Holt's Holding part two (The Holt's Series) (32 page)

Resting my forehead to the steering wheel, I found myself
crying in grief.
 
When was I going to
learn?

Hearing the door open, Brady placed a hand on my
shoulder.
 

“Lil, it will be ok.
 
Now stop crying or you’re going to make me cry and I don’t like the
idea.”
 
He tried to laugh.
 
“I know it’s going to be hard, Hell, I would
be crying if I were leaving me.
 
I mean
really I’m awesome.”

Laughing thru my tears, I looked up at him shaking my
head.
 

“Ok, get your head out of your ass.
 
Let’s agree that you’re going to miss me just
as much.”
 
Pausing, I knew he was hiding
his own dislike of me going away.
 

“We’ve never been apart for too long.
 
And I have no idea how long I will be gone
Brady?”

“We can always Skype, I packed you a little surprise on the
plane.
 
So, if I really need a Lillian
fix or if you need me, I will fly to where ever you are.
 
I promise.”

“Even if it’s your least favorite place in the world?”
 
I slighted my head, as that was precisely
where I would be.
 
Flying to Peru and
staying out in the jungle was not a place where Brady would want to
venture.
 
He and I once spent some time
as a humanitarian effort, volunteering our time in the local clinic.
 
He was in hell there.
 
Between the heat and the lack of modern
conveniences, he hated it.

“I had a feeling that’s where your first stop would
be.
 
Call me when you’re done there and
heading somewhere comfortable.”
 
He sat
back and shook his head.
 
“They have
spiders the size of your fucking head Lil.
 
Why in the world would you want to go there again?”
 
He was laughing at me.

“And where exactly would that be?”
 
Charlie’s voice rang from behind.
 
I didn’t even realize he was in the car.
 
Looking to the back seat both he and Sam were
seated and had clearly watched my entire breakdown.

Can you say Shit?

Sam looked understanding and caring, where Charlie looked
frustrated that he was in the dark.

“Why so interested Charlie?”
 
I turned and looked at him, “It’s not like
you’re going to miss me.”

“If you believe that to be true than what difference is it
if I know where you will be?
 
It’s
certain that I won’t follow on the basis of what you think so you shouldn’t
have any fear of it.”

“I’m not having this conversation with you.
 
Nor do I care to tell you where I will be as
I plan for a few destinations.”
 
I turned
back around and started the car.
 
Pulling
from the parking spot it was hard to keep my eyes from searching for him in the
rearview mirror.

I needed this night to end and quickly.
 
Leaving was now a need.

We pulled up to the country club, Hayfields only to be
ordered around for pictures.
 
Thank god,
Patricia was there to order around a waiter bringing us drinks.

Julie was really pushing the entire concept of Charlie and
me, insisting on photos of just us.
 
This
was ridiculous.
 
Charlie on the other
hand didn’t seem to mind.

Thinking we were done I went to walk away when he spun me
back around and forced a kiss.
 
Damn
photographer was quick to capture that shot.

“The two of you make a lovely couple,” the photographer
offered, as I pulled away from Charlie.

“Looks can be deceiving.”
 
I spit out, and finally walked away.

Walking through the doors, I made a quick walk to the first
bar before the reception hall.

Wholly shit, non-other that Corey was tending bar.

“Corey?”
 
I walked
around to the side and hugged him.
 
“Tending bar here?”

“Yes, I’m doing it as a favor to the owner.
 
Owner being my Uncle.”
 
He laughed.
 
“You’re usual?” he smiled pulling away as he didn’t need me to confirm.

“It seems like everyone is getting married these days,
Julie and Chris, hell Brady and Sam, engaged no less.
 
Next you’ll be telling me you’re getting
married.” He handed me a drink and shook his head.

“You sound like the idea of getting married puts a bad
taste in your mouth” I offered laughing.

“I don’t have a problem with marriage Lil, just don’t see
the need for it right now.
 
I like being
single.
 
And at last check you and I have
been of the same mind when it came to relationships and commitment.
 
Don’t tell me that’s changed.”
 
He raised a brow waiting for an answer.

“I don’t have wedding fever if that what your implying
Corey.”
 
I shook my head smiling at him
as I pulled another long sip.

Shifting my sight, I was almost in complete shock.
 
Wesley.

“Scotch neat.” he ordered while smiling at me. “You look
amazing Lillian.”

“As do you.”
 
I moved
over and reach up to kiss him on the cheek.
 
His hand was quick around my back guiding me to him.
 
“I didn’t think you would come.”

“I said I would, and thus I am.
 
I told you I’m a patient man Lillian.”
 
I heard nothing but the sound of truth in his
words. He looked down and me slighting his head as he appraised me.

Pulling my drink from my hands, he placed it on the
bar.
 
“You look like you’re in need of
hug Lillian.”

Without actually asking, he pulled in tight.
 
For once, I felt no need to disguise my
simple need.
 
He was right.
 
I needed to be held and his embrace felt
secure.

“Wesley, you made it.” Sebastian stood behind.
 
Wesley broke his hold and smiled then
extended his hand to Sebastian.

Turning, he clearly found himself a date.
 
She was a tall brunette that looked like she
just stepped of the pages of a catalogue.
 

Wesley leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
 
“It’s been a long time Sophia.”

