Her warming effects tingled through my circulation. In the short time since I’d found her, I’d become hopelessly addicted. She was the culmination of everything I’d missed in my life. It wasn’t about what she did or how she looked or sounded. It was deeper.
Simply, her presence calmed the monster within me.
In the hallway of the McGraths’ home, I was at a precipice—face Phillip and expose this farce, our past, and our sins, or surrender to Julia’s desire and flee with her at my side.
Taking a deep breath, I led Julia the opposite direction from the front staircase—away from Phillip.
I knew where we were going. It was the direction from which I’d entered the second floor, up the back stairs, the ones that she’d shown me on New Year’s Eve. With raised voices above and below, Julia held tight to my hand as we hurried downward, toward the kitchen. Our boots clicked on the wood steps.
At the landing where the stairs turned, Julia stopped. Her expression grew more concerned as she looked down and back up. There wasn’t another option. We’d be confronted either way. Reassuring her with a nod, I gestured for us to move toward the first floor.
The man at the bottom of the stairs with his back to us had worked for the McGraths for the better part of his life. Maybe that was why he’d chosen to believe me when he found me entering through the delivery entry. Possibly it was because of our first meeting. Or perhaps it was his adoration of Julia. There wasn’t time to question.
I tugged on Julia’s hand. “Come on. Arnold is on our side.”
Her blue eyes opened as she gave into my lead.
Hearing our approach, Arnold acknowledged our presence with a nod before he began barking orders toward the kitchen staff and stepped away from the staircase. In doing so, he took everyone’s attention with him. As our boots landed upon the first floor, we pivoted toward the hallway to the delivery exit.
A new obstacle stood in our way.
A stout woman with graying hair appeared.
Ready to confront her, I gripped Julia’s hand. It was Julia who released my grasp and went forward. The woman’s arms spread wide as she surrounded Julia in her embrace.
“I’ll miss you, child.”
“I’ll miss you too, Rosemary. I’m sorry to leave you to deal with Mother and this mess.”
The two women pulled apart as Rosemary’s face blossomed and her smile grew. “After all these years, I’ve gotten good at cleaning up her messes.”
Julia grinned. “Thank you.”
“Now, hurry. Mr. Sherman’s driver is waiting.”
I offered the woman my hand. “Thank you, ma’am.”
She shook my hand with the strength and confidence of a person in control. If I had ever questioned my regard for this woman, in that instant, I knew I liked her as much as I liked her husband.
“Mr. Sherman, you take care of our girl. That’s all the thanks I need.” A rosy blush came to her cheeks. “Arnold and I, we never had a child of our own.” She glanced to where Julia’s and my hands were again united. “We claim Miss Julia as ours. Tell me you’ll make sure she’s loved, safe, and through it all, you’ll never hamper her opportunity to fly.”
I couldn’t have said it better.
My gaze met Julia’s before turning to Rosemary. “I promise to do my best.”
“Nothing more we can ask.” She peered through the window of the delivery door. “Now you two scoot.”
As Rosemary opened the back door, Julia leaned forward, leaving a kiss on Rosemary’s cheek. “I love you.”
“Love you too, child. Be happy.”
Gray skies added to the chill as I wrapped my arm around Julia, and we hurried across the driveway to Michael’s car. This wasn’t the time for formalities, and honestly, I wasn’t a fan of people waiting on me anyway. I opened the door and ushered Julia into the back seat of the waiting car. As I slammed the door shut, closing off the outside world, I exhaled.
“To the airport?” Michael asked.
“Yes,” Julia responded before I had the opportunity.
“Ms. McGrath,” Albert said, speaking over the seat. “Ma’am, I’m sorry.”