by Howe, Olivia
Chapter Fourteen
HOLLY
I couldn’t believe I had let myself believe Gavin was the “one”. I think I wanted it so badly, I would have imagined anyone was the one.
After seeing Sabrina, I will admit it pissed me off, but it made me realize- him and I knew nothing about each other.
He used women, he was a miserable drunk who didn’t even know what love was. I didn’t think I knew either, my life was in shambles and I wanted to figure things out. I let myself believe in the fairytale of Gavin and I just couldn’t pretend anymore.
As I sat by the side of the road, phone clutched in my hands, waiting on the cab to arrive my phone buzzed. I glanced down and recognized my mother’s cell number.
“Mom, Merry Christmas. How’s Europe?” I asked.
“Holly? It’s so good to hear your voice. I’m not in Europe, I’m actually standing outside your apartment door.”
“What why?” The yellow cab stopped in front of me and I jumped inside. With the little money I had, I would gladly pay the hour cab ride, and then be broke, again.
“It’s a long story hun. Are you on your way home now?”
I glanced to the driver and gave him my address as I leaned my head back against the plush seat. “Yeah,” I said.
We hung up and I watched out the window as I contemplated my life. Why had everything in my life never turned out as I envisioned? I wanted to be wildly successful by the time I was thirty, but I wasn’t. I wasn’t even mildly successful.
I wanted to cry, but knew I would have to explain to my mother how I had opened my heart to a stranger and been let down.
Was I really let down though? Or was I too afraid to try? Everything I ever put my heart and soul into had always come crashing down around me? What was I afraid of?
When the taxicab pulled up to my apartment building, I saw my mother’s red Mercedes parked in the closest spot. My mother rushed outside, insisting on paying for the cab ride.
“Holly, I’m so glad to see you,” she said as she clung tighter to me.
We made our way to my front door as I glanced at Gavin’s door. I knew he wasn’t home, but a part of me missed him.
I opened the door and led my mother inside. Being here with her felt weird, and all I wanted to do was cry. Cry about my stupid existence.
“Where’s Stephen?” I asked. My mother was never without my awful stepfather.
My mother took a seat on the couch and patted the seat beside her for me to sit down. “I left him.” She wrapped her arms around me as tears sprang to her eyes.
“Are you okay? Why?”
“Holly,” She turned to face me, staring deep into my eyes, she continued, “I’m so sorry I never believed you when you tried to warn me about him. I haven’t been a very good mother to you in so long.” The tears fell down her cheeks and I wrapped my arms tighter around her.
“Mom, it’s okay,” I soothed her.
She shook herself out of my arms. “No, it isn’t. I’m going to make it up to you Holly.”
We sat for hours talking about everything. Eventually I opened up to her about Gavin, and how I’d fallen for him.
“Sounds like you’re afraid, Holly. You can’t let fear get in the way of your happiness. It may be rocky, who knows, he may even not be the one, but you should at least try.” My mother gazed at me with her cornflower blue eyes and smiled.
“Thanks, Mom. But, the way I left it. I think it’s truly over,” I said.
Later in the evening, I opened my computer and sent pictures to both Amy and the shop owner in town. Crossing my fingers that this would help my business with my handbags, I finally got ready for bed. My mother would be staying with me for a while, until she found her own place. With the money she would get from the settlement from her divorce she would be fine. She even offered to pay my rent for the next few months until my handbag business took off, which she believed it would soon.
I had asked her why she left Stephen, why now after all these years. He had cheated on her with an eighteen year-old girl, I guess he had a thing for younger women, scumbag.
I went to bed, feeling better about my future. Yet, there was still an ache in my heart that wouldn’t subside. I missed him.
***
A week later, after the New Year, my mother and I sat on the couch, talking. I hadn’t seen or heard from Gavin and I was already starting to get over it, okay no I wasn’t.
