A December to Remember: a Holiday Romance Anthology

by Howe, Olivia

  “Oh, my God, this room!” yelled Holly as she encountered her daughter’s room. There were clothes everywhere. It looked as if a pink and purple hurricane had twisted through the room. Holly assumed that when Chloe was packing her suitcase, she didn’t know what to pack so she just left the undesirables strewn all over the floor. Her bed was unmade, and her closet and bureau appeared as if they had thrown up all over the room.

  Holly could hear the phone ringing from somewhere within the hovel.

  Oh, what the hell…

  Holly dug through the piles of clothing, trying to find the source of the ringing, but it was to no avail. Finally, when the phone stopped ringing, she ended her searched, but not before allowing herself to flop on the pile of clothes in frustration.

  She just couldn’t believe she had been so stupid. Her mind still reeled from what Sloane had divulged. She had always seen Brant as such a strong guy with all the answers. She wasn’t the only one who was hurting. In the few days after she had returned from the hospital, he had been quiet, but attentive. He was too quiet. She should have known that there was a storm brewing just beneath the surface.

  He was gone for a week and she was so angry and hurt that she didn’t want to hear what he had to say. Nobody could really blame her for being angry and upset. But shouldn’t she have at least listened to his side of the story? The uncertainty of where he was, especially at a time like that was what chilled her heart the most. Sloane was right. Married couples were supposed to exhaust all efforts before splitting and calling it quits. Holly hadn’t given Brant to chance of even an explanation. Her father’s stubborn streak was also her greatest flaw.

  Where could he have been that was so important that he had to leave his wife and children, when his wife was recuperating from emergency surgery? She immediately thought that there must have been another woman. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

  Brant broke down, and he didn’t want to let Holly or the kids see him so low. He was physically incapable of handling any more stress. He blamed himself entirely for her miscarriage. Brant believed that if he hadn’t gone to Hong Kong, and left Holly with the burden of taking care of everything at home, that the baby and Holly would have been okay. He sat in the dark of that hotel room in a state of self-loathing as he wept and thought and tried to figure out what to do next.

  The stress of any life can get the best of a man. Between bills, stress at work, the heavy weight of raising children, and seeing your best friend and love of your life in danger. It’s amazing he didn’t crack earlier. He thought it was better to break down away from home so that his family didn’t see him at his weakest point. He never realized how drastically his actions would affect his family, especially Holly. The truth of the matter is physical strength is easy to come by, inner strength is much harder to attain. Holly took her strength for granted. Not everyone was so lucky.

  Chapter Nine

  Midnight Encounter

  The lights from the Christmas tree shone brightly in the dark living room of the Edgemont house as the sound of Frank Sinatra’s “White Christmas” crooned from the radio. Holly was sitting next to the Christmas tree on the floor opening up Christmas cards that had come in the mail. Unsure of what to do with her time. She was no longer tired. In fact, she didn’t think she’d be able to fall asleep if she tried. She tried calling Brant’s cell phone from the house phone but no one picked up.

  Somberly, she sat opening up holiday cards from relatives and friends, local businesses and fellow church members.

  First, she opened a brightly hued card that read “Season’s Greetings” on the front. Inside it was signed by Sloane. Next, Holly opened a red envelope that had a card with Santa Claus depicted on the front. When she opened the card, it sung to her “Santa Claus is coming to Town.” It was signed by Marv.

  Such a big kid, Holly thought as she laughed.

  There were cards from Brant’s parents, Chloe and Jake’s school teachers, the Home and School Association, their pastor at church, and even a card from the garage where Holly gets her car tuned up. There was just one envelope left, and Holly immediately recognized the scrawl.

  Holly’s hands fumbled to get the envelope open; she just couldn’t get it opened fast enough. Rather than a card, it was a letter. She unfolded the letter to reveal Brant’s handwriting on plain white copy paper.

