Flipped! (Spinning Hills Romance 1) (20 page)

Johnny came by then, with Ella in tow. “She says she’s hungry. I’m gonna pick up a few subs at Milano’s. Do you want me to bring back anything?”

Holly smiled and got up. “Thanks, but we’re going home for lunch. Ella wants to be at the library for story time.”

Sherry, their resident storyteller, looked at her watch. “That’s right, I have to get going.”

“Oh. I almost forgot.” Grandma Ruby grabbed Holly’s arm. “I can’t make it to the ballet next Friday. Mr. Linden and I have to go see about materials for the new stage we’re having built for the Christmas Eve Festival. I’m sorry, hon. But Ella can still stay over that night, if she wants to.”

“I want to!” Ella exclaimed.

“I understand.” Holly kissed her grandmother’s cheek and was about to turn to Johnny to see if he wanted to go, when Ella piped up.

“Maybe Uncle Dan will go. It can make him happy again.”

All eyes turned to Holly. “He wasn’t sad. He was only tired.” She stroked Ella’s hair, not wanting to meet anyone’s eyes.

“That lady made him sad.” Ella looked up at her.

“Because she didn’t have anything he needed or wanted.”

“Those were Dan’s words, exactly,” Johnny said, watching her closely. “What happened yesterday?”

“It was a long trip that ended in nothing. We wasted our time,” Holly said once again, never taking her eyes off Ella. “And I don’t think Dan’s into Cinderella, sweetie.”

“But he came to my tea party and we played tricks on you,” Ella reminded her. “And he jumped like a yo-yo.”

Everyone’s eyes were now boring into her. The air around them crackled with unsatisfied curiosity. Holly took Ella’s hand and began pulling her away. “We’ll make a deal. If we run into Dan, you can ask him to go.”

“I’ll make up a spell to convince him.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go.”

 

Dan slept till noon, something he hadn’t done in years. He got dressed and shot down the stairs. Sam and Johnny were eating sandwiches at Sam’s desk. “We brought you a sub.” Sam extended a wrapped package his way.

Dan’s mouth watered. “Thanks. And don’t talk with your mouth full of meatballs. It’s gross,” he teased, feeling more like himself.

“I saw Holly and Ella this morning.” Johnny glanced over at him and Dan tensed. Holly wouldn’t say anything about meeting his mom . . . would she? “Ella said she’s going to invite you to see the
Cinderella
ballet at the Victoria Theatre next Friday, since Ruby can’t go. Thought I’d give you a heads-up.”

“
Cinderella
? Me?” Dan scoffed.

“Ella thinks you’re a fun friend. Something about you drinking tea and bouncing like a yo-yo. She also thought a lady made you sad and you needed cheering up.” Johnny raised both eyebrows.

Sam nearly choked on his meatball sub. “Dan was at one of Ella’s tea parties?”

“Why do you think I was so sad?” Dan joked. “And the yo-yo thing was at Imagination Station, to show Holly up. You would’ve done the same thing.”

“Impress a woman by bouncing like a yo-yo? I don’t think so.” Johnny snorted.

“I said show her up, not impress her.”

“You don’t impress a woman by showing her up, Dan.” Sam
tsk
ed.

“Funny. Now, are we going to continue to chat like little sisters, or are we going to get some work done today?” Dan asked.

“Not working today. We’ve just been helping out with Christmas decorations around town,” Johnny informed him.

“Are you gonna help, or do you need some more beauty sleep?” Sam asked, looking at his watch.

It was on the tip of Dan’s tongue to tell him he’d helped plenty last night, but it occurred to him his brothers had probably already known. He ate his sub and tried to come up with a valid excuse to say no to Ella’s invitation. There was no way in hell he was going to a
Cinderella
ballet.

“Holly told Ella she was only allowed to ask you to the ballet if she ran into you, by the way,” Johnny mentioned, easily guessing his thoughts.

“Good to know. I’ll steer clear of the Craftsman unless Ella is at school.”

 

Learning about history had always been his favorite way of getting his mind off the present, and he was lucky to make a good living doing just that, by analyzing legal precedents. Coming up with a legal strategy was always an invigorating intellectual challenge.

Writing his opinion up was another matter. It was draining. He threw his pencil on the library table he was occupying and rubbed his eyes. The voices and people around him came into focus.

