Page 48 of Tis The Season for Secrets
He squeezed her tight. “No more questions. Get some sleep.”
Her lips parted to tell him how much he meant to her, for helping her and staying with her through the roughest festive season of her life, but no words came out. She stared at him, already dozing peacefully.What could our future be?She was the product of falling in love with a guardian; falling for him was out of the question. More was at stake than just heartbreak for both of them. She might lose him, but he would lose so much more, and she didn’t know if she was worth it.
Juliet slept for a few hours, but given the time difference between Yule and home, she woke up early with her head still full of questions. Turning it all over in her head, she came to a sudden decision and slipped out of Will’s arms in search of information about her mom’s whereabouts. Lyla had shown her the Klaus family office during her tour, and she couldn’t stop thinking about the answers it might hold. It didn’t help that it was only a few doors down the hall from the guest bedroom. One conversation with Eloise – that was all she needed. And if she could find an address book…
“You’re up early,” Mrs Klaus said ten minutes later, standing in the doorway of the office.
Juliet froze, caught red-handed with the address book in her hand.
“I just wanted…” She faltered, unable to think of an excuse fast enough, and put down the book, embarrassed and ashamed at her break of trust and privacy. Part of her berated herself.You need to get better at sneaking around. So far, you suck at it.
“You were hoping to find out more about your mum. Judging from Lyla’s wellies and Will’s coat, you were going to try find her?” Mrs Klaus stepped into the room and flicked on the overhead light. Juliet had only dared to turn on the small desk lamp.
Her words cut like an icicle, and Juliet couldn’t find a lie fast enough.
“Don’t look so frightened. I haven’t mentioned who you are to my son. I’ve known who you were the moment I saw you.” There was no anger in Mrs Klaus’s wrinkled eyes, only concern.
Juliet’s words stuck in her throat.
“Juliet, you don’t have to lie. You’re the spitting image of your mum at this age.” Mrs Klaus offered her a reassuring smile, which slightly lessened her desire to plead for mercy. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as the weight of discovery lifted from her shoulders.
“I didn’t want to lie to you,” she blurted out, “but I didn’t want Will to lose his job because of me. Please don’t tell Will or the others that you know. I just wanted to meet my mom before anyone got in trouble. Will told me to wait, but after the kindness everyone has shown me, the guilt is eating me up.” She walked around the desk, leaving the address book behind.
“Juliet, take a breath.” Mrs Klaus took her hand. “You aren’t in trouble– not right now, anyway. However, we do have some things to work out, and I need to feed the reindeer before they get cranky. I think some fresh air will do you some good.” She motioned for Juliet to join her. Unable to say no, Juliet stepped into the hall, but she noticed that Mrs Klaus’s gaze lingered on the empty desk across from the one she’d searched. There was a longing in the older woman’s gaze she recognised – it was the same she’d felt when she’d looked over the letters in the chest.
“Thank you for not outing me and Will. I really didn’t intend to cause trouble. I’ve been warned about the memory removal thing, and I’ve got no plans on telling anyone about Yule.”
“I have no doubt that none of this is your doing, and don’t worry about causing trouble. I’ve seen plenty over the years, and I can see how much you care about Will. This morning can be our little secret,” Mrs Klaus reassured her.
Lyla’s wellies were a little big, which made it a struggle to trudge through the fresh layer of morning snow. Thankfully, Will’s coat reached her knees, keeping her extra cosy. Juliet followed Mrs Klaus to the stables, relieved to find there wasn’t a tribunal or shallow grave waiting for her amongst the stalls.
“I figured you would want to talk away from the others.” Mrs Klaus started, walking into the stables. A reindeer with the name tag Dixon bobbed her head over the stable door, surprising Juliet. “I spoke to Eloise about your arrival on the phone last night, and she dropped something off for you this morning.”
“What? Why didn’t she see me? Why didn’t you tell me she was here?” Juliet asked. Dixon nudged her shoulder when she stopped rubbing her nose.
“It’s not the right time yet, though she does desperately want to see you. Please don’t underestimate how hard this is for her, as I’m sure it is for you,” Mrs Klaus said, handing her a red envelope from her bright yellow padded coat.
Juliet stared at the envelope; it was the first one she’d read addressed to her alone. Present tense. Conflicting emotions rushed through her.
“I appreciate you giving me this, but I really wish I could’ve seen her,” she confessed. “I can’t ask a letter a question, and being drip-fed information is driving me crazy!” And she’d had enough of envelopes to last a lifetime.
“I can understand that your patience is wearing thin, but Eloise didn’t want to overwhelm you by just turning up. She wanted to prepare you first.”
Juliet sighed, her breath visible in the air. “She was probably right; I don’t know what I’ve have done if she just appeared in front of everyone. I wouldn’t want to put Mason in a bad position with the council.” She didn’t want Mrs Klaus to think she wasn’t grateful for her help – not when she could’ve sent Eloise away, and turned Juliet and Will in.
“You need to save some of that care and worry for yourself. We all make our own decisions. I spoke to Lyla when you and Will went to bed. Given that you’d already met, I figured she knew more than she was letting on. I told her I knew who you were, and she told me she supports you. As do I.” Mrs Klaus calmly moved down the row of sleepy reindeer, giving them their breakfast. “What you decide to do with that letter and the chest is up to you. You can close the door on Yule with no questions asked, as is the choice given to every legacy.”
“But those legacies haven’t been banished.” Juliet followed Mrs Klaus to the stable doors as the sound of crunching carrots echoed behind them.
“If you want Yule to be a part of your future, I’m sure we can help you find a way. No one else’s opinion or desires matter– not mine or your mum’s or, even if you care for him deeply, Will’s. This is your life.”
Reaching the front porch, Juliet looked at her name written in her mom’s writing for the first time. She didn’t even know if her mom had been the one to pick her name. Had it been her dad?
“I’ll give you some time. Breakfast will be inside whenever you’re ready to come in,” Mrs Klaus said, leaving her on the porch swing.
Once the door clicked shut, she tore open the envelope. Taking a deep breath, she unfolded the thick paper.
Juliet,
