Page 102 of Home Tears

“Yeah.”

“They’re ugly.”

“Of course, you’d judge them on their appearance.”

“I’m just saying they’re ugly. They are.”

Dani was tired. Dealing with her sister was the last thing she wanted. She pulled her blanket tighter around her. “What do you want, Julia?”

Julia ran a hand through her soaked hair. She had a blanket draped around her, too, but her hand fell away from holding it closed over her. She propped it on her hip and made sure to drill Dani with her eyes. “Stay away from Jake. I saw you guys hugging before. You have a boyfriend. Leave mine alone.”

“You’ve already tried this trick. It didn’t take. Also, get the facts straight. Your boyfriend hugged me. He was trying to put everything behind us.”

“Just stay away. I saw the awkwardness.” Her eyes flashed in anger. “You want facts? Here are the facts. Jake loves me. He is with me. All true, but he still holds a torch for you. And before you get a big head, it’s not really you you. It’s his past transgressions. He feels a whole ton of guilt about leaving you for Erica, and that was why you left. It’s that issue that he can’t get over, but since he can’t deal with that, he’s trying to reconnect with you. It won’t work. He’s just going to end up trying to hook up with you, and even if you don’t, he’ll hate himself all over again. I know he loves me, but he feels guilt about you and Erica, too. That’s why I want you to stay away from him. For his good, your good, and my good.”

Dani was so tired of it. All of it. “Just stop. You’re being dramatic.” She felt like years were just taken from her. Maybe it was the night, or the last month, or maybe it was everything. “Go away, Julia. Go away.”

“You’re such a—never mind.” Julia moved toward the door, but stopped short and whirled back. “You could have called. Just once. You could’ve told us you were alive, but you didn’t. That was your choice. And that shows me how much you cared. So, why should I be all ‘welcome home, sister-who-doesn’t-give-a-shit-about-me’?”

“Kathryn knew I was going.”

“Yeah, well.” Julia crossed her arms over her chest. “Kathryn can be a manipulative bitch at times.”

Dani’s head reared back an inch.

“What? Like that’s news? We both know what she’s like.”

“Yeah, but.” Wow. Just wow. She never thought Julia would admit that.

Julia turned back, but stopped again. “You get on your high horse about how you’ve been the one left out. Like we did it on purpose, but it wasn’t us, Dani. You pulled away. You pulled away from everyone, even Mae. No one connected to you—”

“I never felt a part of the family.”

“Because you put yourself there. We’d be downstairs, and you would go up to your room. You never stayed and spent time with us. What were we supposed to do? You know,” disdain dripped from her voice, “it’s pretty pitiful that I’ve gotten to know you through my fiancé.” She wiped at a tear. “And I think it’s pathetic that you haven’t visited your own aunt in the nursing home.”

“She wouldn’t see me if I did go there,” Dani countered. “And you know that. Why would I volunteer for that humiliation?”

Julia waved that off. “How do you know Kathryn would turn you away?”

“Because she’s a manipulative bitch!”

“She’s dying. She’s already lost a niece. I’d like her to feel as if she’s been given one back before she goes.” Julia let the tears slide down. “She—I thought I was going to be the last one.”

“What?”

“I thought—” Julia gulped back the tears, but whispered, “I thought I was the last one. Erica died. We were sure you were, too. I knew Kathryn was dying, and Mae doesn’t care about me. I thought I was going to be alone.” She sniffled, using the blanket to wipe her tears away. “I still think that at times, so forgive me for being angry when you came back. You expected the welcome wagon, but I’m sorry. You don’t deserve it—”

“Julia.”

“—shut up.” She turned away. “Just, shut up.”

“What do you want from me?” Dani cried out.

“I can’t touch what you had with him! Okay?” Julia yelled, her hands raised next to her head. “I can’t touch what you had with him, and I can’t touch what he had with Erica. I can’t be either of you two.”

Dani quieted. “What are you talking about?”

“It was supposed to have been Erica.” A sniffle. “It was supposed to have been Erica who had his children. He loved her, not me. He loved you, Erica, but he never loved me.”

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