  Holly’s heart sped as she read it:

  Holly,

  I want to wish you a Merry Christmas from afar since I will be out of town on Christmas Day. There is a lot that I need to say to you, but I think it’s better if I write to you. I love you. I love you more than you know. For the longest time, I have wanted to apologize for my carelessness. I know it’s not enough. You have to be able to trust that I wouldn’t walk again when the going get’s tough.

  Well here it is. Here is all that I have to give. Everything in my life comes down to you. If you love me and will have me, everything else is just a bonus. I know I’ve let you down, and I’ve paid for that everyday since we’ve been apart. There has never been anyone else. My heart is too consumed by you. You walk around with a big piece of me wherever you go. I know you’re hurting. I was too. I never expected to feel so out of control with our lives. I didn’t leave because I didn’t want to take care of you. I left because I didn’t want my family to see me so weak. Your dad told me to take the time I needed, and he would hold down the fort. He saw how close to the edge I was. I was about to snap. I blamed myself entirely. I still do. Then, when your dad tried to explain what happened, you took it personally. See, Holly, you have an inner strength that I’ve never quite mastered. You can take the hits and keep on rolling. I might be physically strong, but you are the strongest out of the two of us. You are, and forever were my rock.

  I was wrong. Families are supposed to work through things together, and I was gone when you needed me most. I don’t know if I can ever make up for that. But I can promise you that I will never leave your side again. I want our family back. I need us to be a family again.

  Merry Christmas Holly. I hope you will consider what I’ve said. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t think of you, or love you more than the day before. I think you still love me, too.

  Still Yours,

  Brant

  Tears flooded Holly’s eyes as she read and re-read the letter from her ex-husband. She did still love him, and she wanted nothing more than to welcome him back into her life. She just had to trust that he wouldn’t crack under the pressure of day-to-day life again. She certainly had much to consider as she sat smiling under the lights of the Christmas tree.

  *****

  A car door slammed outside of 56 Wallace Road as Holly jumped in reaction. She had fallen asleep under the lights of the Christmas tree, with Brant’s letter still hanging in her grasp. She looked up at the clock that hung on the wall through raw, tired eyes.

  3:17 A.M.

  Who the hell would be showing up here at this time of night?!

  Learily, Holly walked to the front window and pulled aside the sheer curtain as her heart threatened to leap out of her chest. Standing in the white glow of the moonlight was Brant. Holly’s heart sped when she saw him. Brant was leaning against his pick-up truck with bouquet of Casablanca lilies in his right hand and a determined look in his eyes.

  Brant had always chosen Casablanca lilies for Holly. They are a classically beautiful flower with surprising strength and resilience. That was his Holly, alright.

  Maybe it was the alcohol…

  Maybe it was the Christmas music…

  Or maybe Holly’s heart was finally doing exactly what it had wanted to do for so long.

  Holly raced to the front door and swung it open. She ran off the porch into the still falling snow. Her boots trudged loudly through the snow, going faster and faster.

  Brant watched with a shocked smile at the vision before him. He never thought he’d see the day that Holly would come back to him.<
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  Now there they were, two lost souls in the night. Two wounded hearts running towards the only person on earth who could make them whole again.

  Finally, Brant was within arm’s reach. Holly leapt into his arms wrapping her long legs around Brant’s strong frame.

  It was like whiplash! Her blonde hair smelled like vanilla as Holly came crashing into him. She kissed him passionately and furiously on his lips as if he was a soldier who had just come home from the war. She sucked the words straight from his brain. All he could do was kiss her back.

  Brant walked through the snow with Holly still wrapped around him. He climbed the porch steps, their lips still locked in a kiss. Under the dim light of the porch, Holly stood on her own two feet still wrapped in Brant’s embrace.

  “I can’t believe you’re here…”

  “I took the first available flight.”

  “I just can’t believe it.”

  “I got your message and then I couldn’t get a hold of you on the phone. I was so worried.”

