Chapter 15
SUMMER
“Okay, replay the situation again so I can be sure I heard you correctly. You kissed him?” Julia flits around the kitchen, filling a to-go thermos with coffee and stuffing what looks like a stack of handwritten exam notes into her bag.
She’s much more alive at six on a Monday morning than I’ll ever be.
I prefer the barstool I’m perched on as I slip Henry’s lunchbox in his backpack.
“He rescued Millie, Julia. Of course I kissed him. I would have kissed you if you had done that for me.”
As if she heard me, Millie’s paw drags down the sliding glass door next to me.
“Just let her out.”
“What if she runs off?” Or worse—leaves me for Brian’s.
I don’t know if I’d recover if she did that. I know she missed me. That much was clear when she slept on my face all night. But not more than she’s missing being outside.
“You’re right. You should do what you feel comfortable with.”
“Thank you,” I say, ignoring Millie’s desperate attempt to flee this house. “Speaking of comfortable… what’s up with you and Jake?”
I haven’t had a chance to ask her about that heated kitchen conversation the other morning and I’m dying for details.
Julia groans. “Nothing. Same as it’s always been.”
I take a sip of my coffee and drizzle it back into the mug. “Needs more creamer.”
Julia pours in a splash, and I give her hand a heavy nudge. I take another sip. Better.
“It didn’t look like nothing when he was touching your hand and begging you to answer his question.”
“Fine. We shared a moment.”
Duh is written all over my face followed by Get to the good part.
“The day we got back from Everett’s concert, Jake kept thanking me for all I do with Henry. How much I’ve taken on by myself. He apologized for not being there. It was like he finally saw me. And so, when he leaned in, I didn’t pull away.”
Her eyes cast to the floor. A mixture of bashfulness and shame outweighing the giddiness I saw in that second to last sentence.
He finally saw me. It’s plain as day that’s what she’s wanted from him all this time: not having to explain every decision she’s making for herself and for Henry. It’s what I’ve wanted for them too.
“So, what was his question?”
“He wants me to go on a date with him.”
“And that’s a bad thing because…”
I try putting together a puzzle I don’t even have the pieces for. If she didn’t pull away when he tried to kiss her, there’s clearly still sparks there. And if anyone would make the most sense in Julia’s life, it’s a guy she’s already had a kid with.
“Because I can’t trust him.” She groans and sinks her head into her folded arms. “He’s always said one thing and done another.
His actions have rarely lined up with my expectations, and I’m typically the one who has to pay the consequences.
He’s still in the same place he was five years ago when Henry was born.
Still afraid to spend the night alone with him.
Still calls me when he does, wanting a play-by-play of how to take care of his own son.
I want more for us. More for me. Is that so bad? ”
“No,” I’m quick to reply. I grab her hand.
Julia deserves everything. Henry’s diagnosis came with its challenges, but she’s never let it hold her back from being the best mom, the best nurse, the best friend she could be.
She does more than show up for the people she loves, she takes care of them.
Which is more than Jake’s done. “Of course not. You deserve it all.”
She lifts her head, showing off a sheepish look. “It felt… nice. When he kissed me, ya know? Just because I’m not sure if I want to be doing that with Jake doesn’t mean I don’t want to be doing that at all. I miss being taken care of.”
I gather she doesn’t mean taken care of in the financial sense.
“Speaking of dates…”
“Everett asked you out, didn’t he?!”
“What? No! Everett’s my boss. I think he made that pretty clear last night when he said the kiss meant nothing and he appreciates me helping with Quinn.” It’s obvious he’s not keen on blurring the lines from professional to personal. “Joe the banana guy asked me out.”
I study her reaction. She’s rightfully shocked. I mentioned nothing to her about him, since Everett was already here by the time I got home from the store.
“Joe the banana guy,” she repeats at the slowest speed. I hear how ridiculous it sounds coming out of her mouth, but he was hot. Sometimes you don’t need any other explanation than that.
“I was into his act. It worked for him.” I shrug.
“I’m going to need the whole thing.” She spins her finger in a circle and slides off the barstool next to me, taking a seat again.
“‘You look like a woman who knows her bananas.’”
“What?” Her brow wrinkles.
“That’s what he said to me.” I chuckle.
“That’s what he said to you?”
“Are we going to keep doing the repeating thing?”
“I’m sorry, I just… and that line worked for you?” She squints at me, mouth agape.
