All You Need Is Love (18 page)

“You mean you didn’t?” asked Julia teasingly, trying to coax her fearless sister out of her shocking state of pathos.

“No. I had a pretty good idea of where to start looking, too. But instead of chasing after him, I just sort of -” Lauren paused, as if choosing her words carefully, “gave up.”

“Gave up? You?” Julia shook her head. “Uh, uh, I don’t believe that. You’re not the sort to give up – ever. So what really stopped you from going after him?”

Lauren threw up her hands. “Pride, I suppose. It was pretty obvious at that point that he wasn’t anywhere near as crazy about me as I’d thought he was. I’ll give the bastard total props for being a very, very good actor. The whole time we were together I was convinced he was as much in love with me as I was with him – even though neither of us actually came out and said the words.”

“Is that all it was – pride?” asked Julia quietly. “Or was it maybe that broken heart he left you with?”

Lauren closed her eyes, pinching her nose as she rather visibly fought off tears. “It was the only time in my life I ever cried over a man,” she whispered. “And the last time I’ve cried about anything. I swore I’d never let anyone get that close to me again. Instead, if there are hearts to be broken,
I’m
the one who’s going to do the breaking.”

Julia reached over and tenderly tucked a long strand of hair behind her sister’s ear. “How come I’ve never heard any of this before?” she asked in disbelief. “Six years and you’ve never said a word until now.”

“Who knows?” replied Lauren carelessly. “I mean, you were way on the other side of the country, busy with school and your internship. Plus, you’d gotten involved with that asshole Lucas – the one I
knew
there was something fishy about – and you were always busy every time we talked. Since then – well, I’ve just tried to forget about it, I guess.”

“But evidently you really haven’t.”

“No.” Lauren took Julia’s hand and squeezed it, a forced smile returning to her features. “But, hey, this isn’t about me right now. Not sure why in hell I felt a need to play True Confessions tonight – guess I’m just feeling a little sentimental since you’re getting married tomorrow. And this should all be about
you
, Jules. It’s your special day, not mine, so let’s stop rehashing shit that happened a lifetime ago.”

Julia frowned. “It should be about
you
sometimes, too, Lauren. You spend all of your time looking out for everyone else – me, Angela, Aunt Maddy, all of your crew at work. It’s okay to talk about your own problems sometimes, too.”

Lauren grinned. “Hey, I don’t have problems. I make damned sure of that, you know. I’ve got a great job, an awesome cabin on the coast, the best family anyone could ever ask for. I’m footloose and fancy free, don’t have to answer for my time to anybody else, and can do whatever the hell I please. I’m living a dream, Jules. No worries, no problems.”

“Except for that broken heart that never healed,” mused Julia.

Lauren’s expression shuttered immediately. “Yeah, well, that’s not something I let myself think about too often. Because when I do I wind up drinking – a lot. And I sure as hell can’t wake up with a hangover tomorrow morning. Mom would be seriously pissed.”

Julia frowned. “You’ve been drinking a lot more this past year or so than I’ve ever remembered you doing. Have you – I mean, do you have any idea where this guy is these days?”

“Of course.” Lauren gave her an odd little smile. “I know exactly where he is, Jules. Have for quite some time now.”

“Oh.” Julia was more than a little taken aback by this revelation. “Who is this guy anyway?”

Lauren shook her head. “You’re a smart girl, Jules, with that Ivy League education. And I’ve given you plenty of clues. If you think real hard you’ll figure it out sooner than later. Now, come on, time for bed, you blushing bride. And if I know that dirty talking, horny bastard you’re marrying he’s planning on doing plenty to make you blush on your wedding night. So get some sleep while you can.”

“Okay.” Julia sighed as she stood and linked arms with her sister as they walked inside the house. “But I want you to promise me that if you ever want to talk some more about this mystery man then I’m all ears. Promise?”

Lauren gave her twin a peck on the cheek. “Promise. But don’t hold your breath. In the meanwhile, I’m a little worried about Aunt Maddy. She and Mom were talking the other day and I could swear it was about some man she used to know. I’ve always been convinced that she’s got this big ole secret love affair in her past. One day soon I’m just going to come out and ask her.
After
I’ve plied her with a few drinks first, of course.”

