Holly's Wishes

by Karen Pokras

  Holly stared at Jared, stunned. She didn’t understand all the details, but she knew it was good news. Really good news. He’d been working so hard lately to prove himself. Getting this raise and promotion meant they were one step closer to their goals—not only financially, but on a maturity level, too. It showed Jared was capable of being responsible—that he really did want a future with her.

  “Oh, baby, that’s amazing! I’m so proud of you. So proud!”

  Pulling out the cork, he filled the two mugs Holly had set out for coffee and said, “Here’s to the beginning of great things.” He clinked his mug to hers before taking a drink. “Great things for both of us,” he added, “together.”

  Yes, she thought, smiling. She was ready for great things for both of them. “Do you want something to eat?” she asked. “I made your favorites. I know you must be hungry, and we won’t be eating until at least four o’clock.”

  Jared refilled his mug. “No, baby, I’ve got everything I need right here.” Pulling Holly in close, he began to nibble on her neck. A familiar warmth filled her. He knew right where her soft spot was, the one that caused her knees to go weak every time. She reached behind her and turned the burners off.

  “Come with me,” he whispered, leading her into the bedroom.

  ~~~

  Holly woke up tangled in Jared’s arms and legs. The drawn curtains gave the illusion of darkness, and for a moment Holly panicked. The time!

  “Mmmm,” Jared moaned as she twisted around to check the clock on her nightstand. They still needed to shower and dress before heading over to her parents’ house. He pulled her back against his chest before she could get a peek at it. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and moved his arm off of her, trying to lift her body to sneak in another glance. It was one-thirty. They were fine.

  “Holly,” he said, this time with his eyes open. “You were amazing.”

  “I love you,” she whispered back, smiling, “And you did okay for a hot shot.”

  “Well, I am a team leader now. That’s kind of a big deal.”

  “You know, I’ve never slept with a team leader before. I have to say, you were pretty good.”

  “Pretty good? That’s it? You just said I was amazing,” he said with a teasing pout.

  “No, you said I was amazing,” she corrected. “I said you did okay.” She took the covers and threw them over her head, knowing he would attack her with an onslaught of tickles at any moment.

  After begging him to stop, admitting he was also truly amazing, and regaining her ability to breathe, she snuggled comfortably into the crook of his arm. Life was good.

  “Great things are going to happen now, Hol. I can promise you that. I have big plans for us in the works.”

  “Really?” She propped herself up on one elbow and gently pushed Jared’s hair off his forehead. Ask me, she commanded with her mind, ask me right now.

  “It’s true, baby,” he continued. “I want you to be happy. It’s the most important thing in the world to me. I’d do anything for you. In fact …”

  “What?” she asked, eyes wide. “What?”

  “No, I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but … let’s just say I’m working on something extra special for your birthday this year. If you’re a good girl … which in my book means being a little naughty,” he teased with a gleam in his eyes.

  Holly took a deep breath, smiling the widest, mischievous smile she could manage before wrapping her arms around him. “Oh, I can be naughty,” she replied, tangling herself back up in her future fiancé’s arms and legs. At least she hoped he would soon become her fiancé.

  Chapter 15

  “So sorry we’re late!” Holly burst through her parents’ door, pulling Jared along by the hand. She stopped short to see everyone already finishing their dinner.

  “It’s cool,” Tessa said, looking up from her plate. “It’s not like Mom was slaving over a hot stove all day or anything.”

  “We’re only a half-hour late. Why didn’t you call me?”

  “I’m afraid that’s my fault,” Patricia Haines said. “I invited some company over for dessert, and well, you know how I get. I wanted to make sure I’d have enough time to get everything cleaned up and put away before they got here. Tessa said she texted you.

  Holly pulled out her phone.

  Change of plans—we’re eating at three. Mom’s OCD strikes again. See you later. xo.

