She’d simply packed her things, gotten in her car and left, abandoning her boyfriend and home of seven years. Because when the clock struck midnight, and there were cheers and the clinking of champagne flutes, and kisses full of hope for the new year, Rodrigo’s lips had been on the mouth of another woman.
A fresh wave of agony swept through her. She sucked in a steadying breath, but it did nothing to ease the ache in her chest or the hollow, sinking feeling that seized her gut. The one that made it almost impossible to breathe. She decided right then that she wouldn’t tell them about the ring. At least not yet. Those awful, sordid details would have to come later. Maybe after she’dgathered up what was left of her dwindling confidence. One round of humiliation was enough for the night.
“Rodrigo cheated on me.” The words left her mouth just as Vivianne entered from the back of the flower shop, calling her name. Vivianne and Adrienne were twins, the only noticeable difference was the slight dusting of freckles across Adrienne’s nose.
“Jules! I can’t believe you’re here, I—” Vivianne clamped one hand over her mouth, lashes fluttering back in shock as she registered Juliette’s words.
“What?” Adrienne blinked, then scowled. “When?”
“Oh…” Juliette squinted up at the clock on the wall. It was six in the morning. “About seven hours ago, I suppose.”
Vivianne gasped.
“That bastard,” Adrienne hissed and crossed her arms. “How did you find out?”
Juliette laughed. But it was forced. A little too high-pitched. And bordered slightly on the horrific sound of nails grinding down a chalkboard. “I walked in on him.”
She tried to blink the image away, but it would be forever burned into her memory. Rodrigo had given some other woman far more than a New Year’s Eve kiss. He told her it was the first time, the only time, he’d ever been unfaithful. But doubt tugged at the back of her mind, and she knew he wasn’t telling the truth. He was a smooth talker, easy on the eyes, with a tongue that was sweeter than honey. If he could lie about his fidelity or lack thereof, then he could lie about anything. After all, Juliette had believed him so easily when he told her he loved her. When he promised he was going to marry her.
Her eyes started to burn and her nose tingled, the telltale sign she was about to cry. Whether she wanted to or not. Blowing out a shaky breath, Juliette schooled herself into a state of calm. She could not afford to go down that road. It was toosoon to relive that fresh nightmare. Besides, she’d already pulled over on the highway to cry her eyes out and have a moment to wallow in her own self-pity. She didn’t want to suffer another breakdown in front of her mother and sisters, she had to prove she was strong and capable. She could do this. She could start over. Again.
A breakup wasn’t the end of the world. It didn’t mean her life was over. It was simply a setback. A change of plans. People had their hearts broken every day, and just because there was no cure, didn’t mean she wouldn’t survive. She swallowed down the lump of fear in the back of her throat and forced herself to look upon the women she’d left behind.
“Mm.” Gigi turned on her heel and disappeared up the stairs toward the loft, leaving Juliette to wonder if she’d made a terrible mistake. She tried not to watch her mother walk away. Tried not to overanalyze the situation. But all that did was compound the nauseating feeling roiling in her stomach like acid.
“Oh, Jules.” Vivianne stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. She smelled faintly of fresh roses and warm vanilla. “I’m so sorry.”
Juliette leaned into her sister’s embrace. Time and distance had put space between them, but for this brief moment, it was as though she’d never left. She would be lying through her teeth if she said everything was fine, but at least for now, she could say she was okay. For now, she could pretend.
“Where are you staying?” Adrienne asked, taking her hand and linking their fingers together.
“I’m not sure. I have some options.” A terrible lie. She had no options at all. Rodrigo had provided everything for her. He’d given her the moon and the stars. He’d taken care of her, protected her. And when she walked out on him a few hours ago,she left with hardly anything of value save for some clothing, a few baubles, and toiletries.
Adrienne squeezed her hand again. “Do you have any money?”
“Some.”
Only what Rod had given her before she got into her car to leave, which was plenty but made her feel cheap. He claimed it was to help her get back on her feet, but it seemed more like pity money. She should have made more of an effort once they were settled. Maybe if she’d focused and found a path, a calling, or even pursued a damn career, then she could have shaped herself into someone worthy of a man like Rodrigo. She could stand there and mentally list all the things she should have done differently, but what she needed more than anything was to change the subject before she crumbled. Before she fell apart completely.
“Where’s Anne-Sophie?” Juliette asked, rubbing at the edges of her tired eyes.
“She got her own apartment a few months ago.” Vivianne looped her arm through Juliette’s in a small offer of solace. “Somewhere up in Virginia Beach. She has a job up there now, so she wanted to be closer to all the excitement. Restaurants, shops, clubs, you know, the entertainment Mystic Cove is lacking.”
Gigi’s footfalls echoed down the wooden steps, and she reappeared in the soft light of the shop with a tiny porcelain cup and saucer. She pressed them both into Juliette’s hands.
“Drink,” she urged. “You’ll feel better.”
The delicious scent of robust espresso filled Juliette’s senses. No one made espresso as good as her mother. Some of the finest coffee shops in D.C. made a valid attempt, but even they couldn’t compare. She took a small sip, and the deliciously strong flavorreminded her of autumn beaches, early mornings, and her mother’s midnight stories. All from a childhood not so long ago.
“You will stay here.” Gigi pointed one razor-sharp red nail to the steps behind her. “The apartment over the flower shop is yours for as long as you need it. You can stay until you find whatever it is you’re looking for.”
“But, Mama?—”
Her mother held up a slender hand and ignored Juliette’s protest. “I’ve hired a local contractor to update it for me. He’ll be along later today with an estimate.” She looked at the twins. “Girls, help your sister with her bags.”
Juliette didn’t have the heart to tell her mother that she could easily carry the two bags inside on her own. How sobering it was to realize hardly anything in the apartment she shared with Rodrigo belonged to her.
With her two bags and the remainder of her belongings in tow, Adrienne and Vivianne followed her up the staircase to the apartment above the flower shop.
