Page 38 of Free to Live

We finish going over the schedule, and there’s little else to change. “I can’t believe how efficiently this is being handled. With the other firm—” I can tell by the face she makes she’s not impressed over our previous choice. “—I was doing as much work for the event as they were.”

Ali opens her mouth to speak but then shuts it. “What?” I challenge her.

“Nothing. Let’s just say I’m not surprised. Give me a moment to make these changes and send them to Cass.” She turns to her computer. Within minutes, I have a revised schedule in hand with an additional hard copy to drop on my father’s desk.

“Not bad, Ali. You know, you guys should do this for a living,” I tease. It feels rusty but somehow right.

“Get out of here. I’ve got work to do. I’m sure I’ll run into you at daycare.” Standing, we shake hands. I make my way to the door before I pause.

I might regret this, but something is telling me I should do it.

“Ali, is Holly around?”

“Do I look like my sister’s keeper?”

With all seriousness, I reply, “Yes.”

She winks. “You’re right. At least, one of them.” She turns to her keyboard and taps in a few keys. “You might be able to catch her. Second door on the right before you hit the stairs.”

“Thanks. For everything.” I hold her glance for a second longer than necessary before I disappear down the hall to make amends to a woman who did nothing wrong.

Other than being kind.

* * *

“Knock knock.”My fingers rap on Holly’s open door. Her hair whips around before settling on her shoulders in a cloud of reds and golds.

“Something I can help you with? Did Ali forget to go over something? She should still be in her office,” Holly goes to stand, but I wave her back in her seat.

“No. I just wanted a moment of your time.”

She tilts her head. “For?”

“To say I’m sorry.”

“Nothing to apologize for.” Holly dismisses my apology verbally, but she won’t look at me.

“Holly, I…”

“If you’re referring to the other night, it should be me apologizing.” She turns to grab a pen. Fiddling with it, she says, “You’re obviously a capable man, Joe. My help wasn’t needed.”

“I’m just so used to doing things on my own…” I try to explain, but she cuts me off again.

“Really, there’s no need for explanations.” Her lips are turned up in a smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “We all have off moments, right? Let’s just put it aside and move on.”

Can we?The thought flies through my head even as Holly turns back toward her desk and looks at a picture on the screen. Uncapping the pen, she takes quick notes on the pad next to her before she clicks through a few photos. Without turning around, she asks, “Was there something else you need? Unfortunately, I’m swamped trying to get these photos back today.”

“Can I have a minute of your time?” Her spine goes ramrod straight. “Please?” I add.

Carefully, she recaps the pen before facing me again. All the animation I saw before I interrupted her and Ali is washed away. Her intake of breath causes her wide-collared V-neck sweater to clutch even tighter to her body. I try not to notice how the black offsets her dramatic coloring and fail miserably. “What is it?” she asks quietly.

“My reactions had nothing to do with you and everything to do with me,” I say simply.

Her expression doesn’t change. I work up the courage to continue. “I…just don’t know how to handle… It’s been Grace and I…too many people…after…” I stare down at my boots.

“Joe, you don’t need to explain anything.” Her voice washes over me like a healing balm, a gift of acceptance without my having to say a word.

“I do because all you were trying to offer was help and… Look, I’m not doing this very well.” I lift my head and find Holly staring at me. Only her eyes have shifted. There’s a glow to them now there wasn’t just a few moments ago.