Love Finds the One (Sully Point Book 2) Page 14

  "Holly, you must be wrong. What we have feels right."

  "That's what Deb thought too."

  "Deb from the deli?" Julia remembered she'd been a girlfriend of Cody's.

  "Yes. She believed it when he said he loved her. I think Cody believed it too. Deb cut off the beginning of a relationship with Claude, to be with Cody. Fortunately, Claude waited for her, and when Cody dropped her, he was there to pick up the pieces. I remember Deb telling me how right it was between them--just like you. I don't want you to be hurt, Julia. But I can't sit by and say nothing."

  Julia thought of what Cody had said about Deb, but she couldn't recall him saying they'd been in love with each other in that way. Why would he have lied to her? Unless what Julia said was true...

  "No, I'd know if it was all a lie."

  "Would you, really? You've never had a long-term relationship yourself."

  "But Cody has been--he makes me feel safe--the intensity between us--you have to be wrong."

  "I wish I were. But I have the evidence of years of watching him with women. He's a good man, but he runs from commitment. It's one thing if you want a good time for a while--then he's your guy. But if you think it's anything more, you're deceiving yourself."

  "I have to go," Julia said abruptly.

  "What?" Holly asked.

  "If this is true--I can't stay here. I've made a terrible mistake. I'm heading back to the city."

  She stood up and headed for the bedroom area and pulled out her luggage. Holly followed her, frowning. "Julia, don't leave. I didn't say this to make you go back there. I just want you to be careful."

  "Evidently I haven't been careful enough. I can't deal with this. He--I--" She began to cry. Holly hugged her for a moment, and then let her go.

  "I'm sorry, so very sorry. But I think I had to tell you."

  "Yes, you were right to say something. It would be worse if it had gone on until later. If you wouldn't mind leaving, Holly, I need to pack and get on the road."

  "Well, okay," she said uncertainly. "If you're sure I can't help you."

  "No, no, but thanks."

  * * * *

  "Cody, I can't believe you did this!" Holly stormed into his shop and the few men sitting around the wood stove perked up their ears. "She's my friend, not some bimbo."

  Cody stared at her. "What are you talking about?"

  "Julia! Leading her on like this, making her believe you're in love with her. How could you do it to her? She was devastated when I told her--"

  "What--Holly, what the hell did you tell her?"

  "That you have a pattern with women, dating them for a while, but you always drop them in the end. You do it nicely, but you never stick."

  Cody walked out from behind the counter and stood in front of Holly trembling. "You did what? Are you out of your mind? Holly--I'm in love with Julia! She's the one--I'm going to ask her to marry me!" He yelled, "What have you done?"

  Holly's face drained of color. "You want to marry--? Oh, no! Cody, I didn't know. I swear--I thought she was like all the others, and I thought it was unfair for her to keep believing--Cody, you have to stop her!"

  "Stop her?" He said in a menacing low voice. "What do you mean?"

  "She's packing up to go back to the city right now. Like I said, she was devastated when I--damn, damn, damn. Hurry Cody--go stop her. I'll stay here--I think I've done enough damage," she said, with tears filling her eyes.

  He started to say something to her and then shut his mouth and ran out of the store.

  Chapter 8

  Cody drove like a madman on the road leading out of Sully Point. He'd already been by the loft and seen that Julia's car was gone. He was boiling mad at Holly, while at the same time being afraid he was going to lose Julia. The feelings were too overwhelming, so he focused on driving instead.

  There, just up ahead was her car. He sped up until he was right behind her and then honked several times. Her car swerved a bit, then straightened out and speeded up. The road ahead was straight and empty and he pulled the Corvette up beside her. She glared at him out her window and he motioned for her to pull over. When she didn't, he pulled ahead and then began slowing down. Every time she tried to get by him he moved his car to block hers.

  Finally, he saw with relief that she was pulling off to the side of the road. He parked and dashed from his car to hers, and knocked on the window of the passenger door. She stared at him for a moment, and then unlocked the door. When he got in, he could see tears streaming down her face.

