Page 38 of Our Unexpected Beginning
He looked down at her and brushed his thumb over her jaw. “It’ll be okay.”
Julia sighed and nodded once, ready to get the evening over with. Graham threaded his fingers with hers and led them into the dining room.
He hadn’t paid much attention before, but by smell alone, the dinner the women put together was the best meal he’d been privy to in a long time. Bachelors without decorum or care tend to live on less-than-mediocre fast and frozen food. He knew how to cook but after sixteen-hour days at the wash plant, the last thing he was doing was cooking.
“This looks wonderful.” Graham pushed Julia’s chair in and took the empty seat to the left. “Thank you again.”
Julia
“It was my pleasure to cook for everyone.” Aunt Elaine lied before Julia could speak. “I don’t get to cook too often since Steven’s gone.” They both knew it was lessstressful for everyone if she took the credit for dinner. With her mother, it was the difference between praise and ridicule. It was only right her aunt got the credit. Julia had learned the two-hundred-year-old recipe from her rightfully so.
The roast was cooked long enough for everyone to get their preferred doneness and the potatoes and carrots still had shape and bite. The meal she made was perfect if only she wasn’t so on edge to enjoy it.
“Thank you for having me Laine.” Cassandra’s tone was pleasant to her sister enough to pass under the radar of the rest of the table. “I understand what an empty house feels like.”
Julia wished her aunt saw past the guise the same way she did. For every compliment, there was an equally balanced insult. The worst kind were the ones buried in flattery.
“I am not opposed to having dinner now and then.”
“It’s not as if we didn’t grow up here.”
“Yes, but it’s mine now, sister.” And Julia’s someday, but the only person who knew that besides Aunt Elaine died six years ago.
Signing documents had been Uncle Steven’s idea when his health started to decline. A safety net in case the unthinkable happened to either of them.
The Lawndale house had belonged to Julia’s great-grandmother and was passed down to Elaine who had the same mindset of keeping it in the family.
Cassandra wanted a return on an investment she didn’t make. If she unloaded the house and double property lotit would be a long time before she or her husband George ever needed to think about money.
Julia wanted to honor her aunt’s wishes. And to Julia, it was one of the few places that still had Devin’s memory.
“So, Graham, how’d you two meet?”
“Friend’s,” Julia offered quickly.
“I know what those are, do you?” Cassandra snipped a bite of food and directed her attention to Graham. “What calamity was it this time?”
“I run a mechanic garage down in Denton,” Graham smiled politely. “I donated service hours to a local club cancer auction. Jules was the winner.”
“Oh, so you were paid. I see.” Cassandra did nothing to hide her distaste.
“I think that’s nice to donate your time to a good cause!” Elaine got up and began to clear the table. “You’ll have to tell me next time, Juju! I’d love to throw some money somewhere good.”
“S-sure,” Julia sputtered into her glass, looking at Graham with a secret side eye knowing they were referencing the club.
“Here I thought you finally got out of your phase.”
Julia set the glass down with a thud. “What ‘phase’, mom?”
“The phase of ‘how far can I make a spectacle of my mother’. People talk, you know. Heaven forbid you should stop playing with rags and crayons and get a real job. I’d love to have a normal kid again.”
“I have a real job.” It was real enough for her grandfather to build his family on. For reasons only her mother knew, Julia wasn’t worthy enough to fill those shoes. “You wonder why I don’t tell you when I’m here.”
“You still hang out with that Melanie, Harmony girl, don’t you? That’s why you’re like this.” Cassandra sighed and loosely gestured her hand between Julia and Graham. “Maybe if you give it a chance you can give up that whole girl phase. It’s hard enough to find someone you’re smaller next to.”
“Okay now.” Aunt Elaine put her hand on Cassandra’s shoulder and held the other out to Julia. “Why don’t–”
“Please stop, Mom.”
