Page 36 of Sweet Summertide (Christmas Cove #4)

He didn’t care where she took him, so long as they were going together.

He walked just behind her, as the sidewalk was packed with crowds.

It would have been nice to open his shop with all the extra foot traffic, but as it was, the final health inspection was scheduled for the first Monday of the month.

In this case, he and Holly had to wait through the holiday weekend.

By the look of her in her star-spangled dress, she was making the most of the waiting.

As she snaked through the crowd, the setting sun dipped below the rooflines.

The shade cut the outside temperatures by what felt like half at least, and his skin relaxed into what promised to be a merry evening.

For one thing, he could watch her ponytail swing back and forth all night.

They approached the fountain end of the street, and the air filled with the sounds of a live band. The woman on stage began to sing, accompanied by a single acoustic guitar. Theodor leaned over Holly’s shoulder and whispered, “Dance with me.”

At his request, she turned around, right into Theodor’s arms. His arm casually circled around to her lower back, and he moved his hips in time with the music towards the dance floor set up in the middle of the road.

They joined several other couples and some kids swaying to the song.

He shouldn’t have been surprised that she was eager to follow his lead, but he was.

Her body became part of his as he led her around the floor in an improvised dance.

She responded to every subtle command of his hand and every suggestion of his body.

They moved as one, making an entire loop until the song ended.

Using his arm as a brace, he dipped her backwards, her hair fell and exposed her beautiful long neck to him.

He would have liked to kiss her then, but he would reserve the delight for a later time when they weren’t surrounded by throngs of complete strangers.

He brought her upright and the crowd clapped for their little display. “I didn’t know you could dance like that,” Theodor said in a low voice.

“Me?” she said and clapped along with the others. “What about you? That was amazing.”

“All those years of ballroom classes weren’t for nothing.

” He winked and took her off the dance floor to where he was pretty sure he sniffed the thick, sugary scent of a fried dough treat.

He searched the various stalls and found the one he was looking for but remembered he had sidetracked her to have that dance.

“Before I change your plans again, what was that surprise?”

She jumped up and down. “I almost forgot. Come on. I don’t know how I could forget this. I want to introduce you to my dad.”

“Wait, wait. Your dad is here?” He looked down at his outfit.

“Do I look okay?” Why was his heart racing and why were his hands clammy with moisture?

He had met a million people in his life.

Shaking hands with strangers was a skill he had mastered since childhood.

But this wasn’t any stranger, this was her father.

The only thing he knew about the man was how much he loved his daughter, but he supposed anyone who could love that much wasn’t so scary.

“You look great. You look like a man who is confident with who you are and knows what you want in life,” she said and straightened his shirt collar.

“And how do you know what I want, Blake Holly Hollis?” he said.

“Because we want the same things. To make our own choices, and our own mistakes?—”

“Wrong.” Theodor leaned into her cheek. “I only want you.” His lips pressed agonizingly slowly against the apple of her cheek. This wasn’t a new revelation; he had wanted her since the day she stared at him on the train. Only now, he had a real chance at happiness with her.

“I knew that too,” she said and pecked him on the lips before turning in her heels and walking away.

“Tease!” he yelled above the blaring music.

“Flirt!” she yelled back. They had each other figured out alright. “You coming, or what?”

Did he have a choice? He had a father to meet.

Up ahead, she stopped in front of the man Theodor had seen visiting the creamery over the past week.

He was tall with an athletic build, albeit with the slightly slumped shoulders of an older gentleman.

He wore a cream linen suit with brown leather loafers like he was on the Amalfi coast, not some small upstate, New England town. But the man looked good.

Holly arched up on her toes and kissed her dad’s cheek.

She was saying something with a broad smile and some hand clapping.

She bounced the way she always did when she was really happy, and Theodor’s heart swelled knowing that her light spirit was because of him.

He hadn’t officially asked her for anything, but with what they had been through, there was no mistaking that they were each other’s.

She waved to him to hurry up and her father turned around to look at what she was looking at. Without hesitation, he extended a hand and Theodor did the same. A firm handshake and a soft facial expression was the surest way to greet someone.

“Mister Hollis. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Theodor knew to keep things formal until given permission to address him otherwise. Pride swelled that this was really happening.

“Theodor Black. It’s nice to meet you, and you can call me Glyn.” He had a firm grasp and placed his other hand on top of their joined ones. “I have to admit, Holly did not exaggerate when she told me how good looking you are.”

“Daddy, stop it,” she said and rolled her eyes.

In an effort to tease her a little more, Theodor took the theme further. “Is that right? And how good is good, Holly? Are we talking Greek God status or like David Hasselhoff circa nineteen-ninety-five?”

“What?” she asked, and her high arched brows indicated she had no idea what he was talking about. “Who’s David Hassle-whatever?”

“Never mind,” he said and chuckled along with Glyn.

“You two can’t gang up on me already.” Holly pouted. “I forbid it.”

“Would you rather we be enemies, or worse, indifferent?” Glyn said. “I can tell this guy makes you happy. And if you’re happy, sweetie, then I’m happy.”

She kissed Glyn’s cheek again. “Thanks, Daddy.”

“Plus,” Glyn continued. “Anyone is better than that wannabe, Rinaldi. I never liked that guy.”

Theodor nodded. He knew only what Holly had told him about her ex, but he did not sound like a stand-up guy. He was a man-boy with too much of his father’s money and no sense.

“I still can’t believe what mother did at the review.

I just don’t know what has gotten into her and wanting to stir things up that I had already put to bed.

It’s not like she doesn’t know about the cheating.

