Sure, she had doubts. What if they didn’t get along? Worse, what if they grew really close but he changed his mind? Then there was the matter of Wendell actually having a life of his own beyond them. There was Ginny, whom he’d introduced as an “old friend” but clearly seemed to be more. How did she, or any other future woman, fit into the picture? The bottom line was, so much could go wrong.
Sam had shared some of her darker concerns. “Jules, this sounds kind of crazy to me. What if he’s a predator?”
This made her leap to the defense. “Oh, please. My father knew Wendell for years while he worked here. He even went to Wendell’s house a few times, and I don’t recall any mention of bodies buried in the backyard.”
Sam was not letting her off the hook. “My mistake. No shallow graves guarantees he’ll be a super stand-in parent.”
“Look, my dad was a good judge of character.” She paused, trying to lighten the moment. “That’s why I never introduced him to you.”
Sam scoffed. “Hilarious. But seriously, Jules—this guy could be a total delinquent.”
“I don’t think so, Sam. He served in the National Guard. In fact, my dad told me he saw active combat and even got some kind of medal.”
“Well, that’s pretty cool. But I’ve also heard that going to war can give people trauma. It can mess them up.”
“Mess them up, like becoming an overnight orphan messes someone up?”
Sam shut up as soon as she said it. “Shit. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—”
“It’s okay. Just forget it.” This was what always happened. Death found its way into conversations, no matter whom she was talking to or what about. All around her, the veil of her parents’ loss loomed.
The one person she did not tell about Wendell’s rescue of Radcliffe was Candace. It was too risky. Candace had not been happy when Wendell delivered them back home the other night. After being woken by the ringing doorbell, Candace had looked aghast, seeing the three of them standing in the doorway. Wordlessly, she’d sent the girls up to their rooms, but Julia could hear the fury in her tone as she spoke with Wendell.
“I’m very sorry to have woken you with such a fright,” he’d said. “I told the girls I’d have to bring them right home.”
“What on earth were they doing there?” she’d cried.
Wendell sounded chagrined. “They asked me if I would consider being their guardian.”
“Good Lord. Not this again.”
At first Julia feared she’d gotten Wendell in trouble, but luckily, Candace blamed only her. As she ferried Pippa up the stairs to bed, Julia overheard their conversation below. “Mr. Combs, please forgive the terrible interruption of your night. That child has been asking every Tom, Dick, and Harry to adopt her in her efforts to stay here. She is out of control, I’m very sorry she’s dragged you into this.”
The next morning, to Julia, she said, “This idea of finding a new family has taken over your judgment. You’re becoming a negativeinfluence on your little sister, and now you’re interfering with our neighbors and with Mr. Combs. This must end here.”
There was no way around it: she had to tell Candace the truth. “It’s actually just beginning.” When Candace looked confused, she added, “I told you Pippa and I don’t want to leave, but you didn’t take me seriously. So I found someone who will. I hired a lawyer.”
Candace actually laughed. Julia couldn’t believe it; adults had the strangest reactions to serious news. “Mr. Banks? I’m afraid he’s the family attorney, Julia. He cannot represent you or your foolish notions.”
“Not Mr. Banks. Her name is Jamie Aldeen, and she’s a family practitioner. I met with her yesterday. I filed for emancipation.”
This time Candace did not laugh. Not even close. “You cannot be serious.” Her voice was icy.
Julia bit her lip. She thought back to what Jamie had asked her about feeling safe in her home. “I wanted to tell you, but I knew you wouldn’t like it.”
“Well, you’re right. I don’t! Do you have any idea what you’ve done? You’re dragging all of us into court, and all our personal business will be fodder for the public.”
“It’s confidential,” Julia said, trying to keep her voice even. “I’m a minor.”
Candace jabbed one manicured finger in the air between them. “Which is exactly why you need a guardian!” She shook her head angrily. “Now I have to call Mr. Banks. I’m calling your therapist, too. Maybe she can talk you out of this nonsense.”
Candace had called both, and that afternoon Julia found herself once again sitting across from Miss Lottie, who looked sad-faced but concerned when they met.
“Julia, if you are serious about emancipation, you do realize I would likely be asked by the courts to weigh in?”
Julia had thought of that, and it had seemed like a good thing.
Lottie spoke softly but firmly. “Your recent behavior, despite the valid reasons you state for it, could be considered rash and not in the best interest of Pippa. You must realize going out in the night like that, alone, could’ve ended very badly?”