  “Oh. I must have missed that one. We were kind of busy.” What was meant to be a silent chuckle instead came out as a full-fledged giggle. Looking at Jared, she felt her cheeks turn red. Perhaps that was a little too much information in front of her parents. “Um, we were late because we stopped for this.” She held up the bottle of wine they purchased on their way over to replace the bottle they drank earlier in the day.

  “Well, aren’t you two are all smiles,” Tessa noted, taking the wine out of her hands and placing it on the table. “What’s going on, eh?”

  Patricia jumped up. “Sit,” she ordered. “There’s still plenty of food here. Help yourselves. You two look like you’re about to burst at the seams. I’m guessing we have some celebrating to do. I’ll get the corkscrew.” She disappeared into the kitchen.

  “We do have exciting news,” Holly started, “but I’ll wait until Mom is back.”

  “Tease!” Tessa said, sulking back into her seat.

  “So, Jared,” Bob Haines asked, ignoring his youngest daughter. “Did you see any of the game earlier? It was something.”

  “No, sir, I didn’t get a chance to watch.”

  “Dad, weren’t you listening? He and Holly were busy all afternoon,” Tessa mocked.

  Holly glared at her sister. She was lucky to be sitting too far away to be kicked under the table. She mouthed the words “troublemaker” instead. Tessa playfully blew a kiss back in response.

  “It was a great game,” he said, obviously trying to direct the conversation away from his daughters. “A little slow to start, but it really picked up toward the end.”

  “Here we are!” Patricia handed the corkscrew and the bottle of wine to her husband.

  “Finally!” Tessa shrieked. “Apparently, the two love birds have news … so? Spill it.”

  “Now, Tessa,” her father said, clearly losing patience with his youngest child, “don’t be pushy. Let’s let them get settled in.” He opened the bottle with a practiced ease and waited as everyone filled their glasses.

  Patricia put her hands on Jared’s shoulders. “I could tell the two of you had something exciting to tell us from the moment you walked in the door. You both are absolutely glowing! Why, I haven’t seen a glow like that since Ava was pregnant with Jenna.”

  “Is that the big news?” Tessa asked, raising her eyebrows. “You better have a boy, or Dad may start disowning us.” She put her arms up to her chest as if she were cradling a baby. “You know you shouldn’t be drinking, Holly, right?”

  “Tessa, slow down!” Holly demanded, trying to swallow her food. She glanced at Jared and noticed he was looking a bit pale, as was her father. She needed to do some serious back tracking ASAP before her not even yet fiancé changed his mind about proposing for her birthday. “Our news is that Jared got a big promotion and raise at work. You’re now looking at Crestmont Memorial’s newest Team Leader. He’s moving up the ladder, and I couldn’t be prouder.” She tousled his hair and kissed him on the cheek before raising her glass in the air. “To Jared,” she toasted.

  “To Jared!” everyone repeated with enthusiasm, raising their glasses toward him.

  Mostly everyone. Patricia no longer had her hands on his shoulders as she’d moved to stand by her husband. As she heard the news, her expression changed from ecstatic to happy, mixed with a smidge of disappointment. “Wonderful news,” she said, obviously straining to maintain her smile, “just wonderful.”

  “Well done, son,” Bob added, appearing extremely happy, and maybe a bit relieved in light of Tessa’s little outburst. “When I started
at the plastics plant, I was cleaning toilets. Within ten years I was managing the whole damn place. Hard work pays off. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders. Keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll be celebrating promotions with you every year.”

  “Thank you,” Jared said, grinning widely. He leaned into Holly with his arm around her shoulders. “I know this job is going to bring great things for Hol and me.”

  A knock at the door interrupted their celebration.

  “Oh, that must be our company,” Patricia said with a nervous tone. She glanced around the table at all the dishes and food still sitting out. “Oh,” she repeated.

  “It’s okay, Mom,” Holly said, standing up. “Everything looks fine. I’ll let them in.”

  Chapter 16

  Holly walked over to the door as the visitors on the other side knocked one more time.

