She just wanted him. She heard the door open behind her and felt big strong arms wrapping themselves round her frail body. She cried as though months of built-up anguish were all tumbling out at once.
‘What’s wrong with her? Didn’t she like it?’ she heard Declan ask worriedly.
‘Just leave her be, son,’ her mum said softly, and the door was closed behind them again as Daniel stroked Holly’s hair and rocked her softly.
Finally, after crying what felt like all the tears in the world, Holly stopped and let go of Daniel. ‘Sorry,’ she sniffed, drying her face with the sleeves of her top.
‘There’s no need to be sorry,’ he said, gently removing her hand from her face and handing her a tissue.
She sat in silence while trying to compose herself.
‘If you’re upset about the documentary, then there’s no need,’ he said, sitting down on a crate of glasses opposite her.
‘Yeah, right,’ she said sarcastically, wiping her tears again.
‘No, really,’ he insisted. ‘I thought it was really funny. You all looked like you were having a great time.’
‘Pity that’s not how I felt,’ she said sadly.
‘Maybe that’s not how you felt but the camera doesn’t pick up on feelings, Holly.’
‘You don’t have to try to make me feel better.’ Holly was embarrassed at being consoled by a stranger.
‘I’m not trying to make you feel better, I’m just saying it like it is. Nobody but you noticed whatever it is that’s upsetting you. I didn’t see anything so why should anyone else?’
Holly felt mildly better. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m sure I’m sure,’ Daniel said, smiling. ‘Now you really have to stop hiding in all the rooms in my club. I might take it personally,’ he laughed.
‘Are the girls OK?’ Holly asked, hoping it was just her being stupid after all.
There was loud laughter from outside.
‘They’re fine, as you can hear.’ He nodded towards the door. ‘Ciara’s delighted everyone will think she’s a star, Denise has finally come out of the toilet and Sharon just can’t stop laughing. Although Jack’s giving Abbey a hard time about throwing up on the way home.’
Holly chuckled.
‘So you see, nobody even noticed what you saw.’
‘Thanks, Daniel.’ She took a deep breath and smiled at him.
‘You ready to go face your public?’
‘Think so.’ Holly stepped outside to the sounds of laughter. The lights were up and everyone was sitting around the table and happily sharing jokes and stories. Holly sat beside her mum. Elizabeth wrapped her arm round her daughter and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
‘Well, I thought it was great,’ announced Jack enthusiastically. ‘If only we could get Declan to go out with the girls all the time, then we’d know what they get up to, eh, John?’ he winked at Sharon’s husband.
‘Well, I can assure you,’ Abbey spoke up, ‘that what you saw is not a regular girls’ night out.’
The boys weren’t having any of it.
‘So is it OK?’ Declan asked Holly, afraid he had upset her.
Holly threw him a look.
‘I thought you would like it, Hol,’ he said worriedly.
‘I might have liked it if I had known what you were doing,’ she snapped back.
‘But I wanted it to be a surprise,’ he said genuinely.
‘I hate surprises.’ She rubbed her stinging eyes.
‘Let that be a lesson to you, son,’ Frank warned Declan. ‘You shouldn’t go around filming people without them knowing what you’re doing. It’s illegal.’
‘I bet they didn’t know that when they chose him for the award,’ Elizabeth agreed.
‘You’re not gonna tell them, are you, Holly?’ Declan asked worriedly.
‘Not if you’re nice to me for the next few months,’ Holly said slyly, twisting her hair around her finger.
Declan made a face. He was stuck and he knew it. ‘Yeah, whatever,’ he said, waving her away.
‘To tell you the truth, Holly, I have to admit I thought it was quite funny,’ giggled Sharon. ‘You and your Operation Gold Curtain.’ She thumped Denise playfully on the leg.
Denise rolled her eyes. ‘I can tell you all something – I am never drinking again.’
Everyone laughed and Tom put his arm round her shoulders.
‘What?’ she said innocently. ‘I really mean it.’
‘Speaking of drink, would anyone like one?’ Daniel stood up from his chair. ‘Jack?’
‘Yeah, a Budweiser, thanks.’
‘Abbey?’
‘Em … a white wine, please,’ she said politely.
‘Frank?’
‘A Guinness, thanks, Daniel.’
‘I’ll have the same,’ said John.
‘Sharon?’
‘Vodka and Coke, please. Holly you want the same?’
Holly nodded.
‘Tom?’
‘JD and Coke, please, Dan.’
‘Me too,’ said Declan.
‘Denise?’ Daniel tried to hide his smile.
‘Em … I’ll have a … gin and tonic please.’
‘Ha!’ everyone jeered her.
‘What?’ She shrugged her shoulders as though she didn’t care. ‘One drink is hardly going to kill me …’
Holly was standing over the sink with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, scrubbing the pots, when she heard the familiar voice.
‘Hi, honey.’
She looked up and saw him standing at the open patio doors. ‘Hello, you,’ she smiled.
‘Miss me?’
‘Of course.’
‘Have