Childish voices and a familiar soothing tone drifted to him from beyond the shelves behind him. He smiled, going back in time in an entirely different way. It was story time, and Sherry had always been everyone’s favorite storyteller. She’d make up stories where either kids or animals were their own heroes in some way. No damsels in distress for Sherry.

Hearing her storyteller voice took him back to when he was a kid. Holly’s mom would watch him on Saturdays from noon to five, while his dad visited his work sites to see what progress had been made during the week.

Crystal was pregnant at the time and tired easily, but she was good to him. From noon to one, they’d take a walk and stop at the Gypsy Café for some fruitcake before heading to the library for Sherry’s story time. From two to three they’d watch reruns of
Mr. Rogers’
and
Reading Rainbow
. Nap time came next, and then playtime until his dad picked him up. Those were pleasant, restful days. He always started out wishing he could stay with his brothers or tag along after his dad, but Crystal always made him forget he missed anything.

Funny how the memories came back so clearly when he hadn’t thought of those days in years. Bits and pieces of Crystal and Ruby’s arguments at the coffee shop came back to him. He didn’t get what they were arguing about then, but he understood it now. Crystal hated anything esoteric, and Ruby loved everything supernatural. “No, I’m afraid I most definitely don’t believe in princes,” Sherry’s voice cut into his thoughts.

“Okay,” a voice harrumphed. The voice belonged to Ella. “Do you believe in magic? Grandma does.”

A pause. “Do you feel loved?” Sherry asked.

“Yes!” came Ella’s confident reply.

“Well, you know that pressure you feel inside when someone who loves you hugs you?” There was another pause, and Dan could imagine Ella’s head of curls bobbing up and down. “It feels glorious, but it’s a force no one can explain, so we call it love. Almost everyone has felt that force, so we put a name to it. When a force is so rare that no one can explain it or put a name to it, we call it magic, but it doesn’t mean there’s anything cagey about it. Do you understand?” Sherry sounded doubtful.

“A little.” Ella sounded doubtful, too.

“Sleep on it tonight.” Sherry chuckled.

“Uncle Dan!” Ella exclaimed, spotting him.

Dan waved. She got up and ran toward him, waving a glittery stick in front of her. “Bibbidi bobbidi . . . fudge, Dan will
Cinderella
watch,” she chanted, her face all lit up with pleasure over what she clearly thought was a rhyme.

Dan’s eyes widened. He hadn’t come up with an excuse. “Uh—”

“It’s next Friday. Will you come?”

“What time?” he asked, still trying to think up an excuse.

She shrugged. “I don’t know.”

He cleared his throat. Refusing a three-foot costumed fairy godmother holding up a wand and chanting a made-up spell made him feel like an ogre. “I’ll, uh, check my calendar and let your mom know.” He’d text his
no
to Holly. The cowardly way.

“Isn’t your calendar on your phone, like Mommy’s?” Ella touched her wand to his phone.

“No, I’m old school. Besides, I still don’t know what time the play is. But I’ll text your mom.”

“Hey, pumpkin, there’s your mom outside. She’s looking for you through the window.” Sherry’s voice cut in.

“Mom!” Ella turned and skipped away.

Parents’ and children’s voices again faded to the background. Holly was near. Something sweet and painful twisted deep inside him.

“Aren’t you a little old for story time?” Sherry appeared before him.

“No one’s ever too old for a good story.” Dan motioned to the chair in front of him.

“Charmer.” She sat down, one leg tucked underneath her, giving the impression she’d pop up again at any moment. With her petite frame and pixie cut, she almost looked like another kid.

“Me? A charmer? Nah. You’ve always been an optimist.”

“True enough. So, are you going to watch the ballet?” she asked.

“No way in hell.”

“Why not? You’re never too old for a good story, you know.”

Dan laughed. “I thought you hated fairy tales.”

“Yes, well, I never liked the idea that a woman needs a prince to rescue her.” Sherry rolled her eyes, but the corner of her mouth went up. “But I have nothing against falling in love. Mack and I fell in love and we were both better off for it, though it wasn’t always smooth sailing,” she said, mentioning her late husband. Dan had liked Mack a lot. He’d been all about living. Probably a little too much. He drank, ate, and laughed a lot and often.

“It’s this idea that the man has to be born into power and wealth and that the woman has to be rescued that bothers me,” Sherry continued. “Even in these new stories, where the girl rescues herself, one of them is born into privilege. Why can’t they both be people of average means who forge a life for themselves?”

