Holly and Ivy

by Fern Michaels

  Daniel started the truck, put it in reverse, then backed out of his parking place and piled onto the main road.

  “Ivy, just so you know, Dad does not usually eat anything sweet. I think you have put some kind of spell on him, in a good way, of course.” Holly grinned, and Ivy patted her black-tighted leg.

  “Thanks, I think. I’m not sure I have anything to do with your dad, but we’re all enjoying the evening, and that’s a kind of magic all in itself, don’t you think?”

  “It really is. Because Dad is usually very boring and mean,” Holly explained, then cupped both hands over her mouth when she realized what she had said. “I mean—”

  “She’s right,” Daniel said. “Except the mean part. I think you could replace that with strict.”

  “Whatever,” Holly said. “You want to hear something?” She turned her attention on Ivy.

  “Yes, I do,” Ivy responded. She liked this little sprite more with each passing minute. Would Elizabeth have been so sweet and friendly, had she lived to be Holly’s age? Sadly, that was something she would never know.

  Holly started singing, softly at first, so low she could barely hear her. Then she began to sing louder.

  “Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. . . .” Ivy leaned as close to her as she could without actually getting in her face. Her mouth opened, but she did not say a word. Instead, she listened to a child who sounded years older; yet she sang so clearly, and purely, that tears came to Ivy’s eyes. In all her years, she had never heard “Silent Night” sung so . . . heartfelt, each word a gift as Holly continued to sing. Ivy was stunned. No, shocked. This child was nothing less than a musical prodigy!

  “Enough, Holly,” Daniel finally said.

  They parked in front of Double Dips. The silence in the cab was deafening. Ivy finally understood what that expression meant. At a complete loss for words, she simply stared at this child, who appeared to be just like any other eleven-year-old. Until she sang. Magical, uplifting. Those words did not even begin to describe the feelings the child projected as she sang the popular Christmas carol.

  Ivy had goose bumps.

  “What?” Holly said as she slid across the seat so she could get out on the driver’s side. Ivy was still too stunned to move. Shaking her head, hoping to return to the moment, she got out of the truck and followed Daniel and Holly inside.

  No wonder she was the star of The Upside’s Christmas musical.

  She had the talent to be so much more. In the world of music, she could be whatever she wanted to be. An opera singer? The star of Broadway musicals? Who knew what else? She had that kind of talent.

  All Ivy knew was that this little girl from a small town in the Appalachian Mountains would someday woo the world with her voice. Until then, she would . . . Ivy did not know what she should say.

  Or do.

  Inside the ice-cream parlor, Ivy’s thoughts were all over the place. Holly’s voice, definitely the most beautiful singing she had ever heard.

  Ever.

  “Ivy, what’s your favorite flavor?”

  Again she had to force herself to be in the moment. “That’s a good question.” She peeked at the giant tubs of ice cream in the display. “Mint chocolate chip.”

  “That’s mine, too!” Holly said excitedly.

  “Three double-scoop cones of the mint chocolate chip,” Daniel said to the young boy who worked there. “Holly, find a table, and I’ll bring the ice cream.”

  Ivy watched the father and daughter. Where was his reaction to his daughter’s talent? Did he not know that a voice like hers, in one so very young, was virtually unheard of? A once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon?

  Ivy was now on a mission. She planned to meet Miss Carol; then she would do everything in her power to make sure that Holly did not lose her leading role in this year’s Christmas musical.

  Chapter 33

  As soon as Ivy was inside her house, she rummaged through her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Scrolling through her contact list, she found Sarah’s number and hit the SEND button. She glanced at the clock on the stove. It was a little after ten. She was probably up. It was Saturday night. No one went to bed early on Saturday nights.

  “Hello,” Sarah said, sounding fully awake.

  “Hey, Sarah, it’s Ivy. I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said.

  “Just reruns of The Golden Girls. Pretty sad, huh?” Sarah stated. “I need to get a life.”

