Chapter 10
JULIA
A cold shiver of terror gripped Julia’s heart, the acrid scent of smoke invading once more, as if the flames from her nightmare had leapt into reality. Heat burned her skin, and she struggled to slam the candelabra against the wall, but it failed to make a dent.
She beat against it, a scream escaping her but as the flames closed in around her, she realized she wouldn’t escape. She could never escape.
A scream escaped her lips as the fire surrounded her.
She awoke with a start, gasping with sweat beading on her brow. She swallowed hard, her eyes darting around the space. In the dim light of the room, reality gradually seeped in, rem dinging her she was safe within the walls of Harrington House, miles away from the fire that haunted her dreams.
She sucked in a breath as she oriented herself. Next to her Sierra still slept peacefully, but Kyle was nowhere to be found. Her heart hammered as her eyes darted around the room. Grant was nowhere to be found either.
Had something happened or were they merely up already?
Determined to check, she eased her arm out from under Sierra and slid off the bed. She tiptoed from the room and strode down the hall.
“Hey, you’re up,” Alicia said as she shuffled toward her door.
“Yeah,” Julia answered. “Did you get any sleep?”
“I did. How about you?”
“I actually fell asleep the minute I sat down, sandwiched between Kyle and Sierra.”
“Seriously? You didn’t even get to stretch out in bed?”
“It’s fine. I was perfectly happy where I was. Both of them were upset after what happened. We all needed each other.”
Alicia rubbed her sister’s arms. “I’m starting to see how important this family is to you.”
“They are, Ally. But you are, too.” She pulled her sister into a hug. “How are things going with Ethan?”
Alicia stepped back with a shrug. “I don’t know. Okay. Hey, he asked me something weird, and I wonder if you knew anything about it.”
Julia’s features scrunched, a sense of concern threading through her. “Something weird? What did he say?”
“He said Grant said we could use his cabin for a few days to reconnect. Is…that for real or is Grant going to have us murdered?”
Julia chuckled at the statement. “I’m certain it’s for real. And the cabin is very nice. It may be a good idea. You two could use the time away.”
Alicia stared at the floor, tugging her lips back on one side.
“You’re not going?”
“Julia, you almost died…again. That’s what? Three times in one week?”
“Alicia, I’m fine. And I want you to have some peace, too.”
Alicia shrugged. “I’ll have some after you are settled and safe.”
Julia embraced her sister again. “Oh, Ally, I love you. But please take care of yourself, too.”
“I am. I’m…we’re…I don’t know.”
“Things aren’t going good since he’s been back?”
Alicia heaved a sigh, running a hand through her hair.
“It’s just…the same. And besides, we can’t tell anything while we’re here.
This isn’t real life. We’re not managing work, and the house, and all of those things.
I don’t get to complain about him leaving his chair out because there’s a dozen maids running around to push it in. ”
“Well, that’s one less thing to argue about for now,” Julia said with a smile.
“But it’ll be at the top of my priority list when I get back.”
Julia pressed her lips together, trying to search for the words to help her sister, but too many other things crowded into her mind. “Why don’t we sit down and talk tomorrow? I’m a little…tired today, but I want to help.”
“I know you do. And I love you for it. But you have enough on your plate.”
“I have plenty of space for you, too.”
Alicia lifted her eyes to the ceiling. “That’s another thing that’s making this hard on me.”
“That I love you and want to help?” Julia asked.
Alicia’s eyes glistened with tears. “It’s being here. We’re close to each other. I mean, it’s not like living in our old house, but still…it’s nice. I’m just…already missing you, and I haven’t even gone home yet.”
Julia slid her arms around her sister again, holding her close. “Ally, please don’t fret. We’re not going to go as long as we have not seeing each other. Things are different now.”
“It won’t be the same once I go home, though. I just…I’m…sorry, I’m being stupid.” Alicia wiped a few tears from her cheeks.
“Ever think of relocating?”
“And work in the city? Ugh,” Alicia groaned. “But still for you…I may consider it. But then, Ethan…it’s a mess.”
“And it’s a mess that doesn’t need to be sorted out right now. You can take some time to think and breathe.”
Alicia blew out a long breath. “Yeah, you’re right. Okay. Let’s talk tomorrow?”
“Yep. For now, though, I need to run. I’d like to see Grant and Kyle.”
“Bye, sis,” Alicia said as they parted ways.
Julia hurried toward the stairs and down to the foyer. Worthington strode across it as she hit the marble floor.
“Oh, Worthington, just the man I’d like to see.”
“Have you slept well, Mrs. Harrington? Might I bring you anything?”
