Chapter 34 #2
Turning around, I saw Mom wrap her arms around a sleepy-looking Juliette. Mom pulled her in close and Juliette stared at me all wide eyed. It made me smile. They had always been close. When me and Juliette were together, my mom had become her second one, and then all of that was ripped apart.
“Bridger told us,” Mom said, arms still circled around Juliette. “I’m so sorry.”
Smiling, Juliette closed her eyes. “It’s okay.”
“If we had known…” Dad said. “We would have got you out of that house, Juliette. I wish we had known. I wish we could have helped you. I’m sorry we were so mad at you, about Bridger, about everything.”
“I forgive you,” whispered Juliette, eyes still shut. “I just want us to go back to how things were. I hope we can have that again. Things used to be so nice…”
“Of course we can go back to that,” Mom said. “Of course, of course, of course. You’ll always have that. You’ll always have us. And now with the little one on the way… I can’t even talk about what good news that is!”
Mom and Dad and Juliette spent the next couple hours talking. Baby names, baby clothes, baby teeth. Baby, baby, baby. I liked it. I liked seeing them all excited and happy, talking there on the couch like they hadn’t spent so many years apart.
Eventually, Mom and Juliette took a seat by the fireplace, Mom’s hand on top of Juliette’s as they shared some hushed discussion.
Dad moved up to me in his chair, nodding to the door behind me.
To the backyard. Side by side, we moved into the early afternoon country air.
I wasn’t over how crisp and fresh it was, how inviting it all felt.
Country air was nice, but beach air sounded even better—purely based on the fact that it was what Juliette had always wanted, and I was a sucker for seeing a smile on her face.
Me and Dad moved down the ramp and onto the wide pathway, passing down all the bright flowers Mom had planted. I had missed my parents’ place. The openness, the freedom. Juliette deserved a hell of a lot of freedom after all she had been through.
“We’ll let the ladies talk in there,” Dad said as we moved along the pathway. “I think you and I need to have a little discussion.”
I could sense something in his voice. A tiny bit of suspicion. “What’s up?”
He eyed me closely, head tilted just a little. “I’m very happy you and Juliette have found each other again.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“You were so in love with that girl. God, I remember when you introduced her to us,” he said, head shaking a little as he laughed. “I had never seen you so damn nervous. Actually, I remember a time you were more nervous than that.”
“When you met her parents?” I guessed.
“Bingo.”
“Fun night, huh?”
“They looked like they wanted to kill me.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“Stupid people.” Dad rolled his eyes. “So judgmental. You’d think they would have been happy that their daughter was so in love, but I suppose love isn’t always enough for people like that.”
“When you guys all met, they were already planning on marrying her off. Already had the guy picked out. They saw me and knew they couldn’t fuck around any longer. They were also pissed Juliette had the audacity to love a guy like me…”
“God forbid.” He came to a stop, turned in his chair, and looked me in the eyes. “But I’m so happy things have worked out for you, son. That you managed to find that girl you used to love so much. We couldn’t get that smile off your face when you two were together.”
“It means a lot to me that you’re bringing her back into your lives,” I said. “I know it wasn’t easy, but me and Juliette are past all that drama. There’s no reason for anyone else to cling on to it.”
“Exactly. And I’m so happy for Juliette. She’ll be with a man who’ll treat her right, and she deserves her happy ending. You both do.”
“That’s all I wanna do. Make her as happy as I can.”
“And make her feel safe too, right?” he offered.
“Of course. Not like he did. I always want her to feel safe.”
“And she is safe?” He raised an eyebrow up at me. “From that husband? Ex-husband? Is he her ex, or are they just separated? You didn’t go into details…”
I gave him a firm nod. “She’s safe. I made sure of it.”
“How sure?”
“He’s never laying another finger on her again.”
“What did you say his name was?”
“Cavendish. Gordon Cavendish.”
“Cavendish,” he repeated with a hum. “I think I’ve heard of him. He was a big time lawyer when we were back in Chicago. Used to work with a lot of mafia guys, right?”
“Yeah, something like that. Guy was kinda shady.”
“You’re doing Juliette a favor then.”
“I’d say so.”
“You know, I still keep up to date with the news in Chicago,” he said.