“Don’t let Ella hear you.” He smiled.

“Oh, she’ll come down to earth sooner or later. A lot of little girls like fairy tales but most grow out of them.”

“What if Ella grows up and somehow finds a prince who takes her away to a castle where she’ll never have to worry about things like laundry and groceries and paying the rent or mortgage?” Part of him was teasing, but part of him hated the thought of Ella coming down to earth, which was weird, because he was all about living in reality.

Sherry frowned. “Now that you put it that way, I was kind of hoping that would happen to Holly. Well, not the prince and no laundry or groceries or mortgage part.” She looked up, as if something had just occurred to her.

“So you’re saying you want average Joe to carry Holly off to a castle and saddle her with its mortgage?” He quirked an eyebrow.

She laughed. “No . . . I just want a spectacular but self-made Joe to carry her off to her storybook house where they can both be saddled with a reasonable mortgage and live mostly happily ever after. Except she doesn’t seem to want to be carried off, but she deserves to, doesn’t she?” Their eyes met. Dan caught her meaning. “Anyway.” She cleared her throat. “I never thought I’d catch myself thinking that way. Maybe I don’t hate fairy tales as much as I used to.”

“Good. You can go to the
Cinderella
thing next Friday,” he said. She kicked him under the table.

D
an sat in downtown Dayton’s Victoria Theatre, watched
Cinderella
, and tried not to sulk. What a mood killer. His eyes drifted away from the stage to study the restored plaster and marble work, the gilding, and the fresco detailing. Knowing he was sitting in one of the oldest continually operated theaters in North America was the only bright spot. Well, that and how happy Ella seemed to have her newest tea buddy there.

He glanced at Holly next. She looked beautiful in an emerald green sweater dress that made her eyes look more sparkly than one of Ella’s wands. Her dark, glossy curls were held to the side with a ribbon, and she smelled too good. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

To add to his torment, Leo and Emily were there with their own little girl, Gracie, and Leo spent more time watching Dan and snickering than he spent watching the ballet. At that moment, Dan caught Emily giving Leo a much-needed elbow to his gut. Dan laughed, until Holly elbowed him.

 

Half an hour after she’d elbowed Dan to get him to pay attention and stop acting like a goof with Leo, Dan was leaning forward, watching the ballet with rapt attention. Holly whispered in his ear, “I think you’re enjoying this more than Ella.”

“It’s surprisingly full of intrigue,” he whispered back. “I like the evil stepmother part.” He winked. “I hope she gets hers.” His breath on her neck sent tingles down her arm.

Dan leaned over again. “Did you ask me here to distract me? ’Cause I’m fine, you know.”

“I know. It was Ella’s idea. We’re friends, Dan, aren’t we? Strange as it seems.”

“Yes, Holly, we’re friends.” He grinned and tossed her a look that conveyed exactly how friendly he was feeling. Her heart fluttered in her chest, and she focused on the evil stepmother’s warts to take her mind off too-friendly thoughts.

Had he become as much of a true friend as Sam and Johnny to her? No, everything that had happened with Dan, from their absurd first meeting to being with him when he came face-to-face with his mother, made her feel closer to Dan. But they were treading deep waters.

He turned to look at her, as if he’d sensed her watching him, and she looked away, the ache in her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach. It was easier to stay afloat in shallow water, but it seemed too late to head back closer to shore.

“It’s been a while since you’ve stopped by to see the progress on the Craftsman, you know,” he said, his eyes steady on hers.

“Maybe I’ll stop by tonight.” She looked away. “I mean, it is Friday and we did have a deal.”

After the show, the whole group went out to dinner, and Leo and Dan couldn’t stop talking about the ballet. Emily and Holly exchanged amused looks while Gracie and Ella played pretend at one corner of the table. They looked like two families enjoying a meal. Except they weren’t. As if she’d had the same thought, Emily’s expression went from amused to troubled in the space of a heartbeat. “Dan,” Emily interrupted their banter. “How long are you planning on staying in Spinning Hills?”

“Sam needs me for about three more weeks. I’m leaving right after the festival.”

“Have you decided where you’re going next? Last time I asked, you weren’t sure,” Emily prattled on.

“Seattle’s the plan.”

