Page 63 of Unpacking Secrets
Though I tried to demur, the three of them worked together to gently draw me out. Henry gushed about what he’d seen in my sketchbook, gazing over at me with an expression both sweet and soft.
Once I started sharing such a vital part of myself, I discovered how rewarding it could be to let them in. An unfamiliar feeling of contentment spread through my chest.
At the end of the meal, Mark and Henry rose to clear the table, leaving me and Libby sipping a local wine that I vowed to buy for myself as soon as possible. They returned from the kitchen with a beautiful fruit tart for dessert.
“Mark made it,” Libby said with a conspiratorial wink. “I freely admit that I married him for his pastry skills, though Henry’s a decent enough cook.”
“This is true. She loves me for my desserts.” With a laugh, Mark leaned down and kissed the side of his wife’s neck before serving us each a slice.
“So you make pastries as well as soaps?” I ventured.
Mark’s grin widened. “Yes, did Henry tell you about the shop? You should come in sometime.”
“She’s totally obsessed with how amazing I smell,” Henry said as he slung his arm across the back of my chair. “I probably should have let her believe it was just my own manly essence.”
Though I narrowed my eyes at him, I then smiled brightly at Mark. “Clearly, it’s all thanks to you and has nothing to do with this oaf.”
Mark and Libby burst out laughing. Henry grinned and tugged playfully on a lock of my hair.
“Oh,” Mark said, waving his fork toward me, “I like you, Juliet. Stick around, would you? We need someone who can keep Henry in line, knock him down a peg when he gets too puffed up.”
I let the sheer joy of companionship float over me. When I glanced over at Henry, I saw that soft look in his eyes and all of the broken pieces inside me finally slid into place.
This was home. This wasbelonging.
Now that I’d found it, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to give it up.
Twenty-Five
Henry
Attheendofthe night, both Mark and Libby pulled Juliet into a tight embrace. I didn’t miss the sheen of tears brightening her eyes, nor the way she clung to them both in return. What a contrast to her obvious uncertainty upon our arrival.
I could get used to this,this little circle of friendship.
They’d taken to Juliet as quickly as I had—or at least, after our first few meetings. Both of them hugged me as well before Libby released us with an invitation for a cookout the following weekend. With Juliet’s hand tucked in the crook of my elbow, we strolled back toward my house just as twilight fell over the neighborhood.
“So,” I prompted softly, “what did you think of them?”
“They’re amazing. They both love you so much, I could feel it. You were right when you said you’re all just friends. I don’t know how you three pulled that off, but clearly, you did.”
The soft, happy sigh that slipped from her lips filled me with joy. When she glanced up at me, I thought I caught the glimmer of tears in her eyes again, but a radiant smile lit her face. Something warm curled through my chest as I gently brushed a fingertip along her cheek.
“I love them, too,” I said. “I know it might be weird, the three of us staying so close through all of this, but Libby and I realized pretty damn quickly that loving someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in love with them. They’re part of my family, both of them. I just wish we'd realized sooner that Mark was the one destined to be with Libby. Maybe it would've saved us all some heartache.”
Her hand squeezed my arm and she leaned her head against my shoulder as we headed up the path to my front porch.
“They’re both lucky to have you.”
I stopped, turned her to face me, and kissed her. It was a gentle meeting of lips, but imbued with all the emotion I could pour into it. It was clear Juliet felt it, drank it in, as she clung to me until we came up for breath.
“I feel like the lucky one,” I whispered, pressing my lips to her forehead. “Will you stay here with me tonight?”
It was odd, the fact that this seemed like a precipice, a milestone. I'd already slept at the cottage, if one could call our night spent togethersleeping. Having her beside me made everything better, brighter somehow.
She nodded, then a mischievous smile tugged at her lips and she said, “I didn’t bring any pajamas, though.”
I laughed, kissing her again before I unlocked the door. Blue greeted us joyously, practically dancing all the way to the back door so I could let her into the fenced yard. Though I was less unsettled after talking to Mark about the situation, I still flipped on the outside lights and lingered near the door where I could watch the dog as she inspected the yard. Even after a visit from Mark or Libby, Blue would trail intently through the area to sniff out their paths, but tonight she simply trotted to her favorite patch of grass.
