Holding Holly (Love and Football Series) by Julie Brannagh Page B

Stephanie and her children when they walked through the door. Stephanie had on a new coat, snow boots, and a radiant smile. Her children were dressed in brand-new clothes and shoes as well. Michael was a dark-haired, athletic-looking young man with a shy smile; he was taller than his mother and guided his younger brother and sister to the buffet to fill their plates.
    Stephanie almost ran to Holly.
    “You won’t believe what happened, Holly. I have a new job. I start at a mortgage lender in Wenatchee on Monday morning. It’s a really good salary with benefits, and they cover day care. Plus, the overnight shipping guy stopped at our house yesterday and dropped off presents for the kids, several gift cards for me so I could get everyone new clothes and shoes and . . . oh, God.” Stephanie pressed her hands over her eyes as tears ran down her face. “I never dreamed anything like this would happen to me. There was a tree with all the trimmings, a huge Christmas dinner, and I’m still going through it all.”
    Holly reached out to hug her. “You deserve it.”
    “I know you were behind this. I can never thank you enough.”
    “It wasn’t me, but you are so sweet. I am so happy for all of you.”
    Holly heard Santa Claus’s voice on the PA system. “Ladies and gentlemen, we have quite a surprise tonight. Please welcome our special guests, the Seattle Sharks!”
    Derrick and his teammates walked into the room, and pandemonium followed. The littlest children were swept up in their parents’ arms as the players signed autographs, posed for photos, or sat down at the tables for a bite to eat and a chat with their excited fans.
    Tom Reed, the Sharks’ QB, made his way over to where Michael stood and stuck out his hand. “Hi, I’m Tom.”
    Michael’s mouth dropped open.
    “I understand that you play QB, and you weren’t able to turn out for football last season. I also heard you’re pretty good.”
    “My mom needed help with my younger brother and sister,” Michael said.
    In other words, Holly thought, there probably wasn’t enough money for sports fees and football shoes.
    “I give a football camp every year.” Tom reached into his jacket and pulled a long envelope out of the breast pocket. “I’d like you to be there as my guest. Your tuition is paid, and I have a place for you to stay so your mom won’t have to drive you back and forth.”
    Holly took Stephanie’s trembling hand. Her boss was going to kill her for not passing out the appetizers, but she glanced over at the platter in her other hand to find it empty. People were walking by and helping themselves.
    Four of Derrick’s teammates advanced on Michael and Tom. Sharks fans knew them as the best secondary in the league. She knew them as the four guys who spent most of training camp alternately teasing her and pranking their teammates.
    “We heard he’s trying to get you to play QB,” Terrell said.
    “Bad idea,” Jasha chimed in.
    “Cornerbacks and safeties are the real men of any football team,” Conroy told Michael.
    “I got my own football camp this summer, and you’re coming,” Antoine said. He fist-bumped the overwhelmed teenager. “We’ll show you how things are.”
    The five men walked away from Holly and Stephanie, still bickering about how many football camps Michael was going to over the summer and what position he’d end up playing in the league.
    “I need to get another tray of appetizers. I’ll be back,” Holly said.
    She arrived in the kitchen to discover the caterer had deputized some of the players to take some appetizers around too. “The kids will get a kick out of it,” she explained to them. “Hey, Holly, Derrick’s looking for you. He’s outside. So take a break.” She winked at Holly.
    Holly walked out of the double doors of the community center. Derrick was sitting on a bench about ten feet away, holding a bouquet of candy canes tied with a red ribbon.
    “Hello there,” he said. “Would you like to