She ran to the jetty and back, busting out three miles in a little over twenty minutes. Sweaty, salty, and sandy, she jumped back into her car and headed to her parents’. She’d shower and get ready at their house. Willa, Pete, and Lex could catch up with her. The less direct, solitary contact she had with Lex, the better. She hated that she felt like a coward running away from him, but she’d worked it out in her mind. And this was the best way. It didn’t stop her from longing for more—some way for a perfect ending to their story. But it wasn’t to be.
She pulled into her parents’ driveway at five forty-five. Following the porch around to the back of the house, she entered through the kitchen. She hopped in the shower in the vacant guest room, towel dried her hair, and donned some sweats. Glancing at her phone, she typed a quick text to Sky.
Are you on schedule?
She’d hoped for an immediate answer. When she didn’t get it, she slipped the phone into the pocket of her sweatpants and slid her feet into her flip-flops. Taking a deep breath, she made her way back out of the kitchen, across the path to Dr. J.’s.
Cresting the last step, she stopped in her tracks. Apparently, the avoidance game was over. Sitting in the chairs were her mother, her father, and Dr. J. Just what she needed—a fucking audience.
“Figured you’d be up and at it. How was the run?” her father said, amusement apparent in the lines of his face.
Rolling her eyes, Lu began her trek across the deck. “Got any coffee?”
“There’s a mug on the counter waiting for you,” her mother replied.
“That’s just fucking great,” she mumbled, softly enough that no one could make out what she said. As she made her way into the house, she felt her phone vibrate.
Sky: Yup. But I can’t text and drive so I couldn’t answer you right away. Lu: Haha. How’s my girl?
Sky: Excited to see you and family.
Lu: ETA?
Sky: 3:00
Lu: Be safe.
Sky: No shit Sherlock.
Sky: Are you ok?
Lu: Are you driving and texting?
Sky: No Mam. I pulled over. Are you OK?
Lu: Just fucking peachy.
Sky: Need to see your girl?
Lu: You have no idea!!!
Sky: Do anything stupid?
Lu: Yes. Eight years ago.
Sky: Can’t change that now. See you soon.
Lu tucked the phone back into her pocket and grabbed her coffee. She took a few sips. Biding her time. Then, knowing it was now or never, she took a long, deep breath and headed out to the firing squad.
When Lu came back out, Dr. J. and her parents halted their whispered conversation. Not that she cared what they were saying.
“Can I presume that my children were with you ladies last night?” Dr. J. asked.
“Yes,” Lu replied absently, not offering any other explanation but she caught sight of her mother’s questioning look. And she ignored it. She took another sip of her coffee, letting the silence become their fifth companion. She didn’t think she was trying to let them stew, but she may have been. It struck her when she saw them all together, waiting for her, that she was pissed. For the first time in eight years, she realized that she hated each of them just a little bit. It wasn’t overt. It wasn’t even enough to make note of—until right then.
“Dr. J., I want you to know how sorry I am for you. I have always admired your relationship with Mr. P. There always seemed to be this understanding between you two. And it was so obvious that he loved you and you him. When I used to dream of having a relationship, yours was one that I held up as the pinnacle. And since I’ve had Nina, he has been my greatest supporter. Greater than the three of you combined.”
She stopped and turned away from them. Gathering herself. Thinking of and talking about Mr. P. was hard. She hadn’t meant to sound like a bitch or take anything away from any of them, but she wanted them to know how much his loss was going to affect her. She wiped away the tears from her face and slowly turned back to them. She looked over them—not at them, because she didn’t want to see the emotions playing across their faces.
“To see him with Nina made my heart sing. I don’t know how else to describe it. I know he found joy in all of the mannerisms that she inherited from Lex. I know he loved her because he could see his son in her. But it was so much more than that. He loved her because she was Nina. I think he died regretting the decisions that were made eight years ago.”
“Louisa May,” her mother said, shooting up out of her seat. “That’s enough. You are being incredibly insensitive.”
Lu stood there, trying not to glare at her mother. Please be on my side, she thought. Without meaning to, she looked directly into Josephine Pellitteri’s eyes. They weren’t green like Lex’s, but the soulfulness of his eyes he got from his mother. Jo reached out and patted Amber’s arm.