Kyle’s jaw flexed as he stared at his father before he shifted his gaze to Julia. “Julia, do you want me to leave?”
“No,” Grant said with a wave of his finger. “No, you aren’t going to play on her sympathies. I don’t care what she says, you’re gone. Leave.”
“I think we all need to take a breath here,” Julia said as she desperately tried to contain the situation.
“He can take one somewhere else,” Grant said. He waited a moment before his eyes went wide. “Did you hear me? Get out.”
Kyle huffed out a sharp breath, his hands balled into fists at his sides. He stormed from the room without a word.
Julia’s stomach turned over again. “Oh, Grant, go after him.”
“No,” he said as he collapsed into the chair. “He’s caused way too much trouble, and now I’ve got a mess to clean up.”
“I was part of that mess,” she answered, guilt coursing through her.
“No, you weren’t. He did it. He took you there, he kissed you. He did this. Not you.”
“Because Lydia insisted he do it.”
“Oh, don’t kid yourself, Julia. He wanted to do it as much as she wanted him to. You can’t convince me otherwise.” The anger etched into every line of his face made him look even more exhausted.
She sucked in a breath as she tried to settle the pounding in her head. She reached for his hand. “I’m sorry this is happening.”
“Don’t apologize, it’s not your fault. And I’m going to handle it. There is nothing for you to worry about.”
“I’m certain you’re going to, but you don’t have to do it alone.”
“I don’t need you to fight my battles,” he said, heat entering his voice. He slid his eyes closed. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” she said. “You’re tired. You need to get some sleep.”
His phone rang, splitting the silence between them. “Yeah. After I handle this.”
He dug in his pocket and slid the phone out with a sigh. “I need to take this.”
“Okay,” she said as he strode from the room and pressed the phone to his ear.
She let her head fall back against the pillow as she tried to bring her tension down, though it wouldn’t dissipate. This was partially her fault. And, after sitting vigil at her bedside, her exhausted husband now had to deal with it. His outburst with Kyle had been born of frustration with the situation, but not his son.
Kyle wouldn’t take it that way, though. He needed support. And so did Grant. Both of them, exhausted after her ordeal, had reverted to their old ways, snapping at each other.
She needed to fix this. Ignoring the pounding in her head and the ache in her muscles, Julia attempted to rise from the bed. Her body protested, a sharp reminder of her recent ordeal, but her spirit, unyielding, pushed her to intervene.
As she stood, the room spun, a stark reminder of her physical limitations.
“Julia!” Kyle hissed as he rushed into the room and eased her back onto the bed. “What are you doing?”
“Going after one or both of you since you two can’t seem to get along.”
“That’s not your concern,” he said as he lifted her legs back onto the bed and pulled the covers over her.
Julia rubbed at her temples. “It is my concern. You’re both my concern. And that got way too heated.”
“Of course, it did. The great Grant Harrington is upset, which means everyone around him suffers.”
“That’s not true,” Julia said with a shake of her head. “He’s exhausted.”
“And he’s taking it out on me. Surprise.” Kyle set his hands on his hips and shook his head with a sigh.