“You seem so far away, love.” Julia smiled as she used his new term.
He kissed her softly. “I’m right where I want to be. Perhaps tonight isn’t the best night to share all our secrets. But I can’t take you to Italy without telling you everything. And I would like you to tell me everything too.” He looked into her eyes with a very serious expression. “I can’t ask you to bare your body to me without asking you to bare your soul. I want to do the same with you. I hope you understand.” With his eyes he tried to express his feelings, how he was thinking only of her in adding this prerequisite.
She nodded slowly in agreement. He pressed their lips together, and Julia sighed, resting her head against his chest and listening to the steady, contented rhythm of his heart. Time passed or stood still. Two almost-lovers entwined beneath a dark November sky, the stars and moonlight their only illumination.
***
The next morning, Julia awoke early and walked down the hallway to take a shower. She dressed and packed her suitcase, knocking on Gabriel’s door at eight o’clock. But there was no answer. She pressed the curve of her ear against the door and listened. There was no movement. No sound.
She dragged her rolling bag down the hallway and carried it down the stairs. As she turned the corner into the living room, she saw Richard and Rachel sitting on one of the sofas. Rachel was crying and her father was trying to comfort her.
Their eyes flew to Julia’s as she dropped her bag accidentally. She apologized profusely.
“It’s all right, Julia,” Richard greeted her. “How did you sleep?”
“Well, thank you. Rachel, are you okay?”
Her friend wiped her eyes. “I’m fine.”
“Why don’t you two talk while I make some breakfast? Rachel likes blueberry pancakes, Julia. How about you?” He stood up and gestured toward the kitchen.
“Thanks, but my dad asked me to meet him at Kinfolks for breakfast at nine.”
“I’ll drive you. Just let me whip up some pancakes first.”
Richard disappeared, and Julia sat next to Rachel on the couch, putting her arm around her friend’s shoulders.
“What happened?”
“I had a fight with Aaron. He was moody this morning, so I asked him what was wrong. He starting talking about the wedding and wondering if I was ever going to set a date. When I said I wanted to wait, he wanted to know how long.” She threw up her hands in frustration. “I told him what I said before—I don’t know. Then he asked if I wanted him to let me out of the engagement!”
Julia inhaled sharply in surprise.
“We never fight. But he was so upset that he couldn’t even look at me. Then in the middle of our conversation, he just walked out the front door and drove away. I have no idea where he went or if he’s even coming back,” Rachel sobbed.
Julia hugged her friend tightly. “Of course he’s coming back. I’m sure he was upset with himself for fighting with you and went for a drive to cool off.”
“Dad overhead us. So of course he wanted to know why I was delaying the wedding.” She wiped her eyes with her hands. “He said Aaron was right, I couldn’t put my life on hold. He said that Mom would be upset if she knew I was putting things off because of her.” Rachel’s face crumpled as her eyes filled with more tears.
“Your dad is right—you both deserve to be happy. Aaron loves you so much. He just wants to get married. He’s worried you’ve got cold feet.”
“I don’t have cold feet. I’ve loved him forever.”
“Then tell him that. He took you to an island to reconnect with you after the funeral. He’s been patient about everything. I’m sure he doesn’t care when the wedding is, he just wants to set a date.”
Rachel sniffled sadly. “I had no idea how upset he was.”
“Maybe you should eat some breakfast, then call him. He’ll have calmed down by then, and you two can go somewhere and talk. You can’t work things out here with so many people around.”
Rachel shuddered. “Thank God Scott didn’t walk in on us. He would have sided with me and pissed Aaron off even more.”
At that moment, the front door opened and closed and a tall, brown-haired man, sweaty from jogging, strolled into the living room. His hair was messy and damp, and he was wearing a black Nike jogging suit. As he approached the two women, he took a pair of ear buds out of his ears and pressed a button on his iPhone.
He looked at Rachel and Julia, frowning darkly. “What happened?”
“Aaron and I had a fight.” More tears fell down Rachel’s cheeks, leaving Gabriel stricken.
He walked over and pulled her into a hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I’m sorry, Rach. Where is he?”
“He left.”
He subtly shook his head in frustration. It pained him to see his sister cry.
Before he could ask for more details, Richard emerged from the kitchen, announcing that breakfast was served. “And Julia, if you can give me a few minutes, I’ll take you to Kinfolks.”