Seattle, Washington?
Holly took a bite of her food. So what. She didn’t care. Friends could e-mail and text each other to catch up.

“Oh. That’s . . . far away.” Emily put her fork down.

“Yeah, well, the Northwest has been on my mind for some time now. I’ve never explored that part of the country.”

“Do you think you’ll ever get tired of moving?” Leo asked.

Dan swallowed some food. “Don’t think so.”

“Daddy moves around a lot, too,” Ella chimed in from her corner.

Dan and Holly’s eyes met. How could she feel so close to him when there was so much they didn’t know about each other? Seattle suddenly sounded like a great place for him.

 

“How was the play?” Sam asked the moment Dan sat down in front of him at Huffy’s.

“It was a ballet. And would you believe it wasn’t half-bad?”

Sam raised both eyebrows. “No.”

Dan turned his attention to the stage. “Is Johnny playing tonight?”

“Nope. Don’t know where he is.”

Dan had a couple of things he’d like to ask Sam without Johnny around, but he didn’t know where to begin without being obvious. Feeling lame, he began with, “Speaking of the ballet, Ella mentioned her dad moves a lot. Does he come to visit at all?”

Sam’s mouth turned up in one corner and his eyes took on a knowing look. “Ben? Yeah, he visits all the time. Probably five or six times a year. He’s a good guy.”

Hell, he wanted to know more, but he didn’t know how to ask without Sam thinking he was interested in Holly. Curiosity and self-preservation battled in his head. He cleared his throat. “So do they get along? Ben and Holly, I mean.”

“Yeah.”

Dan looked down and took the final plunge. “Do you know why they broke up?”

Sam didn’t answer and Dan looked up. His brother was trying hard not to laugh. “What’s the big deal? I’m curious. It’s not like there’s anything else to talk about. Forget it,” Dan muttered, resisting the urge to fling a French fry at him.

“Hey, all I know is Holly wanted to settle down in one place and Ben didn’t.”

The next question would give him away, but he had to ask. He didn’t want to do anything that would jeopardize his relationship with his brothers. In as careless a tone as he could muster, he said, “You know, I’ve been thinking I was dead wrong about Johnny’s interest in Holly. I should’ve kept my mouth shut. What do you think?”

“I also think you should’ve kept your mouth shut.”

Dan glowered.

“Fine,” Sam said, as if he were about to answer. Instead, he stuffed his mouth with fries, chewed slowly, and made a huge show of swallowing them down with beer. Dan was getting ready to kick him under the table. “I am of the strong opinion,” Sam began with mock solemnity, “that Johnny has never been into Holly in that way.”

Dan nodded and leaned back.

“Why the sudden interest in Ben and Johnny’s feelings?” Sam grinned. “Although I have a strong opinion about why you’re interested, if you want to hear it.”

“No. I don’t. I’m interested because people are interesting.” Dan shrugged.

“You sound like Johnny now.”

“Never let Johnny hear you say so.”

“Never let me hear you say what?” Johnny slapped Dan’s back and sat down.

Sam and Dan’s eyes met. “Dan here’s getting in touch with his personable side,” Sam explained.

“About time. Maybe we should all try a grown-up outing again. Jenny said something about a jazz concert tomorrow night.” Johnny grabbed a fry and popped it into his mouth.

“Sure. As long as it doesn’t involve wine.” Sam nursed his beer as if he’d never part from it again.

“Sounds good, I guess.” Dan looked up at the clock. Fifteen minutes to seven. Would she show up? “I’m off.” He shot up.

“But it’s early.” Johnny looked surprised.

Sam grabbed his arm before he could take off. “Behave,” he said, his serious look belying his casual tone.

“What’s your definition of
behave
?” Dan asked.

Sam considered him. “All cards on the table.”

“Then we agree.” Dan left before Johnny could ask what was going on.

 

Dan rolled up to the Craftsman. The new roof and paint job looked great. He walked in and tried to see everything through Holly’s eyes.

All that was left were the kitchen countertops. He hadn’t ordered them, and that alone would make him a week late with the supplier Sam had recommended. The kitchen cabinets were in and stained the same color as the trim and molding. He stood in the middle of the room, trying to picture the less expensive black granite he’d decided on from the very beginning.

