Watercolor (28 page)

My lips pressed together, and my chest felt heavy. “You’d be surprised how understanding Lucy can be. She’s been through a lot.”

“She won’t be able to forgive me for taking away her mother. For being the reason she died.” Then she glanced at me. “Bill said he’d given you the journals to read. I can’t believe he did that. I can’t believe he even had them.”

“I couldn’t believe he gave them to me either,” I said, studying my hands as I thought about my words. “But I’m glad he did. I feel like I understand everything, and reading them… I don’t hate you.”

Her forehead was lined when she looked at me then, and I saw a glisten in her eyes. “We were so young,” she said in a voice that made my throat hurt. “We made such foolish mistakes.”

“But you loved each other,” I said, reaching for her hand. “You still love each other. And… I can’t imagine my life without Julian.”

She sniffed and nodded. “He was the one good thing to come of it all.” Then she exhaled. “And now he won’t even speak to me.”

We were still holding hands, and I chewed my lip as I chose my words. “It wasn’t fair not letting him know his dad,” I said softly. “But at the same time… I understand why you did it. I understand your fears.”

“Bill wants to tell them all. He wants to invite everyone home and have us all there together.” She looked back at the water. “I’m not sure I’ll make it through something like that.”

“He won’t do it if you’re not willing,” I said softly, remembering my telephone conversation with him. The reason Julian was in his office now.

“No, he won’t,” she said softly. “But he wants Julian in his life, and that means telling the others Julian’s his son. And that means telling them about me.”

For several moments we sat listening to the waves crashing as the wind pushed against us. The waves never stopped. They raged in and swept back out, year after year, regardless of the events impacting the humans on shore.

“I think telling them can wait,” I said finally. “At least for a little while. Once college starts, you can decide how you want to handle it. Maybe you could tell Lucy yourself.”

Julian’s mom continued staring out at the horizon. Then as if waking from a spell, she stood and dusted her skirt. “I’ll think about it.” Her eyes flitted behind me, and she turned quickly, walking away from me down the shoreline in the direction of her house.

I looked back over my shoulder to see Julian headed in my direction, an angry expression in his eyes.

“Hey!” I jumped up and hurried to meet him. “How’d it go?”

“What was she doing here?”

I hugged his waist, reaching up with a finger to smooth the angry lines off his forehead. “Worrying about you,” I said. “I know you’re mad, but you’re going to have to forgive her some day.”

His eyes were still focused on the direction his mother had gone, but then he blinked down to me. I smiled at him, gorgeous even angry, with the wind pushing his dark hair around his head. He returned my smile, softening.

“So?” I laced our fingers and started walking along the shore. “What did he say?”

“At first not much,” Julian said, looking out at the water. “We don’t really know each other very well. Or at all, I guess.”

“You’ll get to know each other,” I said, squeezing his hand.

He pulled me closer and kissed my head. “He wants me to talk to Mom. It’s so weird hearing a man say that to me. ‘Talk to your mother, Julian.’”

He imitated Mr. Kyser’s voice, and I breathed a laugh at how much they sounded alike. It was crazy. “You’ve never had a dad bossing you around. Sure you want that?”

We walked a little ways, him contemplating the path ahead of us. “It’s not like that. I don’t think he wants to boss me around. I kind of… like him.”

“He’s always loved you,” I said, then I realized Julian wasn’t aware just how much I knew about his history. “I mean, every time I’ve talked to him, you’re all he wants to know about.”

He took my hand again as we walked. “So you found out about this when I was in that wreck?”

I nodded. “He was at the hospital to see you. Well, to check on your mom. I accidentally caught them together.”

“I can’t believe it. All this time, and I never knew they were together.”

“They weren’t,” I said. “I mean, that’s how I got mixed up in it. They weren’t together, and they were afraid I’d tell you.”

His eyes cut to mine, and I saw that flash of impatience.

“I begged them to tell you,” I said quickly. “And I do think that’s when they started getting back together.”

