Page 26 of Frosted Fakes

"Ah." Jamie set down the quiche and immediately moved to Julia's side. "Right. Deep breaths. When?"

"I don’t know. She wasn't specific." Julia was definitely not hyperventilating. She was breathing in a perfectly controlled, absolutely normal way that just happened to be very fast. "She's going to see everything, Jamie. The empty display cases. My complete inability to bake. The…"

She glanced at Tara and stopped herself again.

"The general chaos?" Jamie supplied diplomatically.

"Yes. That."

The back door opened and Elliott walked in, carrying shopping bags. She took two steps into the kitchen, surveyed the scene, Julia wild-eyed and covered in batter, Tara mopping, Jamie looking concerned, and raised an eyebrow.

"What's all this about then? Another disaster?"

Before Julia could answer, the front door burst open again.

And there she was.

Because obviously she’d called when she was just down the road. Not impolite enough to show up unannounced, but just rude enough to give Julia not even a full minute during which to prepare herself.

Gabby Richardson swept into the bakery like she owned the place. Which, technically, she did. She was wearing a cream cashmere coat that cost more than Julia's car, and her dark hair was immaculately swept back so as best to show off her cheekbones. She looked like she'd stepped directly out of a photoshoot, which, Julia thought, was highly probable.

"Surprise!" Gabby spread her arms wide, bracelets jangling. "I simply couldn't wait another moment. Julia, darling, why is there batter on the floor? And who is this?"

She was looking at Elliott.

Elliott, who was standing frozen in the kitchen doorway, shopping bags dangling from her hands, staring at Gabby Richardson with an expression of absolute awe. Her mouth had actually fallen open. Julia had never seen Elliott look anything less than completely in control, but right now she looked like a teenager meeting their favorite pop star. In fact, she didn’t look like she was going to be able to speak any time soon. Which might just be in their favor.

"Mum." Julia said. "I wasn't expecting you so soon."

"Yes, I gathered that from the state of things." Gabby's gaze swept the kitchen with the precision of a health inspector. "I asked you a question, darling. Who is this?"

Julia's brain went into overdrive.

Elliott was still staring. Gabby was waiting. Tara had frozen mid-mop. Jamie was looking between everyone with the expression of someone watching a car crash in slow motion.

If Gabby found out Elliott was living upstairs, she'd have her removed within the hour. Julia knew her mother. Gabby was practical, ruthless, and extremely good at getting her way. She'd call a lawyer, cite trespassing, and Elliott would be out on the street before sunset. Elliott, who had nowhere else to go. Elliott, who… hated her and monopolized the bathroom. Elliott who occasionally, just occasionally, smiled at her. Elliott who complained about the smoke alarms.

And for some reason, Julia just couldn't let that happen.

Her mouth opened before her brain could catch up.

"My girlfriend."

The words hung in the air like a particularly stupid grenade.

Gabby's perfectly sculpted eyebrows shot upward. "Your what?"

"My… girlfriend." Julia heard herself say it again and wanted to die. "Elliott. This is Elliott. My girlfriend. We're… together."

She risked a glance at Elliott.

Elliott was still staring at Gabby, but something had shifted in her expression. She looked like someone who'd just been handed a script they hadn't read but was expected to perform anyway.

"Yes," Elliott said slowly. "That's… yes. I'm the girlfriend."

"You're Julia's girlfriend." Gabby's voice was flat with disbelief. "Since when does Julia have a girlfriend? Since when does Julia have anyone? She's never mentioned you once."

"It's new," Julia said quickly. "Very new. Practically brand new. We wanted to keep it private."