  “Coming,” she called out.

  Swinging the door open with a welcoming grin on her face, she found herself face to face with Ben, an older couple who looked vaguely familiar from Ava’s wedding, and a face she’d never forget—Michelle Floyd.

  Michelle was tall, with long, silky black hair that curled perfectly in all the right places. She wore jeans that looked like they were painted on and a crisp white button down shirt with one button too many undone for Holly’s taste. The white of her shirt matched the white of her teeth perfectly, which appeared even brighter with her impeccably painted red lips. No matter how many times Holly tried to wear red lipstick, she was never able to pull it off. This woman, however, managed it like a pro.

  “Oh,” she said, realizing it wasn’t the most polite thing to say to guests coming to her parent’s home, but it was the only thing she could manage.

  Rushing to the door, Patricia ushered them in past Holly who was frozen in her spot. “Welcome. We’re so glad you could stop over.”

  Ben smiled at Holly with kind eyes as he walked by, while Michelle barely looked at her.

  “Girls,” their mother began, “this is Shelley and Ed Oakes, their son Ben, and his girlfriend, um … I’m sorry, tell me your name again.”

  “Michelle,” she said, with a tone making it sound as if she received the greatest insult of her life.

  “Yes, his girlfriend, Michelle,” Patricia continued, either pretending not to notice her rude attitude or not care … perhaps both.

  “The Oakes’ are Max’s cousins. I thought it would be nice to have them over since we’re practically family now, and Sunday is family dinner night. Isn’t it funny? All these years in Forest Hills together, and we never ran into each other. These are my girls, Tessa and Holly.”

  Holly and Ben looked at each other and smiled. She wondered how long it would take their parents to figure out they went to the Soph Hop together in high school.

  “We met Ben at Ava’s wedding,” Tessa offered.

  “Oh, did you?” Patricia asked.

  “Yes,” Holly said. She tried not to sound too thrown off. Her heart raced as he continued to smile at her. “It’s nice to see you again.” As if in a trance, she continued to gaze into his eyes for a brief moment, forgetting everyone else around her … until she felt the tug of Jared’s hand.

  “This is my boyfriend, Jared,” she introduced. “I don’t think you had a chance to meet at the wedding.”

  “No,” Ben said, holding his arm out. “I don’t believe we did.”

  Well, that’s because he was already three sheets to the wind, she thought to herself. Of course, Ben already knew about Jared’s embarrassing behavior that evening. Thankfully, he was discreet enough not to mention it.

  “Nice to meet you,” he said, shaking Ben’s hand.

  “It’s nice to meet you also, Mr. and Mrs. Oakes,” Holly added, “and hello, Michelle.”

  Michelle silently nodded and stood to the side while the rest of the guests said their hellos and made small talk. Holly and Tessa discreetly cleared away the dishes, leaving just her and Jared’s half eaten meals.

  “Please … sit,” Patricia finally offered when the table appeared presentable.

  Clearing her throat with an obnoxious and loud sound, Michelle continued to stand as everyone else took their seats.

  “Right,” Ben said, standing back up, looking defeated. “I’m sorry to be rude, but I’m afraid we have to run already.”

  Holly’s mother stood up again. “It’s no problem, Ben. Your mom told me earlier you’d only be stopping in for a few minutes. She said you were going to a concert or something?”

  “That’s right. A band I like is playing at Farrell’s Pub,” Michelle said. Turning the corners of her lips up, she stared directly at Jared, bypassing Holly along the way. “You should come with us. You’d like them.” Tilting her head, she wrapped a strand of her hair around her finger as she continued to stare at him.

  Holly glared at her. How would she know what Jared likes?

  “Thanks,” Holly said, letting Michelle know that whatever invitation she extended to her boyfriend would also include herself. “But we just got here. We haven’t even finished dinner.”

  “Aw, come on, Hol,” Jared said, keeping his eyes on Michelle a moment longer than he should have before switching his attention back to his girlfriend. “It sounds fun. I don’t think your parents would mind. Would you?” He glanced over to Patricia who only shook her head. “Besides, we need to celebrate.”

