Double Trouble: Thirty, Spreading Christmas Cheer
by Cariad
 
 
 

Double Trouble
~Thirty~
As the caravan reached the hospital, empty stretchers were waiting, under the direction of Dr. Eve Russel, for the plants and flowers.

“Wow!” Julia observed to Noah, “you guys coordinate quickly.”

“We were going to go caroling, but when you said you had a house full of flowers which needed good homes, we all changed our plans. The food bank was already full of goodwill, and people in the hospital always need cheering.”

“I’m sure Holly would have approved,” Julia said smiling, transferring an elaborate bouquet to the stretcher.

The afternoon passed quickly as the unwanted flowers found happy homes in the rooms and hearts of those unable to be with families on the Holiday. Julia knocked on a shut door, and upon receiving no response, gingerly opened the door to drop off a potted chrysanthemum to the sleeping occupant.

“I didn’t ring for a nurse,” a surly old voice rang from the bed.

“I’m not the nurse,” Julia said quietly.

“Then go away.”

“I was just bringing you some flowers to brighten up your room.”

“Flowers shrivel up and die. Do I know you?”

“I don’t think so,” Julia said, “But with some water every so often, these flowers shouldn’t die. It’s potted.”

“Bah.”

Julia set the mum down on the window ledge and opened the curtains a bit so it could get sunlight. “Merry Christmas,” Julia told the old woman.

“Bah. Just go and leave me in peace.”

“Certainly,” Julia said pleasantly, and turned to leave.

“Just because it’s Christmas, people are nice,” the woman muttered. “What about the other 364 days?”

“I’m not sure, ma’am. I only just got in here a few days ago myself, but I’ve noticed that there are many kind people in this town.”

“Bah,” the old woman said and turned her shoulder to Julia.

Julia sighed and cracked the door.

“You wouldn’t know they were Cranes by the way they act,” Eve Russel was telling someone. “But be careful around her. Her mother is a bitch and her father is a drunken pervert. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“You don’t know her,” Noah’s voice replied.

“I speak from experience,” Eve said. “And my experience with the Cranes and with Ivy Winthrop—or whatever she’s calling herself these days—tells me to keep a distance from them. They’re all twisted.”

Julia opened the door all the way and stepped out into the hallway. Making sure her footfalls were heard, she marched down the hallway to the stretcher. “Is that all of them?” she asked Noah and Eve.

“Yes,” Eve replied in a distant voice, “thank you so much for donating them. I’m sure you’ve made some people happy.”

Hypocrite, Julia thought bitterly. She gave a stunning smile. “It was at Holly’s request, Dr. Russell,” Julia said demurely.

As they were walking back down to the main entrance, Reese caught up to them. “How’s Holly feeling?” he asked.

“She’s still quite tired,” Julia replied.

“Well I was wondering… Because I didn’t see it come through, if the flowers I sent got there.”

“What were they?” Julia asked.

“It was just a small red poinsettia, about this big,” and Reese held his hands less than a foot apart, “wrapped in greed foil. I would have sent something better, but it was all that was left.”

Julia patted his arm in reassurance. “That was the one plant that Holly kept.”

Reese blushed and pushed his dark glasses up his nose. A second later, he was called away by Dopey—Miguel, Julia corrected herself.

“So did you ever get your tree decorated last night?” Julia asked Noah as they returned to his car.

“Eventually, but Dad was really livid.”

“I don’t blame him. Daddy was rather rude to him in the hallway.”

“Speak of the devil,” Noah said, turning to greet Sam.

Sam took Julia’s hand. “I just wanted to thank you and your sister,” Sam said, grinning wildly.

“And Holly wants you to know that she is very grateful that you were there to pull her from the ocean.”

“I was worried about her,” Sam said quietly. “After she saw your mother and I… well, she left Ivy’s house in a very agitated state. I was hoping she wouldn’t do something rash. I convinced Ivy that we should go and look for her. It was a miracle that Ivy recognized the plates on the car she was driving and we got there in time.”

Julia gave the Police Chief a large hug. “Well, you’re my hero. I don’t know what I would have done without my sister. You gave her back to me.”

For a long moment, Sam just held Ivy’s youngest child as she clung to him and let her fear and grief break loose. When Julia pulled away, Sam let go. Julia wiped her eyes with the back of her hands and gave a bright and sincere smile. “Thank you,” she whispered, quickly running to the other side of the car so she could climb in without further embarrassment.

