Julia smiled at the guys as they walked off. She looked from Jerry to me. “I never thought this day would come.”
“Did you know about Jude?” I asked with surprise.
She nodded with a sad smile. “I did, but the way things ended between Andrew and I, I didn’t think it was the best thing for me to reach out.” She shrugged, pushing her pretty auburn hair out of her eyes. For being in her forties I thought she was gorgeous. Her skin was flawless and her eyes were bright. Despite the bad hand life had dealt her, she’d come out better than most. It was obvious in the way she carried herself and the smile that was nearly permanent on her face that she was happy.
“I can understand where you were coming from.” I assured her, not wanting her to think I judged her for keeping the brother’s apart.
I sincerely hoped that Archer and Jude would grow close. Based on how things had gone so far today, I had nothing to worry about. There was definitely an awkwardness between them, but with each passing minute it lessened.
“You two seem very much in love,” she commented.
Jerry chuckled, and his smile was pleased. I knew Jerry was looking forward to Jude and I progressing in our relationship—like marriage and babies, but he was going to have to wait a few years. At least for the baby part. I wanted Jude to myself for a while.
“Yes, we are,” I smiled. I knew there was a happy flush to my cheeks. “I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
And that was the truth. I’d suffered nearly two weeks without him, and I’d been as depressed then as when I lost my brother.
“It’s nice to see people young and in love. So carefree,” she propped her head in her hand. “I miss that.”
“You’re still young—” Before I could continue she snorted. “No, really,” I added. “You could still find someone and have your happily ever after.”
She smiled sweetly, her eyes soft. “Honey, I did get my happily ever after, it just wasn’t the one they write about in romance novels.” She reached across the table and patted my hand in a motherly gesture.
Looking across the table at her I couldn’t believe that we’d found Julia, and subsequently Jude’s brother because of it. If Jerry had never called me Julia, I would’ve never started wondering about the mysterious girl. Life worked in funny ways.
I made a pot of coffee while we waited for the guys to return. When they did it was time for Archer and Julia to leave. Both promised that we’d meet up again next week for dinner—either at the house or a restaurant.
Jude’s smile seemed permanently glued to his face. He hugged Archer and Julia goodbye, and I was surprised when both opened their arms to hug me.
I’d known Jude was worried that they might hate him, or just be horrible people, but everything had worked out perfectly. Jude had a brother who clearly wanted to get to know him, and given enough time I could see the two becoming close. Even Julia seemed genuinely interested in knowing Jude. I hoped she’d become a mother figure in his life since his was absent. I was beginning to wonder if I was ever going to meet his parents. He barely talked about them and seemed to have nothing to do with them. But I knew all about having shitty parents and let’s face it if I completely blocked them out of my life it would be a whole lot easier t
han having to deal with them.
Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I never took the easy route.
My mom was still in a home for the foreseeable future—maybe even forever—but with my dad coming home today, I’d decided to try to have a relationship with him. I hoped our dinner went well and we could move past everything. After all, reading Graham’s letter seemed to have a profound effect on him. I guess I only had to hope that it lasted and that his anger management had helped—even though he was out of the facility, he still had to attend meetings three times a week. I think more than anything, I just wanted to have a dad. I’d lost my brother, and my mom—because let’s face it, she was off her rocker—so my dad was the only family I had left.
I shook my head free of my thoughts and followed Jude and Jerry to the porch, where we watched Archer and Julia get into the SUV and drive away.
“Well,” Jerry smiled, patting Jude’s shoulder as he passed him on his way back into the house, “I don’t think that could’ve gone better.”
Jude nodded his head in agreement, watching until the SUV disappeared from sight.
While Jerry went inside, probably to watch TV, Jude and I stood outside for a while.
He seemed lost in his thoughts, so I let him think.
Eventually, he turned to me with a grin curving his lips. “Thank you.”
I jerked back in surprise. “Thank you? Why are you thanking me?”
He chuckled, reaching for my hand. “Because, you’re the one that said we should find Julia. Without you, I wouldn’t have known about Archer…that I had family.”
“Jude,” my throat constricted with emotion, “you never need to thank me for that.”
“I know,” he pulled me in front of him and I leaned my head against his chest, “but I wanted to.” He trailed his fingers over my stomach and up my t-shirt. Heat filled my body and I let out a small moan. It didn’t matter how many times he touched me I always wanted more.
Jude chuckled low against my ear. “Tate?”