EPILOGUE
JULIETTE
Thursday dinners happen whether we’re busy or not. Kai and Victoria arrive first, as usual. They don’t knock anymore. Aryan and his husband, Zayn follow not long after, arguing about something political that they’ll both forget by next week.
I’m in my studio at the back of the house when they arrive, finishing notes for a curator in Milan who wants to rehang one of my pieces. My sixth gallery opened six months ago and I still haven’t adjusted to how often my name gets mentioned in rooms I’m not in.
When I walk into the kitchen, the marble island is already covered in wine glasses. Victoria is inspecting a bottle like she personally invested in it. Kai is talking loudly about something that doesn’t matter. Aryan is leaning against the cabinetry, Zayn beside him, calm and observant.
Adaline is at the stove.
She doesn’t cook because she has to. She cooks because she likes the control.
Because surgery is chaos disguised as precision, and this is quiet in comparison.
She’s changed out of her hospital clothes but she still looks like someone who spent the day holding someone’s heart in her hands.
She did, actually. The case was complicated.
It made the news before she even left the hospital, i thought she would be exhausted but clearly not enough.
She looks up when I enter and her expression softens immediately.
I avert my eyes to find my other girl, she’s sitting in the dining room; books spread out on the table. My sienna, well our sienna. We adopted her fifteen years ago when she was just a baby with the cutest little laugh. Since then its been a whirlwind raising our carbon copy.
She studies like she expects excellence from herself. That’s Adaline. The discipline. The focus. Her attitude is from me though, i can tell from right now when Kai exaggerates a story from high school, she corrects him without hesitation.
“That’s not how it happened,” she says flatly.
Kai points at her. “That tone is Juliette.”
“I do not sound like that,” I say.
Victoria laughs. “You absolutely do.”
Sienna smiles, pleased with herself. She is perhaps the most spoiled child on earth. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Victoria glances at her. “I’m still so glad you two had her.”
Kai nods. “Best decision you ever made.” He says interlocking his fingers with Victoria. They got married a few years ago too, but have more fun playing as uncle and aunty.
“Mamas,” Sienna says, suddenly
Adaline looks up first from the stove. “Yes?”
“I need to tell you something.”
Kai leans back immediately like he’s watching a show. “Oh no.”
“Shut up,” Victoria says, but she’s smiling.
Sienna inhales slowly. “I’ve been seeing someone.”
“For how long?” I ask, the air has shifted and i can feel it.
“A month.”
“A month,” I repeat. “And we’re hearing about it now?” I sound like my mother right now.
“I wanted to be sure.”
“Of what?”
“That it wasn’t stupid.”
Adaline steps closer to her, calm. “And is it?”
Sienna hesitates. “No.”
“And?” Adaline prompts.
“She’s coming over.”
We have no time to gather ourselves from what she just said because the doorbell soon rings. I gasp at her audacity, it’s so like me just doing what she wants and letting me know after the fact.
Aryan laughs heartily. “You could not have timed that better.”
Sienna gets up quickly, trying to look casual and failing slightly. I follow her and give her a look that says ‘i’m going to deal with you later.’
The girl standing there is composed but i feel like I’ve stepped into a time machine and gone back to high school. The leather jacket, the tired beaten look on her face. She is the spitting image of Adaline at that age.
“Hi. I’m Annie.”
“Come in,” Sienna says, clearly trying to act confident.
I step forward. “Juliette.”
She shakes my hand firmly but i can feel how clammy they are which makes me relived a little. She’s nervous and that means she cares, either that or she’s hiding something.
“Adaline,” my wife adds beside me, with a bright smile. She’s always been the easy going parent out of the two of us.
“Nice to meet you,” Annie says, flashing her smile.
Eventually we all disperse to the dining room and i set an extra place for Annie, who sits next to sienna.
Conversation flows almost immediately. Kai asks how they met and apparently it was at school.
Victoria asks what she studies. Aryan watches quietly.
Zayn smiles warmly, easing the tension without making it obvious.
“What are you into?” Kai asks.
“Music,” Annie says. “I want to be a musician.”
“Like properly?” Aryan asks, with a smile. He loves a good unconditional dream.
“Yes.”
She was quite sure of herself, certain in a way that further reminded me of Adaline at that age. Dinner stretches like it always does. Laughter overlapping. Stories resurfacing. Victoria teasing Sienna about something from childhood. Sienna protesting loudly.
