“Maybe,” I respond, deciding now is as good a time as any to tell her.
“Is this the someone we’ve discussed previously?”
“Yes.”
She pauses, and I can hear Terra blabbering in the background. “Are you seeing her now?”
“Yes.”
“Are you being… safe about it?”
“Yes, Mom, we’re using protection,” I answer sarcastically.
“Asher,” she barks, making me feel like we’re just two kids bickering again, and a wave of what I can only describe as homesickness washes over me.
“Yes, we’re being careful. We only spend time together in my apartment, and I’m making sure that I am not giving her any sort of special treatment when it comes to her assignments.” Not the Summer needs any sort of help. Her essays are astoundingly well-thought-out and thorough when it comes to the more technical side of children’s psychology.
“Does she make you happy?” my sister asks, quieter this time.
“Yes,” I say softly. I clear my throat at the sudden tightness I feel there. “Yes, she does.”
“Then I’m happy for you.”
“Enough about me,” I chuckle. “What’s been going on with you? Any chance you’re considering coming home for Christmas?”
I hear her let out an exasperated sigh, and I already know what her answer will be. “I don’t think so. I’m still finding my feet here, and I don’t want to take Terra on a plane, germs and all…” she trails off lamely.
Well, at least she’s aware that her excuses are getting worse and worse.
“Juliet,” I say, taking a deep breath. “Mom and Dad just want to see you. They want to meet Terra—hell, I want to meet her! I don’t understand why you just can’t?—”
“You don’t need to understand,” she snaps, cutting me off. “You just have to respect that I don’t want to come home and that I won’t be bringing my daughter to Seattle anytime soon.” I let the call fall into silence, not sure what to say after both of our outbursts.
I may never understand why she refuses to come home, but she’s right, I do need to respect her decision and stop trying to pressure her into changing her mind. If I push her too far, she may cut off all contact with me, then none of us will know what’s going on in her life. I’d just assumed that by not showing up at her doorstep the second she told me the name of the town, Iwasrespecting her choices. But every time I try to pester her about visiting, I’ve been doing the exact opposite.
I’m about to give an excuse for why I have to go when Juliet sucks in a breath, as if bracing herself for something. “What if… what if you came to spend Christmas with us?”
I freeze, not immediately processing what she’s just offered. “Is this a serious offer?” I ask. “If I’ve made you feel guilty, andthat’s the only reason you’re telling me to visit, I’d rather visit on better terms.”
I can practically hear her roll her eyes through the phone. “Jesus, Asher, just come visit for Christmas. This isn’t because I feel like you guilt-tripped me. You’re right… Terra should meet some of her family, and just because I’m not ready to go back to Seattle right now, doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have the opportunity to form memories with people who love her.”
It feels like my heart swells in my chest. “I’d love to come visit for Christmas. Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” she snorts. “Don’t go getting sappy on me now.” I resist the urge to do just that as she continues. “But can you respect that I don’t want Mom and Dad coming just yet?”
I don’t understand, but I’ll respect it. “Yeah, I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you,” she says. “Terra will be so happy to see her uncle!” My throat tightens at the thought. “Speaking of your adorable, perfect, little niece. Do you want to talk to her?”
“Of course I want to talk to my best girl,” I respond immediately.
Terra gives an excited shriek when Juliet asks if she wants to talk with ‘Uncle Asher,’ and a grin breaks out across my face. I can’t believe I’ll finally get to meet her in a matter of weeks.
Terra promptly starts babbling as soon as the phone is held up to her. She lets me say hello, and that’s all I manage to get in before listening to her go on for a good five minutes.
Juliet laughs as she takes the phone back from Terra just as Elijah and Jared enter the bar.
Jared walks up to the bar while Elijah saunters over to the booth I’ve commandeered.