After making bags all week long, my mother took pictures of them and placed them on my Etsy store. They had sat unnoticed online, until one day I had over fifty orders on one bag to a retailer I had never heard of.
“Mom, look at this,” I screamed.
She rushed over as the orders started taking off. Not only had I sold out of three designs, I was quickly selling out of many others.
“This is incredible, Holly.”
I even had orders from Adeline’s and I smiled to myself. What happened? Had Amy’s blog really helped me this much?
I was excited and I made a note to myself to be sure to call Amy and thank her.
Hours later after the initial shock wore off, there was a knock at my door. My mother answered it and called for me.
“Holly, someone is here to see you.”
I went to the front door and there he was. He was much more handsome than I remembered, and I showed him into the apartment.
I didn’t know what to say to him, part of me wanted to jump into his arms, another part wanted to push him away to protect my heart.
“Thanks, I had to come and see you Holly,” he said in a throaty whisper.
My mother went off into my bedroom to give us privacy and I gazed up to his chocolate eyes.
“Why?”
“I’ve been busy since you left, and I wanted to see if my endeavors paid off.”
What was he talking about? Endeavors?
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Your purses, I’ve made many many calls and emails, to all the top bloggers. I’ve also been contacting local stores. Anyone I can think of. I also took out a marketing advertisement in a local magazine.”
I didn’t know what to say as I stared at him. Was this for real? “Why would you go to all that trouble for me?” I asked.
“Holly, I think more than anything you deserve this. I think you deserve everything life has to offer, and I will try my hardest every day to be the man you deserve.” His sad eyes met mine and my breath caught in my throat.
I couldn’t believe he had done all of this for me? Now more than anything I wanted him to kiss me, I needed to take this chance on him, on us. Not let fear cripple me and make decisions for me.
I smiled as his eyes twinkled. Taking a step closer, I placed my hands around his neck. He appeared shocked and wrapped his arms around my waist to steady me as I leaned into him.
“Gavin, I’ve missed you,” I said.
He blew out a breath and shook his head. “I’ve missed you so damn much,” he breathed.
Our lips connected and my mind went fuzzy from his touch. This was exactly what I deserved, and I couldn’t wait to start my life with him. He broke the kiss and swung me around, as I laughed.
“I’m never letting you go, Holly.”
“I won’t let you if you try.”
Everything in my life had been leading up to meeting Gavin, at first I had hated him. I’d misjudged him, and then I let fear come between us. I would never let anything come between us ever again, he was my holiday miracle and I was never letting him go.
The End
Chapter 1
"Jake Nathaniel Delassixe get down here, baby."
I put my book down careful to mark my spot and barreled downstairs. At the age of fifteen, I was smart enough to listen when my grandmother, Mama Cleo, bellowed.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs, Mama Cleo was waiting for me. Her hair was pulled up in a green turban showing off whiskey colored eyes.
Her large body was regal in a purple dress that seemed to make her brown skin shimmer.
She was standing next to a beautiful woman about the same age as my mother. The woman wore a flowing hot pink dress with a mass of black curls tied back with an orange ribbon. Her blue eyes sparkled showing her amusement from watching me run down the stairs at the fastest speed my gangly legs allowed.
My whole world stopped when I noticed a beautiful creature sitting on one of the bar stools drinking chocolate milk through a straw, and swinging her legs without a care. I couldn't move my eyes off of her. She was mesmerizing. Her curly black hair cascaded down her back lightly swaying every time her legs pumped back.
"Jake, honey. I want you to say hello to Mrs. Tussaud, and her daughter Esmerelda. Mrs. Tussaud will be managing the bar for me." Mama Cleo moved her voluptuous arm around to point out Esmerelda, unnecessarily, as my eyes were still glued to her.
Esmerelda turned her face toward mine and I held my breath. Her big blue eyes rivaled the picture of the Caribbean Sea I once saw in a book. Her mouth turned up into a smile showing off her straight white teeth. I was riveted as Esmerelda jumped off the stool and walked toward me. She wore pink sparkly shorts and a black tank top with a ghost on it.
