She nodded reluctantly before running to the ladies’ room. She wasn’t sure how she’d ever be able to face the townspeople after what Natalie had shouted. Fighting nausea, she grabbed the top of the vanity for support.
Diane followed Julia into the washroom. She dampened some paper towels with cold water and handed them to her. “I’m sorry, Jules. I should have slapped her upside the head. I can’t believe she’d talk that kind of trash in my place.”
Julia was quiet as she slowly wiped her face.
“Honey, nobody heard a thing that girl had to say. It’s noisy out there and everyone is talking about how the Santa Claus over at the mall got drunk on his lunch hour yesterday and tried to make out with one of the elves.”
Julia cringed.
Diane smiled at her sympathetically. “You want me to make you a cup of tea or something?”
Julia shook her head and inhaled deeply as she tried to compose herself.
If any god is out there listening, please give all the people in Kinfolks restaurant amnesia, just concerning the past fifteen minutes.
A short time later she reassumed her place at the counter, next to her father. She kept her head down, refusing to make eye contact with anyone. It was too easy to imagine the entire restaurant whispering her sins and judging her.
“I’m sorry, Dad,” she said in a small voice.
He frowned and asked Diane for a fresh cup of coffee and a jelly doughnut. “What are you sorry about?” His voice was gruff.
Diane served them, patting Julia’s arm sympathetically, and moved to wait on some tables in order to give them some privacy.
“This is all my fault—Deb, Natalie, the house…” She didn’t want to cry, but somehow the tears welled up and she couldn’t stop them. “I’ve embarrassed you in front of the whole town.”
Tom leaned toward her. “Hey, I don’t want to hear that kind of garbage. You have never embarrassed me. I’m proud of you.” His voice broke slightly and he began coughing. “It was my responsibility to protect you, and I didn’t.”
Julia wiped a tear away. “But now your life is ruined.”
He snorted. “I wasn’t that attached to my life anyway. I’d rather lose the house and Deb than lose you. There’s no contest. None.”
He pushed the jelly doughnut in front of her and waited until she took a bite. “When I met your mother, I was happy. We had a few good years together. But the best day of my life was the day you were born. I always wanted a family. I’m never going to let anything or anyone separate me from my family again. You’ve got my word on that.”
Julia smiled up into her father’s face, and he leaned over and ruffled her hair.
“I’d like to swing by Deb’s place to talk to her about what just happened. She needs to explain to her daughter how to behave in public. Why don’t you phone that boyfriend of yours and ask him to pick you up? I’ll see you at Richard’s house later on.”
Julia agreed and wiped her tears away. She didn’t want Gabriel to see her crying.
“I love you, Dad.”
Tom cleared his throat roughly, without looking at her. “Me too. Now finish your doughnut before Diane starts changing us rent.”
Chapter 8
Gabriel was only too glad to cut his Christmas shopping short. When he and Richard arrived at the restaurant, they walked over to the counter to join the Mitchells.
Julia stood up and hugged Gabriel tightly.
“What happened?” He frowned. “You’ve been crying.”
“It’s just the Christmas blues.” Julia noticed uncomfortably that some of the restaurant patrons were still staring.
“What Christmas blues?”
“I’ll tell you later.” She began to tug him toward the door.
Richard took a moment to greet Tom, and while the two old friends were talking, Gabriel gently swept Julia’s hair behind her ear in order to whisper something sweet.
A sudden flash caught Richard’s attention—Grace’s earrings. Clearly, he’d underestimated his son’s new relationship. He knew that Grace would be happy that their son gave her earrings to Julia. Grace loved Julia liked a daughter and always considered her part of their family. Perhaps someday Gabriel would make Julia part of their family officially…
Gabriel and Tom exchanged polite greetings, and Gabriel picked up Julia’s Christmas gift from Paul. To his credit, he resisted the urge to say something snide and carried the box without comment.
As the trio approached the door, Officer Roberts walked in. She was wearing her uniform.
“Hello, Jamie.” Gabriel smiled, but his body tensed.
“Hi, Gabriel. Home for Christmas?”
“That’s right.”
She greeted Julia and Richard, and turned back to Gabriel, noticing the way Julia’s arm was tucked into his elbow.
“You look good. You look happy.”
“Thank you. I am.” He smiled genuinely.
Jamie nodded. “I’m happy for you. Merry Christmas.”