Again we walked in silence. Finally, Julian stopped and faced the Gulf. I pulled up short beside him. “I’ve got so many questions. There’s so much I want to know.”

“I can believe it.”

“He was at the hospital that night?”

I nodded, and my chest warmed at his expression.

“Your dad really loves you,” I said, slipping my arms around his waist. “You’ve always been so important to him.”

His arms went around me, and I felt his chin rest on the top of my head. For several moments we didn’t move, and I could sense something was changing in him. The tension and anger was fading. He was even standing straighter.

“I guess this means I’m somebody,” he said.

I pulled back to face him. “You’ve always been somebody! And it’s only going to get better.”

He pulled me closer. “Tell me the truth. Do you just love me for my money?”

I laughed. “Of course!” Then he tickled me and I screamed. We both dropped to sitting on the sand, me in his lap. My arms were around his neck, and his hands held my waist.

“Julian LaSalle, I’ve loved you since I wouldn’t look at you in algebra class,” I said softly. He leaned closer, and I kissed him. “I wanted to die every time you said something to me. That’s why I hid behind my books. I’ve been crazy in love with you for years.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Life is so screwed up.”

“But somehow it all seems to work out.”

Our prom’s theme was “A Night to Remember.” I felt like I’d been having nights to remember for months—even more in the last few weeks—so it was perfect for me. Mom was crying and taking too many pictures as we tried to leave my house, and Julian stood around with his hands shoved in his tuxedo pants pockets, seeming uncomfortable with all the emotional display.

My dress was Tiffany blue and strapless. The color made my eyes bright green, and the skirt was filmy chiffon, which made me feel like a mermaid. It was the same length as those cheerleader uniforms Julian always admired, so he was an instant fan. He looked like a rock star in his tux, escorting me to his waiting BMW.

“A night to remember,” he said under his breath, holding my door. “We’ll have to see if we can live up to that.”

I kissed his nose before getting in. “We already have.”

“That dress is causing a shortage,” he teased.

“I was going to say just the opposite. Something’s on the rise…” I winked getting into the car.

He caught me, holding me against the car. “Girl, your mom’s already crying. Hearing you talk that way would only make it worse.”

I pressed my mouth to his in response, tongues entwining as his fingers tickled at my hem. “Get in before we don’t go,” he said in a tone that lit up my insides.

“A night to remember.”

As we drove south toward the Phoenician VI, where the event was taking place, I stared out into the black night. “Did you see your mom before you left?”

He shook his head, and I chewed my lip. Prom was pretty important to parents, and I hated that he was still not speaking to her. I decided to let it go for now and hoped I could find a way to get them back together before August.

Twinkle lights, fake columns, and arbors draped with white tulle filled the ballroom of the enormous high-rise. It was the same venue Brad’s dad had donated for the party after our winning basketball game, and the Tiki theme only occasionally peeked out as we made our way through the crowd.

Party photographers snapped pictures nonstop, and Julian and I were frequent subjects as we’d actually managed to land the Cutest Couple title. It seemed our classmates had taken Summer’s ruse and run with it. And despite our animosity, she was probably happy. My couple status with Julian solidified her “Jack is mine” position.

The tiniest twinge plucked at my stomach knowing how much I’d see Jack next year. Living with Rachel, with Brad at Tulane, we’d most likely cross paths at least a few times. My reaction to seeing him at the game wasn’t encouraging, but I’d cross that bridge when it appeared. I gave Julian’s arm a squeeze. I had no doubt who owned my heart now.

Summer circled the room on Blake’s arm, and I didn’t tell Julian why I preferred to stay with Rachel and Brad while he chatted with his shop buddy. I wasn’t about to tell him about her spying or Will’s intimidation tactics. As far as I was concerned, I was out of the Kyser family business. I couldn’t imagine Will’s reaction to meeting Julian, or Jack’s for that matter. It was possible I’d be there to witness those introductions with the way things were going, but tonight was not about Kyser family troubles.