“That’s all the thanks I need,” Sam said.
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a two-hour nap, Holly woke feeling much better. Her throbbing headache had disappeared, and she discovered she was hungry. Padding downstairs in stocking feet, she smiled at the cook and the servants, and went to make a snack for herself. Despite her vehement protests, her snack turned into a hot preview of the Christmas dinner, with all the choicest morsels for Miss Holly. She shared her bounty with all who passed by in the bustling kitchen cajoling some of the staff into taking a snippet of ham or a bite of turkey. Only by insisting she was quite full and would not be able to eat the dinner when they presented it later that evening, would the cook let her out of the kitchen.
Her second stop, she knew would be much less joyful. She sought out her father in his study. Thankfully, he was alone, furiously scribbling on something, a half-empty bottle of brandy on his desk.

“Father, what are you doing?”

“Thank God it’s you, Ivy,” Julian said, looking up, squinting at her. “I feared for a moment, it would be Rebecca. I’m changing my will.”

“Do you think you should die soon?”

“I have instructions for you, Ivy,” he said feverishly, downing another swig from his brandy bottle. “I want you to take care of the girls. I don’t want Rebecca near them, and the little Theresa. I know you despise her, Ivy, but someone has to take care of the little one.”

“How much of that brandy have you had?” Holly asked coldly. “I’m cutting you off.”

“How you haunt me, Ivy. You are everywhere I look, smiling, happy, like you were before we got married. Why must you haunt me! You and that doll of Tabitha’s.”

“Father, you’re drunk. Need I remind you what happened the last time you got schnockered? You got married to Pilar’s daughter and now she’s carrying your child.”

“When I’m gone, if it’s a boy, name him ‘Julian’ please, as a remembrance?”

“Father, you’re incoherent! You are not going to die soon. Unless of course you drink yourself that way.”

“Oh, but I may,” Julian muttered. “When Rebecca finds out, there’s no telling what she’ll do.”

“Father!” Holly snapped, banging her hand on his desk. “Snap out of it! Please. I’m not Ivy. I’m not your ex-wife. I’m your daughter, Holly. Your oldest daughter.”

“Holly?” he asked.

“Yes, Father. Holly. I wanted to know if you had lied to me in the hospital. I know you want to get rid of Rebecca, but, Father, promise me that you will not kill her!” she said urgently. “Promise me, Father, that you are not a murderer!”

“How could you think such a thing of me?” Julian demanded.

“Promise me, Father.” Holly was trembling, her fingers white as she clutched the edge of his desk.

Julian glanced from his daughter’s white fingers to her pale face. “I am not a murderer, Holly.”

“Thank you, Father,” Holly said, her knees nearly giving way.

“Leave me,” he ordered.

Holly gave him one last look and quit the study.

The doorbell rang and a butler answered it, admitting a familiar, yet unwelcome figure. “Ho! Ho! Ho!” he called into the house.

Holly pressed her lips together. She was going to have to deal with him sometime. “I suppose that is your Season’s greeting?” Holly asked coolly.

“Actually, I was calling for my mother,” Jonathan replied briskly.

Holly remained unimpressed with his joke.

“Not even a smile for that one, Holly?” he asked upon noting her static face.

“I do not know where she has gotten herself,” Holly replied.

“I wasn’t truly looking for my mother. Where have all the flowers gone? Did they not arrive?”

“I sent them away. Julia took care of it while I was sleeping. We gave them to people who could use some flowers—as opposed to me. The only cheering I needed was knowing that you would not be near me. But I suppose now all my Holiday spirit has fled.”

Jonathan shook his head. “You are so cold, Holly. I wanted to make sure you were feeling better. After all, I will need you by my side for the Ball.”

“Don’t fear that, Jonathan,” Holly said without emotion. “Even if I was on my deathbed, I would still be wheeled into that Ball by your side. Grandfather Crane has dictated it, so it must be.”

“Is your father available?” Jonathan asked.

“He is not receiving anyone, no.”

Jonathan sighed. “Then I suppose I should give you this and go then,” he said, pulling a small box out of his pocket.

“Did you get anything for Julia?”

“Should I have?”

“If you get something for me, you get something for her.”

“I have a feeling those rules only apply to me,” he sighed.

“No,” Holly replied smoothly. “Those rules apply to those people who are trying to gain favor with the family through us.”

“You do me a disservice, Holly,” he said, his eyes darkening. “How little you know of my intentions.”

“And how much I know of my Grandfather’s intentions. I do not need to know yours,” she said in an arctic tone.

Jonathan nodded his head. “My little Snow Princess,” he murmured. “Take this anyway.”

“I cannot.” Holly replied, pushing his outstretched hand back to his body.

“Very well,” Jonathan said, depositing the gift on the hall table on his way out.

Holly breathed a relieved sigh once she heard his vehicle drive away. She left the unopened gift sitting on the hall table.
 
 
 
 
 

Chapter 31
Chapter 29
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