“The bottom line, Hillary,” she said, directing her attention to her oldest daughter. “Your father can be an idiot. Laura knows that as well as I do and was desperate to do something…anything to help him make up for his mistakes with you.”
“Dad can be an idiot,” Marie agreed.
“Tell me about it,” Hillary muttered.
Julia was pleased with how well the conversation seemed to be going. “That ridiculous idea of inviting his friends and the seating chart were his bumbling attempt to be helpful,” she said. “Your dad didn’t mean to insult anyone. I sincerely believe he was looking for a way to make everyone comfortable, given our circumstances.”
“Okay, I can give him that, but when he excluded Heath, that was insulting to you and just plain wrong.”
“You’ll be pleased to know your father and Heath have come to terms. They aren’t going golfing together or anything, but they’re cordial.”
“Dad owed Heath an apology.”
Carrie narrowed her gaze and asked, “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. Aunt Julia and Laura are talking. Would it be a stretch to say you’re friendly?”
“Not at all,” Julia told her.
“Which blows my mind.”
“Yours?” Hillary said, and shook her head. “It blows all our minds.”
“And,” Carrie added forcefully, apparently unwilling to lose her train of thought. “Heath’s sons have accepted Aunt Julia being with their dad.”
“Also,” Marie added, when it looked like Carrie had finished, “Dad and Heath aren’t threatening to kill each other.”
“It never got that far,” Julia felt obliged to correct them.
“Wow, that’s a lot to take in,” Hillary mumbled.
“You’re telling me,” Marie added.
Their food arrived, and Julia’s daughters and Carrie looked at the steaming dishes, as if amazed they were now being asked to eat after such stunning news.
Undeterred, Julia reached for her fork.
“Where do we go from here?” Marie asked.
After swallowing her first bite and savoring the taste of basil and curry, Julia said, “That’s up to you.”
Hillary looked like she was a million miles away. “Dad was crying?” she said, picking up on part of their earlier conversation. “I’ve never known Dad to cry, not even when his dad passed.”
“That tells you how badly he feels about this mess, doesn’t it?” Julia said, letting her daughter draw her own conclusion.
Hillary didn’t respond. She reached for her fork, and her phone pinged, indicating she had a text message.
Marie’s pinged at the same time.
Julia knew the text was likely from Laura.
Hillary reached for her phone and so did Marie. They read the message and their gazes immediately went to each other.
“What is it?” Carrie asked.
“It’s from Laura,” Marie explained.
“Mine, too,” Hillary said.
“Another joke?” Carrie asked.
“No. She asked if Marie and I would come to dinner.”
“Will you go?”
Julia continued enjoying her meal, when all three faces turned to look at her as if seeking out her advice.
“Mom? Should we?”
“Don’t look at me,” Julia said. “This is your decision.”
“But…”
“But nothing.”
“If anyone wants my opinion,” Carrie said, “you should, and I’ll go with you.”
Chapter 30
Carrie wasn’t sure what had led her to insist on accompanying her two cousins to dinner with Laura. As soon as she offered, she’d changed her mind, and then Hillary and Marie claimed they wouldn’t go without her. She apparently was to tag along as moral support.
Hillary sent a return text to Laura, stating Carrie would be joining them. She must have phrased the reply in such a way that indicated it was a package deal. No sooner had she sent the text when the okay came through claiming Uncle Eddie insisted he wanted to be there, too, and instead of meeting at a restaurant they should come to the house. Following that message, the three had a long discussion and decided to agree, seeing that Laura was happy to include Carrie.
* * *
—
Early that same evening, the three rode together, with Hillary driving. Blake had also been invited, but unfortunately had other plans that couldn’t be changed on such short notice.
Or so he said.
Carrie got the impression Blake wanted Hillary to make peace with her dad first before adding him to the mix. She could understand his reservation, given the history between father and daughter.