Holly's Heart Collection One

by Beverly Lewis

“Hmm,” Daddy said. “Both my girls in the same room at the same time. Can it be?” He pulled me down on one of his knees while balancing giggly Carrie on the other. I placed the wrapping paper and scissors on his desk.

  “It’s gonna be such a cool Christmas,” Carrie announced, eyeing the wrapping paper. “I can’t wait!”

  “Three more days?” Daddy teased. “We open gifts around here on Christmas Eve.”

  “Really? Christmas Eve?” I muttered, thinking of Sean’s invitation.

  “That’s cool,” shouted Carrie, racing off to tell Tyler, no doubt.

  My tentative plans with Sean were at stake. “What time are we opening presents?” I asked, concerned.

  Daddy patted my hand. “Don’t you worry, honey; I’m sure we can work around your schedule.”

  Does he know about Sean’s invitation? And if so, how? I turned to look for Carrie, the little rat. “Uh, excuse me a sec,” I said, getting up.

  “What’s your hurry?” Dad asked.

  “I need to talk to Carrie about something.”

  Daddy cleared his throat. I could tell by the look on his face he was about to defend her. “If you think Carrie let anything slip, you’re wrong. Sean called while you and Saundra were cleaning up the kitchen.”

  This was news to me.

  Daddy continued. “He asked permission to spend some time with you.”

  “You’re kidding.” I was dumbfounded.

  He leaned back in his chair as I stood up, facing him. I wondered what else he knew about my friendship with Sean. “A really terrific kid, that Sean Hamilton,” he said, reaching for the newspaper. “It’s good to develop friendships with lots of boys, Holly. You’re awfully young to be tied down to one fellow.”

  I sighed. How does he know about Jared?

  “Mom says that, too,” I said, picking up the bows and paper and stuff. “I, uh, have some presents to wrap now.” I fled from the study, wondering if Carrie had blabbed the entire contents of my journal to Daddy.

  Closing the door to my room, I switched on the clock radio beside the bed. Christmas songs, old and new, filled the room with cheer.

  I was nearly finished wrapping my purchases when I heard it. The strains of a familiar tune—“Jingle Bell Rock.” The jazzy song brought back memories of the Christmas party at Pastor Rob’s house. Andie had played her rendition of it while Joy presented me with the secret-pal gift. Two hours later, I had witnessed Jared’s gift-giving rendezvous behind the Christmas tree.

  Flipping the knob on the radio, I refused to shed another tear over Jared Wilkins, King of Deceit!

  Instead, I told my diary the latest delicious facts about Sean Hamilton, Prince a la Proper.

  The next day, Tyler delivered a stack of Christmas cards to the house. Three of them were addressed to me. One was from Mom and Uncle Jack, another from Andie, and the third was from none other than Jared.

  I went to the kitchen, sliced the envelopes open with a letter opener, and raced downstairs to read in privacy. For some unknown reason, I pulled out Jared’s card first. Enclosed was a letter.

  Dear Holly-Heart,

  Hope you’re having fun with your California family. You’d better be, otherwise I’m missing you for nothing. I wish we could’ve said good-bye before you left. Why’d you disappear like that?

  It won’t be long and you’ll be back in Colorado. Thanks again for A Heart Full of Poetry. It’s outstanding and so are you! Please write soon. Honestly, nothing’s the same here with you gone.

  Always,

  Jared

  “What a con artist,” I sneered, stuffing the card and its contents into the envelope. I had more important things to attend to than reading lies from the pen of Jared Wilkins.

  At last, December twenty-fourth arrived. Daddy and I spent the morning running errands for Saundra. She’d ordered expensive trays and platters and things. Never in a zillion years could I imagine my mom spending so much money on prepared food. But it was interesting and perfectly lavish, Daddy’s new life.

  “What do you think of California so far?” Daddy shot the question to me as we waited in bumper-to-bumper holiday madness.

  “This stuff I can live without,” I said, referring to the traffic on all sides of us. “But the ocean’s nice. So is the weather.”

