Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
The wind whipped through Julia’s hair as she stood next to Whisling Wharf, awaiting the ferry to unload her passengers.
The briny smell of living right next to the Pacific never grew old, even after Julia’s nearly four decades of living on the west coast. And as much as she’d loved the LA Pacific, there was something special about the ocean that surrounded Whisling. The coconut smell of sunscreen was replaced by crispness and an almost sweeter saltwater smell.
Julia spied the tall, dark, and handsome young man she was waiting for. Trip, Julia’s nephew, came barreling down the gangway, suitcase in one hand and his girlfriend’s—Emily’s—hand in the other. The adorable couple had been apart for a few months, ever since Emily and Julia had finished filming in Vancouver, but now they were both moving to the island. Emily was relocating for her role in Julia’s movie and Trip was here because he wanted to be as close to the woman he loved as he could be. There were talks of him moving back to Hollywood with Emily when filming wrapped on the island but Julia was avoiding all of those rumors for the time being. She wanted to be able to more than feign ignorance when her sister asked what Trip planned to do in the future.
“Emily!” Wendy, Julia’s niece, called out to her brother’s girlfriend.
Julia chuckled as Trip skidded to a stop, dropping his suitcase to put a hand over his mock-injured heart.
Emily embraced Wendy and the two pretended not to see that Trip was watching them both with eyes full of accusation.
Julia pulled her nephew into a hug.
Trip returned the hug enthusiastically. “I get Wendy liking Ryder’s girlfriend better than Ryder, because he’s the least favorite brother. But choosing Emily over me?”
“Emily is the best thing to ever happen to you,” Wendy said with a shrug, turning her attention to her brother.
“Agreed,” Trip said immediately, his brown eyes lighting up as he gazed adoringly down at the pixie by his side. With her small frame, dark curls, and bright blue eyes, Emily was almost fairylike in appearance but Julia knew from experience that the little lady had a feisty side. “But you could still hug me first.”
Wendy smiled deviously and Julia had a feeling a sibling verbal sparring match was imminent if she didn’t step in.
“How was the flight from LA?” Julia asked Emily. Trip had flown in from Indianapolis and Emily from LA. They’d arranged their flights so they’d get to SEATAC around the same time and then took the ferry to Whisling together.
“Nice and short,” Emily responded as Trip pulled her into his side, like the two inches separating them had been too much.
“Did anyone fly up with you?” Wendy glanced about hopefully, looking for any of the other celebrities who were in the same movie that had brought Emily to the island.
“Not Jordan Ashburn,” Trip teased because they all knew about Wendy’s giant crush on the up-and-coming actor who’d taken the role of younger brother to bigger stars Aiden Christensen and Joshua Baker.
“I wasn’t wondering about anyone specifically,” Wendy claimed as she flipped her brown hair over her shoulder nonchalantly.
Julia was glad to see Wendy seeming open to guys again. Julia knew her niece had had some trouble getting over the man she’d dated for nearly a year even though they’d been broken up for a few months now. The breakup had been quite the mess—Wendy’s ex had wanted her to move with him to Seattle but Wendy loved her island life. They’d tried long distance but then her ex had drunkenly kissed a girl at a club and that had been the end of it for Wendy . . . although her heart had hung on long after her mind had given up on the man.
Julia took the handle of Emily’s suitcase as she started toward her SUV. “Are you all hungry? We can pick something up and bring it back to my house or we could dine in? Or if you’re tired, Emily, I can take you to the inn first?”
The cast and crew of the movie Julia was filming had found accommodations all over the island. Josh and Aiden would be at Josh’s house in the hills, while others had rented the few available vacation homes. But the vast majority would be staying at the inn owned by Aiden’s girlfriend, Elise, and her sister Amber.
Julia had invited Emily to stay at her home but the young actress had wanted to stay closer to where most of the filming was located and had also felt it would be best not to live with Trip quite yet.
“I’m always up for food first,” Emily responded as the rest of the crew followed Julia to her car.
Trip once again took ahold of Emily’s hand. “And that’s why I love you.”
“ That’s why?” Wendy asked, unable to refrain from teasing her brother.
“He should raise his standards,” Emily chimed in.
“ One reason why,” Trip clarified.
“Oh,” Emily responded, drawing out the word as if she hadn’t understood what Trip had meant before.
Julia had often wondered what it would have been like if her life had taken another direction. She’d been so focused on her career in her twenties and thirties that she hadn’t even thought about children. By the time she was ready to consider the possibility, Julia was just getting out of a really long term relationship that had been going nowhere, and she didn’t want to raise a child on her own. Time kept passing until Julia’s body had told her the opportunity had passed. She would never be a mother.
