72
Julia and Courtney lingered behind on the porch, locking up Kay’s house and taking a moment to say goodbye, alone.
Gianluca was putting Leni in her car seat, and Paul was packing their car.
Julia felt a twinge of sadness at separating from Courtney, and she had something to say before they parted for good.
“Court, I’ve been doing some thinking. I’m really sorry that I haven’t had you over and I haven’t been back to visit. I put us last.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s mine, too.”
“Whatever, I put it all before you, and me.”
Courtney puckered her lower lip. “I put work before everything. I know that now.”
“What I realized is that if I’m not seeing you, I’m missing something important in my life. Friends are not second-class.”
“Right? So we have to make time for each other. If we don’t schedule our visits, it won’t happen.” Courtney’s eyes lit up. “We need a plan. I love a good plan.”
“Okay, so, my in-laws will be in the cottage in fall and winter, but spring and summer are free. Pick a month, or two weeks, or any time you have, and we’ll lock it in.”
“Okay, and you do the same thing. Maybe you guys can come to Philly in summer? We can get a house down the shore together.”
“I’d love that!” Julia’s heart lifted. She’d missed the ocean, the boardwalk, and the french fries of her childhood. The one thing Tuscany didn’t have was water. “We have to get into each other’s lives again, the way we used to.”
“Boys or no?”
“Boys or no.” Julia felt like they’d accomplished something. “Plus I’ll be back to testify, I’m sure. It’s not over until McKenna and the others are in jail.”
“Yes.” Courtney’s expression turned grave. “It’s so awful that it was Novak who killed my grandmother.”
“I know. I can’t believe I didn’t recognize him in my vision that day. I’m supposed to be a medium, but I couldn’t see it was Novak?” Julia didn’t completely understand. “After what happened at college? Fake Matt Winger and all?”
“He was still in your blind spot.” Courtney snorted. “You definitely have a gift, you proved that now. I never would have looked under that bed. That was the key to everything.”
“So was Novak.”
“So you have a gift, but you’re only human.”
“And you don’t have a gift, but you knew Novak was a creep from day one.”
Courtney smiled. “Maybe that’s what girlfriends are for, to fill in your blind spot.”
“And maybe we all have some abilities, shall we say. They used to call it women’s intuition.”
“I call it genius.” Courtney smiled, and Julia smiled back, feeling her heart resonate.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.” Courtney gave her a big hug, and Julia hugged her back.
And over Courtney’s shoulder, Julia could see the faintest vision of herself and Courtney as much older women, sitting in the double rocker on the porch, the way Mona and Susan had been when they first pulled up, and the two of them were girlfriends who had shared a long life together, from first loves to last loves, through decades of jobs, illnesses, ups and downs, children, grandchildren, and everything else that had come their way.
They’d weathered it together, without ever losing sight of each other, with a deep and unique love known only by the best of friends.
The single constant in every woman’s life.
Truly, forever.