Shit.
I reached for Julia’s hand as she turned to me, her eyes open wide and the color draining from her cheeks. “This is my sister,” I said.
Julia’s blue eyes blinked as she turned back to Liv.
Liv seemed equally caught off guard. After setting the coffee cups on a table, my sister offered Julia her hand. “You must be Julia.”
“Sister.” Julia exhaled as she laughed. “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you were someone else.”
“I’m often mistaken for Jennifer Aniston.”
I offered introductions. “Liv, Julia. Julia, my sister Olivia.”
Liv took a step back as an awkward silence settled over the room.
I saw Liv’s evaluation in her green gaze, the way she sized up Julia, determining if she thought Julia was right for me. Fuck that. I had already made that decision.
“Olivia,” I began, speaking to Julia, “thinks she should be invited to our wedding.”
Taking my hand, Julia stayed sitting on the bed at my side. “I’d love to have you. Van wasn’t very forthcoming about his family.”
Liv scoffed. “That isn’t surprising.”
“As I’ve said,” I offered, “we’ve been estranged.”
Liv brought me one of the cups of coffee. “Black, if I recall. Unless that’s changed too.”
“Black,” I said as I let go of Julia’s hand and took the paper cup.
“I guess that makes sense that your family was informed of your condition.”
What Julia didn’t say was that she wasn’t informed. “I’m calling Oscar today and getting that changed.”
“Actually,” Liv said as she took a seat in the reclining chair, “I wasn’t informed, not by the hospital or authorities. A mutual friend called me.”
“Oh?”
Fuck.
Really, Liv?
I forced a smile toward Julia. “I told you we have a lot to discuss.”
“Surely,” Liv said, “you know Lena. Lena Montgomery.”
Julia’s forehead furrowed. “That name sounds familiar.” She turned to me. “I’m not sure.”
“Well, Lena is—”
“Liv…” I interrupted as I lifted my hand. “I’ll fill Julia in on all the connections.”
“Oh, but, Van,” Liv said, “it seems that you haven’t yet. You two were about to be married. Really, there’s no time like the present.” She grinned.
Julia straightened her neck. “I’m glad you were here for Van.”
“Lena was too. She was here first, but once I arrived, she needed to leave.”
“Lena was here?” Julia asked.