Chapter 24 #3
“He sounds like a good guy if he’d go to that kind of trouble for someone he’d only just met.”
“He is a good guy. I know that, but still… I can’t shake the feeling that I’m setting myself up for another disaster.”
“That’s your preconditioned point of view. All you’ve ever known is disaster, so why would you think this situation would be any different from all the others?”
“That’s it exactly. I’m not sure how to get past that. Deacon has been so good to me from the first time we met. There’s no reason at all to distrust him or question his sincerity, and yet…”
“It’s a choice you have to make to either take a chance knowing the risks going in or take the safe route and avoid anything that could ever hurt you.”
“That’s what Katie did before she met Shane. She never dated at all because she was afraid she’d end up with a man like our father.”
“That sounds like a very lonely existence for her and for you.”
“Life has been a lot less lonely and unsettled since I met Deacon. He has a way of making everything better just by being in the room.”
“I know that feeling.” Kevin’s gaze shifted toward the hallway.
“Loving people, letting them into your life, trusting them not to hurt you… It’s always a risk, even for those of us who didn’t grow up the way you did.
Your upbringing makes it harder for you to trust people, especially men.
The most important man in your life disappointed you so profoundly. ”
“Yes, he did.” She thought about the piano and the day he’d sold it without telling her, and then quickly pushed that memory into the past where it belonged.
“I don’t know Deacon, but I know his brother. He’s a good man. Does that mean Deacon is, too? Certainly not.”
“Deacon is a good man. I’ve seen that with my own eyes.”
“Even good men aren’t perfect, Julia. He’ll let you down and disappoint you, because he’s human. Not because he’s bad.”
“You’re very wise.”
Kevin laughed. “I don’t know about that.”
“What you said about him being human is a good reminder that no one is perfect. That helps.”
“If something I said helps you, then that makes my day.”
“You have helped. Very much. And you’ve given me a lot to think about.”
“Come back next week? Same time.”
“I don’t want to bother you while you’re on leave.”
“It’s no bother. Please come by. Let’s keep doing the work so you’re ready for the next storm.”
“Okay. Thank you again.”
“It was entirely my pleasure to meet you, Julia. Owen and Katie speak so highly of you. I’m glad I got a chance to get to know you.” Kevin walked her to the door and handed her a business card. “My cell number is on there. I’m available any time if you need me. Don’t hesitate to call.”
Julia took the card from him, touched by his compassion. “Thank you so much for taking the time, especially right now.”
“No problem at all. I’ll see you next week, if not before.”
“See you then.” Julia walked to the hotel, thinking about the things Kevin had said, especially about Deacon.
For her entire life, she’d put people into two categories—good and bad.
But what Kevin said about good people doing things that hurt or disappointed others had really resonated with her.
No, Deacon wasn’t perfect. But maybe, just maybe, he might be perfect for her.
When she returned to the Surf, Julia glanced into the restaurant and saw that it wasn’t super busy yet. Bending at the waist, she picked up Puppy and walked in, powerfully drawn to the piano on the stage.
“Hey, Julia,” Stephanie said. “Everything okay?”
Julia nodded, her gaze fixed on the instrument that had defined her for so long before it was taken from her. Take it back, Owen had said. Take it back. She glanced at Stephanie. “Would you mind if I played for a bit?”
“Would I mind?” Stephanie laughed. “No, Julia, I wouldn’t mind if you dazzle my customers with your amazing talent.”
“Thank you.”
“Um, no, thank you.”
“Is it okay if I keep him on my lap?”
“It’s Gansett Island. Everything is okay here.”
Truer words had never been spoken. “Thanks, Steph.” Julia gave her stepsister a quick hug and then headed for the stage.
Take it back, take it back, take it back.
Owen’s words were a chant, guiding her to where she’d longed to be for as long as she’d lived without it.
She could admit that to herself now that she had the freedom to take it back.
No one would ever take it from her again.
She would make sure of that.
Seated on the bench, with Puppy curled up in her lap, Julia placed her hands on the keys and played the opening notes of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” Over the years, there’d been so many songs released that she’d loved and wished she could perform, and now she could.
As if the floodgates had been thrown open with no limits or restrictions, she lost herself in the music, the lyrics, the exhilaration of playing for an appreciative audience and the sheer joy of doing something she loved.
Kevin had told her to practice self-care. This… For Julia, playing the piano and singing was the very definition of self-care.