  "Julia, don't cry, please. It's not like Holly said."

  "But she said--with Deb--you thought it was love then. But you didn't tell me that. I don't know what to believe!"

  "Just listen to me for a minute, okay? I could kill Holly, but in some ways she was right. There has been a pattern--for me to be involved, and then to break-up after a while. I've never wanted to settle down with anyone--until now. Julia, I'm not just in love with you. It's more than that, more than I ever expected it could be. I want to be with you. I want us to share our lives. I want us to grow old together. Julia, I want to marry you."

  He watched as her face went from tears to confusion, to a startlingly brilliant smile. And then, saw her smile fade.

  "Cody--how can you be sure? We've only known each other such a short time."

  "That's true and is also part of why I'm sure. From the very beginning, I've felt a connection to you, a completeness inside me when we're together. It's like you're my missing half. I've never had this experience before. And, I've certainly never even thought of marriage, yet, now, it's all I want."

  Julia began to smile again. "I'm in line after you to kill Holly." Then she leaned across and threw her arms around his neck. He kissed her and hugged her and laughed. "But without her, who knows how long it would have taken me to say all this to you."

  "There is that." She pulled back from him and looked in his eyes. "I love you Cody, I have almost since the moment I met you."

  He felt the last bit of tension leave his body as she said those words. "Then I'd say we're the luckiest people alive right now." He paused and then frowned at her. "You were actually going to go back to the city? Are you nuts?"

  She grimaced. "I was distraught! And I was already re-thinking the plan of leaving Sully Point. Once I got on the road out of town, I remembered what I would be going back to. Then, suddenly, there you were honking your horn."

  "Let's make a pact. Any time either of us gets confused by something someone else says, we promise to talk to each other first before doing something rash."

  She nodded. "I think that's a good idea. Especially in Sully Point. There's no telling what you might hear."

  "Particularly now, since the car that just went by was Maelynne's."

  Julia began to laugh and Cody joined in. He could listen to her musical laugh all day.

  * * * *

  That evening Julia and Cody celebrated with a private dinner in the loft--pizza from Delucci's and garlic bread from the bakery. They drank a nice Pinot Grigio and spent as much time laughing as they did eating. There was a giddiness in the atmosphere around them, as their happiness bloomed.

  They'd called Holly and let her off the hook after she'd apologized over and over. They promised to come to a celebration lunch tomorrow at Frank's house with Sam and Anna. But they claimed this night as their own. They talked about everything.

  "Movies--favorite of all time?" he asked.

  "Lord of the Rings trilogy, but...I have to confess to a low-brow liking for Night of the Comet, which has a bit of a cult following."

  "Mine would probably be LOTR also, just because I feel like it should be. But I can't tell you how many times I've watched Fight Club."

  "I see. Although I have to admit, it was a good movie."

  They discovered they were in the same political party, which they thought boded well for future peace between them. She liked to watch football as did he, even if they rooted for different teams. He liked to watch fishing sh
ows, something she found incomprehensible. She liked shopping for clothes, while he was a quick in-and-out shopper. He wanted to give her a diamond ring. She thought it was too soon.

  "What will people think? We've only known each other--"

  "What do we care what people think? We know what we want, and that's all that matters, babe."

  "But I thought we agreed the wedding wouldn't happen until around a year from now. You have no idea how long a wedding can take to arrange."

  "There's nothing saying you can't be wearing my ring during that time. Or is it something else? Still a little bit of distrust?"

  "No, of course not." She got quiet and thoughtful. "I think it's about wanting to prove something. Like we maybe shouldn't do the ring until after we've been together for a couple months longer than you used to stay with people. But, as I'm saying it, I realize that is just responding to what other people might think, and letting them control what we do. Hmm."

  "Do you trust me?"

  "Yes, yes I do, but why do you want me to wear a ring?"