"Jake you can call me Libby," Mrs. Tussaud said. "This is my daughter Ezzie."
"I'm going to marry you," Ezzie said.
Mama Cleo let out a belly laugh, and Ezzie's olive colored skin tinged pink. She slapped her hand over her mouth as her eyes roamed the bar refusing to settle back on me.
"Ezzie let the boy breathe. You're going to scare the poor thing," her mother scolded.
"Sorry," Ezzie replied her eyes finally locking on my face. "Did I scare you?" she asked, her face scrunching up with worry.
"Nah, I have a feeling you might be right."
Ezzie's face flamed red, and I smiled at her, feeling more confident than I ever had in my life.
"Well you two aren't getting married today. Why don't you go on and show Ezzie around the apartment while I give Ms. Libby a tour of the bar where she'll be working." Mama Cleo shooed us away when we continued to stare at each other.
"Come on Jake," Ezzie called out as she sprinted toward the stairs out of Mama Cleo's bar, Voodoo, and up to the apartment above.
"Be careful Ezzie. I don't want you to fall," I shouted back at her as I ran up behind her.
Ezzie was sprawled out on the red rug in front of the black suede couch laughing hysterically when I reached her. The corner of her eyes sparkled with tears, and the sight of her carefree attitude did something to my chest. I was too young to realize it, but I had found my soulmate at that very moment.
"You're crazy," I told her plopping down on the couch, giving her time to get her giggles out.
"I'm not crazy," she cried out, pushing herself into a sitting position. Her eyes were slits as she glared at me. "Don't ever call me crazy," she stated, getting up and walking toward the stairs.
"Wait. I'm sorry I wasn't saying it as a bad thing." I caught up with her before her neon blue shoes could reach the first step.
She wouldn't turn toward me, but she didn't step away so I was calling that a victory.
"Kids at my old school called me crazy. That's one of the reasons my mom moved us here." She had a tiny hitch in her voice, and my heart hammered against my chest afraid she might cry.
I was always uncomfortable when girls cried at school, and I definitely didn't want to be the one to make Ezzie shed a tear.
"They're stupid," I told her as I pulled her toward the couch. "Do you want something to drink?" I asked, desperately trying to think of anything to keep her from crying.
"No thank you." She wouldn't look up at me as she tugged on the ghost charm necklace she pulled out from under her shirt collar.
"Why do they call you crazy?"
"Promise not to laugh?"
"I would never laugh at you," I told her as I tried to wrap my head around someone being cruel to her.
"I can see spirits," she whispered gazing into my face, studying me intently to see if I would break my promise.
"And? Are they mad because you're rubbing in such an awesome gift?" I asked cocking my head with a smile.
That's when she did it. She smiled. Not just any smile, a smile that said I was her hero. The smile that I would carry with me long after she broke my heart.
"No, they say I'm crazy." She sat up a little straighter, tucking her slim legs underneath her.
"They're crazy, and probably jealous." A thought formed in my head. "How old are you?"
"I'm fifteen. Why?"
"Will you be going to N.O. high school?"
She nodded her head, her eyebrow quirked at my questioning.
"Good. We'll be at the same school. If anyone picks on you, come find me."
"I can take care of myself," she said, grasping her ghost charm around her neck.
"I know you can, but I want to help you. Will you let me?" I would have gotten down on my knees to beg her if I had to, but she nodded her head before leaning over and kissing me on the cheek.
A jolt of electricity shot through me when her lips connected with my skin.
"Did you feel that? I told you we're meant to be."
"Once again, I think you're right."
"Is it true your mom can see spirits too?"
"Yeah, she got her gift from Mama Cleo. My parents are actually in California helping someone with an unruly spirit as we speak."
"Why didn't you go with them to California?" Her voice took on a dreamy quality.
"I didn't want to leave Mama Cleo alone, besides I really like New Orleans."
