My cheeks burned. Of course it had complicated things.
“It’s all tied together in my head,” Helen continued. “I can’t help it. But maybe I’ll be able to handle this financial risk better now that they aren’t together anymore.”
“Speaking of,” Harper said, “we should talk to Jules about?—”
I jerked away from the door, nearly tripping over my own feet. My heart raced as I ducked into my office, closing the door with trembling hands.
What now? Would they fire me? Demote me? Thethought of losing my place at Sunset Siesta, my home away from home, sent a wave of panic through me. I paced my small office, fingers twisting anxiously. No. I couldn’t let it end like this. I had to face the music, explain myself, do… something.
Taking a deep breath, I smoothed my skirt and retwisted my bun, armor against the uncomfortable conversation ahead. Then, squaring my shoulders, I marched back out and knocked on Harper’s door.
“Come in,” Harper called.
I stepped inside, taking in the familiar warmth of Harper’s office. A bleached wood desk with two armchairs in front, one currently occupied by Helen. Soft, earthy tones and driftwood accents created a soothing atmosphere that usually put me at ease. Not today.
Harper sat behind the large desk, and both women stared at me, their expressions unreadable. My throat went dry.
“Julianne,” Harper said, surprise coloring her voice. “We were just about to call you in.”
I clasped my hands to stop them from shaking. I was back to Julianne now. “I, uh, I actually wanted to talk to you both.”
Helen’s eyebrow arched. “Oh?”
I took a deep breath and gazed straight at Helen. “I want to apologize—for the disruption my relationship with Eli has caused. And I regret that it’s taken me a week to do so formally. The situation was unprofessional, and I never meant for it to affect the resort or your family. I know things have been tense, and I take full responsibility for my part. I just want you to know that it’s over now. Eli and I… we’re done.” I swallowed hard, fighting to keep my voice steady. “I hope we can move past this and focus on what’s best for Sunset Siesta.”
The silence that followed felt endless. I resisted the urge to fidget, to fill the quiet with more rambling apologies. Instead, I met their gazes, hoping they could see my sincerity.
Harper’s response caught me off guard. Instead of the anger I’d braced for, her eyes filled with sadness. “Oh, Julianne.” She sighed the words, her voice soft. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out. For what it’s worth, Eli’s been really happy since you two got together.”
My chest tightened. I hadn’t expected sympathy, and it threatened to crack my carefully constructed façade.
Helen, however, remained a picture of cool professionalism. “Thank you for following through with my wishes, Julianne. It’s for the best. We had a very bad experience with a workplace romance in the past, which is what caused my edict.”
I nodded, not trusting my voice. The contrast between the women was stark—Harper’s empathy versus Helen’s detachment. But as I glanced back at Harper, I caught a flicker of something in her eyes. Understanding, maybe? A silent acknowledgment of the messy tangle of emotions we were all caught in?
“I’m sorry for the pain both you and my son are going through.” Helen cleared her throat and let a faint smile show. “We do appreciate what you do here, Julianne, and I want to assure you that your position here is not in jeopardy. You’re a valuable asset to Sunset Siesta.”
A thousand pounds lifted from my shoulders, but the feeling was tempered by the underlying tension still crackling in the air. “Thank you. I’m relieved to hear that.”
“The unfortunate incident with Eli aside, your work has been exemplary,” Helen continued. “We’re counting on you to help guide us through these renovations.”
I straightened my shoulders, grasping at the lifeline ofprofessionalism she’d thrown me. “Of course. I’m committed to seeing Sunset Siesta thrive.”
Harper leaned forward, a smile on her face. “We know you are. That’s never been in doubt. Would you prefer we call you Jules?”
I straightened, not about to rock the boat now. “I’ve always been Julianne as a professional. No need to change that. Thank you very much for your support. Both of you.”
I took a deep breath, resisting the compulsion to smooth my skirt. I focused on Eli’s mother, seeing the echoes of him in her. I couldn’t deny the man Eli was, and I couldn’t regret that I’d gotten to know him. Maybe regret falling in love with him, but God knew I wasn’t without my own faults, either. “Helen, I wanted to let you know you raised a wonderful son. Eli and I didn’t see eye to eye for a very long time, and that blinded me to his positive qualities.”
Helen’s mouth formed anO, surprise flickering across her face.
I plowed on, the words tumbling out before I could second-guess myself. “It’s not just his charm, though that’s part of it. He genuinely cares about people, makes them feel seen. I’ve watched him turn even the grumpiest guest’s day around with just a joke and that ridiculous smile of his.”
A smile touched Helen’s lips, easing the years from her face. “He’s always been like that. Even as a little boy, he could charm the birds out of the trees.”
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. “He still can.”
Helen’s gaze softened, something vulnerable in her expression. “For all his faults—and Lord knows that boy has plenty—I love him fiercely.”
