was always nice, and I was sure what Andie and Paula suspected was true: Danny Myers still liked me. I could tell by the way he kept smiling at me.

  Things had changed so much in one year. Going from zero special guy friends to three—counting Sean—was like having to choose from three favorite ice-cream flavors at once.

  After class, everyone except Andie and Paula headed upstairs, leaving us behind. “That’s strange,” I said. “They sure didn’t hang around long.”

  “Oh, they’ll probably say good-bye to you at school next week,” offered Paula, no doubt trying to make me feel better. But it wasn’t working. I felt sad.

  We hurried upstairs to the sanctuary, where the organist was already playing the call to worship. I sat with Andie and Paula, since it was my last Sunday. At least for a while. Mom didn’t know it, but I was already hoping to return to Dressel Hills someday soon.

  The pastor’s text was from Philippians 2:4. “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” His sermon was titled “Poor Me”—about feeling sorry for yourself, conducting pity parties. I listened carefully, but wished he’d chosen Matthew 18:19 instead. Deep in my heart, I was still praying, along with Andie and Paula, that something would happen to change things around.

  After church, Andie and Paula hurried off to catch up with their families. I walked toward the parking lot with Carrie and Stephie on either side of me. I already missed my friends. The friends I’d planned to grow up with.

  Mom’s famous pot roast was extra juicy today. I ate heartily, instead of picking like I usually do when I’m depressed. There were scarcely any leftovers. Too bad for Uncle Jack. He loved them.

  We had just cleared the dining room table when the doorbell rang. Carrie squealed, “I’ll get it,” and raced off to the living room I stayed in the kitchen, rinsing scraps of food off the dishes. Next thing I knew, Carrie was tapping me on the shoulder.

  “I think you’d better come with me,” she said, wearing a sly grin.

  I dried my hands, wondering what she was up to.

  That’s when I discovered a living
room full of friends, including Jared, Andie, Paula, Danny…even our youth pastor.

  “Surprise!” they yelled as I stood there, overcome with shock.

  I turned to Danny, who happened to be standing nearby. “What’s this about?”

  He leaned over to whisper in my ear. “It’s a surprise going-away party for you.”

  “Oh,” I said, stunned. Then the tears started. “Excuse me a sec.” I stumbled through the dining room and into the kitchen. “Quick, Mom! I need a tissue.”

  She led me to the desk in the corner of the kitchen. “Here, honey.” She pulled several tissues out of the Kleenex box.

  I blubbered, “I love my friends, all of them—even Jared.” I surprised myself with that. But it was true. In spite of everything, I still cared.

  After wiping my eyes and blowing my nose for the second time, I followed Mom into the living room, where everyone started clapping.

  Andie stepped forward. “Holly,” she began. “In case you don’t know by now, we love you. A lot.” I could see Jared nodding his head out of the corner of my eye.

  “Pretty soon,” she continued, “our moms will be arriving with some more surprise stuff.”

  I couldn’t believe it.

  “Sit right here,” Paula said, making room for me on the rocking chair. “While we wait for the goodies, we each have a gift for you.” She was starting to sound a little choked up, too. “We want to help you remember us forever.”

  Mom patted my shoulder, trying to comfort me. I took a deep breath and began opening cards and presents from all my friends.

  By the time Andie’s mom showed up with the other mothers, I already had a pile of gifts. Poetry from Jared. And a red rose. (Why was I not surprised?) A set of best-friend Velcro twin bears—give one to a friend and one to keep. From Andie.

  Paula’s gift was an adorable pink stuffed kitten with the name Goofey-ette written on the tag. Danny gave me a teen study Bible, complete with pen and notebook. It was signed with the date and his name on the first page.

  Billy Hill’s gift was a silver charm for my bracelet—a tiny crutch—to help me remember the trick we’d played on Andie last year. Joy had wrapped a beautiful heart-shaped diary in music paper with hearts for notes. Shauna gave me a book about pen pals with a list of international Christian organizations.

  Pastor Rob had a special gift from the pastoral staff. It was a gift certificate for a free lift ticket. “We want you to come ski with us,” he said, grinning.

  I looked around the room at my fabulous friends, some sitting on the floor, others standing around. “I promise not to cry if you promise to come visit me in Denver.”

  Andie waved her hands. “We’ll come, all right. Two at a time,” she said, looking at Paula.

  I glanced up at Mom. She was wiping tears from her own eyes. That’s when a giggle escaped my lips. Not because anything was funny; it was a burst of pent-up emotion. “Thank you so much,” I said.

  The kids applauded.

  Mom rang her dinner bell, and all of us squeezed into the dining room. After a prayer by Pastor Rob, some of the kids spilled into the kitchen to make room. Pig-out time! Mrs. Martinez had brought several gallons of strawberry ice cream. And there were two angel food cakes—my favorite.

  Over the din of the crowd, Jared made an announcement directed to me. “After this, we’ve planned another surprise.”

  I studied him. “There’s more?”

  He nodded, working his way through the group toward me. Then, pulling me aside—actually all the way into the living room—he began apologizing. “Holly, I’m sorry about everything. You were right. It doesn’t really matter whether you call yourself my girlfriend anymore,” he said. “I just want you to know, before you leave, that I’ll always miss you.”

  I smiled. “I’ll miss you, too, Jared.”

  He winked at me. “Friends?”

