I pulled into the driveway and smiled at the familiar surroundings. There was something so comforting about a place that hadn’t changed much in all these years. It felt comforting, almost like my mother was still around and had just enveloped me in a massive bear hug. I sat in the car for a while, just staring at the house I’d grown up in and gazing out down the street at the row of houses that also seemed to have been stuck in some sort of time warp. I thought immediately of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz as she tapped her red shoes together. Close your eyes and tap your heels together three times. And think to yourself, there’s no place like home
I looked down and laughed when I saw that I was actually wearing red shoes that day. I’d bought the red sneakers on a whim the day I’d quit my job. I walked out the office, and on the way home, I drove past the shopping mall and decided to go in. When was the last time I had gone shopping on a Monday morning? When was the last time that I’d treated myself to a delicious cappuccino and a slice of chocolate cake? Those were thoughts I'd had when I walked into the mall. I had felt giddy as I walked in, and after a delicious chocolate treat, I’d walked past a store and seen these red shoes in the window. I’d walked straight in and purchased them without even looking at the tag. Perhaps not something that someone without a job should be doing, but it felt good to finally do something for myself. Now here I was, back home, and tapping my red shoes.
I was so lost in thought that I almost didn’t see my father, standing at the door and watching me. I chuckled, got out the car and sprinted towards him.
“Aw, Holly, it’s so good to see you,” he said.
“It’s so good to see you too.”
“Why were you just sitting in the car like that?”
I laughed. “I was just looking at the house and thinking how nice it was to be home. I don’t know why I haven’t been in so long.”
“Come on, let me make you some tea. I’ve already put the kettle on, and I have a whole tub of shortbread cookies just waiting to be devoured. We can worry about your bags later.”
I smiled and followed my father inside. I breathed in deeply as I walked inside. Even the smell of the house hadn’t changed. Neither had the décor. My father had never been all that good when it came to interior design. My stepmother had been the one that had transformed the place into something more stylish. All the good things in the house could still be attributed to her. But bits and pieces of my father's influence were now slowly seeping back into the room, and it was definitely not an improvement. Yet, despite his poor choices, I liked being surrounded by a room that felt so much like my father. I liked that things didn’t match. I sat down in the living room and waited for my father to return. He came back moments later with a tray of tea and a plate of cookies. I’d always loved the way my father made tea, and no matter how many times I tried, I just couldn’t replicate it. I had a feeling it wasn’t the tea that was so great but the fact that it was made by him.
“This is great. Thanks, Dad.”
“My pleasure. You look so good, Holly. So grown up now,” he said. “I’m just so happy to have you here. It’s good that this place will have some life now.”
I smiled. It was good to be back, but it was only just starting to dawn on me that I would be living with my father again. I had a feeling that he was a bit more excited about this prospect than I was. It was good to be home, but living with him again made me think I was going backward instead of forwards in life. Nevertheless, I was grateful.
“It’s good to be back. And let me tell you, Dad, it was so good to walk out of the office that day. You would’ve been so proud of me. You were right. It just wasn’t worth it. I wasn’t happy there.”
“Good for you. When you get to my age, you start to realize what is important and what isn’t in life. And this is definitely one of those things you will always look back on and feel happy about. I wonder how they are faring without you?”
I chuckled. “I was wondering the same thing. I’m not exaggerating when I say that I basically did all the work in that place. I have a feeling they are regretting the way that they treated me now. I’m really pleased with myself for doing this. I should’ve stood up for myself a long time ago.”
“It’s not always as easy as people say it is, though. It’s easy for other people to tell you what to do, but actually standing up for yourself is difficult. I’m very proud of you. You’re young and intelligent, and you don’t need to be in a job where the people take advantage of you. You’ll see that moving was one of the best things you could’ve done for yourself. Now, let me go and get your bags.”
I stood up, but my dad waved me back down and told me that he could do it. I’d been renting a fully furnished apartment, so I didn’t actually have all that much stuff to bring. Still, it took my father three trips to bring all the bags in. He refused to let me help though, and put everything in the living room.
“Okay, is that it?”
“That’s it,” I said. “I can’t believe that all my life’s belongings fit in those bags.”
“Not necessarily. I’ve still got boxes of your stuff here.”
“Oh yeah, that’s true. I forgot about that.”
“Now, I’m going to be getting the garage ready for you. I’ll be working on it today. I’m sorry that it’s not ready for you, but hopefully, it won’t take longer than a few days. Xavier should be here soon, and we can get started.”
The name almost knocked the wind out of me.
“Xavier is coming?” I asked and wondered why my voice had come out so squeaky.
My father smiled. “He sure is. I was telling him the other day how surprised I am that the two of you didn’t stay in touch. You were always so close. I remember how well the two of you got along. He’s very excited to see you again. He has a few days off, so he offered to help, which is so kind of him. But then again, he always helps when I ask him to. He’s a good kid that one.”
“I didn’t realize that the two of you still saw each other.”