  “And…what about the people?” he asked.

  I wasn’t sure what he was getting at. “The only people I really know here are you, Saundra, and Tyler.”

  “Tyler seems quite taken with you and Carrie.” He took his foot off the brake, and the car inched forward a few feet.

  “Tyler’s a cool stepbrother,” I said, wondering what he was going to ask next.

  “And your stepmother?” He stared straight ahead.

  “She’s nice, actually. We, uh, had sort of a heart-to-heart talk the other day.”

  “I’m happy to hear that, Holly.”

  “There is something that bothers me about her, though.”

  He turned toward me, a question mark in his eyes.

  “I understand she’s not thrilled about praying.” I felt hesitant about bringing this subject up. But it bugged me that Tyler thought Saundra would be upset if she caught him praying at mealtime.

  Daddy took a deep breath. “Saundra was never one to entertain notions of a personal God,” he said. “So she hasn’t emphasized it with Tyler, either.”

  I jumped on that one. “But the God of the Bible is personal. I know Him, Daddy. And I know something else.” I paused, thinking ahead. “God loved you and Saundra and Tyler, or He wouldn’t have bothered sending Jesus to earth as a baby. That’s the bottom line—Christmas is about a personal God.”

  “I can see you believe this,” he commented softly.

  “With all of my heart,” I answered.

  “Well, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about a book a friend gave me,” he said with a twinkle in his eye. “It’s by a fellow named St. Matthew.”

  I couldn’t keep from grinning. “You’re reading Matthew’s gospel?”

  He nodded.

  “Daddy, that’s fabulous,” I said, giving his hand a little squeeze. “This has to be the best Christmas present ever!”

  “Ah, but the day’s not over,” he hinted. I had no idea what was on his mind. But it was something. Something he seemed to have trouble keeping secret.

  After a sumptuous supper, Saundra insisted on cleaning the kitchen herself. It was part of her Christmas gift to the family, she said. Dusk was falling fast, and Sean would be waiting.

  I headed for the living room, where Carrie and Tyler were shaking presents. “You might break something,” I scolded.

  “Right,” Carrie snapped. “You used to do it, too, before you got so mature.”

  Tyler grinned.

  “It’s almost dark,” Carrie said without looking up. “What a great night for a walk on the beach.”

  Yep, she’s read that page in my diary all right.

  “Sure is,” I declared, leaving the holiday splendor of the living room for a peek through the telescope in Carrie’s room. One quick look would tell me what I longed to know. I leaned over slightly, adjusting the focus.

  Just as I thought. Sean Hamilton was definitely a reliable guy. Unlike someone else I knew.

  I peered through the telescope a moment longer, bringing Sean closer…closer into view. I could almost reach out and touch his blue sweat shirt. The number thirty-four glowed in the moonlight.

  Then I raced to my room and closed the door. Rushing to the mirror, I checked my hair. Moving closer, I checked my face. Oh yeah, he wouldn’t see much color outside, even with the moonlight.

  Tucking my shirt into my jeans, I dashed around the room, pulling my tennies out of the closet. Was Sean still waiting? I reached down and tied my shoes. Then I leaped up and headed for the door.

  Halfway up the stairs, I remembered I’d left my diary open on the bed for the world to see. Racing back to my room, I grabbed it, but my eyes caught a phrase I’d written week
s before. Faithful, loyal, true—the first stanza of one of the poems for Jared. Honest, heartfelt feelings in the form of poetry—what a terrific Christmas gift from a true friend. The true friend being me, of course.

  And then it hit me. If I was so loyal and true, what was I doing meeting Sean? Just because Jared had broken his promise didn’t mean I had to break mine. Did it?

  I flicked off the lights and turned toward the windows overlooking the beach. A tall, dark form was tossing pebbles into the ocean. “I’m sorry, Sean,” I whispered in the darkness. “Please understand.” A warm feeling spread over me, and deep in my heart I knew I’d made the right choice.

  Turning toward the door, I scurried up the stairs. “Daddy,” I called. “Let’s open presents.”

