I haven't heard Atty laugh like he did from behind those closed library doors since, and I still don't know if I ever will again.
The Atticus I know today isn't the same as the one who emancipated himself at sixteen and came to share a room with me at Flo and Jules's. But he's still my brother.
"You're all here," Julian adds, staring at Atticus over my shoulder as I stoop to hug him and try not to want to murder his nurse when I feel how frail he is in my arms. I know there's only so much they can do to force him to eat.
Ro waits off to one side, fiddling with her hair and the hem of her shirt as Julian embraces Atticus next, and then his son.
When Jules pulls away, he doesn't release Eli straight away, he keeps hold of his shoulder and leans in conspiratorially, his sepia eyes flitting to Ro. "Is this the girl?"
Eli nods, and I'm still unsure which version of Jules we're getting today, but so far, it feels promising.
He's recognized each of us, and he still remembers me mentioning that Elijah was seeing someone.
Julian straightens, fixing his brown suede jacket and pushing his thinning salt-and-pepper hair back as he approaches Ro and extends a hand to her. "You must be the reason my son is smiling again."
Ro blushes furiously at the compliment and scoffs, taking his hand. "Um, I'm not so sure about that."
"I am," Eli corrects, and if it's possible, her face gets even more red.
It's funny…make her an accomplice to grand larceny or hand her a gun in a Parisian cabaret and she's cool as a cucumber. But meeting our dad?
Her throat bobs, nervous as hell.
Jules covers their clasped hands with his other one and squeezes. "It's such a pleasure to meet you…"
"Aurora," she supplies for him.
He nods. "Aurora? What a pretty name."
Julian releases her and glances around the pond as if he expects company. "Where's Flo? I know she'll want to meet you, too."
My chest tightens, but I'm quick to act, ignoring the sensation.
"She had an appointment." I clap a hand to his shoulder and squeeze. "She'll meet Ro next time."
"An appointment?"
"Mmm."
"Oh yes. I must've forgotten."
I shake my head. "She'll be back later."
It isn't a lie. Not exactly. He still sees her in the old house where they spent all the years of their marriage, where I spent some of the best years of my life. He'll see her when his nurse takes him home.
Julian nods, and I know the situation's been defused, if only a little longer.
Eagerly, he returns his attention to Ro. "So, tell me about yourself, Aurora. How did you meet my son?"
She winces, and I cough to cover a laugh. I can tell she doesn't know what to say, if she should lie, but this is real. And I want Julian to know that.
"She hit me with her car," I admit, and Julian looks at me like I've grown a second head and then snaps his gaze back to Aurora.
"Surely not?"
She grimaces. "Well…"
Julian places a hand on her elbow and guides her to the flat crop of stone where we used to lie back on and look up at the stars.
