Chapter 14
14
Holly couldn’t have been truer to her word when it came to thinking about Giles’s offer. She thought about it as she walked back to the table with yet another bottle of champagne, and as everyone lavished their congratulations on Sienna and Giles. She thought about it as she made her way home and as she checked on Hope, fast asleep in Jamie’s house. And when she headed back to hers alone, it was the same thought rolling over and over in her head.
‘It’s really not that big a deal,’ she said, looking at Rhubarb as she spoke. The kitten had been sound asleep when Holly came home, but as soon as she had turned on the tap to get herself a glass of water, she had woken up and bounded across to her. Several minutes of fuss and strokes had followed, but now she was wrestling with one of Holly’s shoelaces. ‘It’s good news. It shows he’s grown up. Now, enough about that. What do you say we do some baking together? Not that you can eat any of it.’
While the cat continued to writhe about on the floor, Holly opened up the cupboards and scoured the contents. There was flour and sugar and she was bound to have some eggs somewhere. Baking felt like a natural thing to do, even though it was nearly midnight. For whatever reason, she was wide awake and the last thing she wanted was to lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling in an empty house with her mind on overdrive. And nothing calmed her mind like baking.
Ten minutes later, Holly slipped a batch of blueberry muffins into the oven. Now all she had to do was wait for them to bake, and given how late it was in the UK, she knew the perfect way to pass the time.
‘Hey, you,’ Holly said, as her video call was answered in one ring. ‘Is now a good time?’
‘Sure thing, sis. How are you doing?’
Erin wasn’t actually Holly’s sister-in-law, or related to her in any way. But had Evan still been alive, and the pair of them married the way they hoped, then she would’ve been one of the four sisters-in-law that Holly gained, two of whom were identical triplets.
Holly and Erin’s relationship didn’t get off to the best start, although if you’re meeting someone for the first time after a mutually beloved person’s death, it’s hardly likely to be the best situation. While Holly was refusing to admit grief, Erin had been wanting to find blame wherever she could, and so directed it straight at Holly. Somehow, though, the pair had made it through those times and come out the other side as firm friends. In fact, Holly had now reached the point where she spoke to Erin even more than she did Evan’s parents, who continued to view Hope as one of their own grandchildren and made sure they rang for a minimum of weekly updates.
‘Where’s my favourite English niece?’ Erin said, before shaking her head. ‘Sorry, I forgot about the time. I’m guessing she’s in bed, right?’
‘She is,’ Holly replied, ‘though she’s staying at Jamie’s tonight. I’ve got the house to myself.’
‘Great, let me guess, you’re on a late-night television binge, right?’ Erin grinned.
‘Not exactly.’ Holly tried to smile back, but her muscles were unusually slow to reciprocate the action. When she finally managed, it was too late.
‘What’s going on?’ Erin said. ‘Something’s up.’
‘No, no, not at all,’ Holly said. ‘Just a busy evening, that’s all. Busy and unexpected.’
Erin arched an eyebrow. ‘Is that right? Why? What happened? Spill all the goss.’
‘Well, it’s not goss, really.’ The knot that formed in the pit of her stomach earlier in the evening was now reforming. ‘It’s just that – I don’t know – it’s good news, I guess. Giles proposed to his girlfriend Sienna. Giles is getting married.’
Erin’s face was a picture. Her jaw dropped so far, Holly could almost see the back of her throat.
‘Giles? Your Giles?’
‘He’s not my Giles,’ Holly said defensively. ‘He’s Sienna’s Giles.’
‘Well, is he? I thought you two were inseparable?’
Holly chewed on the inside of her cheek. ‘Giles and I are just friends – you know that. We’ve always been friends.’
‘Well yes, but…’
‘But what?’
Erin rolled her lips several times before she offered a non-committal shrug. ‘I don’t know, I guess he was just hanging on until…’
‘Hanging on for what?’ Holly said.
Erin shook her head and let out a slight sigh before fixing a smile back onto her face.
‘Hey, what do I know? I live on the other side of the world. This is exciting, yes? I guess you’re gonna be involved in the planning?’
‘Apparently, he wants me to be his best woman.’
‘Best woman?’
‘Best man, only I’m a woman.’
‘Wow, big responsibility. How do you feel about that?’
Confused. That was how Holly felt. Confused as to whether she wanted that role and confused as to why she felt so confused. She was the obvious choice, after all. Even ahead of Ben or Fin, she and Giles were closest, but it still felt peculiar to be asked such a thing. She opened her mouth, ready to say as much to Erin, when a loud ringing cut through from the other end of the phone.
‘Sorry!’ Erin said quickly, standing up. ‘I invited Mel and Ashley and the kids over. They’re always late, so I thought I had time to chat to you, but we need to pause this conversation, okay? I don’t want you doing anything you’re uncomfortable with, even if it’s for your best mate. All right? I’ll ring you soon, and you can tell me how you feel about this. How you really feel. Gotta go, though. Love you.’
‘Love you too,’ Holly responded, yet before she had finished, the phone line was dead.