Chapter 20
CHAPTER 21 — The Quiet Morning
The morning after the wedding, Julia woke up in a silent house.
For a fleeting second, the old instincts flared. The conditioned reflex to listen for heavy footsteps, to gauge the mood of the house by the subtle shifts in air pressure.
But there was only the gentle hum of the refrigerator and the morning sunlight spilling across the hardwood floor.
She sat up and swung her legs over the edge of the bed.
She walked into the kitchen and made a single cup of coffee. She didn't have to rush. She didn't have to prepare for a battle.
Her phone buzzed on the granite counter.
A FaceTime call from Mia.
Julia smiled and answered. Mia’s face filled the screen, her hair messy, sitting in an airport lounge with Elias, her new husband, grinning beside her.
"We’re about to board the flight to Italy," Mia said, her voice bright and untethered. "I just wanted to call and say I love you before we lose service."
"I love you too, sweetheart," Julia said, leaning against the counter. "Have the most wonderful time."
"Mom?" Mia’s expression softened. "How does the house feel today?"
Julia looked around the kitchen. At the clean counters, the thriving potted plants, the absolute stillness.
"It feels enormous," Julia answered honestly. "And perfectly safe."
Mia smiled. Elias leaned into the frame and waved. "We'll call you from Rome, Julia!"
May you like
When the call ended, Julia set the phone down. She took a sip of her coffee.
The silence wasn't lonely. It was a canvas, completely blank and entirely hers.
