42. Jules #2
Mother pinches her mouth, looking between the two of us. Finally, she smiles and turns to look at my dad. “Adam, isn’t there something you want to share with Jules?”
Before Dad can say anything, the server appears to take our orders. My dad and Drew order steak and I order the risotto.
“Wouldn’t you rather have a salad, Juliet?” Mother asks. Leaning across the table, she lowers her voice. “That dress fits a little tight.”
Drew slams his menu shut and passes it to the server. Glaring at my mother, he says to the server, “My girlfriend will have the risotto and for dessert, she’ll have the dark chocolate souffle.”
I raise my wine glass to my mouth to hide my smile behind a sip of wine.
It took seventeen years of dating, but I finally figured out the perfect man for me is just Drew Callahan.
Not someone like Drew Callahan. Nope, that’ll never do.
It has to be him. Funny, how it’s taken me this long to realize it when he’s been there the whole time.
“Well, I’ll have the watercress salad,” mother says. “It’s so important to watch what you eat. Especially when you’re in the public eye.”
“Actually, my sister and Jules have always advocated for eating what fills you up,” Drew says. “Some days that’s a salad and some days it’s a cheeseburger. Our parents have always taught us intuitive eating rather than eating to fit society’s ideals.”
I squeeze his thigh in warning. I can see the anger in my mother’s eyes and she’s liable to lash out if he doesn’t stop defending me.
“Dad, what did you want to tell me?” I ask, trying to change the subject.
Dad looks away from my mother and focuses on me. “Oh, your mother and I have decided to sell the apartment.”
I blink once, not sure I heard him correctly. “You’re selling Gemma’s apartment?”
Mother laughs hysterically. “It was never Gemma’s apartment. Honestly, dear girl, do you think Gemma could afford that apartment? You know it was always ours and now we’re selling it.”
I feel Drew’s eyes on me as I sit back against my chair. Under the table, he reaches for my hand, giving it a squeeze.
I don’t know why I’m surprised. Except maybe a part of me thought it’d always be there and I’d get it back eventually, somehow.
Yes, it’s just an apartment, but it’s the first place I truly ever felt safe and at home.
My most formative memories are tied to that place, and they’re selling it like it’s just a piece of property.
“Daddy and I feel it’s the right thing to do,” Mother says. “You need the push to find your own place and let go of Gemma. It’s been ten years and you don’t seem to have moved on from her death.”
I squeeze Drew’s hand so tightly, my nails dig into his skin. I know I’m hurting him, but I can’t send the signal to my fingers to unclench. Mother looks at Drew, her eyes sharpening.
“Oh, Drew, you should probably know our Juliet has some issues.” She whispers the last part like it's a terrible curse. “I’m sure you know all about them by now, but I hope that won’t affect your relationship.”
She sighs deeply. “I wish Gemma had taught her better and helped her understand how the world works, but my sister was always lost in her world. At least she has to take care of herself now, but I hope you stay with her. She’s really nice, if a little naive, and she really needs someone to look after her.
We can’t be here all the time, you know? ”
Reaching out, my mother places her hand over Drew’s on the table, offering him a soft smile like she’s hoping he’ll understand just how naive I am. Like I’m not a woman in my thirties with a career, an investment portfolio, and a financial manager.
With a look of disgust, Drew pulls his hand back.
“That’s enough,” he says. “You can only use so many words to say you don’t know your daughter, at all.
Gemma taught her to see the beauty in the world and in everyone she meets.
If Jules has any issues, it’s because you gave them to her.
Stop talking about her like she’s not here and stop infantilizing her.
She’s the most brilliant woman I’ve ever met and I’m fucking grateful she’s even dating me.
She’s pure magic and I’m not surprised you don’t see it. ”
He throws his napkin on the table and turns to me, the anger still visible but his eyes softening slightly. “Let’s go, baby.”
Mother laughs dryly. “Let’s see how you feel when she almost destroys your career with her lies.” Her eyes shift to mine. “The last one was a football player, wasn’t he? The lies you started to spread about him could have ended his entire career.”
I flinch at the reminder of him. As if this night could possibly get any worse, she had to bring him up. Probably the last time I trusted my mother, foolishly, I might add, and she did what she always does. She ignored me, blamed me, told me I was lying.
As if I wasn’t already seized up from all the other bullshit she’s just spewed, I’m now utterly frozen on my chair. My chest feels tight, my hands and feet cold. I can’t breathe.
Drew leans across the table, lowering his voice to a whisper.
“Mrs. Love, I don’t give a fuck what Jules did.
If she wants to lie and destroy my career, I’ll happily make up the lies for her and help her spread them.
Because I know that’s the only fucking way she’s going to come up with those lies to do something so malicious.
Thankfully, her genetics aren’t reflected in who she is as a person. ”
Drew takes my hand, pulling me out of my chair. My body is slowly losing all sensation, black creeping into my vision. I’m only vaguely aware of Drew helping me into my coat. It’s only when we step outside and the cold, late October air hits my skin do I come to a little.
Cupping his hands around my face, Drew tilts my head back until our eyes meet. His green eyes are shadowed with worry.
“You’re okay, beasty. No one’s going to hurt you.”
It almost makes me laugh how ridiculous those words are after we’ve just left a dinner table with my parents. I’ve had dinner with his family countless times and never once felt like I couldn’t breathe, not even when he and I were constantly fighting.
“How about we get Delucia’s and have a dinner party at home?” He gently tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear.
“That sounds nice,” I reply quietly.
Drew still looks concerned, but the valet brings his car around so we can’t stand there talking. Opening the door for me, he helps me into the car before walking around and getting in the driver’s side.
I look at the exterior of the restaurant as we drive off, and I already know that’s one place I’ll never be returning.