Seeing Julia by Katherine Owen

Winston,” I say trying for indifference. Apparently not indifferent enough because Kimberley just laughs and points her finger at me.
    “You may not want to talk about him, but you are, most definitely, thinking about him.”
    “Kimmy, please.” I give her an exasperated look. “Look, I think it’s sad he put off his wedding. I know he’s upset about Evan, too.”
    “He is. But, I don’t think that‘s the only reason he cancelled the whole thing.”
    I glance over at her. “What are you getting at?”
    “I think Mr. Jacob Winston is reevaluating his entire life and what he wants.”
    “And you know this how? By spending a few hours on the phone with him and going over his guest list and sending out cancellation notices on his behalf?” I stand up, irritated and pull the blanket closer taking it away from her at the same time. She stands up, too; studies me for a moment, and then hugs me.
    “Come on. It’s almost Christmas Eve. I’ve made appointments for you, me, and Steph in town for the works.”
    I roll my eyes and just follow her back into the house. There is no point arguing with her when she gets like this. I’ll steal out for a run along the beach before the day ends, despite Kimberley’s protests and her seemingly endless secret plans for my Christmas holiday. I know all of her efforts are part of the get-Julia-back-in-the-swing-of-life plan and I only begrudge her a little for trying to lift my spirits as she drags me back inside.
    ≈ ≈*

     

Chapter 9 Definitely, definitely the most alive among us
    S oaking in steaming bath water with aromatic lavender-scented sea salt revives me. My mind languishes as I feel at peace for the first time since the fifth of December after a run on the beach which practically undoes all the cosmetic efforts at the place in town Kimberley took Steph and me to. I’m determined to hang on to this elusive tranquility that I’m feeling now, but minutes later a knock on the bathroom door is followed by Kimberley’s brazen stroll into my bathroom modeling a risqué camisole and thong ensemble in a bright Christmas red.
    “Gregoire’s coming.” I tease.
    The whole mid-morning car conversation about Gregoire Chantal seems have been forgotten, once Kimberley learned he was on his way here.
    “Yes. Everyone is. Christian, Stephanie. Mom and Dad, possibly Braden, and definitely Brian.” Kimberley’s seventeen-year-old twin brothers are like my own siblings; I experience this modicum of joy knowing her family will all be here for Christmas Eve. “That’s just about everybody.” She looks over at me. “Oh and Jake Winston.”
    Momentarily stunned by what she’s just said, I’m just watching her while she casually inspects her freshly-painted red fingernails. Then, her announcement finally registers.
    “Jake? Winston?” I rush out of the bathtub sending water everywhere. “You invited Jake Winston here ? Tonight? Christmas Eve?”
    “Yes,” she says. “He’s feeling a bit low and just getting back in from London and his friends are your friends . He and Christian are like this.” She twists together her index and middle finger, while I flip my middle finger at her for another purpose all together.
“You’re killing me. I don’t want to see him.”
    “He’s just called off his wedding. Give the guy a break.” Kimberley gets this weird speculative look as she throws me a towel. I begin drying off too upset to speak. “You’re getting too thin.”
    “Don’t change the subject. We’re not through talking about this. Why would you invite him here?”
    “Look, Julia.” Kimberley adopts her most soothing tone. The one she only invokes with her clients when they’re behaving badly. “He doesn’t really have any place to go. He was supposed to be getting married this weekend in Austin. His best friend just died. He called off his wedding and pretty much everyone in that town is in an uproar about him canceling it. Apparently, the bride is related