“Are you kidding me? He’s the only one that didn’t lose touch with me. I actually see him pretty often.”
I smiled. I had no idea that my father still saw him so often. The thought made me feel happy. I hated the idea of my father sitting at home all alone, so it was nice that he at least had some company. “That’s nice. Wow, it’s been so long. I’m looking forward to seeing him too.”
Just then we heard a motorcycle pull up and my father groaned. “That would be him. That bike makes so much noise. I always know when it’s him coming to visit. I don’t know why he always insists on driving it instead of his car.”
I chuckled. “Not much has changed then, huh.”
“Not much at all.”
Xavier had been like a big brother to me growing up, and I’d always felt so comfortable around him. Which is why it was so surprising to feel my heart pounding in my chest at the thought of seeing him again. I couldn’t believe how nervous I was. My father walked to the door and opened for him, and I heard his familiar voice booming through the house. His low, gravelly voice hadn’t changed and immediately sent shivers up and down my spine. When he walked in the door, I tried not to gasp and forced myself to smile instead. Xavier hadn’t changed at all. If anything, he’d only gotten more handsome. He was tall and muscular, with a mop of dark hair and dark green eyes. I’d always thought of him as the sort of man that would represent a bad boy in a teen movie. The one that all the girls wanted but couldn’t get. He was staring at me in surprise, and I wondered what he was thinking.
“Well, well, well, Xavier, as I live and breathe,” I said.
He laughed. “Little Holly. You’re all grown up.”
“It’s so good to see you again,” I said.
“Am I going to get a hug?”
“Of course you are!” I said and walked up to him. He enveloped me in a big hug, and I smiled at the feeling of his strong arms around me. I hadn’t had a hug like that in years, and it felt so good.
I tri
ed to ignore how excited I felt at being so close to him. I’d always had a slight crush on Xavier, although it was something I had never admitted to anyone. He had always been so nice to me, and he was too impossibly good looking not to notice. I’d been attracted to him for a long time, but I knew that if I told anyone, especially my father, I’d get into big trouble. He was my stepbrother and not someone that I should be having naughty thoughts about. I blushed at the amount of thoughts I’d had over the years involving him and me together and quickly pulled away.
“Well, uh, I hear you’re helping in the garage today?” I stammered and hoped he didn’t notice how nervous I seemed.
“I sure am,” he said and smiled. Unlike me, he didn’t seem nervous at all. He’d always been the most confident man I had ever known. Although, back then he was just a boy. I pushed away the thought of him as a man and quickly busied myself in the living room with my bags.
“Do you boys need help? Or do you mind if I hop into the shower quickly?”
“You go and shower, and come and join us when you’re done,” my father said.
I smiled again at the two of them and realized how good it felt to be around nice people for a change, and quickly ran upstairs to the shower so that they didn’t see how emotional I felt. As I climbed the steps, I wondered if Xavier was watching me. Of course, he wasn’t. I was Little Holly, his young and nerdy stepsister.
Chapter Seven
Xavier
I saw Holly’s car when I pulled up to the driveway. It was the same slightly rusted yellow Honda that I remembered once belonging to Rick. I hadn’t seen that car in a good long time, and a stream of memories came flooding to me as I looked at it.
Rick had driven me to school in that thing for a while. I remember how I used to be embarrassed by it because my best friend at the time had rich parents. Rick used to tell me that it didn’t matter what car someone drove or how much money was in their bank, but as a kid, it was hard to understand what he meant. It was funny to think that I was now looking at that car which such fondness. My younger self had no idea how lucky he was.
I felt nervous as I walked up the driveway. Little Holly. It was going to be good to see that sweet little smiling face again. I’d always thought she looked so much like an angel. She’d been teased ruthlessly growing up, but yet she always found a way to smile through the pain.
I knocked on the door and walked in, almost gasping when I saw the beautiful girl that was now standing in front of me. This was a very different Holly from the one that I had seen all those years ago. She stood tall now, her long blonde hair cascading around her face in small waves. There was still something awkward about her, but it only served to add intrigue to her older self. I always thought that she would one day grow up to be someone like this. Someone that was cut from a different cloth. Someone that made you want to stop and find out more about her. I realized I was staring and was glad when she spoke and broke the silence.
“Little Holly. You’re all grown up,” I said.
She smiled, and I took her into my arms for a big embrace. Why did her hair smell so good? A bit like lavender and something sweet. I was almost certain I hadn’t thought about how good she smelled when she was younger. I’d clearly been single for way too long. When she told me that she was about to go and take a shower, I groaned inwardly as a small shiver of excitement ran through me. I forced myself to get a grip. It wasn’t right to think of her in that way. No matter what, she was still my stepsister.
I looked at Rick. “All right, let’s get to work.”
Rick and I walked over to the garage to start working on the room. There were tons of boxes that needed to be cleared, and a paint job that needed to happen before she could move in.
