Home For Christmas(5)

It takes me hours to find the account numbers and codes I need to access her file. I made it nearly impenetrable even for myself. When I finally find what I think I need, it takes even longer to get into my computer than I initially thought. It’s Christmas Day and no one is working. Plus, it might seem a little odd for a man who was pronounced dead to be back at his desk.

The sun is setting when I enter the codes and cross my fingers. If she went out of state to college I might have to charter a plane in the morning. I promised my dad I’d be home tonight and I’m going to keep that promise. I owe him that much.

When I scroll through the documents I see that the financial advisor I had set up for her has listed the local college as her alma mater. My heart rises but then immediately falls when I read that she graduated. She finished her degree last month, and her notes don’t include a forwarding address. All it shows is that her monthly disbursement will go directly into her bank account.

“Shit,” I mutter, dropping my fist on the desk.

The only thing I can think of is to try the shelter. The financial advisor doesn’t keep up with her personal life, so I have no way of knowing if she still volunteers there. I grab my keys off the desk and glance down at the photo next to it. It’s of me and Holly and a few others from the shelter. We’d had a Valentine's Day party and in the picture she’s wearing a red sweater with hearts on it. I stared at that picture for so long, wondering if one day she’d feel the same way I did.

I give the picture one final glance before I walk out of my office and head for the Jeep. It’s been a long time since I had her in my arms, but I know what we had was real. The night everything changed was the night I was going to make her mine in every way. I knew she was the one. I’d never felt anything like it in my life. And I knew when I kissed her on her eighteenth birthday she felt it, too.

By the time I get to the shelter it’s dark and the snow is coming down heavy. I park and make for the back entrance. I don’t want to cause a scene and if I can sneak in and somehow find Holly I can pull her out of here and explain everything.

When I walk in, I look in the office and see the light is off. There are plenty of people inside the main room and kitchen, so I glance around looking for her.

“She’s not here,” a deep voice says, and I turn around to see Paul smiling behind me.

“Paul!” I exclaim, reaching out and wrapping him in a hug.

“I knew you’d be back.” When I release him I see his dark eyes are twinkling.

“How did you know?”

“A love like that can’t be broken. Even in death. I knew one way or another you’d make it back to her. Eventually.” He shrugs. “When you asked me to watch over her, I thought that maybe something might happen. But I would have looked after Holly even if you hadn’t asked me to.”

“Where is she?” I hear the panic in my voice, but I don’t know how much longer I can wait.

“She left out of here a couple of hours ago. She was headed north, but I’m not sure where exactly. I tried to get her to stay, but she was determined to leave. This storm has gotten worse since she left and I can’t imagine her car is in any shape to be out in it.” He looks sad as he lowers his head and shakes it.

“I’ll find her,” I say with determination.

“She never got over you. Never even tried. She went on with her life, but I could see it in her. There was never another man that would take your place.”

“I never got over her either,” I say, feeling the weight of his words.

“Go and get her. And bring her back home.” I nod, but before I can walk away he grabs my arm. “I made a promise to watch out for her. Now I want you to do the same.”

“I promise. I’ll make sure she never leaves my sight again.”

I run out of the exit and into the snowstorm. When I climb in my Jeep I head north and try to think about which roads Holly would take. I’m on the edge of town and there’s a fork in the road. One way leads to the highway and the other leads to a back country road through the mountains.

There’s no way she would have taken the dangerous back road in a storm like this. I turn my wheel toward the highway and hit the gas. I just hope I can catch up to her, wherever she’s going.





Chapter 5





Holly





I don’t know how long it’s been since I went off the road, but a car hasn’t come by once. My fingers are numb and my lips are blue, but I keep holding on to hope that I can make it to morning. By then it will have warmed up enough and maybe the storm will have passed. I can walk to help by then if my legs aren't frozen together.