“Are you angry?” Her eyes had rounded and for some reason he let her go, stepping back a pace.
“I’m not angry,” he said in a voice that belied his words.
“You sound angry.”
“I’m not angry,” he clipped.
“Then what are you?”
He looked for a second uncertain and Julia couldn’t believe her eyes.
His eyes became focused and he glared at her. “I’m frustrated.”
Julia stared at him for a second before returning, “Well, remind me never to do anything nice for you again. Frustrated was not what I was going for.”
And before he could reply, she took her opportunity for escape (something, at that moment, she dearly needed) and quickly exited the room, not looking back.
Chapter Twenty
Ruby Finally Understands
After leaving Douglas in the study, Julia was of a mind to make the men do the Christmas dishes, including and especially Douglas. She came to her senses and realised she’d escape him more easily by doing the dishes herself because he rarely stepped foot in the kitchen.
The children talked to Patricia while Ronnie, Mrs. K and Julia scoured the pots and pans.
Julia came to the phone last.
“How’s it going?” Patricia asked.
“So far so good,” Julia replied.
“They sounded good. Happy. You did a good job Doll Baby.”
Julia was silent. She wanted to tell her mother everything but couldn’t. Patricia would be there in twenty-four hours raising all kinds of ruckus if she knew even half of what was happening.
“Jewel?” Patricia broke into her thoughts.
“You having an okay Christmas?” Julia queried.
“Your Aunt Doris made the most heavenly cake. It has twelve melted Milky Way bars in it.”
“It’s not time for dinner there yet, how have you had any cake?”
“I might have sneaked a piece,” Patricia admitted.
Normally Julia would have laughed but she was in no mood to laugh.
On a sigh, Julia said, “I miss Aunt Doris. Tell her I love her, will you?”
Patricia was silent.
“Mom?” It was Julia’s turn to break into her mother’s thoughts.
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” Her intuitive mother demanded.
No, Julia was most definitely not going to tell her mother what was going on.
“I’m fine, the kids are fine, everything’s fine,” Julia lied.