The Comfort of Lies by Randy Susan Meyers

Author:Randy Susan Meyers
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Atria Books

CHAPTER 18

Juliette

Juliette thought she couldn’t imagine a life without Nathan, but these past two weeks had given her a taste of what it would be like. She and Nathan fell asleep as far apart as two people could while sleeping in the same bed. Then in their sleep they’d become one again. She’d wake to find herself leaning against him, the two of them making a pool of warmth, his back, his rump, comforting her. She’d rise up from the depth, and they’d turn as one, and he’d curve to her, and for a moment, they danced their usual night ballet. Then she’d remember, and she’d throw off his arm and move to the outer tundra of the mattress.

He swore he hadn’t known about the child, but he knew something. What? Judging in a vacuum of silence was impossible. He wouldn’t talk; she didn’t push. She retreated into a fog of pretence, giving him time and air, grasping for ways to hold on to the brittle illusion that things wouldn’t change.

Juliette was happy to be going to work this Saturday, a day she usually hated leaving the house. She flew through her last-minute chores. Loaded the dishwasher. Sorted the teetering pile of mail on her desk. Brushed on one more coat of lip stain.

She welcomed the chance to leave the house. To leave Nathan’s brooding; his promises that he’d talk soon. Footsteps banged down the stairs as she hung up the pile of raincoats and sweatshirts that had been flung over the banister.

“Where are we going this summer?” Max carried a rolled-up comic book. Lucas came up behind his brother. Lately they followed her like nervous toddlers.

Before answering, Juliette stuffed one last thing into her already overloaded bag: the latest issue of Allure, which touted juliette&gwynne’s all-natural mascara as an editor’s choice. Of course, the issue would have been delivered to the shop, actually three of them, but they usually lost at least two to over-entitled customers who ripped out pages or even stole entire issues. Juliette’s copy was pristine and suitable for framing.

The mention in Allure would bring an avalanche of orders. Juliette should be flying high.

“April is barely over, and you’re worrying about summer?” Juliette tugged at the bag’s zipper. Each season, she bought a bigger bag, and then it became too small.

“Look at it another way,” Lucas said. “Summer is only two months from now. Dad would call it an example of the theory of relativity.”

“So are we going to Rhinebeck?” Max’s pajamas were too short in the arms. Juliette put buying new ones on her mental list.

“Guys, can we talk about this later? Are we having some sort of summer planning emergency? We always go to Rhinebeck.”

She and Gwynne alternated Saturdays in the shop, except during bridal and holiday season, when they both went in. Maybe she’d take the next few Saturdays for Gwynne.

“Is Dad coming?” Lucas tried to sound casual, but she could hear the strain. Fear, even. Why not? Nathan and Juliette passed each other in the hall like frosty college roommates putting up with each other until school let out.

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