The Season of Love #SYTYCW15 #Loveinspired

The Season Of Love Part 8

                                                                   Chapter Seven
                                                                         Hollie

The wind bit at her cheeks and her lips grew numb. As she gazed out at the thrashing sea, she pulled her hat down over her ears in an attempt to stop the uncomfortable ache. It had stopped snowing for five minutes and so Hollie had taken the opportunity to escape for some fresh air.

She was trying so hard to be there for Lucinda; she was one of her best friends, and she loved her, but every word spoken about the baby was like a spiteful little dagger into her heart.

"Hey', Melissa was hopping athletically across the snow blanketed beach toward her, 'you ok? Greg's just making lunch do you want some?"

Hollie pasted a bright smile onto her face before shaking her head, "I'm fine, thank you"

Melissa watched her for a moment, then wrapped her arms around Hollie and squeezed ; "How are you dealing with the whole Lucinda thing?' She drew back and looked Hollie in the eye, 'it is ok to be upset Hol's you don't have to pretend, not to me"

Hollie blinked away a tear "I'm ok, I just... All I can think of is the fact that it was so hard for me to get pregnant and Harry and I wanted it so much, and now Lucinda is pregnant and she doesn't even want to be,' she bit her lip guiltily, 'I feel so awful every time I get angry with her for complaining"

"Don't feel guilty, you're still getting over a divorce that you didn't want. A divorce that has only happened because you can't become pregnant and now Lucinda is pregnant without even trying,' Melissa frowned, ' and to be honest, it really gets my goat that he was married! And he wants to be involved. He divorced his wife for her and Lucinda has just rejected him!"

Hollie sighed. To her it sounded like the wife had had a lucky escape.

"Anyway,' Melissa grinned at her slyly, 'somebody has an empty seat next to a handsome young man names Simon awaiting them"

Hollie shook her head, her cheeks flushing, "Nothing is going on between Simon and I. First of all, we only met yesterday, second, I doubt that he is ready to move on."

Linking arms, Melissa led Hollie back towards the hotel, "I wouldn't be so sure Hollie, I've seen the way that he looks at you"

Hollie hour about this carefully, as a storm of butterflies began to dart about in her stomach. Maybe Mel was right, she smiled to herself.

                                                                                *

Simon watched her as she tucked a soft, wild strand of red hair behind her small, delicate ear. He smiled as her eyes sparkled, crinkling slightly at the corners whenever she laughed.

Every time she glanced at him, he felt his face grow warm and watched hers flush.

He felt silly, like a school boy who can't quite gather the courage to talk to the one that he likes. He shook his head. They were both adults, he told himself.

He glanced at Alison, who was watching him in amusement "what?' He asked softly, running a hand through his hair, 'what are you staring at?!"

She grinned at him, "Why don't you just talk to her, dad"

"I don't know what you're talking about!,' he tapped the newspaper around her head playfully, 'anyway mind your own business missy!"

Alison shook her head, shoving her last piece of toast into her mouth, "Fine, I'm just gonna head up to our room"

It was just he and Hollie in the kitchen now; Lucinda was in bed and Melissa and Anna were shovelling snow on the drive.

"I see that you and Alison are getting along well today,' Hollie placed a fresh tea in front of him, 'did you have a good talk?"

Simon nodded, "I want to say thank you Hollie, Alison and I were going through a bit of a rough patch, but you have encouraged her to talk to me again.

"Not a problem' Hollie smiled, stirring her tea gently, 'She's a lovely girl"

They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their drinks, lost in thought.

"Hollie, can I ask you something?"

She nodded cautiously, pushing away her mug.

"Would you, um, would you like to spend some time with me, 'he rubbed his hands together, nerves spilling over, 'I guess like a date?"

Hollie smiled, a gorgeous, slow smile, "Sure,' her cheeks have grown pink
'I'd like that"

"Great,' Simon smiled at her standing abruptly, 'meet me in here tonight, around eight?"

Hollie nodded and he felt a frisson of excitement and success.

For the first time since he had lost his wife, Simon felt as though he could fall in love with somebody new.

                                                                                  *