Checking Holly Twice, page 16
He pecked my mouth with his. “I’d like to do more than that, but I’m afraid the public nature of our adventure will make it impossible.”
14
Forest
If someone were to have told me I could fall in love in five days, I’d not have believed them. But my time with Holly had proven that to be true. I was in love. Head over hockey skates in love.
The day after our sledding adventure, we went into town for another skating date. Now we held hands as we glided around the rink. Overhead, Christmas music accompanied the sounds of children’s laughter and the swooshing of passing skaters. I was in my own world, one I shared with Holly, until I realized I hadn’t seen the children in at least fifteen minutes. I scanned the entire outdoor rink and found Dane with his friends. Ruby wasn’t with him. The group of girls I’d seen her with earlier were now standing in line at the popcorn machine. No Ruby.
“Do you see Ruby?” I asked, letting go of Holly’s hand.
She did as I’d just done and looked from one end of the rink to the other. “No. When was the last time you saw her?”
I pointed toward the popcorn machine. “With those girls, skating. Maybe fifteen minutes ago?” My chest tightened. How could I have lost track of her? What kind of parent was I?
“Let’s go look for her,” Holly said. “We can ask the security guy to help us.”
Jimmy Miller? Not the brightest man to walk the earth. I’d gone to high school with him. “Yeah, okay.”
We headed off the ice, clumsy on the blades of our skates. I called out to Dane. “Have you seen your sister?”
Dane rushed over to us. “She was with those girls a few minutes ago. Let’s ask them where she went.”
Dane, the calm in any storm. How an eight-year-old was this self-possessed, I’d never know.
We followed him over to the gathering of little girls. “Did anyone see Ruby leave?” Dane asked.
“I did.” The voice belonged to a berry-cheeked blonde with pigtails. “She went with a lady.”
“A fancy lady.” This was from a girl with a cap of brown curls. She pointed at Holly. “She looked like her, only old.”
Color drained from Holly’s face. She drew closer and spoke under her breath. “My mother. Jesus, it’s probably my mother. She’s taken Ruby.” The panic in her voice caused my heart to beat even faster than it had a moment before. Holly looked around wildly. “Where would they go?”
“Ice cream?” Dane pointed to the soda fountain adjacent to the rink where they served baked items and ice cream and sold local jams and honey. “Ruby can never say no to ice cream.”
“He’s probably right,” I said. “It’s worth a shot.”
“She won’t hurt Ruby,” Holly said as if trying to convince herself. “She probably just wants to pump her for information. And get their picture taken for the press.”
Holly did the penguin walk in her skates off the rink. A few steps later, her ankle twisted. She fell to the ground and cried out in obvious pain.
I rushed to her. “Are you okay?”
She grimaced. “I think it’s just a sprain. Nothing to worry about.”
“Let me help you,” I said.
“No, don’t wait for me. Go to the shop and see if Ruby’s there.” Holly spoke through gritted teeth. “Dane, stay here with me. I’ll take these off and join you in a second.”
“Help get her skates off,” I instructed Dane. “And get her shoes on.”
He nodded, already bent over her.
We’d stored our shoes in a bag and left it under one of the benches. I quickly changed into my boots and ran through the clumps of people on the side of the rink toward the ice cream shop. I hadn’t bothered to tie my boots and probably looked like an idiot as I rushed into the soda fountain. The scent of various kinds of sugared treats filled the air. People were lined up by the freezer where a dozen different types of ice cream waited in large tubs. Copious varieties of candy lined the other wall. I spotted Ruby right away, sitting in a booth at the back, happily stuffing herself with a hot fudge sundae.
“Ruby?” I said her name louder than I’d intended. She jumped at the sound. The blonde woman she was sitting across from turned her head. A delighted smile broke out on her face. Not wanting to make a scene, I shook off my anger and walked the rest of the way to their table.
“Hi, Uncle Forest.” She looked up at me with the eyes of the innocent.
“Why did you leave the rink without permission?” I asked gruffly, fueled by the adrenaline of my fear.
“Holly’s mom told me you said it was all right.” Tears filled Ruby’s eyes.
I would address that later. Right now, it was time to unleash on our narcissistic kidnapper. “You’re in violation of a whole load of crap right now, including taking a child without permission. Holly doesn’t want you anywhere near her, and I sure as hell don’t want you taking my kid.”
Holly’s mother looked a lot like her. They shared the same blond hair and brown eyes. She wore her hair shorter, and wrinkles and sunspots gave away her age, but there was no question they were related. She stood and held out her hand. “I’m Susan Turner. Forest, I presume?”
“How do you know?”
“You’ve been all over the press,” she said.
I felt my mouth drop open before setting my teeth together. “What are you talking about?”
“There have been photographs of the two of you together. It didn’t take long to figure out who you were.”
“What do you want?” My mind reeled with this information. I’d not realized anyone had photographed us. Who? It had to be someone local.
“I’m here to make sure Holly’s all right. It’s not like her to take off like this. Although, after what she went through, who can blame her.” She squinted, clearly sizing me up and finding me lacking, given the deep sigh that came from her. “You may not realize how unstable she is. How she needs watching over.”
