Chapter 11
GRANT
G rant stared after Julia’s departing form as she fled from the table. His heart, already twisted in knots, tightened even further. He’d failed miserably at making a decent impression on her sister who hated him. Lydia’s arrival had ruined his day even further.
And the icing on the proverbial cake was the admission that Luke and Julia hadn’t broken up for any compelling reason other than she wasn’t certain. He’d have preferred it if Luke had cheated or something horrible.
She’d gone to New Orleans to think…wearing his necklace. A necklace that she’d worn through the duration of their marriage. A promise to return to him.
The revelation struck him like a physical blow, sending a wave of crushing despair through him. He felt as if he were gasping for air, each breath heavier with the weight of unsaid words and unacknowledged feelings.
It crushed him. He searched every tender moment they’d shared, wondering if she’d been thinking of Luke. His mind landed on their wedding photo. Had her smile looked so real because he’d been in her mind?
Ethan cleared his throat as his wife trailed after Julia. “So, ah, you folks have any plans for the afternoon?”
Sierra shifted her phone around as she tried to take a selfie with the pond behind her. “Ugh, Kyle, get out of my shot.” She leapt from her seat and stomped her way toward the water.
Grant shifted in his seat. “I’m not certain. It’s been a little…topsy-turvy since we realized this was Julia’s hometown.”
“You didn’t know?” Luke asked.
“No, actually, Sierra booked everything and we had no idea where we were going,” Grant said with a polite smile.
Lydia rose from her seat. “Excuse me, won’t you?”
“Also, he didn’t know where Julia was from,” Kyle added as Lydia made her way across the lawn.
“That’s not…it wouldn’t have mattered,” Grant said.
Ethan narrowed his eyes at Grant, his arms crossed. “You seem like a really great husband for Julia. How long is her prison term again?”
The words stung him as it became apparent how much her family disliked him. Luke lowered his gaze to the table, the corners of his lips turning up.
Grant could have dove across the table and strangled one or both of them. He tensed his jaw, trying to maintain civility for Julia’s sake. “Look, I think we’ve all gotten off on the wrong foot–”
“I don’t,” Ethan interrupted. “I think the fact that Julia hid this from us speaks volumes. And I can see why.”
“Maybe she didn’t tell you because she knew how unaccepting you’d be.”
“And maybe she didn’t tell us because she didn’t want to admit what a mistake she’d made,” Ethan said, his eyes boring into Grant.
Grant clenched a hand into a fist, but before he could respond, Alicia rejoined them at the table, alone. “Where’s Julia?”
“Your ex-wife is badgering her in the ladies’ room.”
A knot tightened in Grant’s stomach, a sinking sensation that felt like plummeting into an abyss of uncertainty and fear. “What? You left her alone with Lydia?”
He rose from the table and tossed his napkin down.
“She seemed okay?” Alicia said as Grant hurried away from the table toward the restaurant. Before he made it inside, Julia popped out into the bright sunshine.
He hurried toward her, reaching for her hand. “Julia, are you okay? Your sister said Lydia cornered you.”
“Yeah, she…” Julia glanced over her shoulder before she stepped closer. “She’s not happy. She threatened me again.”
Grant heaved a sigh. “This is getting to be too much.”
“It’s okay. She’s just…upset that we’re all away. We got a little too far from her control. I think she’s settled down now.”
He studied her, his eyes falling to the compass around her neck. It soured his stomach. He wanted to take her somewhere and hash everything out. Before he could whisk her anywhere, Lydia appeared, making him even sicker.
“What’s the matter, Romeo? Juliette get too far away?”
“Lydia, why don’t you just go home?”
“Oh, no.” She let her eyes fall on the table they’d sat at moments ago, her eyes lighting up. “I think I’ll stay. This ought to be fun.”
Julia shook her head with a sigh. “Come on, you left Kyle with the wolves.”
“Kyle can handle himself,” Grant claimed. “I think we need to talk.”
“We can’t do that now. It’s way too suspicious after Lydia just threatened me.”
“When we get home, then?” he asked.
“Sure. I’d love to know what happened before I got here. Alicia’s made her feelings about you very clear.”
He heaved a sigh, wishing her family didn’t hate him. Another strike that could turn the tides against him. “So did Ethan. He asked how much longer your prison sentence is.”
Julia huffed out a sharp breath. “I’m sorry.”
He rubbed her shoulder. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”
“It’s not. I should have just told them. This is definitely my fault. But we can debate that another time. We should get back there before my sister and Lydia get into a fight.”
Grant twisted to spot the two women eyeing each other.
Julia’s hand wrapped around his arm as she pulled him forward. “I’m serious. Ally can throw a mean punch.”
Grant followed her back to the table where tensions ran high.
“Well, Juju, do you have plans this afternoon?” Alicia asked.
