mother would be appalled at her rudeness to that man. She heard the
door open and close and assumed he walked back in the house.
“Juliana, we need to talk for a minute.”
No “Merry Christmas.” No inquiries how her day had been. She
hadn’t heard from him since the twentieth.
“What’s up?” she asked as she settled in the old glider on Grace’s
back porch.
“Mom and I have been talking.”
Her core muscles did an involuntary lockdown. Last time he’d
said those words, he’d informed her he was taking his mom on a two
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Heather Rainier
week Caribbean cruise, without her. The cruise had taken place over
her birthday, and he didn’t even send her a card.
“What have you and your mom been talking about?”
“I’ve maintained my real estate agent’s license in Vermont all
these years, and I’ve been presented with a lucrative opportunity. I’m
going to take it.”
Juliana wished she could say that she was stunned. Then she heard
a woman’s voice in the background say, “Tell her.”
There was a rustling as if he’d put his hand over the mouthpiece
while he carried on a secondary conversation.
“Are you there, Lawrence?” Juliana’s heart was pounding because
she knew already what came next. She’d suspected for a while. “Tell
me what? Who is there with you?”
“Juliana, it’s over between us. I’ve met someone here. She’s the
other reason I’m returning to Vermont.”
She felt strangely numb to what he said, as if she were listening to
some stranger’s conversation. “I see. How long?”
“I’ll be back to pack my house the day after tomorrow, and I’ll be
returning here immediately. Not long at all.”
“No, you rat bastard. How long have you had a relationship with
her?”
There was a long pause, during which she added up all the
weekend business trips he’d taken this year and the longer than usual
holiday breaks as well. The numbness centered in her chest and
spread outward over her limbs.
“Since last year.” His voice was void of any emotion.
Icy chills blanketed her skin. “And I allowed you in my bed,
trusted you during that time.”
“I always used condoms with her.”
Juliana grated, “Well, I’m so glad you protected her, you lying,
cock-sucking bastard.” This was really going to hurt when she
thought this conversation over later in the evening. She could feel it
coming.
Spurs and Heels
13
“I used condoms for your sake as well, Juliana. I’m sorry I didn’t
tell you sooner, but it never seemed the right time. You were always
working. Always busy.”
“Don’t blame this on me. I have responsibilities, and you know
that.”
“Yes, you do. I’m sorry to have caused you any distress.”
“You’re sorry for causing me distress?”
“I’ll swing by the store with your house key.”
“Just put it in my mailbox. I can’t believe you’re doing this over
the phone. No, wait, maybe I should be grateful you didn’t text me
with the news,” she added over the lump growing in her throat.
Lawrence was a heavy texter. There was another awkward pause, and
then he sighed irritatingly. “You thought about it, though, didn’t
you?”
“It would have saved us this unnecessary emotionalism.”
“Unnecessary emotionalism? Lawrence, I’ve been your girlfriend
for five years, not a casual fuck. You mean it would have saved you
the hassle of talking to me like a human being.”
“There is no need to be coarse.” Lawrence had always disliked her
potty mouth, which she’d done her best to minimize around him. “I’ll
be by for my things in a couple of days.”
“Don’t come to my house. I’ll box everything up and put it on
your porch.”
“Fine. Well…Merry Christmas. Good-bye.”
“You are a horrible person for saying that and for doing this
today, of all days.” Juliana disconnected the call.
She looked at the backlit screen of her cell phone. The call had
taken less than five minutes. Five minutes to uproot and discard five
years of her life. Hell, who was she kidding? All they’d done was
bridge the gaps between work and loneliness for each other. Then
there was his mother. Maybe she should call him back and thank him
for saving her from having to hear, “Mom and I have been talking,”
ever again.
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Heather Rainier
Remaining seated in the dark, Juliana drew her calves up under