Present Day
SURROUNDED BY THE scent of bleach and fabric softener, Julia folded the never-ending load of fluffy white towels. The inn was full today due to a Civil War reenactment in nearby Tullahoma. Eli and Alex had moved into the tiny room in the carriage house. Because of the renovation expense, the extra income from the Blueberry Room was needed, but she missed having Eli and Alex underfoot all the time.
Eli was a different man now that he’d reconnected with his family. Different in many ways. Animated, excited about the project proposal he’d submitted last week, encouraged about his future.
So was she, though she wondered where she might fit in. If she did at all.
His moving into the carriage house felt as if he was moving away from her. Distancing himself.
Her mother wandered in from the kitchen with two glasses of peach tea and handed her one. “Where’s your sister?”
Condensation dampened Julia’s fingers. “Meeting Jed for lunch.”
Connie frowned. “She’s not holding up her part of the inn lately.”
“She owns a third, Mama. The rest is my responsibility.” But she still worried about her sister. Three times this week, Val had come to breakfast with red eyes, daring Julia to say a word. Of course, Julia hadn’t. It didn’t do any good. Valery made her own choices.
“I’m proud of you.” Her mom folded a towel into a perfect square. “You’ve come a long way.”
Pleased, touched, Julia turned with a smile. “Thanks, Mama.”
“When Mikey disappeared I was afraid I’d lose you, too.”
“Oh, Mama.” But she didn’t stop the flow of words. Mama never talked about her missing grandson. “I still miss him so much.”
“I know. That’s why I’m proud of my girl. You didn’t cave in even when the going seemed impossible. You and your sister have turned this old Civil War mansion into a profitable inn.” Connie lifted her eyebrows. “Any more visits from the marble fairy?”
Julia shook her head. The marbles had become a point of conversation as well as a lighthearted joke, though she and Eli still wondered. “Not lately. Things are going too well. They only show up in the bad times.”
“Interesting. That’s what makes this place such a great bed-and-breakfast. Well, along with your excellent proprietorship.” Connie sipped at her tea and then set it on the dryer. “What about those letters Eli found? I thought you were going to frame them to hang in the parlor?”
“They’re so personal that I’m having second thoughts.” Sometimes she imagined the letters were meant for her, not for sharing. She felt a kinship with Charlotte though she had yet to understand why. Perhaps the fact that they both had sons they adored and husbands who had betrayed them.
Julia’s cell phone vibrated against her side. Laying aside the final towel, she glanced at the unfamiliar caller ID before saying, “Hello. Peach Orchard Inn. Julia speaking.”
“Julia, it’s Eli.”
She smiled. “I know.” Didn’t he realize she’d recognize his voice out of a million others?
“I need to ask a favor.”
“Sure.” She balanced the phone between her neck and ear and reached for the stack of clean towels. “What’s up?”
“Will you look after Alex for a while?”
Something in his voice sounded off. She left the towels where they lay. “Of course. What’s going on? Something with the project? Did they approve it?”
“Yeah.” He sighed heavily into the receiver, not at all the triumphant sound she’d expected. Worry wiggled in.
“I thought you’d be ecstatic. Is something wrong?”
A pause, a deep breath during which Julia visualized him running a hand through the top of his hair. “I’ve been arrested.”