Chapter 70
70
Holly couldn’t believe how quickly everything had moved, though most of that was due to her taking a month to make contact. In business terms, a lot could happen in that length of time. But on the same day as she received Giles’s response, she had also finally spoken on the phone to Moritz, Fin’s friend in America, and now, five days later, she was packing her bags.
‘I wish I could come with you. I want to come with you,’ Hope said. ‘We could see Aunty Erin. See Nanny and Grandad.’
‘I know, I know we could, but if this works out, then maybe we’ll get to spend quite a bit of time in America. How would you like that? Besides, Rhubarb needs a lot of fuss. You know she gets funny when I go away.’
Holly thought that mentioning the kitten would provide an adequate distraction, but she should have known better.
‘What does “quite a bit” mean?’ Hope asked. ‘I wouldn’t be leaving Daddy and Georgia?’
‘No, no, of course not, but maybe we could go for a couple of months in the summer. How does that sound? And Christmas too. I don’t think you remember Christmas in America properly, but the snow was amazing.’
‘I thought it was hot at Christmas in America?’
‘Depends on which part you go to. We could go to a hot part one year and a cold part another year. How does that sound?’
‘Could we bring Rhubarb?’ Hope asked. Holly rolled her eyes. Now she remembers the kitten.
On the drive to the airport, Jamie didn’t hold anything back.
‘This is running away – you know that. That’s all you’re doing.’
‘I don’t know what you’re on about,’ Holly replied. ‘I’m not running away; I’m thinking of myself and my career. Moritz has offered me an amazing consulting fee, and all I have to do is fly to the States every couple of months to check how the new branches are opening up. It sounds perfect.’
‘It sounds like an excuse to ignore your feelings,’ she said. ‘Which we all know you’re very good at.’
Holly shot her a sharp look. ‘What do you want me to do?’ she said, looking at her. ‘I told him. I told him how I feel. He doesn’t feel the same.’
‘That’s not true, and you know it’s not.’
‘Okay, well, he’s not willing to take that risk, and I understand that.’ Holly just wanted to drop the subject, but Jamie was hanging on tooth and nail.
‘You should fight for him,’ she said.
‘I did, three times. I sent an email, I told him in person, and I wrote a letter. I’m not doing any more than that, Jamie. That’s not how this works. I know people say you should fight for the one you love, but maybe if they’re the ones for you, you shouldn’t be put in a position where you have to.’ She paused. ‘Who knows? Maybe I’ll find another dashing American.’
Jamie smiled, fleetingly. ‘As long as you’re sure.’
‘I am. Thank you.’
Half an hour later, Jamie pulled into a car parking space and cut the engine. ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to come in with you? You’re really early, you know. I don’t mind hanging around for a bit.’
‘It’s fine,’ Holly said. ‘I’ve got a good book. I’ll just read.’
‘Stay in touch, right? When you board, when you land. When you get to Moritz’s?’
‘It’s three days, Jamie, that’s all. I’m gone for three days.’
Jamie shrugged as she grinned. ‘What can I say? I like having a neighbour.’