Page 65 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“Julia, what are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry, Auntie. I am. I shouldn’t have kept it.” Julia looked down ashamed. “Mommy asked me not to tell and I thought.” Frustration and sadness welled inside her. “I–Devin-”
“No. Don’t you dare! It’s not nice to speak ill of the dead!”
“Cassandra hasn’t been telling the truth. At least not the whole story.” Her hands balled into fists, drawing strength from Graham’s presence behind her. His hands rested on her shoulders, his thumbs digging into her muscles. It gave her a point to focus on as she declared her truth.
“The crash wasn’t an accident. Devin did it intentionally.” A lump welled in her throat. “He was on the track on purpose.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because he left us.” Julia pointed at her mother. Although they stood in the same arms-crossed position, their demeanors were different.
“Mom knew about the note.”
“You never said there was a note.” Tears welled in her aunt’s eyes and she leaned against the doorframe, listening and absorbing everything.
“Shut up, you’ll ruin everything! Don’t dirty your brother’s name!”
“I’m tired of shutting up. The only thing silence does is keep the peace, and I’m sick and tired of keeping everyone else’s peace but my own!”
“I don’t know what note you’re talking about.” The lie slipped off her tongue easily.
“The note you found, that you destroyed, and claimed never existed. Why’d you shred it, Mom? Was it because he did it on purpose or because you drove him to do it? Did he have something to say that you didn’t approve of?”
Graham’s grip on her shoulder tightened, and he gently nudged her back to him. Julia understood and took a few slow, steady breaths, mindful of her heartbeat.
“I’ve tried for years to live up to your standards. No matter how ridiculous they were. I tried for so long, but being me is an insult to you.”
Julia sighed in relief, shedding years of weight from her shoulders. “For once in my life, I have something that’s mine. I may be a business of one, but I’m a damn good one,” with a six-month waiting list that she was proud of. “Someone who sees me and not through me.”
Julia looked up at Graham. “Let’s go. I’m done with this conversation. I choose me.” She walked over to her aunt and wrapped her arms around her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know why I tried.”
“It’s okay. She’s your mom and you were trying. Everyone has a breaking point.” Her eyes were glassy as she nodded, reinforcing that Julia was in the right.
“Someone loving how you make them feel is not the same as someone loving you. I know that now. No, no. I’ve always known that, but now it matters.” Julia glanced at Graham and smiled faintly.
Graham guided Julia to the car, and they drove away. They turned the corner, and Julia grabbed his arm. “Did that just happen?”
“Yeah, kitten. It did.” His hand covered hers. “Are you okay?”
“Is it still considered aftercare without the scene? Because…”
He kissed her softly. “You don’t ever have to explain yourself. Let’s go home.”
Graham
Graham walked into his bathroom, spotting Julia drying off, and he pulled his shirt off and tossed it toward the laundry pile. “Did you get all the paint out of your hair?” They decided to paint the spare room to Graham’s new place. He wanted to make it as baby and Julia friendly as he was able to. He craved her in his space.
“I couldn’t get the purple heart on my stomach.” She teased him. He’d put it there when things became out of hand and they were more interested in painting and mounting the other than painting the rest of the mural.
Julia wrapped the towel around her and looked over at him. “I’ll end up coloring it next week anyway. Don’t worry, Mia and I have been belly bonding.”
Graham wrapped his arms around her waist. “I honestly don’t know if that makes me feel better or not.” He sighed.
“Why?”