  Holly turned to her mother to try to get a read on the situation, but was unable to make eye contact. She sighed. “Are you sure it’s okay, Mom? Dad?”

  “Oh, it’s fine,” Bob said. “You don’t need to hang out here with us old folks. Go and have fun.”

  “Well, in that case,” Tessa said, getting up. “Would you two mind dropping me off at a party on your way out?”

  Holly glared at Michelle again. In less than five minutes flat she’d managed to ruin her parent’s family visit. She couldn’t help but notice Ben didn’t look happy about her actions either.

  Chapter 17

  Holly and Jared dropped Tessa off and headed over to Farrell’s Pub, which was surprisingly crowded for a Sunday. Most of the tables were filled, and the band had already started. Country. Jared hated country music. He was a rock ’n’ roll guy through and through. Holly spotted Ben and Michelle in a corner U-shaped booth toward the back of the room.

  “Sorry it took us so long, traffic was horrible,” Holly said, as she walked up to them.

  Ben stood as they arrived, but Michelle stayed in her seat, sipping some sort of fancy bottled water.

  “It’s no problem,” he said. “I hope you don’t mind, we ordered drinks for ourselves already.”

  He signaled for the waitress to come back around as Jared slid into the booth on the other side of Michelle, leaving Holly to sit on the end, directly across from Ben.

  “Michelle,” Ben started, “I forgot to mention Holly also went to high school with us. Do you remember her?”

  “Holly? Hmm … no, I don’t think so,” Michelle stated, her tone making it clear she must not have been important enough to remember. She turned toward Jared and smiled. “And I know you weren’t there. I would have remembered you.”

  He shook his head, eyes glued to her. “No, I didn’t grow up in Forest Hills.”

  “Too bad,” she said, curling her lips back.

  Holly reached for his hand.

  “Anyway,” Michelle continued, switching back to Holly. “I mostly hung out with upper classmen or college kids. I found most of the kids in our class to be … I don’t know … ordinary.”

  Holly looked at Michelle and had to resist the urge to roll her eyes. She tried to shake it off.

  Ben turned his head toward his girlfriend. “If I recall, you had plenty of friends in our class.”

  Holly opened her eyes wide. Did that mean what she thought it meant?

  “Oh sweetie, I didn’t mean it like that,” Michelle cooed, running her hand seductively across his chest. “You know I had a crush on you from the minute I s
aw you in English class.”

  Yeah right. You didn’t even know he existed. You were too busy hooking up with the football team … and the basketball team.

  “We never actually dated in high school. Or even spoke, really—” Ben started to tell the Holly, taking Michelle’s hand off his chest and placing it back in her lap.

  “But, thankfully, we found each other this summer,” Michelle said, finishing his sentence.

  When the waitress came by, Holly and Jared each ordered a beer and Michelle ordered another bottle of imported mineral water.

  “I don’t drink alcohol,” she explained.

  “So, Jared, I heard you mention you wanted to come out tonight to celebrate?” Ben asked.

  Smiling, Holly slid in closer to her boyfriend. “Jared was promoted today,” she announced, leaning into him.

  “Here, here!” Ben called, lifting his bottle up. “Congratulations. What kind of work do you do?”

  “As of today, I’m a Team Leader for the maintenance crew at Crestmont Memorial Hospital.”

  “Maintenance crew. That’s like, what, janitorial?” Michelle asked, wrinkling her nose in disdain.

  “No,” Jared said. That question used to bother him, but he’d been asked it so many times now, he automatically responded with his standard answer. “I’m in operations. We work on special projects, plus make sure all the hospital equipment is up to code and functioning properly.”

  It may not have bothered him, but it bothered Holly. Not the question itself, but the way Michelle had asked it. Just because she was some high-powered executive didn’t give her the right to peer down her snooty nose at everyone else. What did Ben see in her anyway?

  “Can’t have a hospital with shoddy equipment, that’s for sure,” Ben stated. “They’re lucky to have you leading their team.”