But in moments like this, she got a glimpse of what it would have been like. Her heart so full of love for her niece and nephew she felt like it could explode. And she was content with what she had.
She made quick work of the drive along the beach front and the group ended up at Scratch Made by Bess—easily the best food truck on the island, but Julia would argue that it was the best eating establishment on the entire west coast.
“Fancy seeing you again,” Bess said as she leaned out the window of her food truck.
Julia and Bess had both been at Alexis’s bridal shower just that afternoon.
“We were hungry so we had to make a stop for the island’s best food,” Julia explained and then she gave her order. She didn’t even have to look at the menu anymore.
“Oh stop it,” Bess said as she waved a hand.
“And by stop it she means keep it coming.” Lindsey, Bess’s daughter, poked her head around her mom with a mischievous wink before heading back to the grill.
“I didn’t know you were visiting,” Julia called to the apron-clad girl.
“Just covering for Alexis while she does the whole getting married thing. Some of us are very available to help since some of us can’t even get a week-long relationship to stick,” Lindsey joked.
“Is dating really that bad?” Bess asked.
“Yes.” Lindsey, Wendy, and Emily spoke in unison.
“I mean, until I met you,” Emily amended, clasping her hands around Trip’s arm.
Trip beamed.
“Well, Alexis kissed her fair share of frogs. Your prince is coming,” Julia assured Lindsey as Bess joined her daughter in the back of the truck to prepare their meals.
“I don’t need a prince. I’d settle for a court jester at this point.” Lindsey dropped some onion rings into the fryer.
The group laughed although Julia couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the girl. She totally understood Lindsey’s predicament. It wasn’t too long ago Julia had been fielding her own team of frogs.
Julia thought about the man she now kissed, the one who’d be coming back to the island after his giant tour completed in three short weeks. Although she would hate to live through her heartaches again, she’d take each one if it meant she got to be right where she was, with Ellis.
Even her dreams couldn’t have conjured up Ellis Rider. He was so hunky Julia sometimes sighed just thinking about his arms or his eyes or his abs or his hair or the way he opened up every door for Julia and little old ladies. Or the way he kissed her temple when he could see that she was anxious . . . Julia missed her boyfriend.
But he’d be home in just a few weeks. And until then, she had her beautiful niece and nephew to entertain as well as shooting an entire movie to occupy her time.
Lindsey and Bess had their orders completed in no time and the group decided to head back to Julia’s since a slight chill hung in the evening air.
Trip and Emily set the boxes of food at each place at the table while Julia and Wendy brought glasses and silverware, and then the family dug in with zeal. Julia loved seeing people experience Bess’s food for the first time and watching Emily’s eyes go wide as she took her first bite of Bess’s famous chicken BLT was a treat.
“It’s . . . ” Emily began, blinking in surprised awe.
“I know,” Trip said when no more words seemed to be coming from Emily’s mouth. In fact, she was intent on taking a second bite instead of finishing her thought.
Julia laughed before she punctured a piece of lettuce with her fork. Everything at Bess’s was amazing but Julia absolutely adored the kalua pig salad. It wasn’t typically a protein one found on lettuce but the way Bess did it with pickled onions, candied macadamia nuts, and a creamy yet tangy dressing that Julia could have drunk out of a giant cannister was perfection.
They all enjoyed their respective meals in near silence before Wendy put down her fork with a sigh. “I’ve been putting off telling you.” Wendy looked at her aunt and Julia felt her muscles tensing, knowing it wasn’t good news.
And when Wendy pinched her lips and rolled her eyes, Julia already knew who the message was from. “I was debating not telling you because the whole thing is so petty. But she made me promise to pass her message along . . . ”
“I know,” Julia said, encouraging her niece and sympathizing with the uncomfortable position she was in.
“She’s no longer talking to you.” Wendy bit her lip, her eyes full of apology.
Wendy didn’t need to explain who ‘she’ was. Julia had been on the outs with her sister Lacey for more time in her life than they’d been okay. Julia had been waiting for this kind of news. Especially when Trip had decided to move in with Julia for the time Emily would be on the island filming.
“It’s because of us, isn’t it?” Emily asked, setting down her sandwich for the first time since she took that initial bite.
Julia shook her head. “It’s because of me. It’s always because of me. I was the first one to desert Lacey, and she’ll never be able to forgive that.”
Wendy blew out an exasperated sigh. “You didn’t desert her. You chose to live a life outside of Travers. That isn’t a crime.”
Except that’s exactly what it was to Lacey and Julia’s mom. A crime against the Price family.
