Chapter 6 Holly
HOLLY
Holly sat in the Corner Café at exactly ten o’clock, her fingers drumming impatiently on the table. Charlie sat across from her, calmly sipping her coffee and checking emails on her phone, but Holly couldn’t relax.
Simon was late.
Holly hated people being late. It was one of her biggest pet peeves, a fundamental sign of disrespect for other people’s time.
She had spent thirty-five years married to a man who was always late to dinners, to Trinity’s school events, to their anniversary celebrations.
And here he was, late again, even for the signing of their divorce papers.
“We should just leave,” Holly said, checking her watch for the third time in as many minutes. “It’s ten fifteen. If he can’t be bothered to show up on time—”
“Give him five more minutes,” Charlie said calmly. “Then we’ll go.”
Holly was about to argue when she spotted Simon hurrying down the sidewalk toward the café.
Even from a distance, she could see the anger in his stride, the tension in his shoulders.
But the moment he spotted them through the window, his expression transformed into his best charming smile.
The one he used with clients and judges, the one that had fooled Holly for far too many years.
Simon entered the café and slid into the seat across from them without apology for his lateness.
“Hello, Holly, Charlie,” Simon said smoothly. “Thank you for meeting me.”
“Let’s get straight to business,” Charlie said, her tone professional and cool. “Do you have the divorce papers?”
Simon reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a manila folder. He opened it to reveal the divorce documents, already bookmarked at the signature lines. Then he pulled out a gold pen. The one Holly had given him for their thirtieth anniversary, engraved with his initials.
Holly’s breath caught slightly at the sight of it. She tried not to let it shake her that he still had it, still carried it with him after everything that had happened.
“Sign them,” Charlie said simply, pushing the documents toward him.
Simon signed with a flourish, his signature the same confident scrawl it had always been. He slid the documents to Charlie.
“You know what to do with them,” Simon said. “File them with the court, wait for the judge to sign off, and we’ll be officially done within a few weeks.”
Charlie nodded, tucking the papers into her briefcase. “I’ll file them this afternoon. You should receive confirmation within ten business days.”
“Good,” Simon said. Then he turned to Holly with an expression she couldn’t quite read. “Holly, could I have a moment alone with you?”
Holly felt panic flutter in her chest. She glanced at Charlie, who gave her hand a reassuring squeeze under the table.
“I’ll be in the booth over there,” Charlie said, gesturing to a spot across the café. “Out of earshot but not out of eyesight.”
She looked directly at Simon, her voice dropping to something harder. “And Holly, just indicate if you need me to come over.”
“I’ll be fine,” Holly assured her sister, though the last time they’d been here together, Charlie had practically had to restrain Holly from wanting to hit Simon.
Charlie gathered her things and moved to the other booth, leaving Holly alone with her soon-to-be ex-husband.
“How are you, Holly?” Simon asked, his voice softer than it had been moments before.
Holly raised her eyebrows. “Very well. Is this what you wanted to talk about alone? My well-being?”
“I...” Simon’s jaw clenched. “I just wanted to know you were okay.”
“No,” Holly corrected him bluntly. “You wanted to know if I was falling apart and struggling without you.”
Simon started to protest, but Holly held up her hand.
“Well, Simon, I’m more than fine. I’m happy,” Holly told him honestly. “In fact, I should thank you and Terry, because if you two hadn’t torn our family apart, I would never have come here. Trinity would have just continued to go through the motions, and Gabe would still be running from his past.”
“Holly—” Simon tried to interrupt, but she stopped him.
“No, you asked how we were, and I’m telling you,” Holly said, unable to hold back any longer.
“Since we’ve been here, Trinity is thriving.
She’s come alive again in ways I haven’t seen since before Abi died.
Gabe is happier than I’ve seen him in six years.
He’s finally dealing with his grief instead of burying it in dangerous missions.
Even Charlie has found her place, found someone who makes her light up.
Christopher, you know your godson, he also found his person here. So, we are all thriving.”
Holly paused, thinking of Jack and feeling warmth spread through her chest.
“And me?” Holly continued, her voice softening. “I feel like our life together was a bad dream that I’ve finally woken up from. Like I’ve stepped right into the middle of the life I was always supposed to have.”
Simon looked like she had struck him physically. The color drained from his face, and for a moment, Holly almost felt sorry for him. Almost.
“I... I’m glad, Holly,” Simon said finally, his voice tight. “That actually makes what I want to tell you easier.”
