Chapter 9 - Holly Snow
“ I ’m being ridiculous,” I tell Bridgett, wiping my eyes as she leads me to their awaiting car. “It’s just that everything hit me all at once.”
“You’re not being ridiculous. You’ve got a lot of things going on. If anything, I should be apologizing for putting so much pressure on you to plan a wedding with such short notice. And at Christmastime no less.”
“I promise, we’ll figure something out.”
“Not today. Today I’m taking you home and you’re going to shower, change out of these nasty two-day clothes and into some sweatpants, and take a nice long nap. And when you wake up... I want every last detail about how, out of all the men I saw moseying around the lobby, you ended up with him.”
I nod absentmindedly. A driver opens a door for us, but before I get in, I glance back to the tall building. Both looking for Sebastian and hoping that Kristian would follow. When neither of them appears; Bridgett peeks out from her seat inside. “They’re both staying for the medical conference. We can come back tomorrow, or later tonight, up to you, but you are taking a shower and changing those clothes.”
Nodding, I slide into the warm SUV and the driver pulls out onto the main road.
The snow hasn’t melted, so the streets are still slick, evident by the wheels spinning before they find purchase and we accelerate forward. Kristian was right. It wouldn’t have been safe.
On a long sigh, I lean my head against the window, wondering if what he did really was that big of a deal. Surely, he gets women all the time wanting to hook up with him just because he’s a doctor. He was essentially protecting himself. But was that truly it? Or was he trying to protect me too?
“Am I weak?” I ask my friend, while still looking out the window.
She reaches for my hand, and I meet her sympathetic stare. “You, my friend, are the strongest person I know. What you’ve been through.” She shakes her head. “No one should have to experience that. I’m going to be blunt here because I think you need to hear it. Wear that mark proudly. Sure, it’s from a freak accident but you survived, Holly. Every new day you wake up is a gift, shall I be so brave as to say a Christmas gift?” She gives me a wink. “Don’t waste what you’ve been given by not being the person you were before, or better.”
Emotion stings the back of my eyes once again. And as much as I hate to admit it, she's right. I haven’t been the same since. Images of that day tease the back of my mind and instead of pushing them away like I've done so many times before, I let them flow.
It’s Christmas Eve and nearing closing time. This is the last store I’m checking, if they don’t have the viral, three-foot crystal reindeer with the twinkle lights embedded inside that put on a display like a disco show, then my assistant, Darla, will be getting a simple gift card.
Once inside, I head straight to the back. Surprisingly, there’s not many shoppers. Most were smart and either did their shopping online or did it months in advance. The reindeer hadn’t been available online, and after a video on social media showing how beautiful it was when it was lit up went viral, it couldn’t be found in stores either.
I’d heard a rumor though, some states still had them in stock, and Rhode Island was on the list. And I’ve already been to four stores within a two-hundred-mile radius.
Nearing the aisle of decorations, I realize why this store didn’t appear busy. Everyone is here looking for the same thing as me. When someone does get one their excitement comes in the form of a high-pitched squeal and they practically skip to the cashier.
I have no intention of leaving empty-handed and instead elbow my way through husbands, sisters, mothers, housewives, and even teenagers. Yeah, it’s that cool.
Unfortunately, when I reach the shelf, there’s only one left.
The display on the top of the rack. And no one has thought to grab it yet.
Shoulders bump into me as a disagreement about who had their hands on one of the boxes from the shelf first draws the attention of the crowd. Allowing me the opportunity to climb the shelf like a ladder.
I reach for the leg of the deer and tug, but it doesn’t budge. The shelf is designed for weight distributed evenly, not how I’m using it, and it wobbles a little. I steady myself and place my foot on the next level.
There’s a zip tie on every foot of the deer. Fumbling through my purse, I grab a pair of nail clippers and snap three of them.
“Hey, you’re not supposed to be up there,” someone shouts. A round of gasps and ohs follow but I don’t acknowledge any of them. I clip the last tie.
Not thinking of how heavy it might be, I grab one of the legs and hold it in the air, intent on celebrating my achievement with those below.
The gasps from the crowd are the last thing I remember.
Next thing I know, I’m in a hospital bed attached to all kinds of wires with a splitting headache and a bandage that covers half my face, the whole left side of my neck, and some of my shoulder.
Voices and sights are still fuzzy. A nurse fusses over me for a bit before talking to someone in the distance, and a short time later the most handsome man I’ve ever seen appears. His blue scrubs match his soul-piercing, ice-blue eyes perfectly. And although his lips are moving, I’ve no idea what he’s saying.
“I had forgotten,” I mutter.
“Forgotten what?” Bridgett asks from beside me, still holding my hand.
“When did you say the conference was?” I ask with a little more enthusiasm than I’d intended.
Sensing my excitement, a wide smile brightens her face, “That’s the Holly I know. Thursday and Friday. Why, what do you have up your sleeve?”
“I’ll tell you more when we get home. Do you still have that strapless black number?”
Her brows lift with curiosity. “You really are going all out, aren’t you?”
Damn right, I am.
“Meet the new and improved Holly.”