Chapter 2 #2
“Oh. Rats.” Sighing, she seemed to search for something to say—or a way to salvage this plan. When she let out another soft gasp and her face lit up, he knew she’d figured something out. “Okay, please don’t think I’m being too forward, but…can I please come to your house and snoop around?”
“You want to come to my house and…”
“Snoop. Yes. I’d like to come over and snoop around and see if I can find the decorations. If everything was the same every year, it’s possible it’s all in storage somewhere in your house.” She paused again. “Do you still live in the house where the party is?”
“There’s a guesthouse that I’m currently living in. I had planned on buying a home last year but kept getting outbid. After the fourth one, I just announced that I was taking the guesthouse and no one had an issue with it.”
“Oh, well, that was very nice.”
“My siblings didn’t think so.”
“Siblings? Oh! That’s right! You have two older sisters. Anna lives up in Maine with her husband and two kids, and Katherine and her family are in Portland. Oregon, not Maine. Wow, you guys are really scattered!”
“We are. My sisters typically come home for Christmas, but I don’t think that’s going to happen this year.”
“That’s just sad, Lucas. Have you talked to them about the divorce? Have the three of you talked to your parents and let them know how you feel?”
He laughed softly. “That’s not how things are done in our family. We don’t really talk about feelings.”
Her slender shoulders sagged. “And that’s even sadder! You guys need to do everything you can to get your parents back together! Whatever their issue is, they can work it out! They’ve been married for so long; they can’t just throw it all away!”
It was crazy that she was this passionate about his parents. They were nothing more than her boss and his wife. Why was she more emotional about this than he and his sisters were?
“Holly, we’re fine. Really. These things happen. It’s not fun and things are going to be messy for a while, but eventually we’ll all adjust to the new normal.”
The sound she made sounded a bit like a snort of derision, but he didn’t comment on it.
However…
“Look, I appreciate all the work you did today and the fact that you wanted to make this work. But without the actual team of professionals my mother always used, it’s just not going to be the same. I think we need to accept the fact that we tried and it didn’t work out.”
And for the first time in all the years he’d known her, Holly Brown looked angry. The way she was glaring at him spoke volumes.
She wasn’t going to accept defeat.
Dammit.
“Holly…”
“No,” she said adamantly, jumping to her feet. “I understand that maybe you’re overwhelmed or maybe you just don’t care about this party the way the rest of us do, but we need this. We all need this! And to be honest, I think you need it more than anyone.”
“Me?” he asked incredulously. “How do you figure that?”
“Lennon said you have no holiday spirit and are even a little depressed. He thinks this party is going to be good for you—especially helping with the planning—and I have to agree.”
He was going to strangle Lennon when he saw him.
“Okay, first, Lennon had no right to tell you about that. I shared that with him in confidence.”
“He’s just worried about you. And now I am too.” She stepped close to the desk, resting her hands on it. “Please, Lucas. It’s only Tuesday. Give me until Friday to make some more calls and see what I can do. I know I can get everything organized. Please.”
“You said everyone wasn’t available,” he argued lightly, but he already knew this was a losing battle.
“I will keep calling and I promise we will get everything we need and it will be exactly the same. And if I can’t get the people your mother worked with, I’ll find ones who are just as good, if not better!”
He knew when to wave the white flag, and this time it was in her favor.
“Fine, we can…”
“Oh, yay!” She jumped up and down, happily clapping her hands.
“This is going to be great! When can I come to the house? I’d love to do it sooner rather than later.
Are you busy tonight? I need to run home and feed my dog, but then I can pick up some takeout and come over. What do you say? Will that work?”
“I guess…?”
“Perfect! What should I pick up for us to eat? Burgers? Pizza? Sandwiches?”
“Why don’t I just take care of that so you’ll have one less thing to do. It sounds like you already have enough on your plate, so…I’ll take care of it. Just text me when you’re on your way over.”
Pausing, she blushed. “I don’t have your number.”
He pulled out his phone and handed it to her. “Put your number in and then I’ll text you so you have it.” Then he watched as she did it and gave him the phone back.
“I shouldn’t be too long. Shmoop is a fast eater and we’ll go for a quick walk and then I’ll be on my way.”
“I’m sorry, but…did you say Shmoop?”
She nodded. “Yup. He’s a miniature sheepadoodle—a mix between a miniature poodle and an Old English sheepdog. He looks just like Snoopy—you know, the cartoon dog? Anyway, giving him the same name was too obvious, so I put my own spin on it. So he’s Shmoop.”
“And he’s home alone all day and then you’re going to leave him alone while you come over?” Lucas had always wanted a dog, but with his long work hours, it didn’t seem fair to get one and then leave him alone all day.
“Oh, my parents live right around the corner and my mother goes over multiple times a day and takes him on walks. She’s trying to be more active and she says the walks are really for both of them.
They’re kind of adorable together.” She nibbled her lip for a moment.
“Hmm…would you mind if I brought him with me? He’s really good, no trouble at all.
You won’t even know he’s there! We can let him play in the yard.
And don’t worry, he’s not a digger, so he won’t destroy anything outside either. ”
“That’s fine. If you’re sure he’ll be okay, then sure. Why not?”
“If you’re not really okay with it, I’m sure I can ask my mom to go over again. I think it’s her line dancing class night, but maybe she can go before and after. Hmm…”
“Holly, it’s fine. Really. Go home and do what you have to do and just text me when you’re on your way.”
She didn’t look fully convinced.
“Is pizza okay with you for dinner?” he asked instead of continuing with the dog conversation.
Smiling, she nodded. “I love it! Pepperoni and extra cheese please!”
Her enthusiasm was contagious, and he felt himself smiling broadly. “You got it. Now go and do all the things and I’ll see you and…” He paused and mentally rolled his eyes. “…Shmoop in a little while.”
“Thanks again, Lucas! We’re going to make this the best holiday party yet! You won’t regret this! I promise!”
He watched her walk out of his office and, for some reason, he felt marginally optimistic.
Which was an entirely new feeling for him.