“I suppose because you’re still there, it feels like half my heart is there too.
I think I saw something in the paper about him…
” His eyes narrowed, but I could see a shade of amusement in them.
Just a flicker, just a hint, but it looked like he was about to crack a smile.
“Someone killed him, right? About a month or so ago? Or am I mistaken?”
Eyes locked onto his, I shook my head slowly. “Nah, you’re not mistaken.”
“He was one of the richest men in Chicago. One of the richest men in the country.”
“Yeah, but rich guys don’t know how to fight.” I gave him a sheepish smile, making sure to keep my voice low even though it was only just the two of us out there. “Makes ‘em a lot easier to kill.”
Head turning, he looked at the house before letting his gaze fall back on me. “I don’t ever want you to go back, son. Two years was hard enough. I can’t lose you for any longer than that.”
“I know what I’m doing. Promise. You don’t have to worry about that.”
His eyes twinkled, and that amused smile finally stretched across his lips. “That’s my boy. I won’t tell your mother. I’m proud of you. You won in the end. Got the girl you love after they put you through hell. I bet her parents are pissed.”
“Well…” I said, chuckling a little.
“Well?”
“Only one of ‘em kinda made it out alive.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I told you: rich guys don’t know how to fight.”
* * *
Juliette was outside when I got back to the house.
After me and Dad stood outside talking and catching up and just being together.
Things were good with him. Not just with the home and the space he had, but with his health.
It was never going to be easy, and most importantly, it was never going to go away, but nothing had ever stopped William Underwood before, and that was something about him I would always admire.
Juliette was sitting down on the bench right by the front door, a lazy little smile on her face. I really did like seeing her like that, because that meant that she was relaxed. At ease. And that was what she deserved after all those years of hell everyone put her through.
“Hey,” I said, voice low as I joined her on the bench.
The scent of Mom’s cooking floated on out through the window.
It smelled like garlic and chicken and I let the familiarity wash over me.
It was good to be back with my parents. What was even better was that Juliette was there to feel it all with me.
Juliette rested her head on my shoulder and I couldn’t help but crane my neck a little so I could plant a soft kiss to her forehead.
“Missed you,” I murmured.
She laughed, soft and breathy. “You were gone for, like, half an hour.”
“Yeah, but after five years without you, a half hour feels like a year now…”
“My Bridger…” She hummed, nuzzling her face into my neck, like she wanted and needed to get closer. One of her arms hooked around mine, keeping us linked. “Missed you too.”
“You comfy?” I asked, making sure to keep my voice low.
I had a feeling she was about to fall asleep on me any second now, and the last thing I wanted to do was startle her.
For once, she was safe and secure. I’d stay still when she needed it.
I’d stand tall too and be that shield that never cracked.
I’d protect that forever and keep that shelter over her head until I died.
“Mhm. You’re so warm. Don’t…” A yawn escaped her lips. “Mm, don’t move. You’re the perfect pillow…”
I did exactly as she said and stayed as still as I could, my eyes flickering over to the setting sun in front of me.
It was all big green hills in front of us, land that carried out into a spacious horizon.
The sun was setting behind those hills, still burning into a low orange and pink blend.
Birds chirped in the distance, and I looked forward to what the night would bring.
More steadiness. Another night with my mom and dad.
A chance for them to show Juliette the love she had never gotten from her own parents.
My own eyes closed, my brain instantly reminding me that very soon, me and Juliette would have one more person to love.
Her. Or him. I was happy either way. I hoped they had her eyes.
Her smile. Her talent. Her everything. I couldn’t wait to see her belly growing with our baby and love our child with everything I had.
Nothing could stop me from being ready for whatever came next. Those hard parts were over, and there was the future burning bright in the distance. I wasn’t that dumb little eighteen-year-old kid anymore. The one who dreamed of sliding a ring onto her finger every damn night.
God, I could remember how I’d empty my damn dented money tin on my cluttered desk after every long shift at the grocery store, sweeping all that cash in, counting every last cent while my lights flickered above. Like love alone could stretch a few dollars into forever.
I had done that. Had made it this far, and now the best part was coming: that happy ending with my Juliette. With the girl who was always, always meant to be my forever.