by Elle Linder
Once she’d let herself embrace the wedding, she’d gone crazy with the planning in typical Julia fashion.
“I can’t believe you finally settled on a date. I bet Luke has been grinning ear to ear.” Kandace laughed, walking Julia to the door of Murphy’s Café. They spent the morning planning the menu before the lunch crowd arrived. Kandace, the head chef and caterer of Murphy’s, worked with Julia regularly for events and specials the resort offered. It hadn’t taken the two of them long to become friends, both city girls at heart who embraced a rural life.
Kandace had originated from Portland, Oregon and studied the culinary arts in Seattle, which was where she had met her husband, Mike. Together they ran the fanciest restaurant in Faithful Falls while raising their two kids, Mikey, who was ten like Brice, and Kerri, who was six. They were adorable, well-mannered kids with their mother’s strawberry-blonde hair and their father’s steel-gray eyes.
Julia would have loved to spend more time with Kandace and Mike, but they were always busy. It was understandable with all they had going on. They maneuvered their business and family seamlessly. It gave Julia hope that one day she might be able to juggle the resort and a family with Luke by her side.
“If you could see past his beard, I’m sure there’s a smile in there somewhere.” Julia exhaled, thinking of her gorgeous lumberjack. But her lovestruck smile faded away as her eyes took on a glossy sheen. Every time she dared to be happy, Renee flashed in her head. As plans were finalized for the wedding, she felt a frantic quiver in her chest. It seemed to increase in intensity and frequency the closer they got to the wedding, and Julia waited overwrought with fear for the other shoe to drop.
“Julia, what’s wrong?” Kandace squeezed her arm. The look of concern in her eyes only made Julia more emotional, sending a tear rolling down her cheek. “Oh, God, honey, talk to me.” Kandace guided Julia to a settee near the door.
“It’s…it’s just,” Julia stuttered, sitting beside Kandace. “It’s too good to be true.” She sucked in a breath. “Every day I see him, I can’t believe he’s mine. Or he will be.” She swiped her finger under her nose.
“Aww, honey, he is yours. That man loves you so much. Why do you think it’s too good to be true?”
“Because of Renee.” Kandace’s shoulders dropped as her sweet expression turned sour. “Her texts and phone calls are driving me crazy. I’m sure I don’t understand what it’s like to be a mom, but my goodness, does she really need a play-by-play every day? They’re not babies.” Julia paused, taking in a deep breath.
“Every day?”
“Every freaking day. In the morning. At bedtime. Sometimes she sends a string of texts during the day. Usually meaningless babble.” Kandace’s eyebrows shot up. “Maybe I’m being unreasonable. Maybe I’m too jealous. But dammit, it pisses me off that he takes her calls and returns her texts every damn time.”
“First of all, you’re not being unreasonable. That would piss me off too. As a mother of two, when my kids go to my in-laws’, I might only talk to them once a week if that. Daily is neurotic.”
“What would piss you off?” Mike asked, startling both women. He turned the pages of the book at the hostess desk. Julia followed his length up to his bald head, where an expectant expression was set firmly on his face. “Well?” He tapped a pen on the book, looking at them.
“You know, it’s not nice to eavesdrop on your wife’s private conversations.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t be talking in a public place,” he shot back, crossing his arms over his chest. His stance reminded Julia of Luke—strong and domineering, with the same glint of playfulness in his eyes. Julia and Kandace had immediately bonded over the guys’ snarky sense of humor, exchanging notes on how they each handled their man.
Mike and Luke were about the same height and stature, but Mike wasn’t rugged like most of the local guys who sported bushy beards and flannel. He had a tattoo sleeve on his left arm, sexy scruff, and a charming smile. Of all the men Julia had met in town, Mike was the only one who never looked unapproachable. And now, the way he stared at his wife made Julia shift uncomfortably.
“Ha. Ha. Ha. Mr. Wannabe Comedian.” Mike laughed, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Your stand-up act needs some work,” Kandace quipped. Mike shook his head, grinning down at the desk once again.