“Yes, it certainly has.”
 
She spoke in an eastern European accent.

“Sophia, this is Elizabeth Holt”

“It’s a pleasure MS Holt.”
 
She turned to Wesley “I have to say I’m very impressed Wesley.
 
Here I thought you only dated models?”
 
She laughed.

I almost laughed.
 
Did she not realize she was insulting herself?

“If you will excuse me. I need to fulfill my role as maid
of honor and tend to the bride.’
 
Smiling
at Sophia, “It was very nice to meet.” Turning up, Wesley lowered down and
kissed my nose.
 
“I’ll see you in a bit,”
he offered.

Stepping over, “Sebastian” I nodded coolly.

He repeated my same tone as I walked away.

Of course, Charlie with his hands in his pockets, grinning
like a kid whom was up to something, stood in front of me.

“Another testament to how good Sebastian is.”
 
He shook his head grinning looking back at
the three.
 
“What did you think of
Sophia?” he smirked.

“I don’t Charlie.”
 
I
stepped past him as he turned and put a hand around my waist pulling me closer
to him as we made our way down the hall to where Julie was.
 
“Don’t touch me” I swatted away his touch. “And
why are you so amused?”

“I just find it interesting that Sebastian brought Wesley’s
x here.”
 
He laughed “Wesley and Sophia
have been an off and on thing for years now.” He added.

“Everyone has a past Charlie and an X.”
 
I replied coolly

“Well that’s not true for everyone.
 
You have no x”

“Sure I do, and one of them he just married your sister.”

Grabbing my arm, he stopped me, “whoa, you and Chris were a
thing?
 
I don’t believe it.
 
Your reputation was one I looked into as
fact.”

“Then whomever you had digging did a poor job.
 
Chris and I dated three or four years ago Charlie.
 
That’s the whole reason Julie planted that
seed in your head about me in the first place.
 
Before you knew who, I really was.”

“So, how in the world did she and him? And you and he
didn’t?” he was rambling like a child confused.

“Chris and I were friends more than we were anything
else.
 
He’s a good man and I suppose it’s
in his nature to want to help and nurture.
 
I think his entire thing with me was that he saw someone alone, broken
and wanted to fix me.”
 
Gazing down the
hall, “We were friends from go it just took some time to realize it.
 
Our relationship wasn’t an intimate one, well
not physically.”

“I have no doubt of his character.
 
He is a good sound man and Julie and he look
very happy.”

“They don’t just look it Charlie, they are.”
 
I looked up and him just for a moment.
 
I didn’t care if he saw the sadness I
held.
 
For I knew this would be short
lived.
 
The next time I would see him,
hopefully my heart will be mine again.
 

We walked down and into the room.
 
“Thank god, help her bustle this dress, I can’t
seem to figure it out” Patricia, looked frustrated.

“Let’s see what I can do.”
 
I walked over and knelt down behind her pulling her dress and feeling
for the button loops.
 
“Damn they made
them small,” I offered trying to blindly bustle each tiny button.

“Do you think you can get them?”
 
Julie looked nervous.
 

“I got it, one more and your set.”
 
I offered as I hooked the last one.

“Oh you’re a life saver.”
 
She breathed.
 
“I thought we
weren’t going to be able to get them.”

“How’s my wife doing?”
 
Chris popped into the room with a bottle of champagne.
 
Stepping to Julie, he pulled her in for a
kiss.
 
Yes, they were very happy.

I found myself smiling as I watched them.

Too lost in the glow of their union, I hadn’t realized that
Charlie was holding me from behind.
 
Mindlessly, I wrapped my hands around his arms that held me.

Julie turned and smiled from ear to ear.
 
“I can’t wait until it’s the two of you
getting married”, she blurted out.
 
Turning bright red it had just dawned on me that I was completely cocooned
into his hold. Biting my lip, I didn’t even know how to respond.
 
Sure enough, it looked, as Charlie was the
one offering up a comment.

“We are already married sis.” Oh, shit.

My mouth opened and his grip around me was firmer.

“That being said the two of you can’t tell anyone.”
 
He added very sharply.
 
“No one can know.
 
And I do me no one.”

“What?
 
When?”
 
Julie looked floored.

“He conned me into it Thursday.”
 
I interjected.
 
“It’s not a real marriage Julie, this is just
another bullshit scheme that will be over and done in the next year.”

“Doubtful, you just might like being married to me.”
 
He snorted while keeping his grip around
me.
 
“And I didn’t con you.
 
You said yes on your own free will.”

“Oh bite me!
 
You
conned me and you know it.” I rolled my eyes looking at Julie.
 
“And let me go damn it, I can barely breath
with your death grip around me.”

Julie laughed shaking her head.
 
“Welcome to the family” she looked over at
Charlie “Really?
 
You had to con her in
to marrying?
 
Hell, whatever got it
done!”
 
She added.

Oh my god, she was approving this stunt of his.

“Look, I love you both and think that the two of you truly
belong to each other.
 
Whatever the
pretenses that got the two of you together is irrelevant.
 
It’s so fucking obvious that the two of you
are in love with each other.”
 
She came
over, kissed my cheek, and winked at Charlie.
 
“If you will excuse Chris and I, we have a reception to get to.
 
I’ll lock the door on our way out.” She
laughed.