  Holly looked up at Brant, her eyes full of emotion, and said, “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”

  Holly reached back and opened the door as Brant continued to kiss her, she fumbled and finally the door crashed open causing them to fall inside. Brant slammed the door shut with his foot, his lips still on hers. Holly looked at Brant with a passion she had never felt before. She ripped his coat off, slid her hands up his shirt against his bare, muscular chest, and pulled it over his head. Brant lifted her, wrapping her legs around him. He took her upstairs and reclaimed the only woman he ever loved as his own.

  Climbing up the stairs with her legs wrapped around his waist, he walked haphazardly up the stairs knocking pictures off the wall and crashing her into the bannister before finding his way to the bedroom. The pace was frantic, desperate. For Brant, there was no greater need on earth than to have Holly accept him back into her life. Slamming the bedroom door behind them, he laid Holly down on the edge of the bed. Giving Holly a wary look, Brant asked her, “Should we?”

  “We should have two years ago.”

  Without another word Brant took her, his lips on hers, tracing her neck, the curve of her should the feminine sway of her hip. Holly’s hand gripped his chest tugging at his shirt, plucking at his buttons.

  “What took you so long?” Holly asked.

  Brant laughed, his lips just centimeters from Holly’s own.

  “I thought you didn’t love me anymore.”

  “Fool,” Holly said as she pulled Brant onto the bed, drowning him in the scent of her perfume and she pulled him in, crushing him with the weight of her need.

  There was no turning back. The tide had pulled them under and refused to let go.

  Chapter Ten

  Never Let Me Go…

  December 24, 2013

  Edgemont Residence

  Holly awoke to the smell of coffee and bacon, her thoughts still aglow from the previous evening. Brant cracked the door open and smiled at Holly.

  “There she is…” said Brant as he brought a plate with pancakes, eggs, bacon and rye toast to Holly in bed.

  Holly smiled broadly at Brant, “That smells amazing… What time is it?”

  Brant looked at his wrist watch.

  “It is 10:17,” you must’ve been tired.”

  “I was...” said Holly sleepily as she sat up in bed, beginning to dig in to the breakfast Brant had made her.

  “Eat up, because I have a busy day planned for us,” said Brant with a wink.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Really. Now meet me downstairs in an hour. Wear hiking boots.”

  *****

  Brant sat at the breakfast bar with his cell phone in his hand. He gave a wary glance to the stairs to make sure that Holly wasn’t in ear shot. He dialed a series of numbers and put the phone to his ear.

  “Did ya get it?!” asked Brant in a whisper.

  Marv, who was running up Jeweler’s Row with his arms full of bags, yelled into his receiver.

  “Yes! Yes! Did I ever tell you that you’re the biggest pain in the ass?!”

  “You love this pain in the ass…”

  “Fix my daughter’s heart, and I will.”

  “That’s the plan, Marv. You know what to do, right?”

  “Do you know who you’re talking to?!”

  “Right. Sorry. Why do you sound out of breath?”

  Marv rolled his eyes as he tried to flag a taxi as his bags from a variety of stores and boutiques weighed down his arms.

  “Because I’m Christmas shopping, too! Hey taxi!”

  Brant laughed at Marv.

  Forever the procrastinator.

  “I gotta go. I’m getting in a cab now.”

  “Thanks again.”

  Brant hung up the phone and went back to reading the morning paper, as he tapped his leg nervously against the bar stool.

  *****

  Sloane had a look of determination on her face as she stood in line at the Pour House coffee shop. Her arms were loaded down with shopping bags, and she desperately needed her caramel macchiato to get through this day. There was still so much to do. Sloane was fifth in line and her patience was hanging by a very thin thread. Suddenly, someone had tapped her on her right shoulder. Sloane turned to see who it was with an agitated look on her face.

  Ugh! Not Beckman again! I cannot deal with his nonsense right now!

  “Yo, Sloane! What’s going on?” asked Chris in his thick South Philly accent.

