I said I didn’t want to sleep with him, what the hell am I even doing putting the words “Jason” and “sleep with” in the same sentence? Surely he’ll think I am thinking about sleeping with him. Maybe he’ll even laugh about it when he’s home, lying in bed with the poison dwarf, both of them feeling sorry for me, the single mother who threw her life away and won’t find anyone to love her ever again.
People start gathering up their things, and I realize it’s time to go. Much as I would love to stay away forever, we’ve got days and days more, and Jason’s going to stay in the house, and I can’t avoid him forever.
* * *
The house is quiet, until I hear a burst of laughter coming from the screen porch. Female laughter, and it’s not Annie’s.
I walk through the kitchen, wondering who in the hell is in my house, and push open the door to find Jason sitting on the sofa, a pitcher of iced tea on the table, with Julia.
They both clearly found something incredibly amusing before I walked in, and I bite my tongue so as not to say something sarcastic, because I am completely discombobulated by seeing the two of them together, the two of them laughing, and oh how I am hoping I am imagining the threads of chemistry I feel weaving around the room.
Instead I look warily from one to the other, disturbed that they were having fun, that I was excluded from the aforementioned fun, and bewildered as to what she is doing here.
“Julia. What a surprise. How’s Trudy?” I hover in the doorway, wanting very much to disturb them, to disturb their laughter, whatever fun they seem to be having, but not, obviously, wanting to disturb them.
“Come and join us,” says Jason. “I made iced tea.”
“No you didn’t.” Julia shoots him a look as he shrugs apologetically. “I made iced tea. You had no idea how to do it.” She’s smiling, and I’m quite sure she’s flirting, and I look from one to the other, stunned, not knowing quite what to do, only knowing that I wish she would leave.
“I have absolutely no idea what’s going on here. How do you know each other, and what are you doing here, Julia?” I try to keep my voice light, keep the accusation out of it, but I’m not sure how successful I am.
Julia has the grace to look embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, Cat. I came over to apologize for last night, and to thank you for looking after Trudy. I was organizing a big event over at Quidnet last night, and I didn’t even think to check my cell. I thought the girls were staying in watching a movie. I’m completely mortified at what happened, and so upset. And, obviously, so worried about them. I can’t believe they stole a scooter and then crashed. Thank God no one was seriously hurt. And there’s something else I have to tell you.…” She looks away, uncomfortable. “I am so sorry, Cat, but I lied about Ellie saying it was fine for the girls to be together.”
My mouth drops open as I look at her in disbelief, even though a part of me thought this might have been the case. I had a feeling, but I didn’t want to believe it so I didn’t pursue it.
How stupid I have been.
“I just felt so awful that the girls couldn’t be friends, so Trudy and I decided not to say anything. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I realize how wrong it was. I’m so sorry.”
“Oh my God, Julia,” I gasp. “I don’t even know what to say. That’s such a huge lie.” I am gratified that even Jason looks shocked.
“I know, but it truly came from the best intentions. I screwed up.”
“Ellie knows you were lying too.”
“Yes. Now she does. I’ve apologized to her.”
“Did she go off the rails?”
“No. She’s too guilty at not being here, and too relieved that Trudy is okay. I think she’s even relieved that you were there. This time she will actually let the girls see each other. She feels horrible, and she knows she was wrong.”
Julia looks remorseful, which isn’t really the point. I still can’t believe she would lie, not just to Ellie, but to me; to all of us. And even though this may have resulted in what we all wanted, the dishonesty behind it makes me wonder how well I know