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Chapter 11
It wasn't until we'd walked inside another building that she finally realized where we were. "Bowling!? You took me out to go bowling!?"
"Yep. I remember Kris telling me how much you and Daniel used to bowl."
"That was a very long time ago. We haven't had as much time to play anymore."
"I know. I thought this would be a good way for you to work out some of your tension."
She gave a sad smile. "Perhaps."
"Look," I said as soon as we got to our lane. "I know it's weird not being at an alley with him but this may be good for you."
"I hope so."
"That's the spirit. Now let's get started. I haven't played in ages myself."
"So what? That makes it all the more interesting."
Three games later, we were tied each for a win. I was down one pin and it was the final frame. Holly wasn't helping me any either by laughing and teasing me. I just rolled my eyes and turned to look down the lane. Ten pins stared back at me and I let go of my ball. "Hell yeah!" I cried out. "A strike!" I stuck out my tongue at Holly and went to retrieve my ball. A new set of pins stood, waiting to be knocked over. I only got six down total this time though.
"Come on Holly," I said as I went to sit back down. "Let's see if you can beat that!"
It was her turn to roll her eyes at me. Seven pins came down on her first roll; she was still down ten pins. There was no way she could beat me unless… "A spare!?" I cried out. "Hey, that's no good! You're getting too close!"
"Hah! Serves you right for being so confident. How many am I down by?"
"Five," I answered when I looked at the score.
"Just five," I heard her say under her breath when she turned back around.
"Come on Holly. You can do it." I saw her hesitate a bit but she went on. A strike.
I felt my jaw drop as she let out a whoop of joy. "Yeah baby! Look who lost!"
I shut my mouth and felt a smile creeping up on my face. "All right, all right. You won. Congratulations," I said, getting up to give her a hug. Later on, as we headed out the building, I remembered to ask her something. "Hey Holly, what was up right before that last bowl?"
"Huh?"
"You kinda hesitated before you bowled your last one."
She pondered for a moment and then she remembered. "You said that I could do it."
"Yeah, so?"
She smiled at me. "Kris always said that to me and sometimes, I'd be lucky enough to get strikes."
"Hey! That's not fair then! I gave you good luck!"
"You didn't know," she laughed.
"Duh! If I'd known, I wouldn't have said those words exactly."
"Too late Ryan. I won already."
I shook my head as we got into the car. "Next time, I'll remember not to say that."
"Next time?"
"Of course next time. What? You think I'm content with losing today? Not a chance. I'll get my revenge."
Holly's only comeback was her laughter and I smiled. This is the way it's meant to be. Holly's meant to laugh and be happy. I guess I can take on the task of keeping her that way for as long as I can. I turned on the radio and started driving in the direction of her home.
It took some time but Holly began to adapt to a life without Daniel around. She was smiling more often now and her dips into sadness became few and short. I'd been right. All she needed was to realize that mourning was appropriate and that she wasn't alone in it at all. Everyone supported her and I did my best to be there for her as well, often being the one to drive her home at night or just spend a few hours watching a movie with her to get her to relax once in awhile.
I came to look forward to the times when Holly and I were finished for the day and could go out to relax somewhere. It was awkward at first, I agree, to be spending so much time with her, but I soon to grew to love her companionship and it appeared that the feeling was returned. Back then, we'd often take one of the other Council with us or enjoy some quality time with the followers. But when it was short notice and it was just the two of us…
I was very happy those days and I didn't think to wonder why then, although looking back, whether I knew it or not then, I was beginning to think of her as more than a friend with each night that passed. But in the beginning, I'd tried to hold back from thinking that way about her. I focused on just being there to comfort her. After all, she was just recently widowed. And as for myself, I wasn't exactly wanting in a new relationship either. I still loved Kris with all my heart but as more time passed, I couldn't ignore what Holly's mere presence did to me.
It didn't matter what we did. We'd see to it that we had fun. Most of the time, we didn't have to try. She was such a great person with such a sense of humor… The most innocent thing could be said by either myself or by strangers we passed and she could turn that comment into something more, oftentimes dirty. I mean, I'm sure that side is apparent in all of us but sometimes, that side just gets buried. I was used to it coming from my friends when I was younger but as more of them had gotten married and stopped hanging around bachelor me, I heard it less and less. Holly though… While I was trying to make her be the one to laugh, she was reminding me how to laugh on my own as well. It was so refreshing to be able to joke around like that again after the years. I enjoyed that playfulness in her. It was a welcome relief after all the stress we went through. Then, I remember wishing - hoping, really - that Holly would remember to smile again after what happened next.
I was dropping her off at home after one of our movie nights. When we got there however, we noticed something was amiss. A bit of light was strewing out onto the lawn from the front door, which was left slightly ajar. Holly and I gave each other a look and I cautiously went in with Holly right behind me. Silence greeted us as did a trashed living room scene. Whoever had broken in had been looking for something. Furniture was turned over, cushions slashed open with stuffing spilling out. Holly, can you check if anyone's still in the house? I asked her telepathically.
I turned and saw her nod before closing her eyes. A few seconds later, she shook her head negative. I gave a sigh of relief. "Come on then. Let's see what other damage has been done." The thought of calling the police never crossed our minds since we were certain that the thief or thieves were after something that couldn't be explained to just anyone.
Slowly, we made our way through the wreckage and around the house. Every room downstairs had been similarly ransacked although nothing appeared to be taken. I heard Holly sniffling when we started going up the stairs and I couldn't blame her. All the pictures that had lined that stairwell had been taken off their hooks and thrown carelessly down after the back had been searched. Shattered glass lay on each step.
Upstairs was a completely different story. No room had been touched and everything laid as it should, all rooms in order. "Strange, don't you think?" Holly could only nod. I turned back to her and noticed she was looking a little pale. "Hey, why don't we get some of your things and you can spend the night at my place tonight? I don't think it's the best idea to stay her tonight with all this." Again, she nodded and went to her room so she could pack up some of her stuff.
I made my way back down the stairs. What were they looking for? Why only downstairs? I shook my head as I picked up one picture from where it had been carelessly left. Holly's and Daniel's faces smiled back at me through cracked glass. I frowned in concentration as I focused on that crack, tracing it with one finger. A faint light came from that finger and slowly melted the glass again enough to meld the two pieces of glass together. Then I hung it back up on the wall where it came from.
The others weren't so lucky to have only gotten that slight crack. After bringing down an armful of frames and photos, I gave a slight sweep of my hand and the glass was pushed off to the wall side of the stairs. I found a trash bag in the kitchen and began cleaning up the mess. I was in the process of righting the couch when I heard Holly come out of her room. I watched silently as she came down the stairs, tears coming from her eyes. I met her at the bottom step, holding her in my arms to comfort her. I sighed, taking her small suitcase from her and wrapping my other arm around her waist. "Come on. Let's get out of here. We can clean up tomorrow."