You Had Me at Halo(64)

Holly studied her boots and didn’t say anything.

“What?” Gemma demanded. “Oh, you’re worried that I won’t be able to get away like yesterday, but I’ve—”

“She has to go back to heaven at one o’clock, Gemma,” Vince said the words that Holly couldn’t quite get out.

Gemma’s face went pale as she dropped her bag to the ground with a thump. “But surely they won’t take you back until tonight. Midnight or something. That’s what they would do in the movies. One o’clock is a stupid time. And besides, you haven’t resolved your issues yet. You can’t go back until that’s done.”

“I don’t think it works like that.” Holly gulped.

“No, don’t say that.” Gemma started to sob. “W-what’s going to happen if you don’t sort everything out before you go?”

Holly bit down on her lip and forced herself not to cry. “Oh, you know,” she said in a bright voice. “I guess they’ll stick me into a heavenly self-help group or something. Probably incredibly boring and I’ll get told off for talking.”

Gemma tugged a tissue out of her pocket and wiped her eyes. “Yeah, that sounds like you. And you’ll be back into the regular part of heaven in no time. Hey, and then you can see your dad and your real mom. That’ll be good.”

“It certainly will,” Holly’s voice sounded hoarse, even to her own ears. “I can’t wait.”

“S-so what are you going to do now? We could still spend the morning trying to, well...get some things sorted out.”

Holly shook her head. “I think we’re just going to go to see Vince’s boss and apologize. Vince isn’t too wrapped in the idea, but I can’t bear the idea of my actions costing him his job.”

Gemma gave her a watery smile. “So this is it?”

“I guess so,” Holly agreed. “But at least this time we get to say goodbye properly.”

“God, Holly.” Gemma started to sob again. “I’m going to miss you so much. Who knows when we’ll see each other again?”

“Not for a long time, I hope. I don’t want you dying anytime soon.” Holly bit on her tongue to stop from crying.

“Well, in that case you’d better not forget me,” Gemma said firmly. “Because if you find out that my next boyfriend is doing the dirty on me or something, I’m counting on you to somehow show me a sign.”

“Two thumps on the wall will mean yes,” she assured her friend, while trying not to think about the reality—that in a few hours she wouldn’t know who Gemma was. Before she could get too depressed, a surge of workers came through the door as the large clock hanging on the marble wall turned nine.

“So, I guess this is goodbye.” Gemma wiped away more tears.

“Yeah.” Holly stood up as well and almost fell back over as Gemma wrapped her arms around Vince’s torso and squeezed it tightly.

“Hey,” Holly said in alarm. “Remember I’m only Holly on the inside, on the outside I’m—”

“Vince Murphy,” Gemma finished off in a strangled snivel. “I know. This is for him as well. He’s taken good care of you.”

“Thanks,” Vince said softly.

“Bye, Gem,” Holly mumbled before she untangled herself from her friend’s embrace and started to jog away before Vince’s limited social status tanked even further by bawling like a baby.





CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


Look. Graham, Bob and Trevor are all smiling at you as well, Holly said in confusion as they walked into the workshop ten minutes later once she had managed to compose herself. Had the whole building heard about what happened last night?

Hey, do you realize you didn’t call any of them by the character of their tie? Vince sounded impressed.

Oh. Holly could feel her face flushing. I guess they’re all pretty nice guys. You’re lucky. I just hope you’re here long enough to appreciate it.

Well, we haven’t been hauled into David Harris’s office yet. Vince slung his satchel onto the bench and frowned at the mess. Let me guess, Fluffy paid me another visit last night?

Oh, yeah. Holly realized she hadn’t done a great job of tidying up. I was sort of in a hurry to get to the Pool Palace, which is why as soon as I found the manuals, I just gave them all to Andrew and left.

I don’t know what manuals you gave him, but it certainly wasn’t these ones. Vince pulled a familiar-looking yellow envelop from somewhere in the depths of the mess and held it up in the air.

Holly felt the horror mounting within her. That doesn’t make sense, she croaked. “I definitely gave him the envelope.

Vince started to tidy up the pile of papers on his bench. It could’ve been anything, I often keep things in envelopes. Especially since Fluffy started making house calls.

Holly gulped. That wasn’t exactly the most comforting news. So can you tell what’s missing?

Vince had a quick scan and shrugged. I wouldn’t have a clue. Look, don’t worry about it.

But this is terrible. Vince what if they fire you? I mean not only were we late in delivering the laptops and forgetting to give them the manuals, but we punched one of Baker Colwell’s most successful account manager in the face. I think we need to go and apologize before—