“Uh–” Julia glanced up at Grant as he shook his head.
“Great! Maybe we can take a walk together around the pond.” Alicia slipped her hand through the crook of Ethan’s arm.
“Uh, sure, Ally. I’d be happy to.”
Alicia smiled at her sister, shifting her gaze to Luke. “You up for it, Luke?”
Grant’s jaw tightened at the words. They were making it obvious that they hated him and were pushing Julia with Luke.
“I’d love to go,” Kyle said.
“Oh, but–” Alicia answered.
“That would be nice. We could all go. Spend a little more time together getting to know each other,” Grant suggested, picking up on Kyle’s obvious plan to stop Julia from spending time with Luke.
“Great, that’s perfect. Lydia, I guess we’ll say goodbye here–” Julia began.
“Why?” Lydia asked.
“Well…we’re going for a hike. I can’t imagine–”
“Nonsense!” Lydia said with a wave of her hand. “I love hiking. Nature is part of the tapestry of my soul.”
Grant screwed up his face. “Since when?”
“I don’t know what that means, Grant,” Lydia said. “You know I always loved Vail and Aspen.”
“Yeah, you loved strutting around the lodge in your expensive ski gear. I don’t think you ever went down the slopes once.”
Lydia rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Count me in.”
She wandered a few steps away before she spun to face them. “Are we hiking?”
“This isn’t what I had in mind,” Alicia said. “I wanted to spend some time with my sister.”
“And Ethan and Luke,” Kyle pointed out.
Alicia narrowed her eyes at him. “Whatever, let’s just go.”
They started toward the trial looping around the pond, picking up Sierra on their way. “We’re going to hike?” she asked. “Like walk? Or are there golf carts?”
“No, Sierra, no golf carts. You have to walk,” Kyle said.
“Through the forest?” she asked, her voice shrill.
“Yes, Sierra,” Grant answered.
“Fine. As long as Daddy isn’t leading the way.”
“Why?” Alicia asked.
“Daddy is terrible at navigating. A few months ago, Daddy got us lost in the woods and Julia had to rescue us by navigating by the stars.”
“I didn’t get us lost,” Grant answered as they strolled along the path.
“Yes, you did. You kept walking and walking and finally, Julia said that we were going the wrong way because O’Reilly was on the wrong side of us.”
Ethan screwed up his face. “What?”
“I think you mean Orion,” Luke suggested.
“I don’t know, but Julia saved our lives,” Sierra said.
“So, you’re not an outdoorsman, huh?” Alicia asked.
Grant could hear the disdain in her voice. “No, I…had a good reason that my sense of direction was impaired that night. Normally, I could have found my way back.”
“I doubt that, Grant. You’re not very good at outdoor things,” Lydia called over her shoulder.
“That’s not true. I…am…”
Ethan slid his gaze sideways. “What impaired you?”
“Drunk?” Alicia asked. “Drugs?”
“No,” Grant said through clenched teeth.
“Then what?”
“It’s not important,” Julia answered, patting his arm.
“I’m just curious as to what could have impaired his judgment that much,” Alicia said.
“I had just found out Sierra was sleeping with my driver, James. I was a little upset.”
“SIERRA IS SLEEPING WITH JAMES?” Lydia shrieked, eyes wide as she stared at them.
“Get over yourself, Mom,” Sierra said with a roll of her eyes. “Everyone knows and is fine with it.”
Lydia glared at Julia. “Why aren’t you doing something about this?”
Julia screwed up her face. “What would I do about it? James is a nice guy.”
“You imbecile,” Lydia said with clenched fists.
A number of people in the group leapt to Julia’s defense.
Lydia offered the group an unimpressed stare before she spun on a heel and stormed ahead. “Morons!”
Grant watched her as she stormed away, a nagging question in his mind. What drove her to such extremes? Was it mere spite, or a deeper, more tangled web of emotions and past grievances? “Maybe she’ll get lost.”
“Please. Then we’d just have to send Search and Rescue for her,” Alicia said before she grabbed Julia’s hand and tugged her away from Grant.
She looped an arm around her sister’s waist as they strolled, leaning their heads together.
The corners of Grant’s lips curled as he watched them walk together. Even with the turmoil, he was pleased to see Julia reconnect with the sister he knew she missed.
Maybe this would help ease her nerves and make his offer more attractive when he made it. His eyes centered on Luke as he walked next to Julia, grinning as he said something to her and pointed.
The smile faded quickly from his features. Everywhere she looked, she probably had memories of time spent with the man. He detested that. The only memories she’d have of him in her hometown would be awful.
An arm slid around his waist, pulling his attention away from Luke. He found Sierra pressing closer to him. He smiled down at her as he wrapped his arm around her. “Hi, baby.”