“I’m watching over her just fine.” My hands twitched at my sides. I’d really have liked to throttle her.
“You may think so, but you don’t really understand her world or what she needs.”
“You may know her world, but you don’t know what she needs.” I drew closer to her face, hoping to intimidate her. “You never have. Isn’t your estrangement enough proof of that?”
“Young man, I don’t know who you think you are telling me anything about my daughter. You haven’t even known her a week. I sacrificed my entire life for her, only to be thrown to the wolves.” Her mouth actually curved downward in a frown.
“Give me a break,” I said. Seeing her in the flesh told me how hard it was for her to stomach the idea of her daughter’s fame and talent. She wanted to be the one everyone wished to photograph and follow into the woods of Canada just for the inside scoop. Although she was a slight, wispy person, she appeared heavy and desperate with the need for attention. Like a bee heavy with pollen, I thought. The weight of wishing for someone else’s life other than one’s own crushed her. In her view, she’d spent her life pollinating her daughter only to be left out of the beehouse.
I glanced over at Ruby. She had smears of chocolate sauce on the corners of her mouth and was now sliding her finger across the bottom of the bowl to get the last of the treat. As much as I hated it, she would have to be punished for walking away with a stranger and then accepting an ice cream sundae. I clearly hadn’t done a good job of teaching her to be distrustful of strangers. This was the problem with living in a small town where you’d spent most of your life. I’d assumed I knew everyone, and everyone knew me. I was wrong on two counts today. Someone in this town had sold photographs to the press, and my Ruby had been lured in by a stranger with the promise of sweets.
“Go wash your hands and face,” I said to Ruby. “Then come right back to me.”
“Okay, Uncle Forest.” Ruby slid out of the booth and trudged toward the restroom as if she were going to the firing squad.
“Why did you take Ruby?” I asked quietly. “What purpose did she serve?”
“I wanted to get to know her. That’s all.” Ms. Turner glared at me as if I’d mortally offended her by daring to ask why she’d kidnapped my child. She probably told so many lies that she began to believe they were true.
I heard the shop’s front doorbell chime and turned to see Holly charging into the room. She stomped over to us, favoring one ankle. Dane wasn’t with her. She’d most likely left him with his friends, which was probably for the best. No need for him to witness this too. “Mom, what in God’s name are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to see my daughter during the holidays.” Ms. Turner stuck out her bottom lip and fluttered her eyelashes in a mock demonstration of innocence.
Holly drew closer to her mother and spoke barely moving her mouth. “You know our agreement.”
“I do, but this was an emergency. There’s something I have to discuss with you. It couldn’t wait.”
The soda fountain was packed with patrons, all of whom were doing their best to pretend they weren’t watching and listening. They were not good actors.
“Let’s take this somewhere else.” I picked up Ruby’s jacket from the booth just as Ruby came out of the bathroom and headed our way. “Ruby, let’s go.”
She came to me. I picked her up and she wrapped her legs around me. “I’m sorry, Uncle Forest.”
“It’s all right,” I said. “But you will have to be punished.”
“I know.” Ruby took in a shaky breath. “Holly, are you mad at me too?”
“I could never be mad at you,” Holly said. “But I was scared when we couldn’t find you.”
“I hate being scared,” Ruby said. “Holly, I’m sorry I made you look for me.”
“It’s all right, sweetie,” Holly said. “My mother shouldn’t have asked you to join her for ice cream.”
“I hope the sundae was worth it,” I said as we headed toward the door.
“I liked it then, but I don’t like to be in trouble.” She nestled her sweet-smelling self into my neck. I carried her out of the shop and onto the street. “I’ll be good the whole rest of my life.”
I chuckled under my breath. “I don’t think that’s a good promise to make.”
Snow had begun to fall while we were inside and had already covered the shoveled sidewalks in a lacy blanket. Ms. Turner shivered in her light jacket. I glanced at her feet. She wore high-heeled boots that rose up to her thighs. She was sure to slip and fall, and then Holly would feel obligated to take care of her.
“Ms. Turner, you might consider buying a pair of more practical boots for your stay here,” I said. “Those things are not going to do.”
“I’m not planning on staying long,” Ms. Turner said. “I came up to talk to my daughter about something very important.”
“Where are you staying, Mom?” Holly’s entire demeanor had changed. Her usually animated face had dulled. There was a listless slump to her shoulders. Even her eyes had lost their glimmer.
“I have a room at the inn here in town,” Ms. Turner said. “I assumed you wouldn’t allow me to stay with you.”
“You assumed right.” Holly put her hand on my forearm. “Would you mind if I went back to the inn with my mother? You could pick me up in thirty minutes?”
“Of course,” I said. “Ruby and I will go back to skate for a few more minutes and pick you up whenever you’re ready.”
“Thirty minutes? That’s all you can spare me?” Ms. Turner asked.
“Take it or leave it,” Holly said.
“Fine.” Ms. Turner wrapped her arms around her waist, clearly cold.
“Do you have a car?” Holly asked.