“Where are you?” Julian said in my ear, holding me close for a slow dance. His hands were at my waist, and mine were clasped behind his neck. A touch of spice accented his usual beachy scent.

I smiled. “Right where I want to be.”

That response earned me a kiss, and we swayed to the music for a while. The dance portion of prom was pretty low-key, and after, we took group photos, avoided Blake and Summer—at least I did—until at last, Julian escorted me to the door, pausing before we exited behind giddy classmates.

“Would you be disappointed if we went back to my house instead of heading to the after-party?” he asked. “I’ve got something I want to show you.”

My brow lined. Brad had built another bonfire on the beach, and everyone was talking about who would be there and what they were bringing. I did want to join them, but he had me curious. “It had better not be a shortage of melons or whatever.”

“Melons and bananas?”

My eyes narrowed. “Julian…”

He laughed, “You started it.” Our fingers were laced as he led me out to the car. “I’m pretty sure there will be a shortage, but that’s not what I want to show you.”

I shrugged, “I’m curious.”

“Good,” he grinned.

The garage workshop at Julian’s house was unusually clean, and I noticed candles situated in a few of the windows. A soft yellow light replaced his usual harsh fluorescent bulbs, and the easel he’d been hiding behind the day I’d surprised him was draped with a sheet.

“What’s going on?” I asked softly. The whole setup made me feel like I should whisper. It was warm and clearly planned. Any disappointment I felt about skipping the after-party disappeared.

“Mom’s spending the night at Dad’s…” he paused, blinking as his brows pulled together. Then he did a little laugh. “That’s the first time I’ve said that.”

“Does it make you happy?” I caught him around the waist, hugging us close.

He shrugged. “I guess.” He rubbed my upper arms, looking down. “It feels like the circle’s whole now. Like before it was broken or a segment was missing, and now it’s joined. Does that make sense?”

“Yes,” I said, then I leaned forward and caught his eyes. “Are you still mad at her?”

Without a word he let me go, stepping to a mini-fridge hidden in the corner. I watched as he pulled out a bottle of sparkling wine and fiddled with the cork.

“Julian?”

He didn’t answer, instead he popped open the bottle and poured us both small servings in clear plastic cups. Walking back to me, he finally answered. “Yes.”

My lips pressed together. I took my glass from him, unsure how to proceed. His feelings were justified, and I didn’t want to spoil our night. Still, I had to know. “Will you ever forgive her?”

Again, he didn’t speak right away. I watched as he considered his answer. “Yes,” he said again, and I exhaled with relief. He caught me around the waist, pulling me close. “When I think about it all, I get really angry, and I don’t want to talk to her.” My hand traveled up to his collar, sliding the now-open fabric between my fingers as I listened. “But I know eventually I’ll forgive her. I see it happening.”

“I understand,” I said, smoothing his white shirt-front.

“It just really burns that she lied to me that way. For so long.”

My eyes blinked as I thought of the journals, of his dad and how he’d responded to lies. “You get that honest.”

“Anyway, let’s not talk about it. I want you to see my surprise. Come here.”

He took my hand and led me around to the easel sitting in the back corner. “Close your eyes.” I did, and a faint swishing followed by movement sounded in front of me. Then he touched my arm. “Open them.”

A gasp slipped through my lips. It was a brilliant watercolor painting. “You did this?” I whispered, lightly touching the canvass.

He stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his chin on my shoulder as I studied it. In almost transparent layers of color, he’d created a scene of a girl in the bottom left corner. Her light-brown hair was in spirals and she was surrounded by deep purples, greens, and golds with street lamps and wrought iron. Her hand stretched up toward the opposite corner, where a dark-haired boy was leaning back on what looked like a beach. He was surrounded by brown and blue and the corresponding gold, and his hand extended down to hers. Between them both flew a small dragonfly. Mist clouded my eyes, and I reached for his hand, sliding my finger across the small tattoo near his thumb. Our two little insects appeared to be flying to meet each other at this angle.