Page 14 of Holly's Valentine Vow

“As much as I hate to do it, I have to leave, handsome,” Holly says, regret ringing in her tone.

“Go spend some time with Mina and Ruby. I’ll be perfectly fine right here, babe.” My eyelids grow heavier as the seconds pass by.

She leans in so our foreheads are touching and says, “I love you so fucking much, Rebel. You’re the one who completes my soul, and I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

I feel emotion welling up at her words, something I don’t want to deal with, so I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and kiss her instead. As our tongues duel, I pour every ounce of what I’m feeling into the interaction until we pull apart, both of us breathless and panting.

“I love you too, Holly. This is just a speed bump on our journey.” She giggles which was my intent and gives me a quick peck on the lips.

“I’m grabbing your dirty clothes and will bring them back once I do some laundry. Is there anything else I can bring you?” she asks.

“Can’t think of a thing. Text me when you get home and let me know you got there without any issues. I’ll call you later this evening once the girls have gone to bed, okay?” I query.

“That sounds good to me. Be prepared for their artwork to come with me tomorrow,” she warns, grinning at me. “A little birdy told me they were going to be drawing with Grammy today. You’ll probably have homemade cookies included too.”

Before I can answer, another yawn bursts free. “Sorry, Holl.”

“Nap, Rebel. Rest is just as important for your body to heal,” she says. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

My sleep is so deep, I don’t even wake up when they come in to hook up the IV antibiotics I’m still getting to ward off any potential infections.

Chapter Eight

Holly

“Sweetheart,if you don’t start getting some rest, you’ll be no good to Rebel once he’s released from rehab,” Grammy says, chastising me as I help her clean the kitchen after dinner.

She’s already bathed both girls, who are in their pajamas, just waiting for Pappy to carry them over to our house so they can go to bed. “Grammy, I promise, once the girls are down, I’m only going to call Rebel really quick then I’m going to sleep myself.” Like the dead. I’ve never felt such an emotional toll as I have since Rebel’s accident.

The clients can wait since the only accounts I’ve got left to work on are the club businesses. I’m sure they’ll understand the delay seeing that Rebel’s their president. Psycho has already sent me the spreadsheets for each of the businesses so all I have to do is plug them into the software for payroll. He’ll print off the checks and he and Ash will sign them since they’re on the business bank accounts then distribute them to the employees. Each business now has its own checking account which has made life so mucheasier for all of us. Initially, it was a hot mess and I thought I’d never get it all sorted. Nowadays, it runs like a well-oiled machine. Even with this situation with Rebel, the brothers have been able to handle shit for the most part.

“Come on, Holly, let’s get these girls to bed,” Pappy says. My smile is tired looking, I’m sure, but seeing both girls curled into his strong arms makes me remember when I was a little girl, and he did the same thing for me. Cuddling with my pappy was the highlight of my day. Wish things were still that simple and his arms could fix anything that’d gone awry in my day.

“Good night, Grammy. And if I haven’t already said it, thank you for all of your help with the girls,” I say, leaning in and giving her a kiss and a hug.

“Child, there’s nothing your pappy or I won’t do to help y’all as long as we’ve got breath in our bodies,” she replies, patting my cheek. “Now, you get a good night’s sleep, then bring the girls over for a hearty breakfast. What time are you planning to go over to the rehab facility?”

I stop and think then say, “He’s got his therapies first thing in the morning, so I’ll probably wait and go closer to lunch time.”

“Then I’ll be sure to make plenty of food so you can take him some good home cooking,” she replies, solidifying her words with a hefty nod.

Both girls are lightly snoring before I get three pages of their latest book read. The bedtime story is a classic. It’s one I remember as a little girl and I know they’ll enjoy it once weget further into the story itself. Setting it on their bedside table that sits between their twin size beds, I lean over and kiss both of them, check their covers then turn out the lamp. On my way out the door, I click on their nightlight. They don’t ask for it anymore, but it makes me feel better knowing they’ll be able to see where they’re going if they need to visit the restroom in the middle of the night.

Ever since Rebel’s accident, they’ve insisted on sleeping in the same bed. Rather than argue with them, I’m rolling with it because I know they’re scared. It’s something that gives them solace, and as their mother, I’d do anything to help them sleep peacefully throughout the night. Even if it’s a habit that we’ve broken over time.

Unfortunately, I can’t divide myself in two, so if they can get comfort from each other, I’ll allow them to do so, and we’ll worry about any repercussions once Rebel’s home. I know they’ll end up in my bed at some point, but at least there’s plenty of room for all of us to spread out.

Yawning, I make my way around the house, checking to make sure all the doors and windows are locked before I double check the alarm. I grin because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rebel will ask me if I did it since he’s not here to ensure it’s done.

Since my bathroom’s out of commission, I grab my pajama set and clean underwear then head into the other bathroom the girls use that’s in the hall. Pulling up my hair into a knot on top of my head so it doesn’t get wet, I make quick work of showering, then I brush my teeth, clean my face, then apply my nightly moisturizer before I head into my own bedroom.

“Ah, bed,” I murmur as I set my alarm on my phone then toss it onto the mattress so I can call Rebel once I get nestled beneath the blanket. When it rings, I see it’s from a local number so I answer it, thinking it may be someone calling from the front desk of the facility Rebel’s at.

“You were supposed to be on that bike,” Myra hisses. The venom in her tone has my back subconsciously going ramrod straight.

“What?” I ask, shaking my head to clear the sleepiness trying to pull me under.

“I thought you’d be on the bike with him,” she states.

---