And she would still want me to be with someone like that?

” Holly’s voice had gotten higher-pitched with each sentence. “She doesn’t even care about me.”

Theodor took her face in his hands and locked eyes with her. “Breathe,” he whispered and demonstrated three deep inhales. “We have big things to celebrate. Stop worrying about what everyone else thinks.” He released her and stood back, holding her hand in the space between them.

“I just wish she could … I don’t know?” she shrugged.

Glyn clapped his hands together once in front of his own stomach. “She does care about you. She just doesn’t understand why you don’t want to be more like her. She’s a wonderful, independent woman who has built her business from scratch while raising a beautiful daughter.”

“But that’s just it, I am like her. She doesn’t want to admit it. The thing is, I just want something different, is all.”

Holly’s analysis was spot on. She was probably more like her mom than her mom was willing to accept.

Theodor, on the other hand, was nothing like either of his parents.

His father would never come around to Theodor’s choice.

He had made it clear from an early age that being a lawyer was the only path he’d ever support him taking.

Becoming a chocolatier wasn’t even in the same realm where his father lived.

At least his mother was slightly more supportive.

Perhaps not supportive, but she would never do anything to intentionally cut him down.

He had invited her to the festival but never heard back, and figured it was a slim chance she’d make an appearance anyway.

At least he had extended the invitation. Now the ball was in her court.

“Are you staying for the announcement?” Theodor asked Glyn.

“I wouldn’t want to miss it. But if you’ll excuse me, I spot an old friend by the fried dough stand.” Glyn extended his hand to Theodor again. Taking it, he shook firmly. “Teddy, it’s a pleasure. But I’ve got an eye on you.”

“Yes, sir. Enjoy your treat. And make sure to stop in my shop next time you come this way.”

“Wouldn’t miss it,” Glyn said and took Holly in his arms. “You look beautiful tonight. Hang on to this one,” he whispered loud enough for Theodor to hear, and winked at him.

The interaction was a little awkward, though Theodor had no reference point for meeting a girlfriend’s father.

He had dated a few women who were family friends, so was already acquainted with those fathers.

And other girls never brought him home. It never bothered him before, but to see Holly’s blush spread across her cheeks at how proud she was to have her father getting along with her boyfriend made him feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

“Holly, I think I …” he paused his words as he spotted his mother coming through the crowd. “… I see my mother.”

Holly followed the line of his pointer finger and laughed. “No, way. My mother actually came, too,” she said.

“Your mom?” he was confused. His mom was only a few feet from the edge of the dance floor with her unmistakable slicked black hair and whatever Chanel dress she pulled from her closet.

She was in a light-hearted conversation with a woman with long, blonde hair wearing blue jeans and a white blouse.

The two women laughed at something, both throwing their heads back almost in unison.

“That’s your mom?” Theodor asked to make certain. “Because, if it is, she’s talking with mine.”

Holly’s face became a mix of panic and fear. “This can’t be good.” She swallowed hard and reset her expression to a neutral calm. Redirecting her footsteps, she pushed through the crush of bodies towards the pair. “Mother,” she sang. “What are you doing here?”

His mother spotted him and spoke first. “Hello, dear,” she said and kissed his cheeks in her typical greeting.

“You didn’t tell me you were acquainted with the Blacks,” Holly’s mother said and kissed her in the same manner. “This must be the infamous Theodor. Your mother and I go way back.”

“You do?” he said and searched his mom’s eyes for answers. He recognized the slight raise in her right eyebrow as a way to say she’d tell him more later.

“We met at a charity function a few years back. It was the …”

“I believe it was the Stallion and Stalls gala. We raised several million dollars for equestrian opportunities for troubled youth. It was a wonderful event.”

“That’s right,” Holly’s mother said and snapped her fingers. “You can imagine my surprise to find you so far from Manhattan, out here in the sticks.”

“Mother. This happens to be our home. It’s not like we’re in the boonies,” Holly said and spoke softly. “Why are you even here? Don’t you usually attend the event at the Drayton’s?”

“Yes, of course. I’m heading there soon, but I brought you something.” She turned to Theodor and his mom. “Excuse me, I have something waiting for Holly. Catch up soon.” She took Holly by the hand and moved away from him.

Holly reached back behind, pleading for help, but his own mother turned his attention away.

“The Hollis girl, really?” she said.

“What’s wrong with the Hollis girl?” he said with the same affected tone his mom had just used when saying her name.

“She’s a troublemaker. Her mother says she’s a miscreant and even went to jail.

I just hope this isn’t the girl that you’ve been making your questionable life choices for.

A pretty face isn’t worth throwing away your future.

” She continued without so much as letting him take a breath.

“Your father warned me not to come here, but I thought I would come show you some support. But I’m sorry dear, I can’t support this. ”

“Which part?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I said, which part? You don’t approve of me being a chocolatier or a small business owner? Or you don’t approve of a woman I’m falling in love with and who makes me feel seen for the first time in my life. Which is it?”

She huffed and feigned offense. Her hand covered her white pearl necklace. “I will not be spoken to in such a manner. I raised you better than to behave like this.”

“That’s the thing. You didn’t raise me. I raised myself, or grandma did.

I did what I was supposed to do. I smiled and nodded.

And then I grew up. I’m not sorry I didn’t become the lawyer you and dad wanted me to be, but at some point, you’ll see that I’ve become the man you had hoped I would become, just with a different career. ”

She stood, slack-jawed at his rebuke and shook her head. “I’ve never …” her words trailed off at having nothing else to say and walked away.

Now, where was Holly? He suspected his girlfriend needed saving too.