After he’d shaken the last hand and said his final thanks, he turned to the presence at his back.
Martha stood with her fingers clasped in front of her, her eyes bright with unshed tears. “I can’t believe you did that.”
“Can’t you?” he asked softly. Yes, he’d created a bump in the road of her publication dream, but he hoped she could believe that he’d be willing to do anything for her. Especially something so small as to ask people to share how great she was.
She sniffed as her lips curled into a secret smile. “Okay, you’re right. I can. You’re wonderful.”
He took a step forward and wrapped his arms around her, pressing her cheek to his chest. “No, Martha. You missed what everyone in there was saying.Youare the wonderful one.”
34
Julien’s phone buzzed on his desk, the screen lighting up with an incoming text. A smile took over his face when he saw it was from Martha.
Martha
Just texting to say I hope you have a great day!
They still weren’t able to spend as much time together as he’d like because of his long hours at work and the fact that she’d started back at the library, but they were finding ways to stay connected. Mainly one of them would randomly reach out for no other reason than to simply let the other person know they were thinking of them. Small texts. Social media reels. Memes. Video clips. Random little tidbits that didn’t have any significant meaning other than to conveyI’m thinking about you.
Julien had heard one of his younger employees refer to such a thing as pebbling. The phrase came from the mating rituals of the Gentoo penguins, who carefully selected pebbles as symbols of their affection for their mate. Of course as soon as Julien learned that, he’d ordered a penguin stuffed animal to be delivered to Martha as well asPenguin’s Perfect PebblebyIglooBooks. Maybe other men sent their girlfriends flowers, but he’d thought Martha would appreciate a children’s book more than a dozen roses.
Although there wasn’t anything stopping him from sending her flowers as well...
After completing a flower delivery order, he returned to his text messages. He scrolled up, rereading some of their previous exchanges. Days before, she’d gone to have lunch with her parents to tell them about her relationship with Julien. He’d offered to go with her, but she’d declined, saying they wouldn’t feel comfortable expressing their true feelings with him present. Julien had tried to assure her that everything would be fine, but she had it in her head that her parents would have some things to say about her stepping across the social-class lines. Every time he’d opened his mouth, she’d cut him off, saying it was something she needed to discuss with her parents alone but that later on, when they got used to the idea, he could accompany her to spend time with them.
Martha
Did you know our parents are friends?Like, our moms do brunch together twice a month and our dads practice their golf swings in the backyard.
Julien
I did know that, yes.
Their relationship had developed past professional into friendship a few years ago. He was surprised Martha wasn’t aware, but then he’d thought about it and concluded that it was something the Aldridges probably hadn’t talked about with Martha because of her own hurtful past with his father. Not talking about John King to their daughter had more thanlikely been the status quo for so many years, he wasn’t sure if it had even ever crossed their minds to broach the subject of their friendship.
Martha
Why didn’t you tell me?!?
Julien
I seem to recall trying to, but someone wouldn’t let me speak.
Martha
Next time, try harder.
Julien
How about next time I kiss you quiet?
Martha
Hmm. I think I like the sound of that.
Martha
Your mom is over here now, btw.
