I nod.
I smile.
I swallow fear like it’s a skill.
When Julian joins me, he doesn’t try to fix it. He sits beside her, asks questions, and listens. Holds her hand when she gets overwhelmed. Brings Emily hot chocolate from the café downstairs and pretends not to notice when she steals his scarf.
When Mom squeezes his hand and says, “Thank you for taking care of my girls,” his voice goes rough when he answers, “It’s my absolute pleasure.”
I believe him.
Laughter seeps into the room from the corridor, and before I know what is happening, Mom's door is opening and Theo, Caleb, Elliot and Rowan are filling the space. They carry bags of food that smell incredible, and a nurse comes in, bursting with joy, thanking them for the tree, decorations, and food for the facility and staff.
My heart swells, and I cannot remember the last time I felt so supported... so loved.
That night, back at the penthouse, he holds me while I cry for my mom, for all the years of struggle. No platitudes. No promises he can’t keep. Just arms around me and his cheek pressed to my hair.
“It will turn,” he murmurs. “I don’t know when. But it will.”
I don’t know if he’s reassuring himself or me.
Maybe both.
New Year’s Eve is chaos in the best way.
Northwell throws an intimate party that’s somehow elegant and unhinged at the same time. Em comes with us, dressed to kill and loving every second of it.
Theo is immediately insufferable.
Julian almost growled at him, "She is off limits, she's family."
He makes puppy dog eyes at me, and I have to hold back a snort from my laugh, "You trust me with baby Bennett... right, sister of mine. You would give us your blessing."
I expect Elliot to join in, but he is quieter than usual.
But it is Rowan who surprises me, "She is far too good for you, baby North."
Theo scoffs, and Em is full-blown cackling. I haven't seen her this carefree and enjoying being young in so long. Her joy makes me feel so happy.
"What? And Julian is good enough for Lucy?" Theo asks.
"Absolutely not," Caleb interjects.
That gets a laugh out of my husband.
The night settled something deep within me.
Elliot finds his way out of whatever funk he was in and easily charms Em. Rowan goes back to watching everyone from a distance like he’s cataloging threats, and Caleb quietly makes sure she has water between cocktails.
At midnight, Julian kisses me like it’s just us.
I tuck my face into his neck and think, that I could do this forever.
“I’m just saying,” Theo tells Emily, leaning too close on the ride home, “if you weren’t Lucy’s sister... You would totally be with me, right?”
“I am, though,” Em responds sweetly.
Julian watches the exchange with amusement, one hand on my thigh like he’s tethering himself to reality, and I let myself sink into the idea that this is my life now.
