Chapter 26 #2
“No, no. I…If it was left up to Grant, he’d probably have nothing to do with Kyle.
They don’t get along very well.” Julia chewed her lower lip as she considered how their relationship would fare moving forward.
“Plus, it wasn’t really kidnapping. I mean…
technically, he rescued me from the first kidnappers.
Then he just…kind of kept me after that. ”
“The first kidnappers?” Luke asked.
“Yeah. The first people shot James, grabbed Sierra and me, drugged us, and held us in a warehouse. Kyle rescued us.” Her nose wrinkled. “But then he dumped Sierra on the side of the road and took off with me.”
Alicia slid her eyes closed as she shook her head. “I don’t understand how you dealt with this for a year. And then every time I called, you never even sounded…upset or tired. There was only one time I remember calling and you said you’d been crying.”
“Yeah, that was the time I couldn’t remember you.”
“Couldn’t remember her?” Luke asked.
“She had amnesia after the almost-deadly car accident,” Alicia answered. “And still, no one bothered to tell us.”
“Ally, that’s really my fault, not Grant’s. I don’t think he kept it from you, I did. And he just went along with it.”
“Because it was easier for him.”
“No, because…I don’t know. It was easier for both of us. I didn’t mean to hurt you, and I’m very sorry I did.”
Alicia patted her sister’s hand before she grabbed a few fries. “It’s over. And I’ll take some fries as a down payment on being repaid for the hurt.”
“I guess it’s cheap enough at least,” Julia said with a grin as Ethan strode back into the room.
“Everything okay?” Alicia asked.
“Yeah, under control and handled. Nothing to worry about.”
“What’s a twelve-twenty-seven? I don’t remember that call,” Julia said.
“Oh, yeah, it’s a new storm-related one. Just easier to say that than describe some sort of damage.” Ethan nodded at her as he smiled.
“Right. I bet there’s a lot of that. I was just telling Ally if you need to go–“
“No, we’re fine. Not that much damage, really. They’ve got it under control.”
“Okay,” she said with a smile before draining her milkshake. “Whew, I’m stuffed.”
“Time for a nap.”
“No. I’ve just slept for twelve hours. Hey, can you find a charger and charge my phone?”
“Julia, will you please relax and take care of yourself.”
“I’m relaxed. I just…want my phone. I will never hear the end of it if Sierra can’t get a hold of me.” Her mind wandered to the other half of her family. She still found it strange not to see Kyle here. He usually pushed his way in using his medical credentials.
“Well, I think you’re going to be waiting on that phone, anyway, because I’m pretty sure they’re going to spring you,” Ethan said with a wink. “Heard a few of the nurses talking when I was out there. You’re going home.”
“Oh, good,” Julia said as she slumped her shoulders with relief. “I can’t wait to get out of this hospital.”
“You’ve only been awake here for like an hour,” Luke said.
“I’ve been in the hospital enough over the past year. I have no desire to stay another minute here.”
“I’m going to go check on things and see if you’re getting released,” Alicia said as she rose and darted from the room.
She returned grinning with a nurse in tow. “You’re going home!”
Julia beamed at them. “Can I get dressed now?”
“Yes, you can go ahead and get ready. I’m just printing up your release papers. Just plenty of rest when you get home. No marathons or strenuous work, okay?”
“Don’t worry, we’ll take extra special care of her,” Alicia said before the woman left the room. “Don’t make me break out the handcuffs, Juju. You’re going home to sit.”
Julia tossed off the sheet as Ethan handed her a bag of her belongings. “You sound like Grant. He will literally sit there and watch me so I don’t move. And don’t worry, Kyle takes my pulse every twenty minutes like clockwork after something’s happened to me. I’ll be fine.”
Alicia glanced at Ethan, biting into her lower lip.
“What’s that look for?” Julia asked as she tugged her shirt over the hospital gown before she shimmied it off underneath.
“Julia…” Alicia began, shooting her husband another look.
Julia flicked her gaze to Luke who actively avoided her eyes. Her forehead crinkled as the vibe went from familiar to tense in seconds. “What’s going on?”
Ethan backed his way to the door, pushing it closed as Alicia set her hands on her hips.
“Okay, you are starting to scare me. What is it?”
“We talked to Grant last night…” Alicia began.
“Yeah?” Julia flicked her gaze around at each of their faces as she tried to find some glimmer of what this was about. Had there been a major fight between them?
“He said…” Alicia licked her lips as she set her eyes on her sister. “Julia, he said when you two last talked…before Sierra went missing, that you’d ended things. He said it was over. That’s why no one’s here. They’re leaving tomorrow. But…you’re coming home with us.”
Julia’s jaw unhinged as she tried to process the words coming from her sister’s mouth. She hadn’t expected this. But maybe she should have. Had he interpreted their argument as the last straw? The thought tightened her chest, a mix of regret and disbelief swirling.
It stung and it broke her heart. Those angry words they’d both said had been the last conversation they’d ever have outside of Sierra’s disappearance. Her marriage had ended, and there was nothing she could do about it.