Fill In The Blanks

Chapter 7 Hollie D.'s Purpose

Chapter 7

“Beeuup, you know, I wanna thank you for coming with me…” Josh began as they sat comfortably inside a floating cottage. The water was so calm and clear. The breeze was endearing.  Call it a perfect moment.

“Me too. I really want us to talk heart to heart this time…” she smiled. She knew what he was about to ask her.

“Yeah… Is it true that you accepted Morgan’s marriage proposal?’ he quickly asked.

“Uhm..hmm..” she replied. “That’s true. He’s a good man…” she stuttered and gave out a forced smile.

“Are you sure?” he wrinkled. But she didn’t reply.

“Okay what’s your reason for accepting it? “ he asked. He could feel that she wasn’t that decided.

“Because… because I love him…” she said controlling her tears. She loves Morgan but there’s still emptiness within her. Lately, she could not feel the happiness she felt with him before.

“When you came back…” she murmured to herself.

“What?” he wrinkled.

“Nothing…can you please just accept it as it is? He’s going to marry me…” she said between sobs. Her hands were shaking since it was so hurting to pretend that she wants something she does not.

“You’re lying. If you’re really happy, you won’t cry that much. Your sorrow is just too obvious Hollie.” He insisted and held her hand.

“Why could you just be happy for me? Just be like me, okay? I’m glad that you and your Hollie Donovan are back together. After we parted ways last night, I went back to the lobby and I saw you and her. After telling me that you realized that you’re not in love with her, there you go, you were hugging..cuddling…” she said.

“You saw it? I thought you were with Morgan.” He wrinkled suppressing laughter.

“Yeah, but I excused myself for a bit just to check you out…” she confessed.

“And…” he said as his heart was beating faster.

“I caught you with her. So I went back to my room. Morgan was waiting for me.” She said avoiding his glance.

“And he proposed?”

“Yeah..he proposed…and I accepted it..because…” she stopped.

“Do you know why I hugged Hollie Donovan?” he asked.

“Should I really answer that?’ she pouted.

“We broke up last night. I embraced her just to comfort her.” He revealed. She was tongue-tied upon hearing him say that.

“Oh…okay…” she said after seconds of silence. She was about to explode in regret.

“Do you think you’re impulsive?” he asked and laughed a little.

“Excuse me?”

“Answer me..”

“Why do you say I’m impulsive?’ she raised an eyebrow.

“Answer that question, beeuup…”

“I’d better go…I’ll just invite you in my engagement party…” she said but her eyes were watery again. She stood up but he grabbed her back.

“Why are you always running away? Why don’t you just confront the situation and eat your heart out…” he said.

“What do you mean? I’ll tell you that I love you?!!” she shouted. “Yeah, okay I love you! And that’s so silly of me!!!”

“Is that true?” his jaw dropped, wanting her to say it again.

She slapped him.

“No! I’m just kidding!” she jeered and turned her back from him.

“I love you… I have loved you for years!!!!” he shouted back.

Hollie's heart raised as she heard those words from him. She stopped walking and could not take the smile off her face. She could hear his steps behind her. But as he drew nearer, Morgan's face flashed in her mind.

"Hollie..." Josh held her arm. "That's the truth, I love you."

"Josh..please..." she said without looking at him."You can't say that now..."

"Why? In fact, I'm happy and sooo happy to know that we feel the same thing towards each other..." he said.

"Why are you telling me that now??? You're so rude!" she shouted. "I accepted Morgan into my life, I couldn't just leave him alone!"

"Hollie, come on... try to identify if you really love him...or if you can live your life without him..." he said calmly hoping that she would still choose him over Morgan.

"I really want to punch you now, Joshua Ledet! Yeah, we love each other, but we have issues to resolve. I just can't be with you now, all out. I'm sorry.." she said and walked towards to wooden bridge. Drizzle went down untimely while she was walking. She was chilling.

"Hollie..come back..it's raining.." he kept on saying but she continued crossing the bridge. She covered herself with her towel until finally she reached the main cottage. She was still wiping mixture of tears and raindrops on her face when she suddenly bumped into someone.

"Oh.." she sighed "Of all the people.."

"Is that what you should say?" Hollie Donovan asked raising an eyebrow.

"Okay I'm sorry I bumped into you. Now, excuse me..." Hollie Cavanagh said.

"Mommy!" someone called behind. Hollie C. was shocked that the little girl went near Hollie D.

She looked at Donovan with questioning eyes. The latter laughed.

"So now you're thinking that I'm definitely cheating on Josh or you're wondering if he knows I've got a kid..." Hollie Donovan guessed.

"Wow.. got a high IQ.." Hollie C. chuckled.

"He doesn't need to know." she replied.

"Oh I forgot, you broke up..." Hollie C. said.

"Sorry but we didn't break up..." Hollie D. grinned while carrying her daughter.

"What?" She wrinkled. Josh told her earlier that they're done.

"Because it was never us." Hollie D. replied. "Yes, we were only pretending. Josh just hired me to keep you jealous. I accepted it for my daughter's sake. I just don't have a high IQ. I'm practical." Hollie Donovan bragged leaving Hollie Cavanagh speechless.

"We may have the same first name but we don't have the same Josh who can love you without boundaries. You must keep someone like him.." she said smiling.

"Oh my..." Hollie said and tears start falling again. Out of the blue, a loud bang was heard.

"What the..the floating cottage??!" Hollie D. exclaimed.

"Josh!!!!" Hollie C. screamed in horror seeing that a huge fire is eating up the whole cottage. They both shouted for help.

"Josh..." she continued yelling between sobs.