He shook his head and looked out the kitchen window toward the house next door. Holly’s curtains were open, and he could see Holly, Ella, and Ruby decorating a Christmas tree. Flurries had stuck onto the window, giving it an etched look, and the scene looked more like a postcard than reality.

Dan exhaled. She wasn’t coming.

But something about the scene held him captive. He didn’t associate the holidays with warm family memories the way others did. Marianne would always sneak extra gifts for Sam and Johnny under the tree without their father’s knowledge. The extra presents never mattered to Dan because it wasn’t about stuff. It was about Marianne wanting him to know he was different. And Sam and Johnny’s combined guilt over their mother’s behavior only made it worse.

Marianne’s parents had always treated him well, though, even though they didn’t like his father much.

As he looked over at the tight-knit women, he got a bit of that warm holiday feeling people were always talking about. A quick glance at his watch told him it was only seven o’clock. Maybe they hadn’t eaten. Maybe they’d appreciate a pizza?

“Hi, Dan.” Ruby opened the door and greeted him with a wide, welcoming smile.

“Hey, Ruby, good to see you again.” He kissed her cheek. “I was just about to order a pizza, but they only deliver if you order two or more. Do you guys want to join me?”

“Pizza!” Ella began jumping up and down. Stanley barked.

“As if I could say no now.” Holly smirked.

“Okay, well, I’ll bring it around when it gets here,” he said, unsure of how one went about crashing a family’s Christmas tree–decorating event.

Holly’s eyes twinkled. “Do you want to help us decorate?”

“You can help me reach the top!” Ella exclaimed. “Mom’s too little.”

“And you can help me untangle the lights.” Holly shoved a set of lights his way.

“Holly’s too little
and
too impatient,” Ruby explained.

“I’m very patient. I saved for a house for five whole years, remember? Detangling lights is a frustrating process, is all.”

“I’ll help you untangle the lights if you try not to make me feel bad about the house tonight,” Dan offered.

“You feel bad?” Holly looked up, surprised.

Dan held her eyes. He’d meant it kiddingly, but his heart ended up sinking for the second time that night. Sherry was right. Holly deserved to have all her dreams come true, but because of him, a dream she’d worked for hadn’t.

“We’re having a Christmas movie marafon,” Ella called to him.

“Marathon,” Ruby corrected before turning to Dan. “Will you join us for that, too?”

“Uh, we’ll see.”

Ella bounced on the sofa and gestured to the star. He was pretty sure the star was the last thing to go up, but Holly and Ruby shrugged as if they didn’t mind.

Dan lifted her up and the little girl squealed when the star toppled over. It took three tries, with Dan helping her straighten the star. He avoided Holly’s gaze by picking up the set of lights she wanted him to unravel.

He ate chocolate, strung lights, hung ornaments, and listened to their girl talk and memories. They chattered nonstop, but were sure to include him by asking him to share his thoughts on
everything
.

When every decoration—from construction paper snowflakes to heirloom ornaments—was up, and the tree twinkled brightly, Ella handed him the remote control. “Movie time. Sit here,” she instructed, dragging a bean bag next to the tree.

“How many movies constitutes a marathon?” he asked Holly.

“Three. She gets to stay up as late as she wants the night we decorate the tree. It’s our tradition.”

As late as she wants?
“And do they all involve princesses?” he asked, dreading the answer.

Holly bit her lip and nodded. “We’re starting with
Disney Princesses: A Christmas of Enchantment
.”

Ella looked at him expectantly, and Ruby tried not to laugh. “Sure, I’ll stay and watch.” He pasted a smile on his face for Ella’s sake. Ella clapped, excited, and Holly beamed at him. They were
all
beaming at him. Even Stanley. It was ridiculous, but it gave the whole evening a warm, hazy glow.

He laid his head on the bean bag, stretched his legs out, and settled in to watch five princesses sing and dance, feeling oddly at home under the glow of the candy-colored Christmas lights, Stanley curled up beside him.

Holly was about to nod off again, when the last song in
Sleeping Beauty
came on. She’d seen the same movies countless times, and she was sure she’d drifted in and out of consciousness more than a few times. Dan lay sideways on the floor, using the bean bag as a pillow. Her heart squeezed hard in her chest as she watched him. He was a good guy. And he looked strong and capable, even at rest. He wasn’t cuddly, but she knew his arms around her would make her feel something much better than cuddled, something warm and solid. Her heart unclenched and her pulse began to speed up.