Holding Holly (Love and Football Series) by Julie Brannagh

she’d been sitting on, and Holly said, “Wait.”
    Stephanie turned back to her.
    “I-I need to ask you a question,” Holly said. “You have people at home who are hungry, too, don’t you?”
    Stephanie folded her lips and bowed her head again. “I just need a job. If I could find a job, I think we’d be okay. I . . . I got laid off, I haven’t been able to find another job, and I’ve applied everywhere.” She let out a sigh. “I know you didn’t ask for this today, but I have to tell someone. My husband left us. My unemployment is running out. I don’t know how I’m going to find the money to give my kids a Christmas, let alone how I’m going to pay next month’s bills.” Her mouth trembled. She looked into Holly’s eyes. “I’m so sorry to dump on you.”
    “How many kids do you have?”
    “Three. Michael’s fourteen. He’s my rock.” It was all Holly could do not to punch the air with excitement as Stephanie spoke. “He’s had to take care of my younger son and daughter so many times while I interviewed or filled out applications, and he never complains. He’s a growing boy. He needs good nourishing food; he’s outgrowing his clothes”—tears rose in her eyes, and she silently fought them back—“Ethan’s my seven-year-old, and Chloe is my baby. She’s four.”
    “Your contact info is on here, right?” Holly picked up the application to check for an address and phone number.
    The fear in Stephanie’s face clutched at Holly’s guts. “Things aren’t great for us right now, but please don’t turn me in to Child Protective Services. I don’t want to lose my kids. I’ll get past this and we’ll be fine.”
    “I wouldn’t do that,” Holly said. “I want to help.” She grabbed the bag of food she’d assembled and walked out from behind the counter. “I know you’re doing the best you can. I also know people here who will help.” She grabbed the pen still sitting on the counter and scrawled her phone number on the bag of food. “Here’s a snack for your family. I will call you when I get home later. Let’s work on finding you a great job for starters, okay?” She held out her arms to Stephanie. “Everything is going to be fine. I promise you.”
    She felt Stephanie’s body shaking with sobs as she hugged her.

Chapter Nine
    D ERRICK SAUNTERED INTO Noel’s community center, which had been transformed into a winter wonderland for tonight’s party by a group of event planners and a caterer. He glanced around at round tables covered in butcher paper, boxes of crayons at each place setting so the kids could draw while they ate what he’d been assured was excellent food, and centerpieces made of all different sizes of candy canes. A wall-length buffet was under construction. Santa’s seat of honor was waiting for him, and so was a photographer who would take souvenir pictures for each child.
    Holding the party for the Santa letter-writing children of Noel on a Tuesday turned out to be a stroke of genius. Noel’s vendors were booked on party weekends, but were happy to have the business on a weeknight. After the Sharks annihilated Denver on Sunday afternoon, it wasn’t hard to persuade most of his teammates to spend a few hours of their day off visiting a cute little town and sharing some holiday cheer. The fact that snow wasn’t predicted today—he’d booked every seat on the train going back and forth between Seattle and Noel, so nobody had to drive—didn’t hurt, either.
    The party didn’t start for another hour. His teammates were wandering around Noel’s main street, getting a bite to eat, or doing a little holiday shopping. They’d meet up outside the building and walk in shortly after the party started. Right now, he wanted a few minutes with Holly. Alone.
    Four days ago, his phone rang shortly after practice was over for the day. He sat down on the bench in front of his locker and hit “talk” to hear Holly’s tear-filled voice.
    “We found