Holly spun around. “What about Ethan? I’m worried about him and his future. Is everything okay with him? Did he ever tell the woman he was in love with that he loved her? What did she say? Can you at least tell me who it is so I canhelp him?”
Joy’s heart felt a little lighter at Holly’s outburst.
But Malcolm appeared unmoved. “What does Ethan have to do with you? You’ve avoided him for three years now.”
“Oh no, don’t you give me that. I’ve seen him at Brody and Sarah’s and a few other events. Just because I’m not around him every week doesn’t mean I don’t care about how he’s doing.”
Joy didn’t want to risk losing Holly’sfocus while she had it. “What do you think, Malcolm? Do you think she can handle Ethan’s future?”
“I can.” Holly nodded vigorously. “Who knows, maybe I can help him, and he can help me.”
Malcolm smiled. “Maybe. I’m fine with visiting his future if Joy is.”
“Please, Joy. I think it will help me get out of my own head.”
She couldn’t have resisted Holly’s pleading brown eyes if she’d tried. Shewas thankful that Holly wanted this last visit. It just might sway her to being open to the possibilities of her future…without Cameron. “I think it will, too.” She held out her hand. “Let’s go.”
Malcolm pulled up his hood and grasped Holly’s other hand. Quickly, he led them through time, his own agenda not sitting well on his conscience. He wanted to take Joy into his confidence about theirfinal step with Holly, but he couldn’t risk her fighting him.
“I don’t like this gray stuff.”
Holly’s complaint had him stifling a smile. “It will clear soon.”
As soon as he said the words, the ether disappeared and they flew over a stately mansion on the outskirts of Deervale.
“Oh, that’s Ethan’s ancestral home.” Holly pointed to the estate. “His parents live here.”
“Not anymore.” He floatedthem through the roof as he explained. “Ethan’s parents moved into the house in town to be closer to their friends over a year ago. Didn’t you know that?”
Holly looked away. “No, I didn’t.”
He brought them down just outside Ethan’s study. “Why not? I thought you were interacting with your friends more.”
She dropped his hand. “It’s a little more complicated than that. I told you, Ethan is inlove with someone, but I don’t know who.”
Joy let go of his hand and moved to stand in front of Holly. “Why not? Have you asked him?”
He liked this new straight-to-the-point Joy. She could almost be a Glasgow police woman.
Holly rolled her eyes at them. “It’s not like I can come out and ask him. I’m not supposed to know, remember?” She turned away. “I’ve only seen him among other people, soit’s hard to get into the kind of deep conversation I’d need to in order to dig into that.”
Joy moved again to force Holly to look at her, something he would have done. “Didn’t he ask you to have dinner at his parents’ home in town? To go to the Deervale music festival? To have coffee the morning after Burns night?”
Holly looked away. “Obviously, you already know the answer to those questions.”
“Yes, I do. What I don’t know is why you didn’t go. It was the perfect chance to discover who he loves.” Joy’s persistence pleased him. It was good to have a partner he could count on.Then why aren’t you telling her your plan to end this?
Holly dropped her arms. “I didn’t want to be alone with him, so if the woman he loves saw him, she wouldn’t think he was with me.”
Joy’s face softened. “Thatwas very thoughtful, but as you will see, it may have been the wrong choice.”
Holly’s gaze snapped to Joy’s. “Ethan’s okay, isn’t he?”
Now was the time for him to push. Malcolm floated between the two women. “This is the future. You can decide for yourself.” He opened his arm toward the study door.
Holly moved toward it, while Joy floated over to him, a small smile on her face. She leaned inand whispered. “Very Spirit of Christmas Future, Mr. Scrooge.” Her gaze went from his arm to his hood.
He grinned back at her. “I try.”