And now she was influencing the younger generation with her errant ways.
Emily chewed on her lip as Trip looked to Julia for help. Julia was going to guess this was a conversation they’d had many times. And while Trip was willing to incur the wrath of his mother, Emily was not.
“What they’re asking for isn’t fair,” Julia finally said, choosing her words with care, but she felt a pit in her stomach as she said them. She never wanted to speak badly about her sister, especially in front of Lacey’s children, but Emily had a right to live her life without feeling like she was a disappointment to Trip’s family. Julia knew from past conversations that Emily already felt the burden of her own family’s expectation.
“Exactly,” Wendy and Trip said in unison.
Trip took Emily’s hands into his. “We have to live our lives the way we see fit. You can’t do your job from Travers even if you wanted to be stuck in that hole of a town for the rest of your life.”
“I’m sure it’s a lovely town,” Emily began.
“Not really. I mean, it’s not terrible, but it’s no Whisling or even LA,” Wendy interjected before turning back to her food. She, for one, seemed unfazed by the topic of conversation. Probably because she knew Lacey would never fully blame her for any of this.
Julia was the one who got the brunt of it all. And while she’d gladly take it for her niece and nephew’s sake, she just wished . . .
“There are great things about Travers. It’s perfect to some,” Julia said.
Trip grunted. “Stifling to others.”
Julia had to nod. That’s exactly how Travers had felt to her so she wasn’t surprised Wendy and Trip shared the emotion.
Emily turned to Julia, her eyes wide and vulnerable. “I just don’t want Lacey to hate me even before she meets me.”
Julia watched Emily swallow and prayed for the right words to come to her. As much as Julia wanted to reassure Emily she also had to be truthful. Lacey could very well begin to hate Emily if she felt Emily was keeping Trip away from home.
“Maybe you should meet her then. Sooner rather than later?” Julia offered an alternative. Because once Lacey met Emily she couldn’t help but love her, right? The girl was adorable and craving affection from a mother figure. If Lacey allowed her, Emily would be the perfect girlfriend to her son. But would Lacey let her?
“And even if Lacey holds some ridiculous grudge against you . . . ” Julia began.
Trip nodded as Wendy waved her hands in front of Julia to show Emily that she wouldn’t be the only one withstanding that grudge. This was Julia’s everyday life.
“I am and will always be so very grateful that you and Trip have chosen one another. I imagine some of the other young women I’ve worked with or gotten to know and you are by far the only one I’d want with our Trip.” Julia looked fondly at her nephew, who was grinning, then turned to Emily.
Her smile was a little tight but it was there.
“Mom’s going to feel however she wants to feel. But if she’s smart, she’ll love you like I do. If she’s not, she’s the one who will be missing out,” Trip assured.
Emily let go of his hands to wrap her arms around him, leaning against his strong shoulder.
Those two would be fine.
“So what do you think about going home to Travers? So I can meet your mom?” Emily asked while still cuddled around Trip.
Smart move. Julia was pretty sure the last thing Trip wanted to do was go home so soon after he’d come to Whisling. But then again, at least he’d be bringing Emily with him.
“Um.” Trip’s eyes darted to Wendy and they communicated in a way only the closest of siblings could.
“Maybe after you finish the movie?” Trip suggested.
Wendy’s nod was slight but it was obvious she approved.
Emily lifted her head to look at Julia. “Sooner rather than later is better, right? We still have a week before we start filming. I saved quite a bit of money on my last movie and I could totally spring for tickets. First class even.” Emily’s voice was so full of hope it killed Julia. Because she knew Trip was going to turn her down. He didn’t want the woman he loved to be hurt by the woman who bore him.
“Or we could convince your parents to come out here? Stay with us,” Julia offered.
Trip’s mouth dropped open in dismay but the smile of Emily’s face was finally genuine.
“Well, you’d have to convince them,” Julia said to Trip. “Since your mother has decided I’m back on the silent treatment list.”
“Dad hasn’t been here in so long,” Wendy said thoughtfully. “I’m sure he has enough vacation saved up for a week or so.”
Trip narrowed his eyes at his sister.
“She has to meet them, Trip. Better to be here with Aunt Julia to referee the match,” Wendy replied to her brother’s unspoken criticism.
“Do you not want me to meet your parents?” Emily asked softly, her expression troubled.
Julia wondered if it was time for her and her salad to make an escape into the kitchen.
“It’s not that. Explain how Mom is to her, Aunt Julia,” Trip said.
The three young adults turned to Julia, two looking expectant while her niece just appeared to be highly entertained.
“Hm,” Julia said, clearing her throat as she bought herself some time. How should she describe her sister to Emily? She had to be honest and yet being too honest would bite her in the behind.