  Carrie ran ahead of me. “Aren’t you gonna meet Sean?” she asked.

  “Not this time,” I said. “Mind your own business.”

  “You’ll never guess what Santa brought you,” she said, giggling.

  “Santa who?” I teased, following her.

  “My lips are locked.”

  “That’s a first,” I muttered, heading down the hall to the festive living room.

  CALIFORNIA CRAZY

  Chapter 16

  I sat on the floor beside Tyler. A few presents were already piled up around him.

  “Who would like to play Santa Claus?” Saundra asked, snuggling close to Daddy.

  “I will,” offered Carrie, hopping up. She scooted under the Christmas tree and began delivering the mountain of presents, one by one.

  When all the gifts had been distributed, Daddy did an amazing thing. He reached for a Bible on the lamp table. Silently, he thumbed through it till he found Matthew 1:18. “ ‘This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about,’ ” he began.

  I noticed the startled look on Saundra’s face. Tyler pulled restlessly at a red bow on one of his presents.

  When Daddy came to the verse, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins,” I noticed Tyler look up. He was actually listening.

  Shortly, Daddy was into chapter two, the part where the Magi came. It was almost like he couldn’t find a stopping place. I glanced at Saundra. She sat silently as he spoke the wondrous words about that first Christmas.

  In my heart, I sent a prayer heavenward.

  Daddy continued, “ ‘On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.’ ”

  “Wow,” Tyler chimed in. “So that’s how it all got started.”

  Daddy finished reading, and then we began opening our presents, starting with the youngest. After Carrie, Tyler opened his gifts. He tore into my present to him—the book on creation. I held my breath.

  “Hey…cool,” Tyler exclaimed, paging through the book, then holding it high. “Thanks, Holly, now I can get some big questions answered.”

  Saundra didn’t say a word.

  It was my turn. I reached for a small, square box.

  “Save that one for last,” Carrie objected.

  Daddy agreed. Something told me this was the secret he’d hinted about earlier.

  I opened a present from Tyler and two with both Daddy’s and Saundra’s name on them. Finally I reached for the small gift. A mini card was attached. It read: “Happy Holly-days. Love, Daddy.”

  Gently, I pried the ends loose and pulled off the wrapping paper. Carefully, I lifted the lid.

  Inside was my mother’s gold locket!

  Carrie covered her mouth. I stared at her, still amazed. Then she leaned against me, whispering in my ear. “Forgive me?”

  Then I knew. “So that’s why you were snooping around in my diary.” Instantly, I comprehended what had transpired over the past week.

  “So…what do you think?” Daddy asked, leaning forward.

  “It’s the best!” I cried, crawling over to thank him. When we hugged, I spotted the Bible on the lamp table, still open to Matthew. “Well, almost,” I whispered.

  “Here, why don’t you wear it now, dear?” Saundra said, offering to help with the clasp.

  I gathered up my hair and held it while she placed the long gold chain around my neck. “It’s lovely,” Saundra said, admiring it.

  Br-r-ing! Tyler and Carrie raced to the phone.

  I stroked the heart locket, staring at the precious piece of jewelry. “Thank you, Daddy,” I said. “I love it.”

  “And I love you,” he said, eyes glistening.

  Tyler ran into the living room. “It’s long distance for you, Holly. Some boy named Jared.”

  Jared! I leaped up, heading for the privacy of the kitchen. What’s he calling about? I wondered as I picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Merry Christmas, Holly-Heart.” The sound of his voice made my broken heart sing.

  “Thanks,” I said softly, not sure how I should respond.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” he prodded.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Holly? Something’s wrong—I can hear it in your voice.”

  “Everything’s wrong,” I blurted, peeking around the corner, checking for snoopers.

  “Are you homesick? Is that it?”

  “Not really,” I said, hesitating. “I’m just so…well, surprised to hear your voice.”

  “It’s Christmas Eve, isn’t it?” he said. “I wish you were here. There’s a candlelight service later. I’d rather be sitting with you at church than next to my parents.”