“No, nothing, and I slept just fine. Have you seen Grant or Kyle? Only Sierra was still asleep when I woke up.”
“I have not.”
“Maybe Grant’s still asleep.”
“He was asleep in the armchair in Dr. Carter’s room. To my knowledge, he has not returned to your room.”
She furrowed his brow at the words as worry started to course through her. Where were Kyle and Grant?
“Would you like me to call Max?”
Julia shook her head as she glanced at the door. “No, I…”
The door opened, and a rush of cool air raced past her, sending a shiver down her spine.
Kyle stepped inside, his eyes darting between Worthington and Julia. “Hey.”
She huffed out a breath. “Kyle! Where have you been?”
“Out for a walk,” he answered. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine, how are you feeling? You just had surgery. You shouldn’t be up.”
“Julia, I’m fine. I’m a doctor. I know how far I can push myself.”
Julia shook her head. “You shouldn’t be pushing yourself at all. You should be in bed.”
“All right. I’m going. I just wanted a little fresh air.”
“I’ll walk you up. There’s something I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Sure,” he said, sliding his arm around her waist as he guided her toward the stairs.
“Worthington, if Grant comes in, please tell him I’d like to see him,” Julia said as they mounted the stairs.
“Of course, Mrs. Harrington,” Worthington said with a nod.
“What’s up?” Kyle said as they reached the upstairs.
“Come with me,” Julia said, motioning for him to follow her to her office. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Julia, I’m fine,” he insisted as she closed the door behind them. “But you’re not. What’s wrong?”
She flicked a concerned gaze to her stepson, her features pinched. “I need your help with something, but I really need you to be discreet. I need to know I can trust you with this.”
His features scrunched. “Of course, you can, Julia.”
“I’m serious. This is really sensitive. I need you to promise that you won’t breathe a word of this to anyone.”
“You’re scaring me a little bit,” he said as he eased into a chair with a wince.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Julia, stop avoiding whatever it is that’s got you wound up.”
She slid into her desk chair and blew out a breath. “Before Lydia and I got into the fight that started the fire–”
“Wait, you and Lydia got into a fight?”
“Don’t ask. But yes. We got into a cat fight. That’s what started the fire. Anyway, before that, she said something…something that…I need confirmation of.”
He shifted in his chair. “Absolutely. Is there something she said about me?”
Julia’s features pinched as she recalled the words, turmoil roiling within her. “No. She said…she claims Sierra isn’t Grant’s daughter.”
His eyebrows flicked up, his features incredulous. “What?”
“Yeah. I just…I’m not going to tell Grant if it’s a lie.”
Kyle sucked in a breath. “You want me to have a DNA test run.”
She nodded. “And I want you to keep this between us. Strictly. Please.”
He squeezed her hand. “Yeah, of course. I’ll just need a strand of hair from each.”
“I’ll get it for you. Kyle, thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Julia. But you do need to walk me back to my room and give me my pain meds.”
“Of course,” she said as they rose.
He groaned again.
“Kyle, I’m really concerned about that. I think you overdid it with your walk.”
“I’m fine,” he said. “My pain meds are just worn off. I pushed it a little too long.”
“Well, let’s get you your next dose.” Julia wrapped her arm around his waist as they walked back to his room.
He kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed.
“Sierra must have finally woken up,” she said as she offered him two pain pills and a glass of water.
“Thanks,” he said. “Hopefully, she finished with the sibling bonding.”
“Mm, really? I think you enjoyed it.”
“I didn’t. I promise. She cheats at every game, she has the worst taste in movies, and she comes up with ridiculous ideas for destroying people.”
“Oh, yes, I overheard you two planning with Alex. You’re not going to destroy anyone. You’re going to stay in that bed and recover.”
Kyle lifted his hands in the air. “I’m recovering.”
“Stay put. I’m going to check on Sierra.”
“I’ll be here,” he promised.
She smiled before she strode from the room.
The memory of the conversation she’d had with Lydia hit her as the wandered through the halls toward Sierra’s room.
With every step, upset filled her. Julia’s heart twisted at Lydia’s venomous claim, a tumult of disbelief and anger swirling within her at the thought of such deceit.
But she couldn’t unhear what she’d said.
She knocked at her stepdaughter’s door, but no one answered. “Sierra?”
Julia knocked again before she eased the door open. The empty room remained dark. “Sierra?”
With no answer, she slipped inside and hurried to the bathroom. She dug through the drawers in search of Sierra’s hairbrush. When she found it, she snagged a few strands from it, wrapping them in a tissue before she shoved it in her pocket.