Page 56 of Our Unexpected Beginning
“I’ll never forget us looking for outfits that would fit.”
“It reminded me of when we were kids. For some reason that day she answered back. She sent photos that reminded her of an old Zeppelin album.” Graham took a swig of his drink. “It has never been frequent, or something to count on. But once in a while… I started sending random messages or memes hoping to bait her out. See if she was okay, you know?”
“She is your sister.”
“She’s Sarah’s mom.”
“Has she said anything?” Wes had every right to ask, Graham didn’t fault him for that.
“No, not once.”
“Then she’s your sister, nothing more.”
“I know that I didn’t want you to think I wasn’t on your side. Or Sarah’s. I know there’s such a thing as siblingblindness.” He’d seen it first hand with Julia’s family, and he now understood it himself.
“Look man, from day one you have been there for everything, from chickenpox to when she broke her arm right before I met Melody. There might be things I question in this world, but your loyalty isn’t one of them. I can’t blame you for trying.”
Relief washed over him, but not enough to absolve all his guilt. He had never thought about feelings and emotions from a parent’s point of view until recently. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“My sister.”
“You’ve no control over her. She’s the one missing out.”
“I can’t picture my life without that kid.” Graham had countless memories of late night bedtime stories. Sarah loved when he made the silly voices.
“Soon you’ll understand what it’s all about.” Wes nudged his shoulder. “In the meantime you’ll have to hit Nolan up on the ties you can use to keepthat one in line.”
Julia
Julia was curled up in the bucket chair in her living room with Mia’s dress in her lap. She was hand beading the bodice when a knock broke her concentration.
She sighed and set the dress to the side. She gripped the edges of the chair and pulled herself up. “Ugh, I have a hard enough time without having to rush to the door.” She adjusted her oversized hoodie–it was the only thing that was comfortable these days.
Julia pulled the door open and was surprised to see Graham standing in jeans and a t-shirt. His hair was messy the way she loved it, and freshly shaven.
She fought the urge to jump into his arms like a lost child excited to see him.
“Hey, what are you doing here? I didn’t think–wait, did I forget?”
Graham smiled and made his way into her apartment, kissing her cheek and tossing his jacket on the back of the couch. “I thought I’d come home a few days early.” He leaned against the counter and faced her.
Graham held out a giant single cupcake. It was strawberry by the smell and had chocolate icing with a small sugar icing flag with Graham’s scrawled writing on it.
Wanna makeout?
Julia looked at him and laughed, letting the joy fill her. “You are so corny.”
He rested his hands on her hips, his eyes glinted with want. “No baby, but it rhymes with it.”
Julia blushed, plucking the cupcake from his hand and went toward the kitchen, attempting to evade incrimination.
“Kitten.”
“Kitten. Noun, soft, cuddly and cute with claws.” She licked the frosting from her finger.
Graham closed the distance between them and she looked up at him with wide eyes.
