It was an hour after Gideon left that Holly finally plucked up the courage to knock on the closed door of Victoria’s study.
“Come,” Victoria replied tersely.
Holly took a deep breath and opened the door.
She walked in and noted Victoria at her desk, hunched over the Arrival Book. Victoria didn’t look up. Holly sat on the sofa and waited silently. She knew Victoria would have to at least acknowledge her presence.
It took a few long, icy minutes before Victoria raised her head and steely green eyes looked at her questioningly.
“I need to talk to you,” Holly said.
Victoria sighed. She lowered her pen and took off her glasses. “You do?”
“Yes, if you’re not too busy?”
“It depends on what you’re here to say.”
“You’re not making this very easy,” Holly grumbled.
“Well, I’m not sure I wish to hear it.” Victoria laughed half-heartedly.
“What? Why?”
“I presume this is about your journals?” Victoria asked. “You’ve come to tell me you wish to leave?”
Holly blinked. Was this what Victoria’s mood had been about?
“I can just imagine the contents of your journals,” Victoria continued. “I made your life a living hell, I’m sure. So, if you’re here to tell me just how awful I was—”
“No,” Holly interrupted. “Not at all.”
Victoria looked cynical. “No?”
“No. And I don’t want to leave, unless you want me to go? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
Victoria’s jaw clenched. She shook her head. “I don’t want you to leave, this is your home for as long as you want it to be.”
Holly smiled. “Good, because I love being here. I love getting to know you better.”
Victoria snorted a laugh. “Oh, I’m sure everything you need to know is in your journals. Maybe you haven’t read that part yet?”
“I’ve read everything I’d written about my work at Arrival,” Holly admitted. “I liked and admired you then, and I feel the same way now.”
Victoria’s eyes snapped up in shock.
“I wanted to say that I’m sorry if I’ve upset you in some way,” Holly dove into her prepared speech. “You’ve been distant, and I haven’t liked it, especially if it’s in any way my fault. So, if I’ve done something, then please accept this as a blanket apology. But maybe you’re just tired like you said you were. In which case, maybe there’s something I can do to help? I feel a bit useless anyway, and if I can… assist in some way, that would be cool.”
Holly knew it was important to provide Victoria with an out. It was obvious that she was upset, but it was also obvious that she wouldn’t want to make a big deal of it. Or probably even acknowledge it. Giving her the option to cover it over with tiredness was best for everyone.
Victoria swallowed and then coughed lightly. “Um, well, you have nothing to a-apologise for.” She sat up a little straighter. “As I said before, I’m tired, just… tired.”
Holly knew it was a lie, but she was willing to allow Victoria the space. Especially now that they were actually talking.
“How can I help?” Holly was already on her feet and pulling over a chair from against the wall to place it in front of Victoria’s desk. “Really, anything. I’ll hold a paperclip if you like.”
Victoria looked at a loss for a moment. She looked down at the Book on her desk.
“Could you look for an old issue for me? I think it was September or October 2010? I’m sure I’ve seen a similar headline to this before.” She tapped her finger on an article.
“Sure!” Holly turned to the bookcase she had looked at the previous evening and searched for the edition. She was glad to have her back to Victoria as a wide smile covered her face.