Page 6 of Julian Shared
No fundraiser, charity event, or communal party is left behind on Sally Grace’s watch. She knows everyone and goes to everything. Nobody ever leaves her off the guest list.
I’m not jealous. I’m just…okay, maybe I’m a little jealous.
Mostly because I’ve never been able to get into her inner circle. Housewivesonly, apparently.
“Oh, Julian,” she coos as she approaches my table. She gives it a hard, searching glance. No doubt trying to find something missing or something to fix. There isn’t. It’s perfect. Sally Grace will have to find something else to critique. “So happy you could make it. I wasn’t sure if you’d feel…comfortable here.”
I play dumb. I might be short, but my pride makes me feel tall even next to her towering high heels. Briefly, I glance at the wide-open, bright red door to the church. I blink and smile. “Oh, Joel and I find it very welcoming. The Easter service was so lovely.”
“Y’all attend church?” Sally Grace gasps with unmasked surprise. Her accent is the only thing real about her. “Well, that’s wonderful.”
What I’d really love to ask Sally Grace is how her Southern Baptist ass hasn’t burst into flames after walking into a Catholic church.
Technically, yes, we attend church, but only for the major holidays. Joel tosses a coin every year to decide if he’ll confess on Easter or Christmas. This year, it’ll be Christmas. Not that either of us are religious.
We prefer to do our worship in our bedroom.
The only reason we go is so it’s not technically a lie when Joel’s abuelita asks if we’re going to church.
Sally Grace turns her attention back to the muffins. “And these are wonderful too. I just know they’ll taste as good as they look. Now, don’t let the ladies know I said it, but you always bake the best quick-breads, Julian. I think, maybe, you might be ready for cake duties next time. Maybe even the pies.”
She gives me a sly wink.
Finally. Cakes are my favorite and it’s killed me to sit on the sidelines waiting to prove myself. With so many house spouses on post, you don’t just show up to these sort of events doing whatever you want. There’s a system. There’s a hierarchy. I’ve been working my way into Sally Grace’s good graces to get out of the no-bakes and basic baking tier.
“Well, whatever you need,” I continue with my hands clasped in front of me. “I love baking and I’m always happy to help.”
“Speaking of help…” Sally Grace’s voice trails off as she sticks her nose into the air and looks around. “Where’s the other half of Team Muffin?”
Damn. Sally Grace found it. The one and only thing that’s gone wrong today.
Cameron, my neighbor and really the only other male house spouse who bothers to be involved in these sort of things, was supposed to be here to help me out.
Only, he’s not there. Cameron never showed up. Still, I cover for him.
Gay boys have to watch out for each other, right?
“Something came up with his husband. Cameron needed to stay home today.” When in doubt, blame the soldier.
“Such a dear,” Sally Grace coos. There isn’t much for either of us to say after that. She tells me she’ll keep in touch and moves on to inspect the next table.
I whip out my phone.
No missed calls. No texts. No emails.
Nothing, absolutely nothing to explain why Cameron’s gone missing. And to add insult to this social faux pas, Cameronstill hasn’t RSVP-ed to tonight’s barbecue either. I checked my mailbox before I left for the bake sale.
Minh is forgetful because she’s pregnant. What in the world is Cameron’s excuse?
Chapter 2
Julian
When I get home from the bake sale, there’s no time to waste. I still have some last-minute preparations for the party, and I have to make sure our yard is as spotless as the inside of our house.
I swap my leather oxfords for gardening clogs. I also slap on sunscreen and don a straw hat to combat the heady weather. While I resist the urge to march over to Cameron’s house (it’s right next door) and ring the doorbell, I can’t stop checking my phone. Just in case I’ve managed to miss a call or text from him.
Nope. Still nothing.