Julia giggled. “You guys are so cute. I better go.” She stood, giving Kandace a tight hug. “It was good to see you.”
“We’ll talk later. And don’t let that woman bother you. You know the saying misery loves company? Well, she’s made her bed and now she has to lay in it,” Kandace whispered.
“True. Very true.” Julia smiled. “Good seeing you, Mike.”
“You too. And tell Luke the guys and I are getting together next weekend for a game of poker.”
“I will. After losing at bocce, he’s looking to redeem himself.” Julia waved, exiting the café.
The weatherman had said it would be the hottest day of summer. The sweltering heat engulfed her as she walked out to her car, and it wasn’t even noon. The kids would want to play in the lake along with the resort guests. A chill ran down her spine at the thought. Brice wasn’t as strong a swimmer as Heather. She quickly typed out a text to her backup lifeguard asking if she could work. Then she shot a text to Luke with the air conditioner blasting her in the face.
Julia: Is Brice with you?
Luke: Right next to me, sweetheart. Don’t worry. He hasn’t left my side.
Julia: I know it’s hot, but don’t let him go out on the lake until Krissy arrives.
Luke: I won’t. Relax baby.
Julia: Trying. I’m on my way back to the resort now.
Luke: We’ll be up at the lodge waiting for you.
Julia exhaled, releasing the tension in her body. After Izzy had gone missing, she had turned into a hyper-cautious crazy woman with Brice. She had to know his whereabouts at all times and would text Luke throughout the day to be sure he hadn’t lost track of him.
Despite her over-the-top behavior, Luke didn’t tease her about it. They had both been scared for Rick and Izzy.
The resort appeared in the distance, and her stomach turned as if an ominous force had entered her. Did it have to do with Brice? She couldn’t take it if something happened to him. Or maybe it was Heather. Or Luke. Julia accelerated the car as a feeling of dread engulfed her.
A man of his word, Luke and Brice were waiting outside the entrance of the resort. Julia smiled warmly as he strode toward her. With each step he took, her heart rate increased and butterflies danced in her stomach. He was strong, sexy, and rugged in every possible way.
The driver’s side door flew open as she was lost in her lumberjack. “Hi, Julia!” Brice greeted. “Dad and I fixed the spa in room two thirty, and then we chopped wood, and then we climbed up on the roof of the cabin.”
“You did what?” She stared up at Luke, ready to beat the living tar out of him.
Brice broke out into the giggles. “Tricked ya! Dad climbed up on the roof.”
“That’s not much better.”
“I was careful.”
“Na-uh! Your foot slipped, and the hammer almost landed on my head when it slid off the side.” Julia’s jaw hit the pavement. The sheepish grin on Luke’s face wasn’t at all adorable. “He yelled, ‘Look-out!’ And then he yelled, ‘Don’t tell Julia.’” Brice looked up at Luke, who was now staring down at him sternly. “Oops.” He covered his mouth.
“Luke!”
Luke put his arm around Brice’s shoulder. “We need to talk later about your uncanny ability to run off with your mouth.”
“Huh?”
“Spilling the beans.”
“Oh, yeah. I do that a lot, don’t I?”
“You two,” Julia grumbled under her breath.
“You love us, and you know it,” Luke teased.
“Yeah, she can’t resist us, right?” Brice giggled.
Julia glared at Luke. “Babe, be honest, you can�
�t.” He winked.
They entered the quiet lobby, and to her surprise, her mom, aunt Diane, and aunt Becky were at the counter. “What in the world!” Julia ran over, dishing out hugs to each one of them.
“What, Luke didn’t blab?” her mom said. Becky snorted.
Julia looked back at him and blew him a kiss.
“So, he can keep a secret?” Becky chuckled.
“He sure can, as long as he doesn’t tell this one.” She put her hand on Brice’s shoulder. “Mom, this is Brice. Brice, is this is my mom Donna.”
“Aww, look at you…double digits, I hear.” He grinned proudly as Donna hugged him. “Well, it just so happens that I have a gift for you in my suitcase.” His eyes lit up, and Julia’s heart melted. Her mom had been asking for grandkids the last few years, and now, she had two to dote on.