  “Or Paula, don’t you mean?”

  A long silence followed. I waited.

  Slowly, Jared responded, “Did you say Paula?”

  “She’s nuts about you, but I’m sure you know that by now.” Deep inside, I was a wreck. His voice sounded so good to me, bringing with it all the old memories, the good times.

  “I like you, Holly. Nothing’s changed.”

  Taking a deep breath, I said, “But you gave her a Christmas present. Isn’t that a little misleading?”

  “I didn’t give Paula Miller a gift.” He sounded dumbfounded.

  “Yeah, I saw you at the party last week.”

  “You saw what?”

  Then I explained, in great detail, the gift exchange I’d witnessed.

  Laughter! Jared was laughing hysterically.

  Finally I got his attention. “What’s so funny?”

  He tried to speak. “If that’s all you’re worried about, forget it. My secret pal, Shauna, was sick that night. I took her gift to the party for Paula to give to Shauna later.”

  I stood there speechless as his words sank in. What a fool I’d been. “You delivered Shauna’s present to Paula? That’s all it was?”

  “Yep,” Jared said.

  “What about Paula’s gift to you, the one at school?” By now, I sounded as jealous as a cat, but I was clawing for the truth.

  “Somehow, Paula found out Billy Hill had gotten her name from you,” he explained.

  I smiled. “That’s right, he and I traded names.”

  “Well, when Paula heard that Billy liked her, she decided to set up her own secret-pal exchange, using me as the delivery boy.” Jared started to chuckle again. “In fact, at this moment, Billy still doesn’t know who gave him that gift.”

  “Sneaky,” I mumbled, feeling lousy for falsely accusing Jared in my heart, and in my diary. And Paula, too.

  “Wait’ll you see what I got you, Holly,” Jared was saying.

  “You bought me a present?”

  “And you’ll never guess what it is,” he teased.

  Daddy was motioning to me from the living room.

  “I’d better not guess right now,” I said, explaining that we were in the middle of our family gift-opening.

  “Lucky you. I have to wait till morning,” he said.

  “I’ll write, okay?”

  “Can’t wait,” he said. “Bye, Ho
lly.”

  “Thanks for calling, and Merry Christmas,” I said before hanging up.

  Still shocked at what Jared had shared, I made my way through the maze of crumpled Christmas wrap as Saundra lit the gold candles on the mantel. What an amazing Christmas Eve this had turned out to be.

  With the problem of Jared cleared up, the second week at Daddy’s house sped by faster than the first. He took us to Disneyland and Sea World, like he’d promised. It was so fabulous.

  I didn’t see Sean again. Tyler said he was probably busy with his older brother and his niece and nephew, who’d come home for Christmas. Uncle Sean. No wonder he was good with kids.

  California had been lots of fun, but returning home to Dressel Hills was even better. On my first night back, I was helping Mom prepare supper when the doorbell rang.

  A quartet of kids raced to investigate. Phil and Mark swung the door wide. Carrie and Stephie grabbed Jared’s jacket—the visitor—fighting over who would get to hang it up.

  Mom shooed everyone out of the living room, assigning tablesetting chores to the door-greeters. Thank goodness for savvy moms.

  “Welcome home, Holly-Heart,” Jared said, holding out a large silver box with a sprig of holly on top.

  “Thanks,” I said. “Should I open it?”

  “Why not?”

  Untying the bow, I looked up at him. Jared was grinning, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

  When I opened the lid on the box, I gasped and turned red. It was a brown suede boot—just like the one I’d baptized in the toilet!

  “It’s the right boot,” he whispered. “That’s the one you needed.”

  I stared at him in disbelief. “Who told you?”

  Just then, Stan emerged from the coat closet. “Sorry, little sister,” John Wayne, alias Stan Patterson, remarked. “Couldn’t help myself.”

  “Who else knows?” I demanded.

  “The buck stops here, pilgrim,” Stan crooned, pointing to the two of them—Jared and himself.

  Then Jared reached into the boot and pulled out a teeny red box. “Voilà!”