Luke responded, “With mushrooms. Ben likes mushrooms.”
“I know. Did you get it at that place about a mile down the road?”
Luke answered like it mattered. “Yes.”
An inept attempt at a congenial conversation.
Ben said, “Juli’s taking art lessons.”
“With Anna. I know. Anna told me.” Luke replied.
Ben looked at her. It was her turn, but Juli didn’t want to discuss her artistic efforts with Luke over pizza in this artificially staged atmosphere.
Luke stepped in. “Anna’s had some very nice sales recently. One of our gallery customers attended a show she held with some of her students at a hotel in Nags Head and was impressed. Asked to see some of the work privately through the gallery.”
“Juli, you should consider participating in one of Anna’s shows,” Ben said.
“Please.” Now it was her turn to purse her lips. A sigh. She softened her response. “Maybe after more training and practice.”
When lunch was done—a civil lunch with Luke and Juli subdued by a shared guilt because they’d dealt with Frankie behind Ben’s back—Luke excused himself, saying he had business to tend to. Ben kissed Juli’s cheek and went to take a nap.
Juli walked out to the porch. There was a change in the air, perhaps only in barometric pressure, but it tingled her skin. The last time she’d felt a change coming was when she’d driven Ben home that night back in April.
The footsteps coming up the outside stairs to the porch were Luke’s. Juli knew it before she saw him. When he reached the top of the stairs, he stopped and looked up, above her head.
“His sliding door is closed. Is he napping?”
Luke was speaking in soft tones. Juli did the same.
“Yes, he is. You didn’t go far.”
“I want to declare a truce.”
“A truce?”
“Let’s give each other the benefit of the doubt?”
Juli crossed her arms. She felt a stab of sadness. “For the time being, you mean?”
“Yes.”
“For Ben’s sake?”
“For Ben’s sake.”
For whatever stupid reason, Juli felt moisture gathering in her eyes. Had there been some purpose in their antagonism? It certainly hadn’t been pleasant, and yet, surely over time they could have found some sort of acceptance—might even come to appreciate each other. Now, it would never happen.
She extended her hand and Luke grasped it. His grip was strong. Reassuring. And more?
He continued holding her hand as if time had stilled. She looked into his eyes and saw the amber lights.
Abruptly, they broke their handclasp.
He started down the steps, but looked back and Juli couldn’t help herself.
“Luke,” she called out.
“Yes?”
“You don’t have to worry. I’ll take good care of Ben—for both of us.”
Chapter Fourteen
For their first month anniversary, Ben had surprised Juli with a card and flowers, but she wasn’t going to get caught on the short end of gift giving today, their second anniversary. She’d purchased a beautiful card with lots of hearts and flowers, guaranteed to charm a romantic like Ben. Choosing a gift had been more difficult. Juli hadn’t wanted to go overboard, in case Ben didn’t celebrate second month anniversaries.
She got up early and put the card and gift box at his place on the kitchen table. A second gift box was under the table. Not perfectly hidden, but good enough. She took the egg carton and butter from the refrigerator and lined up the breakfast food, ready to cook as soon as he made his appearance. The floor above her creaked. Juli was excited—silly excited—almost giggling. She was about to trump Ben, the champion gift-giver of all time.
He came down the stairs and spied the table, already set and with a present waiting. The small box had a big, shiny blue bow. He paused on the stairs and smiled, then continued down into the kitchen and kissed her cheek.
“Happy second anniversary,” he said.
“And to you. Now, have a seat. Breakfast will be ready shortly.”
“First, I have to get something. I’ll be back in a minute.”
He went to the study with a big grin on his face. His happiness warmed her from the inside out, making her very glad she’d gotten the presents for him. Her instincts had been right. She was cracking the eggs over the edge of the frying pan when she heard him returning. Juli tossed the shell fragments into the trash, then turned around and saw a large box on her chair.
“What have you done?”
“You’ll have to see for yourself. Are the eggs burning?”
“Oh!” Juli swung back to face the stove and started flipping the eggs with the spatula. “Ben, Ben, Ben.” She came close to swearing. Instead, she settled for laughing.