Adrienne perked up right away, her discarded tablet landing in her lap. “Are you saying there’ll be a next time?”
“Oh, um…” Juliette had no idea what she was saying. It was too soon to tell. She didn’t know how long she planned on staying in Mystic Cove. All she knew was she had no money, no job, and no future. None of which she was ready to admit to hersisters. “I haven’t decided yet. But I’ll have to stay for a little while, at least until?—”
“You find something better?” Vivianne interjected, her face devoid of any emotion.
“Viv,” Adrienne admonished in a hushed tone.
“No, she’s right.” Juliette bit her bottom lip. “It’s not really a matter of finding something better, though. It’s more like just finding…something. Anything at this point.”
Adrienne placed her tablet on the small coffee table in front of her and stood, coming to Juliette’s side. She draped one arm around her shoulders and hugged her close. “Do you want to tell us what happened?”
“Rodrigo found someone else.” It caused Juliette’s heart to pinch, but at least now there was no threat of tears. “He told me I wasn’t the same, that I’d forgotten who I wanted to become.”
“Come on, Jules.” Vivianne uploaded the picture of Juliette to the shop’s social accounts. “You know what Adri meant, we want to know what really happened.”
“I know.” Juliette wrapped her arms around herself and leaned into the comfort of Adrienne’s embrace. “He found someone better. Someone more at his level, which is fine because he deserves as much. Everyone deserves to be happy.”
“That’s right. Everyone deserves to be happy. Including you,” Vivianne interrupted and gave Juliette’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “You’re amazing, Jules. You’re caring and nurturing. You’ve got a great personality. And sure, your hair is always in a messy bun, and I think you secretly love wearing sweatpants, but we wouldn’t want you any other way.”
Juliette choked out a laugh.
“Viv’s right.” Adrienne squeezed her again. “You always put everyone before yourself. When Mama started the flower shop, you stepped up for us. You were the one who basically raised us. You took care of us. Now, let us do the same for you.”
One hot tear rolled down Juliette’s cheek, and she hastily swiped it away. She hadn’t expected to be overcome with so much emotion, for her heart to be filled by her sisters’ love. But she was beyond grateful for both of them.
“Thank you. Seriously. So much.” Her nose burned and she sniffled, blinking away the threat of more tears. “I’m sorry I was so distant. And I’m sorry if you felt like I abandoned you.”
And she was sorry. Truly. When she left Mystic Cove, riding the high of Rodrigo’s profession of love and fragile, glass-ceiling promises, her intent had been never to speak to her mother again. But she hadn’t imagined her actions would trickle down and splinter her relationships with all four of her sisters. Except the distance and space she needed eventually evolved into longer stretches of time until not speaking to each other regularly became the norm. Adrienne and Vivianne called every so often to check in on her, but even then the silence between them grew deafening.
So, Juliette carried on without them. She made a life she thought she wanted without them. She attended galas on Rodrigo’s arm, went to art galleries and benefits, partied in the thick of summer on outdoor terraces, all while pretending to be doing something worthwhile.
Yet she’d accomplished nothing.
She was back where she started. She’d returned to the beginning. A small-town girl who thought she could survive in the big city, but now she was more of a nobody than ever before. No accomplishments or achievements. A swift, jagged reminder she wasn’t good enough.
Again.
At least now she had the twins, and that was good enough for her.
“It’s partially our fault, too,” Adrienne offered, the faintest of smiles on her nude-painted lips. “We could’ve tried to keep in contact more often.”
Vivianne smirked and carefully cut precisely measured strips of violet ribbon. “What would we have told her? That we’ve both been sucked into working at the flower shop and that dating is a chore?”
Adrienne tossed a wad of flower petals at her twin and laughed. “Speak for yourself. I just downloaded a dating app.”
Vivianne groaned just as Juliette’s phone buzzed. She slid it out from the front pocket of her hoodie and stared at the smiling face illuminated on the screen. It was their oldest sister, Gabrielle.
Her gaze flicked to her sisters. “Which one of you?—”
Vivianne’s hand shot into the air. “Guilty as charged.”
“Viv.” Juliette drew the single syllable out like she’d done when they were children. “I told you I’d text her.”
“I know.” Vivianne busied herself by collecting the discarded flower petals on the table. “But Gabi messaged me saying she never heard back from you last night.”
“She was worried about you,” Adrienne supplied with an apologetic smile.
“If you think she’s worried now…” Juliette mumbled, shaking her head. She headed out the door at the back of the shop to take the call with their oldest sister.