  “Forever,” I said, taking his hand and leading him back to the festivities.

  After multiple desserts, Jared and Andie directed me and the rest of our friends out the front door and down the street. All of us made a human friendship chain with our hands. People driving by gawked, but we didn’t care.

  At the bus stop, we waited together, including Stan, who had just arrived home from the library. Andie looked mighty glad to see him again.

  My big surprise turned out to be a city bus tour of Dressel Hills. A clever way to say good-bye to my beloved town. Jared even moved to let Danny sit beside me from the Explore Bookstore back to Downhill Court. Incredible.

  When we arrived at my house again, it was hard to say goodbye to everyone. One by one, the kids went home, until Andie and Jared were the only ones left.

  I walked with them to the driveway, where I threw my arms around Andie. She hugged me like never before, clinging to me and sobbing in my ear.

  “Maybe it won’t work out in Denver,” she cried. “Maybe you and your family will be back in a few weeks.”

  Poor Jared stood there sort of embarrassed while Andie and I gushed about our loyalty to each other.

  And then they were both gone.

  Thank goodness I had five more days of school before the final good-byes. Otherwise, I probably would have gone upstairs and fainted on the spot.

  By Tuesday night, I had packed nearly all my personal belongings except the clothes I planned to wear. The big stuff, like beds and other furnishings, was scheduled to go out the door on Friday morning. The movers could do their thing without us kids around. Thank goodness for small blessings.

  Paula Miller’s dad, Uncle Jack’s business partner, had invited us to spend our last night in their home. They, of course, would remain in Dressel Hills, and Mr. Miller would run the downtown office for Uncle Jack.

  I tried to share my feelings during family devotions after supper, but tonight I could hardly speak. We’re moving. We’re actually moving. We have to leave Dressel Hills were the thoughts going through my mind. The hideous chant tumbled over and over in my brain. How could Carrie and Mom and the rest of the family be so calm about this? So glib? I couldn’t bear to think of our remaining three days here.

  Some way, somehow, God would have to work a miracle. Either that or give me the grace to bear this. I was afraid it would be the latter.

  Paula had told me at school that she’d invited Andie to spend Friday night with us. It would be our final farewell.

  Wednesday after school, Andie came home with me. Homework was the excuse, but actually it was a way to spend extra time together before the worst day of all—moving day.

  We hopped off the bus and walked the half block to my house. Andie jabbered about plans to visit me in Denver during spring break. “It’ll be so cool,” she said. I knew she was trying to make me feel better. “Let’s go to Casa Bonita and pig out on Mexican food” was one of her ideas.

  “And don’t forget the Imax theatre,” I said, referring to the giant screen near the Natural History Museum.

  We walked on in silence. There seemed to be nothing left to say.

  Turning the corner, we headed up Downhill Court. There was my beloved home: the tan split-level house Daddy and Mom had designed and built. I would miss the beautiful view of the mountains from its windows. And the deck where we’d spent so many warm summer evenings. And my beloved window seat…

  As I stared at the house, it looked lonely, empty…like something was missing.

  “Something’s different,” I said, pausing in the driveway.

  Andie stood still. “What is it?”

  Surveying the front yard, my eyes spotted something weird. I walked across the grass, over the melting snow piles, and peered at a hole in the ground. My heart sped up as I turned to Andie. “Someone’s ripped out the For Sale sign. Come on!”

  We dashed up the steps and into the house. “Mom!” I shouted.

  “What’s happened to—”

  Just then Uncle Jack emerged from the garage, carrying the sign. “Someone looking for this?” A mischievous smile
danced across his face.

  “What’s going on?” I said, and Andie started screaming and hugging me at the same time.

  Uncle Jack explained, “The partner we had in mind for the Denver office changed his mind. He’s going to take the job.”

  “So we’re staying here?” I asked.

  “For the time being,” he said.

  I danced around the room, shouting for joy. Mom came downstairs, grinning. “Looks like someone’s very happy,” she said. “Thank goodness the house didn’t sell out from under our noses.”

  Andie took my hand and pulled me upstairs. She closed my bedroom door and made me sit on my window seat. “This is so cool,” she gushed. “It’s fabulous!”

  “I can’t believe it,” I said. My mind was racing to catch up.

  Snatching my Bible off the nightstand, she giggled. “Read it and weep,” she said, opening to Matthew 18:19. “Man, did this work, or what.”

  “Thank you, Lord,” I said, my hands clasped heavenward. “You were almost too late.”

  “Hey, you oughta know better than that,” Andie scolded. Then a smile burst across her face. “Good-bye, Denver,” she shouted.

  I laughed. “Hello, world!”

  For my dear readers,

  especially those who share

  heart secrets with me.

  STRAIGHT-A TEACHER

  Chapter 1

  I was late for fourth-period choir. Really late. Today Miss Hess, our choral director, was auditioning students for the lead role of Maria in The Sound of Music. And I was competing against all my girl friends for the part.

  Holding on to my notebook, I heaved the rest of my books into my locker and slammed the door. Then I dashed down the hall, past the principal’s office, and spun around the corner.

  Whoosh! I plowed into someone. My notebook flew out of my hands, creating a fan of loose papers all over the floor.

  “I’m sorry,” I gasped, looking up. And there he was: The cutest guy I had ever seen. Soft gray eyes. A flash of a dimple in his smile. And just a hint of a five-o’clock shadow.