She didn’t use to be like this—so serious all the time. I think Julia might have lost her playful side.
“You’re right. I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” She’s waving her hand now. “What did he say next?”
“You aren’t going to ask what I said?”
She tips forward on her elbows. I’ve piqued her interest.
“I’m more of a watermelon girl,” I say.
Her eyes study the ceiling.
“Stop trying to find some dirty connection with watermelons. I meant it in the most literal sense.”
She flushes. “Right. Did he at least ask for your name?”
“Yes, but he didn’t believe me after I told him it’s Summer. Must have been the watermelon reference.” I wiggle my eyebrows, and we both chuckle.
“I can’t imagine that. So, did you help the poor guy pick out his bananas?”
“I convinced him to buy the bright yellow bunch. Told him he wouldn’t have to wait so long to eat them.”
“Summer!” She swats me with a towel. “And you’re the one who said to get my mind out of the gutter.”
“I had to mess with him a little.”
“How do you do that? Flirt with a guy you know nothing about?”
I take another sip of my coffee. The creamer has had a chance to blend in. It’s like drinking straight sugar. “I know something about him. He’s a veterinarian.”
She barks out a laugh. “You made that up.”
I was wondering if she’d catch the reference. It was mostly a joke when I said it in Nashville minus needing someone in my life who is the opposite of Brian. Who would love Millie.
“I’m serious.”
“And all of that led to a date on a Monday night?”
“It did when I handed him my phone, and he put his contact info inside it.”
Honestly, I never intended to text the number, but after the awkward kiss Everett and I shared, I thought it would be best to remove him from that category in my mind. Start something new.
“Wow.”
“I told you his act worked.”
“No, I mean wow as in I’m never going to find someone if that’s what it takes.”
“That’s not true, Julia. A certain tatted motorcyclist comes to mind. You two can even jump past the formalities and skip to the good part.”
She rolls her eyes. “Right. So, you’ll go nanny for the super-hot country music star and then go out with the sexy veterinarian after?”
“No. Everett doesn’t need my help with Quinn today. He already has plans.” I don’t tell her about the evaluation. He confided in me in private, and I was under the impression he didn’t want anyone to know. It’s not my news to share.
“It’s the start of the school play though, right? You’ll see him there?”
While I forced Everett’s hand to participate, I stand by my conviction that Quinn will love doing the play with him.
The fact that he roped me into it too was not something I expected.
Honestly, if it weren’t for Brian’s involvement at the school, I’d be thrilled to help.
I hate that I’ll have to see him there every Monday though.
“Don’t remind me. Do you think Henry will be okay doing it?”
“He will if you bring him this.” She hands me a banana.
We exchange a laugh as I stuff it in the side pocket of his backpack. “Good luck on your exam today.”
“Good luck with the play.”
He’s wearing my favorite jeans and green T-shirt when he walks into the gym holding Quinn’s hand.
Their presence is a comfort after ending my day at the firm being accosted by my first disgruntled client.
For the most part, the people Emma meet with are a delight.
They show up on time, exchange polite conversation with me—usually about the weather—and disappear into her office.
Not today. A woman barged out of the elevator demanding advice about her upcoming court-ordered mediation—something I’m not allowed to provide—while Emma was occupied with another appointment.
I lost track of how long it took to get this woman to agree to a future meeting to discuss her concerns.
I’m surprised I beat Everett and Quinn here after that.
A flood of memories and feelings from last night rush through me when our eyes meet.
Everett’s lost his smile today. Dark circles ring his eyes—a clear indicator he stayed up all night—and the first thing my mind goes to is Quinn’s evaluation.
It’s after play practice, and I can’t ask him about it with twenty unsupervised children staring at us.
That’s the situation I walked into when I stepped foot in this gym. And you’d think they’d be parkouring off the edge of the stage or participating in a massive game of tag. They’re silent.
“Where’s the drama lady?” Everett asks, cutting right to the point.
“Broken hip,” a familiar voice answers.
I stiffen.
“Mr. Dawson, Quinn, you made it!” Brian acknowledges them. Completely ignores me. I knew he would be difficult. I was hoping he wouldn’t be around.
“What do you mean a broken hip?” Everett presses.
Mrs. Farris runs these plays. She’s in surprisingly good shape for being the oldest teacher at this school. The fact that she’s never married and lives alone might explain why she’s pushing seventy and still working here.