Page 13 of Faultlines

“I see that,” I whisper to her.

Jensen walks over, linking his arms with Lucy’s before launching into introductions. “Everyone, this is Vivienne Hays.”

She beams. “Hi.”

Aunt Sarah steps forward first. “Vivienne, welcome to Juniper Ridge.”

My dad reaches for the pie, not taking his eyes off it. “More importantly, welcome to family dinner.”

Vivienne laughs. “I was told food would be welcome,” she says, her voice a deep Southern drawl.

“You were told correctly. Food is always welcome,” Uncle Jeremy chuckles.

Lucy steps forward, hand outstretched. “I’m Lucy.”

“So, this is Lucy,” Vivienne says, giving Jensen a knowing look.

A look of bewilderment crosses Lucy’s face as she regards them.

“Jens talks about you all the time,” Vivienne explains.

Jensen clutches at his chest. “Don’t you start, Vivi.”

“Oh, please, Jens.” Vivienne nudges his hip with hers playfully. “I’m absolutely here to tell everyone your most embarrassing stories. Consider it my civic duty.”

“Huh. You two seem close after all these years,” Sloane says.

Jensen ignores her and continues introductions.

“Claire,” I say, extending my hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You too,” she replies, and the introductions continue.

“Vivienne, where are you from?” Uncle Jeremy says. “I can’t place that charming accent.”

“I’m from Mississippi,” Vivienne replies.

“Oh, you’re far from home. What brings you this way?” Aunt Sarah asks.

“I needed a change of scenery.” Vivienne answers while not taking her eyes off Jensen.

Vivienne settles into the group—not loud, just comfortable. As we sit down for dinner, she starts recounting nursing school stories.

Everyone enjoys them, especially Lucy. “You messaged your professor, ‘I’ve reached the bargaining stage of nursing school and will trade my soul for a passing grade,’ thinking you messaged your study group?” Lucy asks, grinning.

“It was one time, and it was an accident. I was tired,” Jensen says sheepishly.

Vivienne chokes with laughter. “It was absolutely not just one time. You also accidentally texted the Assistant Dean, ‘Can someone explain why every medication has six names, and all of them sound like Wi-Fi passwords?’”

The table erupts with laughter.

Jensen looks at Vivienne with a relaxed smile. “Vivi, this is why I shouldn’t have invited you.”

“You invited me because you can’t resist my company,” she replies with a wink.

I watch the easy way Vivienne nudges Jensen’s arm, the way he smiles back blindly. She laughs at something he says, leaning in too close, his hand on her forearm. I watch her mouth move, forming words I can’t hear. Something in my chest tightens. I look away, but the image stays.

The evening buzzes with overlapping conversations and laughter. My dad is deep in conversation with Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Sarah, waving his hands around as he argues solar panels don’t ruin the character of a building. Uncle Jeremy looks offended by this suggestion, which means they’ve had this exact argument at least twenty times.