  He smiled gently at her. "Because I've found the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, and I want the world to know it. I guess I want to brag--is that wrong?"

  She laughed. "No, not wrong at all."

  "And, I like the idea of a symbol of our love for each other. When we get married, I'm going to wear a wedding band--not like some of these guys today who don't wear one. Our love isn't just a minor thing--it's big enough and real enough to warrant a diamond ring and wedding bands."

  Her eyes filled with tears.

  "What? What did I say?" he asked rather frantically.

  "You said exactly the right things. Yes, I'll wear your ring."

  "Oh, well, good. Those are happy tears then?"

  She nodded and wiped her eyes.

  That night when they made love, it was slow and sexy and passionate. Julia had never felt more loved and connected to another person. As their souls soared together, she knew she wanted this bliss for the rest of her life.

  * * * *

  The next week, Cody and Julia kept their engagement a secret, even though the family already knew. In the meantime, he'd been to several jewelry stores in nearby malls, and had yet to find a diamond ring that he felt suited the uniqueness of Julia.

  "I don't know, Dad, it's hopeless. All the rings look the same to me--boring. I want it to be special."

  Frank nodded his agreement. "Well, I don't know what to tell--wait a minute." He snapped his fingers. "I've got it! Go see Lucretia."

  "Lucretia? The jewelry-making lady, of course. You think she's good enough?"

  "You won't know until you check out her things."

  "Good advice, thanks."

  Cody headed out to the square and walked around it until he came to Lucretia's tiny shop. It was a long narrow store, with an extended case down one side. The carpeting was a plush gray, and the walls a very pale gray. Inside the case were handcrafted bracelets, necklaces, earrings and a very few rings. He saw nothing with a diamond, but her pieces were unique and pretty.

  "If it isn't Cody Grainger," he heard and, looking up, saw the flaming-haired Lucretia Evans. She was a tall woman with a plain face, gray eyes and strikingly beautiful hands. "What can I do for you Cody?"

  He hesitated then said, "Could we keep my visit confidential for now? I don't want the whole town to know what I'm doing until it's done."

  She looked intrigued and sat down on a stool behind the case, spreading the gauzy skirt she was wearing around her. "Certainly. This must be important."

  "It is. I'm looking for an engagement ring."

  Lucretia's smoky eyes popped open. "An engagement ring? Well, bless my soul."

  "But you don't seem to have any in your case."

  "Ah, well, that's because I make those rings to order. Don't get too much call for them as most people buy them at the malls. Were you looking for a diamond solitaire or something a little more interesting?"

  "More interesting--exactly. Everything I've seen looks the same."

  "What I'd recommend then is to add some stones of color to the diamond setting. For instance, emeralds or rubies, that sort of thing." She pulled a pad of paper out and a pencil, and began sketching. "Now, here's a very basic look, with a gemstone on each side of the diamond. Classic. Of course, you need to decide what cut of diamond you want. Another look is the round diamond encircled by smaller gemstones."

  He nodded, thinking. "You know if I went this route, it should be a blue stone. Julia's eyes are dark blue. What's the name of a dark blue gem?"

  "Star sapphire--a lovely combination with diamonds."

  She sketched some more and Cody began to see a form taking shape, a circular free-form design with four sapphires around it in a loose pattern, not right up next to the diamond. He liked that one, but he also liked the one with a diamond-shape, what Lucretia called a marquise, with sapphires to either side. Lucretia said, "Of course with these stones I'd recommend platinum or white gold for the setting."

  "She'll be doing work with her hands. Does one style seem better suited than another?"

  "Ah, in that case I recommend this marquise design."

  "I like it," he said with a smile. "Give me the bad news, how much will it cost?"

  Lucretia wrote a figure on a piece of paper and passed it over to him. "That's using a two carat marquise-cut diamond. You can of course go smaller, but you want the sapphires to be nicely displayed as well. I have a connection in New York for the stones."