  “You have a great life, Sarah. All those kids in your class love you, and I heard this from a very reliable source.”

  “And might I ask who that would be?”

  Ivy saw no reason to keep her night with Daniel and Holly a secret. “Holly Greenwood told me. She idolizes you. I had pizza with her and Daniel tonight. At Ollie’s, then we went for ice cream. Which is part of the reason I’m calling.” She did not want to sound gossipy or come off as a busybody, but there was no one else she could ask.

  “Okay,” Sarah said. “What’s up?”

  “Have you ever heard Holly sing?”

  “It’s quite a shock the first time you hear her, isn’t it? She’s amazing, isn’t she?”

  “I’m still reeling. She sang ‘Silent Night.’ Not only does she have the most beautiful voice I have ever heard, but I have never heard it sung with so much heart and passion. It was an experience, to say the least. I wondered if you knew how I can get in contact with Miss Carol.”

  “She’s the director of the Christmas musical, isn’t she?” Sarah asked. “I don’t have her telephone number, but I’m sure your father could find it for you.”

  Ivy hadn’t even given her father a thought. Of course he would know how to contact her. “I’ll call him tomorrow. I have no idea why I didn’t think of that.”

  “So how did you manage to wrangle Daniel Greenwood to take you out for pizza?” Sarah asked.

  Ivy did not hear one ounce of jealousy in Sarah’s voice, so she told her. “I brought that note to him, and I think he was shocked that Holly wrote all those silly things, but it affected him badly enough that he told her what had happened to her mother. She seemed to take the news in stride.

  “I don’t think she really remembers much about her mother, which is just too sad. She was a bit embarrassed about the note, though. Daniel didn’t get angry. Mostly he seemed regretful about her even thinking those things, because he had never let her know what had happened to her mother. So he invited me to have pizza with them, I think because he knew this would make Holly happy. I met them at Ollie’s, met Geraldine, the full deal. Then we went to Double Dips for ice cream. I left my car at Ollie’s and rode with Daniel to the ice-cream shop. That’s when Holly sang ‘Silent Night.’ I simply cannot believe how gifted she is! I simply do not understand why Daniel doesn’t encourage her. It’s not as if she is a supremely talented tennis player and they would have to move somewhere she could receive the training necessary to make her into a Serena Williams or something. But instead of encouraging her, he just told her to stop, said that was enough. I was surprised .. . no, flabbergasted.”

  “I’m probably assuming this, but I think I’m onto something here. Daniel does not want Holly to have a career in music. His wife was a singer, and I’m guessing he thinks something bad will happen if Holly chooses the same path,” Sarah suggested.

  Ivy considered this. “What a waste of talent. This is going to sound crazy—and maybe it is—but it’s what I feel. I need to do whatever I can to make sure Holly gets to sing in that musical. I do not know why. Dad’s invited me to go each year for the past three years, but I never have. Now I feel . . . I have to go, and I have to make sure Holly performs. Does that make me sound crazy or what? Especially given the fact that I just met them.”

  “Pine City is a small town, Ivy. Most of the residents are decent, hardworking people. We look after one another, you know how it is? I think it’s perfectly reasonable for you to pursue this. Daniel needs to move on and allow his daughter to enjoy being a you
ng girl, and he needs to let the world hear her sing. So, no, you do not sound crazy at all. In fact, I think this is the best news I have heard all week. Hey, if you have a . . . thing or a crush on Daniel, it’s fine with me. I am so over him. He was such a jerk, embarrassed me to death. I still cannot think of that scene this afternoon without feeling mortified, so trust me, he is off my list of potential men to date. Pine City, I am sure, still has a few other eligible bachelors.”

  Ivy laughed. “I’m sure you’ll find the right guy. Remember what they say, it usually happens when you least expect it.” She knew firsthand. Though she was not really sure if Daniel Greenwood had invited her out because she was there and had witnessed a private family matter, or simply because he wanted to get to know her better. Time would tell, but for now, she had to do everything in her power to see that Holly got to sing in the musical.