Julia grinned, grateful to see that her nosy, interfering sister was back to her usual tricks. “Are you ever going to stop trying to butt into everyone’s lives?”

“Never. After all, that’s what I do best, isn’t it?”

***

“Hi, Daddy. Want some company?”

Robert McKinnon glanced up in surprise at the sound of his daughter’s voice. As was his norm, he was preparing to walk his three very rambunctious Australian Shepherds on the beach, a routine that was only interrupted when he traveled without the dogs in tow, or when the weather was a bit too inclement to venture outdoors.

And while both of his girls had frequently accompanied him on these walks during their childhood and teens, it was a rare occurrence these days. Especially when the daughter was Julia.

He glanced down at her feet that were usually shod in ridiculously high heels and grinned. “I’ve never seen you wear Birkenstocks before, darlin’.”

Julia laughed. “They’re Lauren’s. I tried to get her to go with us but for once she’s the one sleeping in.”

Robert shook his head. “Will wonders never cease? My Julia in flats and up earlier than her sister. You’d think this was a special day or something, wouldn’t you?”

Julia smiled up at her beloved father as he hooked an arm around her neck, pulling her in close as they strolled along the expanse of beach just beneath the house. The three dogs romped and played aimlessly, far too well trained to even think of venturing beyond the boundaries that Robert had set for them.

She had missed these walks with Robert during the years she’d lived back East, first attending college and then working in New York. She had made it a point to come home at least once a month since she’d moved back to northern California, and knew her parents were overjoyed with her frequent visits.

“It
is
a special day, Daddy,” she admonished gently. “The most special day of my life.”

Robert dropped a kiss on the top of her head, having to reach a little further down than usual without the added height she usually got from her shoes. “Don’t ever forget that, Julia, my love. The two greatest days of my life were when I married your mother and when you girls came into the world. Nothing else even compares.”

“Not even when your favorite soccer team won the Euro Cup Championship?” teased Julia.

He gave a deep chuckle. “Close but not quite. And speaking of football – your mother and I are not so secretly relieved that the man you’re marrying today isn’t Sam.”

She frowned. “I thought you liked Sam. You were certainly chatting him up when he stopped by on Easter.”

“I do like him. Very much,” assured Robert. “But I wouldn’t have liked seeing you married to a professional athlete. It would have been a lonely life for you, darlin’, with a husband on the road half the season. Not to mention the fact that he could have wound up playing for almost any team in the country. You could be living in Philadelphia or Chicago or someplace equally far away.” He gently chucked her on the chin. “And I like having both of my girls nearby. Speaking of which, I’m beginning to get a bit worried about your sister.”

Julia gazed up at her father curiously. “Strange that you would say that, Daddy, because I was just about to tell you the same thing. She’s – well, she’s seemed – sad is the word that comes to mind. And Lauren is never - ”

“Sad,” finished Robert. “Pissed off, stubborn, bossy, rowdy, funloving. But never, ever sad. So you’ve noticed it, too.”

“Yes. And I think it could be tied to her job. When we were all in New York a few months ago – some things she said – I just don’t think she’s happy there anymore.”

Robert frowned. “Which is very odd since that’s her dream job. So there must be something more involved. A man, perhaps?”

Julia hesitated, recalling what her twin had told her just a few hours ago. “Maybe. But you know how she is. As much as she butts in to everyone else’s life, she’s very closed-mouthed about her own most of the time.”

“Hmm. There’s an idea forming in my head, something I’ve suspected for a bit now. But not today,” he declared. “Today is your day, Julia mine, and we’re not going to psychoanalyze your sister’s moods today. What we
are
going to focus on is making your wedding as perfect as possible. All right?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist, giving her father a fierce hug. “Yes, Daddy. I love you.”

Robert kissed her cheek. “I love you, too, Julia. And I’m always here for you and your sister. So you tell that new husband of yours he’d best treat you like a queen or there’ll be hell to pay.”

Julia grinned. “He already does, Daddy. He’s even building me a palace. Speaking of which, I love the frame you made for the painting.”

As a very special – and surprise – wedding gift, Natalie had painted a magnificent seascape – one of her very finest, in Julia’s opinion. The new arthritis medication Natalie had begun taking a few months ago had improved the stiffness in her fingers dramatically, and she’d been painting up a storm ever since.

