Page 24 of You Met Me There

Her chest moves up and down heavily with her breaths, but Jules calms herself, setting her shoulders back. “So where is he now, this Luke guy?”

“He’s in Florida.”

She raises a questioning brow. “And? Are you two still together?” I pretend not to notice when her eyes dart down to my hand, looking for a wedding band.

I really don’t want to get into the drama about Luke while navigating this mountain of historical wrongs I’ve committed against my sister, so I answer her question with very little detail. Short and to the point.

“Yes, we’re together, but I’m visiting alone.” Hopefully the answer is straightforward enough to keep her from asking more about our relationship at the moment.

She looks toward the microwave again, and I realize now that she’s checking the time. Before I can say another word, she says, “Cam will be back with the boys soon. But I don’t want you to be here when they get home.”

I know I should understand the boundary she’s setting, but it hurts all the same. She doesn’t trust me. She doesn’t know me. That’s clear by the fact that she doesn’t want me to meet her kids—or that she doesn’t want them to meet me.

So I just nod, complacent with fulfilling her wishes. “I understand. I’ll leave. I just wanted to see you before I chickened out.” I attempt a laugh to lighten the mood, but her face remains flat.

My lips twitch into an uncomfortable smile. “It was really good to see you. I’m happy you’ve made such a great life here.” I gesture toward the photo wall and all the smiling faces of her new family, pushing down all emotions that might lead to tears.

I lower my head and walk back toward the front door, passing the dining room archway and the staircase, and taking one last glance toward the lake view out the back windows.

Just as I open the front door, Jules calls my name. I turn to her with one hand on the doorknob. A warm breeze enters the house and hits my back. It’s a calming caress that cools my cheeks and sends me back to happy summer days lying on the Kittappy River beach with Jules.

She appears around the corner and smiles weakly at me. The smile is still wary, but I feel her trying to make this goodbye better than the one we never had in case she doesn’t see me again. “I’ll tell Mom and Dad you’re here.”

My smile is tight, and I wish I could just make everything go back to normal, back to a time when my family didn’t mistrust me.

“Thanks,” I say. “I wrote my number on your coffee cup.” I shrug. “In case you didn’t let me in, and I had to leave it on the doorstep.”

We nod awkwardly at one another like we’ve just completed a business transaction, and I leave.

Chapter 13

Natalie

That night, I rest my head on the downy pillow at the bed-and-breakfast with my phone to my ear. The line rings and rings but there is no answer. I hang up with a sigh.

I need to talk with Emma about seeing Jules today, but she’s probably putting Ceecee to bed. It’s close to eight o’clock, and I’m mentally drained from the encounter with Juliet. With all the emotions and thoughts swirling around in my head, I could use someone who can see it from a third perspective. Someone who isn’t a part of the drama, but can see the things I can’t from the outside looking in.

Besides Emma, Luke has always been that person for me. My fingers twitch, pulling me toward his contact icon.

I could call him. Maybe it would be okay, just this once. He knows I’m going through a lot right now.

Just as I’m about to press call, I change my mind and click on message instead, trying to honor the boundaries I’ve set for us.

Me: I saw my sister today. The rest of my family moved away.

His reply isn’t immediate, but within five minutes my phone lights up.

Luke: I’m sorry you couldn’t see them all. How did your meeting go with her?

Me: Like any meeting. It was very … proper for lack of a better word.

Luke: What do you mean by proper?

Me: She was so closed off. I don’t understand. I expected her to be angry. Thought maybe she’d yell at me or something, but she seemed distant. She didn’t want me to meet her kids.

Luke: I’m sure she’s just trying to figure out how she feels. You left so suddenly, and I know she had to have missed you all these years. And going back was a big surprise.

Me: Yeah, you’re probably right. We didn’t make a plan to talk again, but she said she’d tell my parents I’m here. Do you think that means she wants me to stay?