“So, what’s the occasion?” Julia asked.
“Wedding plans, I hear!” Erika smiled from behind the counter. “Here’s your keys, ladies.” She passed them each a keycard.
“Yes, wedding plans, but also, I missed you,” Donna admitted. “Five months is too long, darling.”
“I agree. I’ve missed you too. And what, no Zoey?” The last time her mom and aunt Becky visited, Zoey had been with them while Julia blubbered like a fool after Luke rushed to Alaska in the dead of night, the day after he proposed. Julia drew into herself remembering the grieved, heartbroken state she had been in.
Luke came up behind her. “I love you, baby,” he whispered as if he knew her thoughts. He probably did.
***
Hugs and kisses were given while Julia giggled with the ones she loved. Plans were made to meet for dinner before her mom and aunts went to freshen up in their suite. Julia had to catch up on some work before cutting out for the day. She opened her email and checked her calendar. A stack of mail whined to be addressed. She grabbed the stack and sorted it.
“Bill, junk, bill, junk, bill…what’s this?” A letter addressed to her with no return address. She looked at the stamp, and the ink-print beside it showed Juneau, Alaska. Oh, damn! Julia squeezed her eyes shut. It had to be from Renee. The dark, ominous feeling she’d had earlier had to be about this. Was the other shoe about to drop?
Only one way to find out. Heart racing, she ripped it open, unfolded the lined paper, and sucked in a deep breath as she read it.
Ms. Greene,
You win. I’m done. Luke is all yours. From what I hear, he wants nothing to do with me. So FUCK him. And fuck you. Hope you’re happy. You won Luke and his kids. I’m so sick of hearing about Julia this and Julia that. You’re perfect in their eyes. It’s all a load of bullshit and you know it. You’re nothing but a phony and for that, you’ll never truly have their hearts. You’ve brought so much misery into our lives. How do you live with yourself? I hardly see my kids because of the boundaries Luke put in place. Boundaries! You made him choose you over what was best for his kids and ME. What kind of woman are you? Have you no heart? Or compassion for children? A selfish homewrecker is what you are.
I can’t live like this anymore. I need my kids with me and Luke won’t bring them back to Alaska. If they’re not here, what kind of life will I have without them? Without Luke? My life is empty without him. My kids don’t like me. You turned my own kids against me, you bitch! I have nothing left. Nothing to live for. My blood is on your hands. May my death haunt you for the rest of your phony, perfect life. ~Renee.
Julia read the letter twice in disbelief. A swarm of emotions took off in a mass frenzy. Confusion, guilt, hurt, and anger. It shouldn’t have surprised her to read this nonsense and ugliness from Renee. After meeting her during the kids’ spring break, she should have expected this crock of bullshit. Especially after she’d surprised her and Luke while they were making love in the morning. Renee had become a prickly thorn in her side, so bad that Julia had questioned whether she could marry Luke at all.
She folded the letter and slipped it back into the envelope as tears stung behind her eyes. Renee’s words ran through her head: phony, heartless, no compassion…homewrecker. Julia knew none of that was true, but it still hurt. More so, what did Renee mean that Luke wouldn’t bring the kids back to Alaska? The plan was to take them back in two weeks, and that was when she was moving back into the lake house. If he had changed his mind, why hadn’t he told her yet?
The envelope stared back at her, mocking her with disdain. May my death haunt you for the rest of your life. Was this letter a suicide note?
Her phone rang and she jumped in her seat. The name flashed on her desk phone, telling Julia it was a supplier she needed to talk to. She answered the call and put the letter in her drawer.
Now was not the time to deal with Renee.
twenty
Something in the Air
Luke closed the front door, stepping out onto the deck. “I wondered where you ran off to.” He kissed the top of Julia’s head. All evening she had been quieter than usual. He knew her well enough to know that something was on her mind, and it was never good for her to keep it bottled up. “What’s wrong, baby?”
“I wanted to enjoy this lovely summer night.”