Annie doesn’t try to compete with the noise. She fits into it carefully. I watch her carefully when Kai makes an offhand joke about private school fees. Sienna laughs automatically. Annie smiles, but it’s smaller. She doesn’t seem impressed by this house but rather uncomfortable by it.
Sienna’s knee brushes Annie’s under the table and neither of them moves away.
Later, I notice their hands linked just out of sight beneath the edge of the table.
I almost rip this girls head off, i tend to have an overprotective streak.
I refrain from doing so because they’re clearly happy and also i don’t want to risk jail time.
ADALINE
I don’t interrupt the flow of the evening, Juliettes constant interrogations do that enough. Annie listens more than she speaks. When she answers, she’s precise. There’s something self-contained about her, it reminds me of something but i can’t put my finger on it.
At one point, Aryan leans back and says, “So musician, huh? That’s brave.”
Annie nods. “I don’t want to do something safe.”
Zayn smiles at that. “Good answer.”
“What about your parents?” I ask her smiling. “What do they do?”
She hesitates briefly. “Just my mum. She’s a cleaner.” She doesn’t seem embarrassed and i’m glad she doesn’t, my heart softens because i know what it’s like to be surrounded by people wealthier than you, to always feel somewhat out of place. I can see it in the way she moves, the ways she exists.
“We would love to meet her.” I respond with a smile and she reciprocates.
She must be relieved that i didn’t make a big deal about her family situation or pry more, Sienna seems grateful too because she mouths ‘thank you.’ To me.
We raised her to treat everyone with respect, well except billionaires that is.
Later, when the conversation shifts and Kai and Victoria drift into an argument about something trivial in the living room, I gesture for Juliette to help me clear plates. It’s an excuse.
In the kitchen, the noise dulls slightly. We almost look huddled up, discussing the play.
“She’s serious,” Juliette says quietly, drying a plate that doesn’t need drying.
“Yes,” I say like we are solving a crime. “She’s quiet too.”
“I’m scared.” Juliette says. “What if she hurts her?”
“What if sienna hurts her?”
“She can do no wrong.”
I roll my eyes fondly. “You have spoiled her beyond belief.”
“Was i the one that bought her that horse? Or was it you?”
I sheepishly grin. “Touché.”
Ever since i laid eyes on sienna i knew i wanted to give her the life that i never had. I taught her to be resilient of course and so did Adam but i wanted her to have her hearts desires, juliette was planning on spoiling her before she even came into our lives so i blame her.
We both fall quiet for a moment.
Through the doorway, I can see them at the table.
Sienna is leaning slightly toward Annie, her expression softer than usual.
Annie’s posture has relaxed a fraction compared to when she first walked in.
Their hands are linked beneath the table.
Sienna is pretending she doesn’t care who sees.
Annie looks like she cares, but she isn’t pulling away.
“They’re happy,” Juliette says.
“They are” I agree.
Juliette’s jaw tightens slightly. “I don’t want her hurt.” She repeats
“I know,” I say gently. “But we can’t wrap her up in wool forever.”
When we step back into the dining room, Aryan and Zayn are mid-conversation with Annie about small venues and open mic nights. Zayn is asking practical questions. Aryan is pushing lightly, not to intimidate but to test seriousness, while kai and Victoria are watching intently.
“And your backup plan?” Aryan asks gently.
Annie doesn’t hesitate. “I don’t need one.”
Sienna looks at her like she just said something brilliant, and my chest swells up.
SIENNA
I could feel it when I said she was coming over. Mama is overprotective, her blue icy eyes glaring at me when i sprung this on her. Mum is more chill but i know she worries too.
Annie knew it too. I saw it in the way she straightened slightly at the door.
The way her eyes took in the hallway quickly.
Which is funny because she’s usually the most opinionated and loudest person in the room.
That’s how we met, she corrected me in class and at first i was mad and didn’t like her for a while…
i guess after that i developed somewhat of an obsession with her.
“You okay?” I whisper to her. It was only us left in the dining room now, everyone else had gone home and my mother’s were both in the kitchen.
They were viewing distance away though, not wanting to leave us alone.
They even said no when i asked them if we could play with the piano alone, and their faces got all red. At least we have some space now.
“Yeah, your mothers are nice.” She smiles. “I don’t know why i was so nervous.”
“Because you like me so much.” I joke flipping my blonde hair playfully.
“I do.” Her tone is serious. “I like you a lot.”
“I like you a lot.” I swallow, my nerves taking over. She smiles and puts her hand on top of mine and i almost pass out. From my peripheral i see my mother’s smiling at me, leaning against each other. I hope Annie and i could be like that one day too.
The end.