Page 41 of Three Days of Holiday

Then someone shoved her head to the side, and a second one pushed out the window. This face smiled as she stared at my freezing form covered in a black peacoat that was not enough to stop the Pelican Bay chill from seeping through the fabric.

Her sister Hope nodded and smiled, giving me a thumbs up on the other side of her head so Holly wouldn’t see.

At least one of the Hallidays was excited about my visit. Holly continued to frown, her eyes slightly red, and I worried I’d put those tears in her eyes.

“Now is not a good time, Will.” She pulled back from the window.

I asked my question as quickly as possible to stop her. “When would be?”

“Never,” she said so softly the breeze almost stole it.

Her sister’s eyes widened, and she raised a hand, trying to shush her by covering her mouth. “She lies. Holly is a dirty liar. She’ll be right down. Meet us at the back door.”

I wasn’t far from the back, so I took my time, hoping Holly listened to her sister and met us. I walked slow so if they left me standing at the back door forever, it wouldn’t take as long to devastate me.

Thankfully, they didn’t keep me waiting forever. A few seconds after I made it to the back step, unsure if I should climb the stairs, the door opened and the two women stepped out onto the porch.

Holly wore thick fleece pajamas with pizza slices on her bottoms and ice cream cones on a button-up top. It was the most ridiculous and gorgeous ensemble I’d ever seen on anyone, and I wanted her wearing it in bed beside me every night. She turned on her sister and the two of them slapped hands a few times.

“Look at him, Holly,” Hope said, pointing at me.

I put on my best wide-eyed “why don’t you love me” expression. At least that’s what I shot for.

“He risked his life to come here. The least you can do is hear him out.”

Risked my life?

Did I really?

If so, it was worth it.

I smiled up at the two sisters as they took positions on the porch against one another. I wasn’t super excited about the fact she believed I risked my life to come here, but if Hope got Holly out the door, I’d buy both sisters something lavish.

Holly didn’t appear to appreciate her sister’s rousing endorsement of me. She leveled a heavy stare at her sister. “You knew?”

Hope leaned back as Holly hit her and put her hand on her chest in dismay. “Me? No. I’d never conspire withthe enemy.” She used that moment to push Holly closer to the porch steps, and I met her there with my hand outstretched. The decision was literally in her hands now.

She hesitated, her fingers so close I could’ve reached out and grabbed them, but I wanted her to make the choice on her own. “I can’t go out looking like this,” she motioned to her outfit.

“Holly, I don’t care what you look like. You could wear a potato sack and you’d still be the most gorgeous woman on the planet.”

Hope swooned behind her sister, leaning up against the farmhouse and fanning her face. “Just do whatever he says,” she whispered super loudly.

Yes, Hope was definitely getting a big Christmas gift. “I parked with the general population visiting Santa. I can sneak you out now and no one will be the wiser.”

She looked at her outfit one last time. “Okay, I guess it’s better than that elf costume.”

Elf costume? I’d definitely have questions about that later, but there wasn’t time at the moment.

Holly placed her hand in mine, and I squeezed tightly, almost pulling her down the three steps on the porch and wrapping her in my arms. I gave a quick wave to her sister and then led her down the outskirts of her yard, walking toward the country lot.

On the very far edge, a white truck with the county seal on the bed parked at the end of a row. I took two moments and prayed to God that my father hadn’t called the county inspector on Oceanview Orchards again. Some things I’d just never be able to come back from, and I worried that might be one of them.

I walked Holly right to my car and made sure she buckled in because somewhere in my mind that made it harder for her to escape. We didn’t have far to go, but I liked the safety.

“Did you come here to gloat?” she asked as I backed out of my space.

I stopped, giving her my full attention. “Never.”

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