He studied her; the gentle downward turn of her mouth and the lack of sparkle in her eyes said differently. There were so many things he adored about Julia, but being able to read her emotions on her face topped them all. She never hid behind a shield. If she was angry, sad, or happy, the whole world knew it. She was the most authentic person he knew, always honest.
So why was she lying to him? He knew the answer, and a pang of panic settled in his chest.
“Julia,” he whispered, taking her hand. “If I’ve done something to upset you, please tell me what it is. I can see something is bothering you.” She turned toward him and held his gaze. “Talk to me.”
“Not now.”
“Yes, now.”
She pulled her hand away from him, sighing. “I’m going to miss the kids when they leave in two weeks. I’ve gotten used to them being around. Do you think I should plan a going away party for them? Just a little get together with the friends they’ve made.”
He looked up at the sky. The melding of colors was most vibrant between seven and nine o’clock. Shades of pink, purple, and blue created a mural of beauty as balls of fire peeked down at him. He swallowed, wishing he hadn’t pressed her to talk now.
“I’m not convinced Renee is well enough to care for them. I’m going to have them start school here.” He sat in the chair beside her.
Julia glanced at him sidelong, thinking. Surprise didn’t show in her face. It was like she’d known already. “And you didn’t feel it was important to bring me into the loop?”
“Of course I was going to tell you.” He choked on his words when she glared at him. “Not tell you, discuss it with you.” She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “Julia, I was going to discuss it with you and get your opinion.”
“Really? When? And we both know my opinion wouldn’t have mattered. Your mind was already made up!” He rubbed his beard, frustrated with himself. “Listen, they’re your kids. You get to call the shots. I know you’re only protecting them. But how will you know if she’s ready if she’s never around them? You’re not giving her a chance!”
“I just know, all right?” He raised his voice, and she flinched. “I’m sorry.” He rarely lost his temper, and never with her. His delay in talking to her about the kids staying was cowardly because he’d assumed she wouldn’t be happy about it. Still, that was no excuse for losing control and being a jerk.
“No, I’m sorry. You do what you have to do.” She stood, and he grabbed her hand, pulling her onto his lap. “Stop it. We have company, and now is not the time to have it out.”
“We’re going to have it out?”
“I think we need to.”
“I love you.” He cupped her cheeks. “So much. I should’ve mentioned keeping the kids longer. You were so happy planning the wedding, and I didn’t want to sour your fun.” She sighed. “I
want to know your thoughts. I want us to figure this out together.”
“It sounds like you already have it figured out. It would’ve been nice for me to know so that I didn’t make my suite available for September.”
“No. Don’t do that. I want you to move back in as planned. No, I want you here now.” She shook her head, but he didn’t give her a chance to argue. “Jesus, Julia, we’re going to be married in two months. It’s ridiculous that you’re staying at the resort.”
She stared at him for a long moment with hurt in her eyes.
“Dad!” Brice bounded out of the house. “Can we watch Star Wars?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
“But I want you and Julia to watch with me.”
“We’re in the middle of something right now.”
“But, Dad,” he whined.
“Brice!” he snapped. Julia squeezed his hand, furrowing her brow at him. “Start the movie, and we’ll be in when we’re finished out here.”
“Fine.” Brice kicked up some dirt before walking back inside the house.
“Really?” Julia looked at him disapprovingly.
“Really. You’re more important to me than a movie.” Her shoulders slumped, guilt covering her face. “What else is bothering you?”
She seemed to mull over her thoughts, and that was never a good thing. “Are you still flying out to Alaska next weekend to help Rick move?”
“Yes.”
“I think you should take the kids with you.”
“But I’m going to be busy, and buying two plane tickets a week out will cost a fortune.”
“I’ll buy the tickets.”
“No, they’re my kids, and I’ll…” The glossy sheen in her eyes punched him in the gut. “I’m a jerk. I—”
“No, they are your kids. And yes, you are a jerk…sometimes. But, Luke, if we’re going to be married, you better get used to the fact that my money is our money.”