"I like New Orleans, too. I'm glad my mom decided to move us here. Your mom and Mama Cleo told her they would help me with my gift."
"They will love teaching you. You were disappointed when I didn't develop any ghostly abilities. Have you always had it?" I asked, saying a silent thank you that Libby decided to move here.
"Yes, my dad left when I was little. He didn't understand my ability. My mom never doubted me, and she never made me hide who I am."
"Never hide who you are. You're amazing and if people can't see that than they aren't worth it." My body pulsed with a protective energy that Ezzie seemed to bring out in me. I wanted her to understand how much I understood her gifts so she would be comfortable with me. "My parents got together because my mom could see spirits," I told her letting her know I lived in her world.
"I love, love stories. Tell me how they met."
The look on her face solidified I would never be able to deny her any request.
"When they first met my dad was a big shot lawyer. One of his partners was suing my mom. She had told his brother where the real will their mother left behind was. It cut into my dad's partner’s inheritance, and he didn't like that. The partner asked my dad to sit in on the mediation. My dad said it was love at first sight. By the end of the mediation my dad had moved to my mom’s side, and hasn't left it since. He quit the firm and now he follows my mom around making sure nobody can hurt her."
"Ahhhh. I love that story. How did Mama Cleo and Big Sam meet?"
"How do you know about Big Sam?" I was shocked when she mentioned my deceased grandfather's name.
"Remember I see spirits. He's sitting in that big recliner over there. I think he's babysitting us." She pointed to the empty recliner next to the couch.
"Sorry," I told her, as I felt a blush creep over my face. "You would think I would be used to it by now, being I'm always around my mom and Mama Cleo."
"Actually I want to hear how they met from Big Sam." She put her tiny hand on my knee and turned to the empty recliner.
Tingles shot through my body from her touch. I watched as she nodded and smiled while she listened to Big Sam's story. My grandpa always had a way with words, and his favorite story was how he stole Mama Cleo away from her boyfriend, and proposed to her the next day in the middle of Bourbon Street
. Ezzie's mouth spread in a wide smile, and I assumed Big Sam was at the proposal.
Ezzie turned back to me her eyes shining with life. "You have a lot to live up to when you propose." She threw her head back on the couch cushion, her face caught the sunlight spearing across the living room. I was enamored as I noted the different colors that saturated her black hair shimmering in the light.
"Well I have a couple years. What do you say, graduation?" She glanced over at the chair Big Sam occupied when he was telling her his story.
"Not on graduation. It won't be our time yet." The desperation in her voice should have seared itself in my memory. If I would have kept that plea in my brain instead of watching how beautiful her face was shining in the summer sun maybe I wouldn't have made the mistake three years later.
Chapter 2
Ezzie and I were inseparable throughout the remaining weeks of summer. When she was trained with Mama Cleo and my mom, I would lounge around on the leather couch in Mama Cleo's office. Even though I would bring a book along, just in case I got bored, not once did I crack the spine to enter the world sitting in my hands.
Not only had Ezzie captured my attention, but she now possessed my soul as well. Big Sam once told me that when our family found the one, we would recognize their soul as a match without a doubt. He was right.
Before summer was over Mama Cleo and my mom decided that Ezzie was ready to start seeing her own clients. Ezzie began to make a name for herself, and with the endorsement from Mama Cleo and my mom, her reputation and career grew.
When Ezzie would finish her readings, I'd steal her away and we would explore New Orleans. Ezzie's favorite thing to do was walk around the cemeteries, talking to the spirits hanging around. It was fascinating watching her eyes light up when she would become engrossed in conversations.
Summer ended quickly, and the first day of school penetrated our happy bubble we had been residing in. Ezzie’s first class was in different building than mine. As soon as the bell rang sounding the end of first period, I sprinted out of class and pounded down the covered walkway to reach Ezzie. Unfortunately, I wasn't fast enough.