“Lacey is . . . fiercely loving. She doesn’t love in the way anyone else wants her to; she loves in a way that is true to who she is.”
Julia felt good about that. “Lacey is a perfectionist. She has always been and will always be the prettiest girl in Travers. She’s won every pageant she entered, was homecoming queen, and has the most beautifully decorated home in all of Iowa.”
Emily nodded but the brightness in her eyes told Julia she was still expecting more.
“She loves order and has a hard time letting loose but when she does, it’s a party. She feels a lot of responsibility for everyone around her and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.”
That last one was verging into too honest territory and Julia switched directions hastily.
“Her children and husband are always her priority, so if you get into that tight circle of love, you’re one lucky person.”
That was enough, wasn’t it?
Emily nodded once more and Trip seemed satisfied so Julia was done. She hated that it had been so difficult to describe her sister in a positive manner. Julia loved her sister with all of her heart and yet she was one of the biggest thorns in her side. Julia knew of sisters who were best friends, sisters who shared everything, sisters who could rely on the other no matter what they did to each other. She and Lacey weren’t at all like that. The love was deep down so if Julia truly dug she knew she’d find it. But there were so many layers of scars and hurt and too many times that they fell right back into old, destructive patterns.
But as hard as Julia and her sister’s relationship could be, it was just as easy with Lacey’s kids. Loving them, caring for them, adoring them—it all came so naturally. So even though family could be complicated, Julia was grateful her complicated family had gifted her with her unconditionally loving family as well.
Trip stood, brushing his hands against the thighs of his pants. “Well, I think it’s time that I take Em to the inn.”
Emily began to clear the table but Julia swiped the takeout container out of her hand. “Leave that for us. I’m sure you’re exhausted after your travel day.”
“I only flew for a couple of hours,” Emily countered, trying to snatch the box back, but Julia was too quick.
“And then waited, then took a ferry. It was a long day.”
This time Emily didn’t argue as Trip put an arm around her waist and led her out of the room.
“See you all soon!” Emily called back.
Wendy and Julia both called out their goodbyes before the garage door shut.
“Mom might hate her,” Wendy said softly while they both cleared the table.
Julia wished that wouldn’t be the case but one never knew with Lacey.
“She also might love her.”
Wendy shrugged before pausing to say, “You do know that you’re in that circle, right? The one reserved for us and Dad. Mom loves you just as fiercely.”
Julia froze with her hand above the trash. No, she hadn’t known that. It was obvious Lacey had a special place in her heart for her immediate family and then Julia’s parents. Maybe Julia’s brother Jack got an honorary position but with that Lacey’s heart was full. Because of that, Julia had been craving family for years and had finally found it in her nephews and nieces.
“She can spit venom when she’s mad and I know she didn’t talk to you for years. And I did hear her complaining to Dad about you all the time. But if anyone in town ever said anything bad about you or any of your movies? You should’ve heard her—Mom ripped them a new one. I’d sometimes come into her room to say goodnight after a football game or something and she’d be sitting in front of her TV, watching you. She’d often tell us stories about you. How she was so protective of you growing up.”
Julia blinked as her mind drifted back over the decades to her childhood. Wendy was right—Lacey had been a protective sister. Julia had almost forgotten that between the other memories that had overshadowed the better ones. And although Lacey had often criticized Julia when they’d been kids, she had never allowed anyone else to do the same. Not even Jack.
“I know Mom’s complicated. Believe me, I get it. But that tight circle of love, no matter how many times she gets mad at you? You’re in it. I wish she’d stop treating you the way she does, but I promise she loves you, Aunt Julia.”
Julia hadn’t realized tears were running down her cheeks until Wendy gently wiped them away.
Julia had thought Lacey had to love her. They were sisters. But to be in that close circle that Julia had envied? It seemed unfathomable. And yet, Julia believed that if Lacey didn’t love her fiercely, the way Julia loved Lacey, they would have stopped even trying to be in one another’s lives long ago. The fact that Lacey wanted Julia to know she was getting the silent treatment meant something. Something a little twisted, but then again, when had love ever been easy?
“And you’re in my circle too,” Wendy added as Julia dropped her trash and then pulled her niece into a hug.
“You are my world. You know that, right?” Julia managed between her tears.
Wendy nodded. “I used to wish that you could have given me more cousins but now I know better. Because you don’t have kids of your own, I get an aunt and a second momma with you. And I would take that over more cousins any day.”
Julia blinked away the tears, her heart filling. Because as complicated as Julia’s family as well as her own childless journey had been? In this moment it was all worth it.