Chapter 7

Julie

When she opened her eyes the next morning, Julie knew what she had to do, so she grabbed her phone. Before making the call she was not looking forward to making, she checked her email and was happy to find a reply about the teaching job. Everything was set. It was official.

With a new confidence, she hit the call button next to her contact information for her parents' house. It felt like the phone rang so many times before she finally heard her father's voice.

“Good morning, Julie,” he said, with happiness in his tone. “Are you calling to tell me that you'll be heading home to work for me very soon?”

For me, Julie thought. That was something she'd heard so many times. Every single time he talked to Gavin, their dad always said the words with me, and Gavin didn't give two shits about the business, he never had.

“Actually, I'm calling for something completely different,” she said.

“What would that be?” he asked, still just as excited as before.

Just as Julie opened her mouth to speak, she heard the knob on her bedroom door turn. Then her sister quietly walked in. Jessie had her finger over her mouth, letting Julie know that she didn't want her dad to know she was there.

“I'm not coming home,” Julie blurted out quickly.

“What?” her father asked, in a rough tone that had lost all of its happiness. “I thought you were coming home to work. It's what you do. I need you here.”

“I'm staying here with Jessie,” Julie said.

“Both of you,” her dad barked out.

“Jessie has a good job at the hospital, and I was offered a teaching job at the school,” Julie said.

“A teaching job,” her dad snapped out. “Is that what you want to do with your life? I thought you loved coding. What happened to that? I was counting on you.”

“It's what I want for now,” she answered. “I'm sorry if you're disappointed. I don't know what else to say.”

“That you'll come here and do the job you've been planning to do for years. That's what you need to say. That asshole is getting closer to passing both Ethan and me. I need you here helping my company.”

“I'm sorry,” Julie said. “I'm going to stay here and teach for the summer.”

“I'm not happy about this,” he said sternly.

“I understand that,” Julie said. “I'll talk to you later.”

Before her dad could say another word, Julie hung up the phone. She looked up to see a nervous look on Jessie's face.

“You should go home,” Jessie said. “He's really pissed.”

“Let him be,” Julie said. “I'm staying right here with you.”

“You don't have to do that,” Jessie said. “I'm sorry about last night. I was just feeling overwhelmed.”

“I accepted a teaching job at the college,” Julie said, and Jessie's mouth dropped open. “I hadn't accepted the job yet, and having you tell me what you did last night helped me make my decision. I will be here when you have the baby.”

“Congratulations!” Jessie said. “I had no idea. Are you sure you want to teach? What about the company?”

“Dad's company?” Julie asked, as she smiled a sarcastic smile.

“Come on,” Jessie said. “You've been dreaming about living at that place forever.”

“I would work with him,” Julie said, “but I have no interest in working for him. Teaching will be fun, and I can work on my own projects on the side. I'm going to be here when my niece or nephew is born.”

“Niece,” Jessie said.

“A girl?” Julie asked, and Jessie nodded. “I am so excited. We need to shop for furniture. We need to decorate our spare room for the nursery. There isn't much time left.”

“Hey,” Jessie said, as she stood up. “Don't rush things.”

“I'm going to spoil her rotten,” Julie said. “Just as soon as I get a check.”

Both of the twins burst into laughter, but they both stopped the second Julie's phone rang. When Julie looked down at the phone, she smiled.

“I'm guessing that's not dad,” Jessie said.

“It's not,” Julie said.

“Would it happen to be the reason you were wearing that black dress last night?” Jessie asked.

Julie knew her eyes were wider than ever, and before she could answer, Jessie spoke again.

“There was no way I'd miss that. I'll let you have your space, but I want to hear all about the man that has my sister smiling that goofy smile.”

“It's not goofy,” Julie said.

“Oh, it is,” Jessie said. “Makes me wonder if he might be one of the reasons you're staying.”

Jessie grabbed the knob on Julie's door, and just as she pulled the door almost completely closed, Julie blurted out.

“It has nothing to do with him. Believe me.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” Jessie said.

Then she shut the door and was gone.

Julie's phone had stopped ringing only to start ringing again right away. She hit the green accept call button with the biggest smile on her face. Cody had definitely made an impact on her, but there was no way she'd ever let him know it.

“Have a little patience,” Julie said, as she answered the phone. “Give a girl a minute. Are you always this pushy?”

“Only when it comes to something I really want,” Cody answered. “I don't bother with the rest, so I guess the answer would be yes, I am always this pushy.”

“Good to know,” Julie said nervously, as she thought about his words.