  “Oh, it’s you,”said Sloane testily. Her British accent was never so prevalent than when she was talking to Chris Beckman.

  “Don’t sound so happy to see me!” Chris said sarcastically. Sloane rolled her eyes and ignored him.

  “You guys left awful quick last night… When you see Holly, have her call me. She’s got my digits.”

  “No can do, compadre,” said Sloane coolly.

  Chris looked perplexed and confused.

  “Uh… Why?”

  “I’m afraid Holly is officially off the market.”

  Chris looked mad, and he began to shake his head.

  “She was single last night… quit playin’ games.”

  “Well, she’s not anymore!”

  “Who’s she going out with?”

  Sloane laughed. “Do I look like the bloody press to you?! All you have to know is that it’s not you. Now back off!”

  Finally Sloane had reached the front of the line. She placed her order, and looked into Chris’ face, which was now red and angry.

  “You leave them alone. I’m dead serious.”

  Chris jutted his chin forward before storming out of the coffee shop.

  *****

  Holly ran down the stairs with a bounce in her step. She did as Brant asked, and put on her rarely used hiking boots and tucked her skinny jeans inside of them. To top off the ensemble she grabbed her cream aran sweater from her closet, which would keep her warm for whatever adventure Brant had planned. He was waiting for Holly in the kitchen where he was reading over the morning paper and bopping his head along to the Christmas music that was playing on the radio. Brant was dressed warmly in a grey henley shirt, a pair of old jeans, and his worn out hiking boots. Holly scanned Brant up and down, remembering the salty taste of his skin from the night before. He caught her glancing, and smiled at her warmly.

  “Ready to go?” said Holly as she eyed Brant, her mind still on last night.

  “Not quite,” said Brant with a smirk.

  He rose from his bar stool and pulled Holly into a bear hug as he left gentle kisses on her neck. The sensation sent chills chasing up her spine.

  “Okay. Now I’m ready,” said Brant as he took her by the hand and led her out to his pick-up truck.

  “Aren’t you going to tell me where we’re going?” asked Holly.

  “It’s a surprise.”

  *****

  The snow fell lightly o
ver the sea of evergreens as Brant pulled his truck onto Wallford Drive. Inside the cab of Brant’s pick-up truck, Holly sipped on her pumpkin spice latte as she looked out the passenger window.

  Brant’s mood had shifted to a more serious one as he kept his eyes on the road. He held a sturdy hand on the steering wheel, maneuvering the curves of the gravel road as he held Holly’s hand with the other.

  The silence wasn’t awkward; it was actually quite peaceful – something that hadn’t existed between them in quite some time. Holly was enjoying her unexpected time with Brant, but she couldn’t help but wonder… What’s next?

  Brant caught occassional glimpses of Holly out of the corner of his eye. She seemed at ease, but he couldn’t help but ask himself, “Were they okay?”

  As the thought crossed his mind, Holly glanced over at Brant with a gentle gaze and she smiled. It was as if she could read his mind. Holly squeezed Brant’s hand tighter in response.

  Brant pulled the truck on to an old winding dirt road that was labeled with a rustic sign that read:

  WALLFORD FOREST

  “Wallford!” Holly exclaimed as she sat up straight in her seat. She could barely contain her excitement.

  “Wallford. We need to trade in that plastic piece of crap tree in your living room for the real thing,” said Brant feigning disgust over Holly’s artificial Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

  “Wait… Are you spending Christmas with me?!” asked Holly, her mood becoming brighter by the minute.

  Brant looked into Holly’s bright blue eyes with a serious look on his face and said, “Baby, I’m not going anywhere.”

  Holly could do nothing but smile from ear to ear.

  *****

  Brant pulled the truck to the side of the road and stepped out without saying a word to Holly. He went to the back of his pick-up and retrieved a blue back pack. He tossed the bag over his right shoulder and walked to the passenger side of the truck where Holly still waited inside. Brant pulled her door open as its hinges groaned in protest.