  “So, are you telling me you and Daniel might be an item?” Sarah asked. “It’s fine, really. I do think he’s a hunk, but there’s no harm in that.” She laughed.

  Ivy was clueless. “I have no idea what’s in the future for Daniel or for me. I just feel compelled to make sure Holly performs in that musical. I feel like this is . . . a new beginning for me.” She did, and though her sadness over the loss of her family would remain in her heart forever, she knew John would have wanted her to move on. While James and Elizabeth were much too young for her to form an opinion about what they would have wanted, she felt sure they, too, would want their mommy to be happy. As young as they were, they’d understood what happy and sad meant.

  “Ivy, this is a blessing in disguise. I feel it in my bones. I’ll help you in any way I can, and do not hesitate to ask if you need me,” Sarah offered.

  Ivy recalled how close they’d been in high school and knew Sarah’s words were sincere.

  “I will, I promise.”

  “Think of this as an early Christmas gift,” Sarah said. “It’s time to kick off the holiday season, anyway. I’d planned to invite Daniel and Holly for Thanksgiving dinner, sort of a jump start to Christmas, you know how it is? Maybe you could come, bring your dad, anyone you like.” Sarah’s voice was so upbeat and cheery, Ivy could not help but feel her friend’s enthusiasm. “Think of this as your first gift, you know, like the one your dad always gave you a few weeks before Christmas. Remember those days?” Sarah asked.

  Ivy had not thought about them in years, but she remembered exactly how she had felt. So antsy, knowing what she had put on her Christmas list. In high school, she would always make a lengthy list of clothes, gadgets, shoes, and boots.

  She remembered her first computer. Dad had given it to her right after Thanksgiving. It was big and bulky, and he’d given her a membership to an Internet service that required using a phone line. At the time, a computer was not something one found in everyone’s home, as it was now, but she had had that on her list, and Dad had come through.

  “I do,” Ivy responded fondly. She had insisted on not celebrating any holiday since losing her family. Now was as good a time as any to rectify her lack of Christmas spirit and start celebrating the sacred day. Though she had only experienced Christmas three times with the twins, some motherly instinct kicked in, telling her they would want her to celebrate this holiday, as well as Easter and Thanksgiving. Those were the holidays that they’d been old enough to have somewhat of an understanding of, so she would honor their memory by promising to celebrate as though they were here alongside her, if only in spirit and in her heart. “Those were some of the best times, for sure,” Ivy concluded. “I’ll let you know about Thanksgiving.”

  “Please do, as it’s . . . this Thursday! I am so behind. I should start baking now. I do not know where my head has been,” Sarah said, sounding a bit dismayed at getting a late start on her Thanksgiving prep, but Ivy knew she would pull it off. She had plenty of time.

  “You’ll be fine, I remember how organized you are,” Ivy said. “I’ll see if Dad has plans for the holiday and get back to you. If we decide to join you, I’ll let you know ASAP.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Sarah said. “Call your dad now, get Carol’s number, and let’s do what we can to ensure Holly gets to perform in the musical.”

  “Thanks for listening to me,” Ivy offered. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt as positive as I do now. I’m so glad we had lunch today.”

  “Same here, and let’s make it a habit, okay?”

  “Absolutely,” Ivy said. “I’ll talk with you later.”

  After they said their good-byes, Ivy’s thoughts were all over the place. What to do, how to do it, and could she persuade Daniel to allow Holly to share her gift with Pine City and, maybe, the world?

  Feeling she had a purpose, a reason to look forward, a germ of an idea lingered in the back of her mind. But before she allowed herself to toss the idea to the winds, Ivy found her purse and removed one of the keys.

  This key would unlock memories that she had kept hidden away for so very long. Maybe it was time to release them, allow herself to feel, and know that whatever emotions she felt, they would propel her forward to a future where new and happy memories could be made as well.