“Darn, we should’ve done the paint job ages ago. Let’s try and get that out of the way today so that it has time to dry and air out before she moves in.”
“I know. I wish I’d had more notice. But I’m happy to work around it. I’m just glad she’s here. I cannot tell you how good it is to have my daughter back. I was very happy for her when she left, but you don’t ever really feel prepared for the day your daughter is all grown up and ready to leave the house. I still feel like I should baby her, if you know what I mean.”
I did actually understand what he was saying. I still thought of Holly as a little girl that needed saving from the rest of the world. Even though I could see that she was no longer that girl anymore, it was hard to suddenly change my point of view. I could imagine that it was even harder for Rick who had been with her since she was born.
“Yeah, she’s all grown up now. But I’m sure she won’t mind being with her father again. She seems happy to be here.”
“You think?” Rick asked.
“Oh yeah. Everyone loves being home.”
We began working on the walls, giving them a fresh coat of paint to bring the garage alive again. Holly walked in a little while later and then burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?” I said.
“I didn’t realize you guys were painting. I shouldn’t have showered!”
“You don’t have to help with the painting, my girl; you can just sit and relax and keep us company,” Rick told her.
Holly shook her head. “No way. I’m not going to let you do all the work. I’m going to help. I don’t really care if I get paint on me anyway. They’re just clothes,” she said and chuckled.
I’d always liked that about Holly. She wasn’t as into looks or fashion as some of the other girls I knew. She’d always loved working hard and never once complained. I was glad to see that this part of her personality had not changed. She walked straight over to pick up a bucket and a roller and immediately started painting with us. The mood immediately shifted, as the three of us began talking and laughing like old times. No wonder Rick was so happy to have his daughter back; she was like a breath of fresh air in this place. She was the fresh paint on a dull and forgotten area.
“Look at the time,” Rick said. “I’m starving. How about I go and make some lunch for us all?”
“Sounds great. Just call us when it’s ready. We’ll work until then,” Holly said. “We’re going through this so fast.”
“Okay, I’ll be back,” Rick said and walked off.
The moment he was gone, Holly looked at me and chuckled. “I think he just wanted a break.”
“I don’t blame him,” I said. “This is harder work than I thought it was going to be. I’m glad there are three of us.”
“Are you telling me that this is harder than fighting fires?”
“Well, it’s kind of monotonous.”
“Is my company that bad?” she teased.
I laughed. “No, that’s the only fun part about this whole thing. I get to catch up with my old friend.”
“Little Holly,” she said.
I smiled. “Not so little anymore.”
“Excuse me? Xavier, are you calling me fat?”
I looked up and down her slim body and chuckled. “You could never be fat.”
I thought I saw her blushing, but she quickly looked away to carry on with the painting, so I wasn’t too sure. “It’s good to see you again. I can’t believe it’s been so long. I remember when we were younger, and the adults used to tell us that time goes faster when you get older. I didn’t believe them. But they’re right. The days just seem to pass by without me noticing them.”
I nodded. “Tell me about it. I get shocked every time I pass a mirror now.” It wasn’t entirely false. Time was going quickly, and I didn’t look the same as I did the last time that she had seen me. I briefly wondered if she thought I looked better or worse, and then wondered why it mattered.
She chuckled. “Yeah, you are looking a bit old.”
“What? No, I’m not!” I said, absolutely horrified for some reason.
“I’m just kidding. I meant to say that you’re looking . . . wise.”
“Aw, that’s more like it. So, quit your job, eh? That must’ve felt go
od.”
She let out a big sigh of contentment. “Oh yeah. Best feeling ever. They were horrible there. Really horrible. Not the nicest place. Pity, because the work was great. But yeah, it’s good to be home. And it really is good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too. Why didn’t we keep in touch?”
“Good question. I’ve been asking myself the same thing. What’s wrong with us? Who knew we were so hopeless at staying in touch.”
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault,” she said. “I’ve been so consumed with work.”
“It’s not just you. Trust me; I’m the worst. It’s easy when someone is close, and you can just pop in for a drink. But the long-distance thing makes it hard.”
“Still riding your motorcycle, I see. Glad to see some things haven’t changed. Are you still racing around like a maniac?”
“A maniac?”
She laughed. “Oh come on, you were always a speedster. You love that feeling of adrenaline the bike gives you. You told me before!”
What Holly didn’t know was that I now held a DWI because of that thrill I got from an adrenaline rush. She didn’t know that I now had to drive slowly and carefully and not get into any trouble. She didn’t know that my life had become a lot quieter because of it.
“I’m still riding,” I said. “And how about you? Are you still scared of them?”
“Since when am I scared of bikes?”
“I tried to get you to ride with me once, but you wouldn’t.”
“Ah, but I was so young. And my friend’s dad had just been in an accident, remember? It was all I could think about. I used to hate you going on that thing just in case it happened to you.”
Dirty Stepbrother - A Firefighter Romance (The Maxwell Family) Page 4