Cecelia Ahern - P.S. I Love You

Holly felt that she had phrased it reasonably, but Helen looked like she had been slapped in the face. A small dose of what Holly had felt for the past year. Daniel appeared out of nowhere, took Holly by the hand and led her to the dance floor to join all her friends. As soon as they reached the dance floor the song ended and Eric Clapton's “Wonderful Tonight” began. The dance floor began to empty out bar a few couples and Holly was left facing Daniel. She gulped.

She hadn't planned on this. She had only ever danced with Gerry to this song.

Daniel placed his hand lightly on her waist and gently took her hand and they began to circle around. Holly was stiff. Dancing with another man felt wrong. A tingle went down her spine and she shuddered. Daniel must have thought she was cold and he pulled her closer to keep her warm. She was led around the floor in a trance until the song ended and she made the excuse of having to go to the toilet. She locked herself in the cubicle and leaned against the door taking deep breaths. She had been doing so well up until now. Even with everyone asking her about Gerry she had remained calm. But the dance had shaken her. Perhaps it was time to go home while the going was good. She was about to unlock the door when she heard a voice outside say her name. She froze and listened to the women chatting outside.

“Did you see Holly Kennedy dancing with that man tonight?” a voice asked. The unmistakable whine of Jennifer.

“I know!” another voice spoke with a tone of disgust. “And her husband not yet cold in his grave!”

“Ah leave her alone,” another woman said lightheartedly, “they could just be friends.”

Thank you, Holly thought.

“But I doubt it,” she continued and the women giggled.

“Did you see the way they were wrapped around each other? I don't dance with any of my friends like that,” Jennifer said.

“That's disgraceful,” another woman said. “Imagine flaunting your new man in a place you used to come to with your husband in front of all his friends. It's disgusting.” The women tutted and a toilet flushed in the cubicle beside Holly. She stood frozen in her position, shocked by what she was hearing and embarrassed they were saying it where others could hear.

The toilet door opened beside her and the women were silenced. “Would you bickering old bitches ever go and get yourselves lives?” Sharon's voice yelled. “It is absolutely no business of yours what my best friend does or does not do! Jennifer, if your life was so bloody perfect then what are you doing sneaking around with Pauline's husband?”

Holly heard someone gasp. It was probably Pauline.

Holly covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

“Right, so keep your noses in your own business and piss off the lot of you!” Sharon yelled.

When Holly felt she had heard everyone leave she unlocked the door and stepped outside.

Sharon looked up at her from the sink in shock.

“Thanks, Sharon.”

“Oh Holly, I'm sorry you had to hear that,” she said, giving her friend a hug.

“It doesn't matter, I couldn't give a crap what they think,” Holly said bravely. “But I can't believe Jenny is having an affair with Pauline's husband!” Holly said, shocked.

Sharon shrugged, “She's not, but it'll give them something to bitch about for the next few months.”

The girls giggled.

“I think I'll go home now, though,” Holly said, glancing at her watch and thinking about the final message from Gerry. Her heart sank.

“Good idea,” Sharon agreed. “I didn't realize how shite this ball was when you're sober.”

Holly smiled.

“Anyway, you were great tonight, Holly. You came, you conquered, now go home and open Gerry's message. Ring me and let me know what it says.” She hugged her friend again.

“It's the last one,” Holly said sadly.

“I know, so enjoy it,” Sharon smiled. “But memories last a lifetime, remember that.”

Holly made her way back to the table to say good-bye to everyone and Daniel stood up to leave with her. “You're not leaving me here on my own,” he laughed. “We can share a cab.”

Holly was slightly irritated when Daniel hopped out of the taxi and followed her to her house, as she was looking forward to opening the envelope from Gerry. It was a quarter to twelve, which gave her fifteen minutes. She hoped he would drink his tea and be gone by then. She even called another taxi to arrive at her house in half an hour, just to let him know he couldn't stay too long.

“Ah, so this is the famous envelope,” Daniel said, picking the tiny envelope up from the table.

Holly's eyes widened; she felt protective over that envelope, and she wasn't happy with him touching it, removing Gerry's trace from it.

“December,” he said, reading the outside and running his fingers along the lettering. Holly wanted to tell him to put it down but didn't want to sound psychotic. Eventually he placed it back on the table and she breathed a sigh of relief and continued to fill the kettle with water.

“How many more envelopes are left?” Daniel asked, taking his overcoat off and walking over to join her at the kitchen counter.

“That's the last one.” Holly's voice was husky and she cleared her throat.

“So what are you going to do after that?”

“What do you mean?” she asked, feeling confused.

“Well, as far as I can see, that list is like your bible, your ten commandments. What the list says goes, as far as your life is concerned. So what will you do when there aren't any more?”

Holly looked up at his face to see if he was being smart, but his blue eyes twinkled back at her.

“I'll just live my life,” she replied, turning her back and flicking the switch on the kettle.

“Will you be able to do that?” he walked closer to her and she could smell his aftershave. It was a real Daniel smell.

“I suppose so,” she replied, confused and uncomfortable by his questions.

“Because you will have to make your own decisions then,” he said softly.

“I know that,” she said defensively, avoiding eye contact with him.

“And do you think you'll be able to do that?”

Holly rubbed her face tiredly. “Daniel, what's this about?”

He swallowed hard and adjusted his stance before her, trying to make himself comfortable. “I'm asking you this because I'm going to say something to you now, and you are going to have to make your own decision.” He looked her straight in the eye and her heart beat wildly. “There will be no list, no guidelines; you will just have to follow your own heart.”

Holly backed away from him a little. A feeling of dread pulled at her heart and she hoped he wasn't going to say what she thought he was about to say.

“Em . . . Daniel . . . I d-don't think that this is . . . the right time to . . . um . . . we shouldn't talk about . . .”

“This is a perfect time,” he said seriously. “You already know what I'm going to say to you, Holly, and I know you already know how I feel about you.”

Holly's mouth dropped open and she glanced at the clock.

It was twelve o'clock.

Forty-seven

GERRY TOUCHED HOLLY'S NOSE AND smiled to himself as she wrinkled up her nose in her sleep. He loved watching her while she was sleeping; she looked like a princess, so beautiful and peaceful.

He tickled her nose again and smiled as her eyes slowly opened. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”

She smiled at him. “Good morning, beautiful.” She cuddled closer to him and rested her head on his chest. “How are you feeling today?”

“Like I could run the London marathon,” he joked.

“Now that's what I call a quick recovery,” she smiled, lifting her head and kissing him on the lips. “What do you want for breakfast?”