  Chapter 34

  “I had a great time tonight,” Holly said. “I totally like Ivy, don’t you, Dad? She’s very pretty, too. Do you think she’s pretty?”

  Daniel shook his head. He’d anticipated these questions and thought he’d prepared himself, but found he was struggling to answer his daughter.

  “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself. I did, too. We need to do this more often.”

  “Dad, why are you suddenly so cool? I don’t get you. And I know I’ll probably get in trouble for asking this. Did you get hit on the head by something?” Holly asked this in all of her eleven-year-old seriousness.

  He laughed. “Probably seems that way, huh? But to answer your question, no, I did not get hit in the head.” Maybe in another sense he had, but he would contemplate that some other time.

  “So why the ice cream and stuff?”

  “Sit down.” Daniel motioned to a chair in the dining room. “I think I need to explain some things to you.”

  “I hope this is not gonna take long, because I still have three pages of math to study,” Holly said as she plopped down onto a chair.

  “You can leave the math for tomorrow. I think you have studied enough for one day.” He pulled out the chair opposite hers.

  “Cool,” Holly said.

  Daniel had noticed her excessive use of the word cool and was amazed that her generation used it, as it had been his generation’s slang word of appreciation for anything and everything as well. What was it about words and styles? Recycling to the next generation, he supposed.

  “Dad, are you gonna tell me whatever it is you said you were going to? I’m kind of tired.”

  Daniel focused his attention on Holly. “Sorry, I got lost there for a minute. Okay, I was going to explain . . . things.” How did one explain a loss of this magnitude to an eleven-year-old? In terms she would understand, of course. Keep it simple. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “It’s been just you and me for most of your life, as you well know.”

  Holly rolled her eyes. Normally, he would have given her his father look, but now was not the time. All kids rolled their eyes when their parents were talking to them. That’s just the way things were. He recalled doing that himself on more than one occasion. And, usually, getting a lecture about it. Again . . . here was another habit passed on from generation to generation.

  “I have kept a very important part of your past from you, Holly. I have no excuse other than I wanted to save you from . . . grieving, but I know now you were much too young when your mother’s . . . accident changed our lives. I should have explained the manner of her death to you before, and I should have done so without a stranger as a witness. That was stupid of me, and if I took you by surprise, I really am sorry. I know my timing is off the charts now, but I can’t let tonight’s revelation pass without an explana
tion.”

  He watched his daughter, saw how focused and purposefully she listened while he spoke. Maybe she was just a teeny bit wiser than he’d given her credit for?

  “I’m totally cool with it, Dad. I really do not remember much about Mom. I have a picture of her, and sometimes when I look at it, I think she’s smiling at me, but I know that’s just stuff for crazy people and little kids. I really am okay with not having a mom.”

  Is she?

  “I’m not okay with it, Holly. There isn’t anything I can do to change our family circumstances, but I would if I could, trust me.”

  “So date Ivy. That would change our ‘family circumstances. ’” Holly made air quotes when she said the last two words. “It’s not like she’s married or has a boyfriend.”

  Daniel wanted to ask how she had gained all this knowledge about Ivy’s personal life, but it was not the time. He let it pass. “I want you to be the best you can be, you know that, right? And I’ll support you . . .” He stopped when he realized he would not support whatever she chose to do with her life. He’d lucked out and caught himself before he had the chance to finish the sentence.

  “No matter what?” Holly finished for him. “Because if that’s what you were going to say, then you should let me practice with Miss Carol, so I can be the best I can be in the musical. I will not stop singing, Dad. I cannot stop singing. And you cannot ask me to. You might as well ask me to cut off my arm or my leg.

  “Maybe you can stop listening, but I will not stop singing. It’s in my blood. You said Mom was a singer, right?” She placed both hands on the table, then leaned forward. “I want to sing like her, for her memory, or whatever. I think that’s how I could best remember her even though I, like, don’t.”