  Cody gulped. It was a larger amount than he'd expected. On the other hand, it was for Julia and she would have the ring forever. "Do it," he said, making Lucretia smile widely.

  * * * *

  Julia had signed papers for the gothic building, waiting now only for the closing, and was working on lists of supplies she wanted to have in place before opening. She continued to live at the loft while she and Cody split time between there and the boat. They hadn't yet addressed finding one place to live for the both of them. The current set-up suited them fine for the present, and they had other things going on. Cody was gearing up for the tourist season, along with every other business in town. Julia was absorbed in setting up her new business.

  One day after she'd eaten lunch, and was about to go to the mall to check out prices on computers, she got an unexpected phone call. It was her father.

  "Hello, Julia. How are you doing?"

  "Father! I'm surprised to hear from you. I'm doing well, really well."

  "I'm glad to hear it. I heard something that shocked me, and I wanted to find out if it was true."

  "Oh? Well, go ahead and ask then." She knew he must have heard she wasn't coming back to the agency, and braced herself to deal with his criticism.

  "Is it true you're leaving the ad agency and starting your own business?"

  "Yes, it's true. I know you may be disappointed, but this is what I want to do with my life."

  There was a silence on the other end of the line. "Father?"

  "I'm here, Julia, I'm here. I'm stunned. I couldn't believe it when I heard about it. I'm not disappointed in you--far from it. I'm elated. This is the best news I could have heard."

  "What?"

  "Julia--I've been hoping for a long time that you'd get out from under your mother's thumb and live your own life. I know I wasn't any help to you in breaking free. I must confess I've had my own difficulties at times in standing up to her. As you and I grew apart, I just let it happen. I'm sorry for that."

  "I--honestly, I don't know what to say." Julia felt herself trembling. This was beyond anything she'd ever dreamed of hearing from him. "Hey, come to think of it, how did you hear about this?"

  "Howard."

  "Howard? That man. I thought I could trust him."

  "You can. I was getting worried about you when I heard you weren't at the agency. I began pestering Howard, as I figured at some point you'd need money. At first he wouldn't tell me anything, but gradually he came to see I wouldn't reveal
anything to your mother. That's when he told me, just this morning. Now, how are you setting up this business of yours--and what type of business is it?"

  She began to explain Julia's Place to him, while he asked questions about financing and goals. At one point he said, "You know, you could have gotten money from the trust for a down payment."

  "Yes, but doing so would have involved you and Mother. I was not willing to go up against her, yet."

  "I see. You've planned all this without any benefit from the trust."

  "Exactly."

  There was quiet on the phone as they both thought of her mother and the aggravation she might be. Finally Julia said, "There's no good way to tell her, is there?"

  "Not really. You've been away how long?"

  "Almost a month. Dr. Deville told her I needed a month away from work because I was burned out and my health was suffering."

  "Dr. Deville--I heard nothing about that! I thought you'd finally gone on vacation."

  "Yeah, well mother wasn't too keen on the idea of me being exhausted from working."

  "That woman..."

  On impulse, Julia asked him, "Why didn't you ever divorce her?"

  "Because when I tried to, she threatened to keep you out of my life permanently."

  "Oh." She didn't know what to say, but it touched her heart to hear it. "You could now though. I'm all grown up and can decide to see you for myself."

  "I guess it has just seemed like too much trouble. We live very separate lives now as it is."

  "Father--Dad--you deserve some happiness in your life too."

  "Maybe, Julia, maybe. But today you've made me happy by sounding confident and sure of your plans and ideas. You know she'll make it hard on you."

  "Yes, I'm expecting she will at some point. Listen, Dad, will you come to the opening?"

  His voice was wobbly at first but then firm when he said, "Julia, I'd love nothing more."

  "Good. I'll send the notice to your office, not at home."

  "Smart idea. All right, I'll see you soon, then. Keep doing what you're doing."

  "Will do. And...thanks, Dad."