But what was especially unique about the painting she’d given to Julia and Nathan was that it was of the view from the back of their new home in Tiburon – or at least where the deck would be when it was built over the next few months. Unbeknownst to Julia, her mother had done a number of sketches – and had Lauren take several dozen photos – during one of their visits.

Julia hadn’t been able to hold back the tears that had formed when she’d first seen the painting. She and Nathan had arrived here at her parents’ house on Wednesday in order to see to last minute wedding plans, and Natalie had revealed her special gift just before dinner. To make the painting even more special, the gorgeous wood frame had been hand crafted by Robert.

Her father smiled. “It’s always easy to find inspiration when I frame one of your mother’s works. And she is doing some spectacular stuff right now.”

“I love the painting. So does Nathan. We already know where we’re going to hang it.”

“Speaking of Nathan,” reminded Robert, “you’ve got a wedding to get ready for, my girl. And I’ve seen your agenda for the day. By my estimation, you’re supposed to be eating breakfast in just under ten minutes. So let’s round up these pups and head upstairs for your mother’s blueberry pancakes, hmm?”

“Okay,” agreed Julia happily. “Though according to my schedule breakfast isn’t actually due for almost fifteen more minutes so we have a little time left.”

Robert laughed. “Let’s just hope your sister doesn’t shred your schedule as she keeps threatening to! Though if I know my Julia, you’ve already got it memorized.”

“Not exactly,” she confessed. “But I did print extra copies just in case.”

Her father smiled at her indulgently. “Of course you did.”

Chapter Seven

The Wedding

“Your tie is fine, son. Just like it was the other three times you tied it.”

Nathan gave his father a sheepish look. “Thanks, Dad. Guess I’m a little nervous.”

Jared smirked. “Wonder why? Not getting cold feet, are you, bro? Because I’ve got half a dozen teammates all chomping at the bit to meet your wife to be if you’re dense enough to bail on her.”

Nathan scowled at his brother. “No cold feet. No bailing. And why would your teammates be chomping at the bit?”

Jared grinned. “I may have, um, shared some photos of the soon to be Mrs. Atwood with them. She was, um, very popular in the locker room.”

Nathan couldn’t help but return his brother’s grin. “Yeah, I’ll bet. Julia usually has a string of admirers wherever she goes. Just don’t tell her about this, okay? She still hasn’t forgiven you for asking me if, uh, certain physical attributes of hers are real.”

Greg waved a careless hand in dismissal. “How could you ask something like that, Jare?” he scolded. “I mean, I could tell her tits were real the first time I saw her.”

Nathan glared at his youngest brother. “Okay, I’m not even going to ask how you knew that. And this discussion is over, guys. You don’t see me talking about your women’s, uh, assets, do you?”

Michael cleared his throat loudly and deliberately. “All right, enough. I don’t want to hear another word from any of you about Julia’s, er, assets. Or Brooke’s. Or Emma’s. I raised you boys better than that, and expect all of you to act like gentlemen.”

Jared chuckled, clapping his father on the back. “You also raised us to appreciate the finer things in life, Dad, and my soon-to-be sister-in-law is pretty damn fine. Nate sure traded up when he decided to ditch - ”

“Ex-girlfriends are also not something we’re going to discuss today,” interrupted Nathan sternly. “Maybe ever. Ah, here’s the photographer.”

Nathan was more than grateful for the interruption, and all too happy to pose for the two dozen or so shots the photographer set up. Nathan, his father and brothers – Jared, the best man and Greg an usher – were all identically garbed in the formalwear he and Julia had chosen – a black cutaway coat, charcoal and gray striped pleated trousers, white dress shirt, gray vest, and a gray and silver striped ascot. Julia had loved the elegant, romantic style and he’d willingly gone along with her choice, silently grateful that she hadn’t chosen some pastel shade instead. A boutonnière of a cream rose tipped in pale pink was pinned to each of their lapels. Julia’s father would be wearing an identical suit, down to the flower.

“Where’s Mom taken herself off to?” inquired Nathan. “The photographer wants some shots with her in them.”

“She went to check on your grandmother,” offered Michael. “Let me – ah, here she is.”