Ms. Turner pointed toward the parking lot. “My driver’s waiting for us.”
Holly squeezed my hand and gave Ruby a peck on the cheek. “Dane’s with his friends. Rocky’s mother’s watching out for him. I’ll see you in a bit.” She turned to her mother. “You better hold on to me, or you’ll fall and hurt yourself.”
“And you want me out of here as soon as possible,” Ms. Turner said. “I know.”
“Damn straight,” Holly said.
15
Holly
The inn where my mother had rented a room was quaint and old-fashioned with dark trim and antique chairs in the lobby. We took the elevator up to the third floor in silence. I was still fuming and wanted to lash out at her but knew from my past experiences—so many of them—that staying calm was the only way to keep the entire thing from escalating to an unhealthy screaming match. My mother loved it when I engaged on an emotional level. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
Her room was small with no evidence of her presence other than an unopened suitcase by the window. She’d only just checked in, I figured. Was it just yesterday that she’d been on television? It seemed like a hundred years ago already. The longer I stayed in Garland Grove, the more it felt as though my old life was only in my imagination. Here, with the relaxed pace of everything and the company of Forest and his children, I’d transformed from the jittery, stressed woman to one who until this very moment had been calm and in control. Now, however, I wanted to smash things. Not a good idea.
Instead, I sat in one of the armchairs by the window. For a moment, I focused on the flakes as they traveled to the ground. Breathe, I thought. Center myself as I’d been trained to do as an actress before the camera rolls. My mother could not hurt me. Not really. She could damage my reputation in the world, but did it matter that much? All that had seemed to just a few days ago. Now, though? Now I could see a life without all the nonsense and trappings of fame. I could just be me and that could be enough. Who knew?
“Mother, what do you want?” Cut right to it. Get whatever it was she wanted out of the way so that I could get back to Forest and the kids.
“I’ve been offered an opportunity. One I don’t want to pass up.”
“And?” That was the reason she was here. It was probably the reason she’d gone to so much trouble to flush me out of the woods. She wanted to do something that was outside of our agreement.
“It’s a reality television show. Kind of like one of those housewife shows, only this features mothers of famous people.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. You want to do a reality show?”
Her eyes lit up. “I’d be on camera. There will be wardrobe and makeup and hair. All the treatments usually reserved for only you.”
“But why do they want you? To talk about me? To have peeks into our relationship? Which violates our agreement.”
“I knew you’d say that.” She sat on the end of the bed. “However, my agent says—”
I interrupted her. “You have an agent?”
“Only because I needed one after the producers contacted me,” Mom said.
“Go on.” I bit the inside of my lip to keep myself from shouting at her.
“My agent negotiated with them, and they’ve agreed that I won’t talk about you and they won’t ask you for interviews or whatever. Absolutely nothing will involve you.”
“Why would you want to do this? They don’t even pay well.”
She blinked her heavily made-up eyes. “Why? How can you of all people ask me why? I’m the one who wanted an acting career. Not you, obviously, by the insane stuff you’ve been doing for all the world to see.”
“I’m quite aware that all you’ve ever wanted was to be famous.”
“Not famous. An actress. On television.” She got up from the bed and turned on the gas fireplace. “I gave you everything. Can’t it be my turn for once?”
“You need me to sign off on it?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes.” She went over to a leather bag on the desk and unzipped a side pocket. “I have paperwork.” She thrust several pieces of a legal document onto my lap. “You can have Marge look over it if you want. She can let my agent know if she wants any changes. They can work it out between them and leave us out of it. I’m going home as soon as I can.” She shivered. “It’s ridiculously cold here.”
“Mom, do you really think you can do this show without talking about me?” What other reason would they want her for?
She sat on the edge of the other armchair. “This is the last thing I’ll ask you for, I promise. Please, let me have this.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “After all I did for you, this is the least you can do. It’s my chance.”
For a moment I saw the little girl from the trailer park peering back at me from those glimmering eyes. She’d pushed me into show business for herself. But who could blame her really? She’d had nothing to build a secure financial future on but me. When she saw my talent and appearance, she’d seized the opportunity. She’d wanted out of the circular nature of poverty, and she’d done it. In the process, I’d found work I loved. Work they paid handsomely for. What harm would it cause to give her this?
“Okay, I’ll take a look and sign it if Marge thinks it’s all right.”
She clapped her hands together. “Really? Oh, honey, thank you.”
For a second, I saw a hint of the woman I’d wished she was—happy and engaged instead of the endless striving and manipulation. “You’re welcome. I hope you won’t make me regret it.” With the contract in my hands, I got up from the chair and headed for the door.
“Holly?”
“Yeah?” At the doorway, I turned back to her.
“This Forest seems nice. Different from any of the others, but nice.”
“He is nice. Smart and fun, too. A great father to those children.” I hesitated for a second before asking her, “What do you mean by different from the others?”
“Ordinary instead of bigger than life. Maybe that’s what you need. You always like to be the star. There’s never space for anyone else in the room when you’re around.”
Why had I asked? If anyone wanted to be the star of every room it was her. Don’t engage, I reminded myself. Just walk away and get back to living.
