Page 36 of Please, Stay

“Hugh!” Ms. Iris shouted, finally catching his attention. “Calm. Down.”

Becky moved to Juliana’s side, her fingers threading with hers to hold her hand like they were little again.

Cameron crossed his arms over his chest and moved to stand beside Grayson. A united front. All set to drown together against her father’s fury. Even Ms. Iris looked seriously angry.

Her father scanned the room. “Does everyone want to see her repeat her sister’s mistake?”

A soft beep-beep sounded from Juliana’s phone. Had Eliza heard that?

“Seeing a nice man like Grayson, here, doesn’t mean she’s running off and leaving you, Hugh. Even if she did leave, I know Juliana would come and visit.” Ms. Iris nodded like she willed him to understand. “You, on the other hand, won’t be alive if you don’t calm down. Now, please, Hugh, honey, breathe.”

“Were you in on this?” He swiveled his accusing eyes her way. “Were you plotting to help her leave?”

Juliana closed her eyes. Grayson’s thumbs rubbed up and down the side of her tense neck underneath her hair. “Daddy, I’m not going to leave Statem.”

“You say that now.”

“I’m not leaving!” she shouted, her voice echoing in the small kitchen. He looked at her skeptically before his eyes shifted to Grayson. They narrowed a fraction. What did he see? Obviously not the same, amazing man she did.

Ms. Iris wrung her hands together. “Oh, Lord, Cameron’s gettin’ riled up, too. I’ve seen that look before. It’s time to call this a night. You need to drive to Atlanta in the morning, right, Jules? Why don’t you go on home and get a good night’s sleep? Then you two can discuss this like two rational adults.”

“I’m not discussing anything.” Her dad turned and left the kitchen, the screen door slamming open from his shove.

He wouldn’t forbid her from dating anyone. He couldn’t. She was thirty-one, nearly thirty-two. But he could shut down, refuse to believe that she wouldn’t leave him, and refuse to see Eliza. Refuse to forgive her and let them be a family again.

Ms. Iris paused at the door. “Come on home, Juliana. Staying here will only make it worse tonight.”

She nodded, knowing Ms. Iris was right. “I will.”

Becky started clearing plates and bowls, Cameron helping her. “I’ll take the trash out on my way out,” he said, his voice tense but in control.

“Are you good?” Becky asked him. “Don’t go taking your frustration out on my trashcan, Cam. It doesn’t need any more dents.”

Juliana rubbed her forehead. Nothing like involving everyone in her nasty family fight. “Thanks for dinner, Becky. I’d better head out.”

“Are you sure?” Grayson mumbled. She turned around, hating to face him after her dad’s outburst. He could walk away anytime. Go ahead and fly to Australia and forget her entire, crazy life. He tilted his head down, cupping her face with his hands.

Grayson lightly kissed her lips. “You can stay with me tonight, if you’d like.”

A dish clattered into the sink, and Becky muttered, “sorry,” before Cameron chuckled.

Staying with Grayson would nail the coffin of her dad’s heart shut for good. “I don’t think that will help the situation, but thanks.”

“Will you be safe at home?”

“I’ll be fine.”

Grayson looked over her head to Cameron. “Will she?”

Juliana crossed her arms. “That’s my decision to make.”

He looked skeptical. “It’s hard to watch you go through this and not do something.”

“We all feel that way,” Cameron said and pulled the trash bag from the can underneath Becky’s counter. “I’ve never wanted to fly off the handle at my uncle before but tonight was close.” He glanced over his shoulder at Becky. “Real close.”

Becky, for once, didn’t look like she wanted to murder Cameron. “I know.” Her voice was laced with uncommon sympathy.

“I’m sorry I involved everyone,” Juliana said.

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