He cleared his throat. “Terry and I are engaged. We’re getting married next summer.”
Holly stared at him for a long moment, processing this information. She waited for hurt to come, for some spark of jealousy or regret. But all she felt was a mild sense of vindication.
“Congratulations, Simon,” Holly said sincerely. “If ever there were two people meant for each other, it’s you and Terry.”
Simon took it as a compliment, smiling slightly. “Thank you. I appreciate that.”
Holly didn’t bother correcting him.
“Listen, about the Christmas Inn,” Simon said, leaning forward slightly.
“If you care so much about the Christmas family, you’ll talk them into taking the offer I’ve sent through.
Even with this mystery benefactor currently keeping them afloat, they don’t stand a chance against my clients.
Victor Martin always gets what he wants. ”
“Oh, you’ll be surprised,” Charlie’s voice came from beside the table. She had appeared silently, her briefcase in hand. “Sorry to interrupt this little chat, but I have to go, Holly. We have things to do.”
Holly nodded, relieved. She stood up and looked down at Simon. “Thank you for finally signing the divorce papers. And I hope you and Terry are very happy together.”
“Wait, Holly, about Gabe...” Simon tried to squeeze her for information about his son’s new relationship. “Trinity sent me some photos. He and Jane look quite close. Is that serious?”
Holly stopped him with a raised hand. “If Gabe wanted to tell you about his personal life, he would. That’s not my place.”
With that, Charlie and Holly left the café and walked to Charlie’s car. As soon as they were inside with the doors closed, Holly let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
“I did it,” Holly said, feeling happiness burst through her chest. “I’m free. Really, truly free.”
She wanted to do cartwheels, to sing at the top of her lungs, to dance in the street. The relief was overwhelming.
As Charlie drove them back toward the inn, Holly stared out the window, watching St. Augustine pass by.
“I thought I’d feel something,” Holly said quietly. “You know, a bit of remorse that our thirty-five years together were now over. Some sadness for what we once had.”
“But you don’t?” Charlie asked gently.
“No,” Holly admitted. “While the divorce wasn’t signed, I felt like it wasn’t finished. Like I was still tied to him somehow. But now it is finished. Completely, finally over.”
She sighed, feeling lighter than she had in months. But somewhere in the back of her mind, a small voice whispered a warning. She was too happy. Things were going too well. When was the other shoe going to drop?
They pulled up to the inn, and Holly pushed the worry aside. She refused to let paranoia ruin this moment of triumph.
They walked into the lobby together, and Julie looked up from the front desk with a smile.
“Holly, could I ask you to watch the front desk for a while?” Julie asked. “I need to run back to the house for a bit.”
“I don’t mind at all,” Holly said, moving around to the other side of the desk.
“I’ll see you later,” Charlie said, heading toward the library. “I need to make some calls.”
Holly settled into the chair behind the desk, feeling content. The inn was quiet at this hour, most guests out exploring St. Augustine or relaxing in their rooms. She pulled out her phone and scrolled through messages, smiling at a text from Trinity about the ballroom decorations.
About ten minutes later, the front door opened, and an impeccably dressed woman sauntered in. She was beautiful in a cold, calculated way. With perfect hair, perfect makeup, and designer clothes that probably cost more than Holly’s entire wardrobe.
The woman walked directly to the desk and looked at Holly with barely concealed disdain.
“I’m here to see Jack,” the woman announced. “We have lunch plans.”
Holly felt her stomach drop. “I’m sorry?”
“Jack Christmas,” the woman said impatiently. “We’re having lunch together. He’s expecting me.”
“And you are?” Holly asked, though a sinking feeling told her she already knew.
“Pamela,” the woman said with a cold smile. “Jack’s wife.”
“Ex-wife,” Holly corrected automatically, her mind racing. Jack had lunch plans with Pamela? Why hadn’t he told her?
“Yes, well,” Pamela waved her hand dismissively. “The point is, he’s expecting me. Is that still his office?” She pointed a perfectly manicured finger. “I’ll just wait for him there.”
“I’m afraid I can’t let you into his office,” Holly said, keeping her voice professional despite the turmoil churning in her stomach. “Mr. Christmas isn’t here at the moment. You’re welcome to wait in the lobby.”
Pamela’s eyes narrowed. “And who are you to tell me where I can and cannot wait? This is my family’s inn.”