The Sea Glass Cottage by RaeAnne Thayne

Author:RaeAnne Thayne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2020-01-17T18:58:19+00:00

17

JULIET

“I am tired of having this argument with you, young lady You’re going to school today. I will be just fine.”

Juliet gazed firmly at Caitlin, who seemed to grow more obstinate by the moment. Every day she asked if she could stay home with Juliet. Again and again, Juliet had to tell her no.

“I just worry about you being here by yourself.”

“I’m not by myself. Your aunt stops and checks on me throughout the day and so do some of the other employees at the garden center. I have friends popping in at all hours of the day and night. I’m hardly ever alone, and when I am, I keep my phone on me so I could call if I needed help. I know you worry about me, sweetheart, but you need to focus on school. And if you don’t hurry, you’re going to be late for the bus.”

Caitlin sighed, obviously defeated. “Fine. I’m going.”

With the morning sunlight hitting her just so, she reminded Juliet forcibly of Natalie. Her heart ached, the constant small hole there that would never heal, missing the child she couldn’t save.

She forced a smile. “Before you know it, the school day will be over. Maybe the two of us can watch a movie or something after you get your homework done.”

“Um, I have plans tonight,” Caitlin said, looking vaguely guilty. “I guess I forgot to tell you.”

“What kind of plans?” She had tried to tell her granddaughter that all social activities on a school night had to be cleared with her first, but Caitlin had a bad habit of forgetting that particular house rule.

“Jake and I are going to that youth group at the church down on Shell Street.”

Juliet blinked, taken completely by surprise at that one. “Are you?”

Caitlin’s features took on a secretive look, one that made Juliet highly suspicious again that she wasn’t being completely truthful. “What? I can’t explore different ideas and theologies?”

“Of course you can. You know my philosophy has always been that everyone walks his or her own spiritual journey. I have always encouraged you to have questions and seek answers.”

She had always taken Caitlin to her own church but had tried to expose her to other faiths as well. “I just wondered what prompted this interest now.”

“Nothing.” Caitlin did not meet her gaze, giving Juliet the distinct impression she was hiding something. “I just know a girl who goes and she likes it. She said they were doing some community service tonight for that group home where people with disabilities live and it sounded fun. But I won’t go if you don’t want me to.”

“I never said I didn’t want you to,” Juliet said mildly. “I’m sure you will enjoy it.”

“I’ll come home first and check on you. And I’ll keep my phone on while I’m at school. I told my teachers I need you to be able to stay in touch with me right now and they were all cool with it. So call or text me if you need me to come home.

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