________________
Holly
She hadn’t been back to the small town of Spring Creek in six years. Not because the town didn’t hold its own certain appeal, but because there were certain memories she just didn’t want to confront—and being in Spring Creek shoved those memories in her face.
On the left, she passed Carla’s, the ice cream shop she and Jake used to stop at after his football games. On the right, there was Pete’s Pizza—where the team and cheerleaders would spent weeknights causing a general raucous and having a good time.
The entire town reminded her of being in high school. Of being young and carefree. Of being in love.
Until that asshole Jake had broken it off with her. And broken her heart.
The last thing she wanted were those memories surrounding her, but she didn’t have a choice. She had to be here for her father.
He was in the hospital.
A heart attack, they said. It was serious, they said.
Guilt filled her from her head to her toes. She knew her dad had it rough after the divorce, but her life hadn’t exactly been a stroll through the woods either. She’d buried herself in work to forget her pain and now she was flourishing in her career. It was a hard-fought battle—one she hadn’t wanted to jeopardize by returning to the one place that had made her want to run away.
Holly pulled into the hospital parking lot and snagged her purse out of the passenger seat. Her heels clicked on the pavement as she hurried to the entrance. Once she found the correct room, she heard her father’s voice from the hallway.
“I don’t need your help,” he growled.
Holly sighed—part in relief and part in amusement. Yep, sounded just like her dad. If he was yelling at the nurses, insisting he could cope on his own, he couldn’t feel that bad.
She walked into the room and smiled when she saw him.
He straightened, narrowed his eyes, and then nudged the nurse aside. “It can’t be. My Holly Bear?”
She rolled her eyes at the affectionate name her father had given her and said to the nurse, “He sounds like he’s on pain medication.”
The nurse sighed. “Yep.” Then under her breath, added, “Maybe not enough.”
The nurse left her to visit with her dad, and once she got him settled in bed again, she pulled a chair next to him.
“Dad. You have to rest.”
He frowned. “Resting is for pussies.”
“Very mature.”
He chuckled, coughed, and then grabbed his chest. “Yeah, so…maybe a little rest is in order. That why you’re here? To boss me around?”
Holly nodded. “Yes. Someone has to look after you.”
“I already have the entire town looking after me. Paula said she’d water my plants and Jake is helping out at the store—”
“Jake?”
He fiddled with the IV running into the back of his hand. “Of course Jake. He knows the store ’bout as well as me. He helps out on the weekends here and there too.”
She tried to keep her face blank, but couldn’t stop her hands from clenching into fists. “Oh yeah? Since when?”
“Oh…” Her father coughed again and winced. “Couple years or so. Good kid.”
Holly gritted her teeth. Jake wasn’t a kid anymore, and good? No way. He’d dumped her without any tact. How was that good? Of course she hadn’t told her father. He’d been on the brink of a divorce and that was the last thing he’d needed.
But he knew she and Jake had broken up. Didn’t he have any sense of loyalty?
“Well,” she said, keeping her voice light, “I’m here now. I can help at the store. And I can help at home, too. When are they letting you go?”
He lifted his hand with the IV. “You mean when are they releasing me from the shackles? Letting me go free?”
“Dad.”
“Hopefully tomorrow.”
“Good. What do you need in the meantime? I can run by the house or bring you something.”
He grunted. “Cheeseburger. Fries.”
Holly frowned. “You can’t have any of those chili cheese fries from Brody’s, and you know it.”
“Who said anything about chili cheese fries? Regular fries will do just fine. And you can tell him to leave the bacon off the burger. If that doesn’t please the doc, don’t know what will.”
Holly stood. “I’ll ask the nurse what you’re allowed to have. And I’ll stop by the house to make sure everything looks in order. Anything else?”
Her dad sighed. “I guess if you’re going to act like the warden, then no.”
She touched his shoulder. “I just want you to get better.”
He lifted his hand and set it over hers. “I know, Holly Bear. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me too.” And if she forgot about Jake and the hurt he’d put her through, she found she meant it. “I’ll be back later.”
Her father nodded, and before she even reached the door, his eyes were shut. She released a breath. Okay. It was going to be okay. Her dad looked healthy—at least healthy enough for what he’d gone through. She’d talk with the doctor, see what else they needed to work on, and it would be okay. She could help him with his diet, exercise—whatever. That’s what she was here for.
Holly left the room, turned the corner, and then froze. Her heart lurched. No way…
She watched a man disappear out the front doors. Part of her wanted to run after him, just to see if she’d really seen who she thought. Jake Adams. But she forced herself to walk to the nurse’s station instead.
Who cared if she’d seen Jake? All she really needed to do was avoid him.
But in a town this small? How the hell was she supposed to do that? It would have been easier to avoid a snowflake in the middle of a New York winter storm.
With her head high, Holly tried to forget about Jake for now. She had a purpose in Spring Creek and it had nothing to do with Jake Adams or their past.
As long as he stayed out of her way, they’d be just fine.