As she closed the door behind them, the finality of it all set in. She sank to the floor mat and leaned back against the door. The apartment, emptied of the chaos that was the past hour, was suddenly too quiet. She brought her knees up to her chin and stared at the living room, the kitchen, the hallway, and then her bedroom. Her assorted furniture—the sofa and loveseat set that she’d spent too much money on, the kitchen table with the sleek modern look she’d coveted when she’d seen it on Craigslist for an unbelievable steal, the bureau her mom had shipped all the way from home—all of it ought to have filled the small space and made the apartment feel like home. But the apartment had never felt like home. Not the way Reed’s place did the first weekend she’d spent there and all the nights since. She fought the tears that threatened, determined not to cry. Maybe Reed truly was sorry. Well, so was she.

  Julia stood up finally and went to the table where she’d left her phone. When Mo answered, she said, “Tell me you guys are saving me a slice of cake.”

  “They were closing early. But I’m two blocks from your place and I bought us a whole cake.”

  “I love you, Mo.”

  Mo chuckled. “You know my mom and you are the only ones who say that to me these days. So, I’m guessing Reed and the kids are gone.”

  “Yeah. God, that was hard. What kind of cake did you get? Please make it be chocolate.”

  “Dark chocolate with chocolate buttercream and a raspberry filling. You’re gonna want to skip dinner.” She paused. “And Jules, Kate’s coming too. You won’t believe what she did.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  “You told your parents?”

  Kate licked the chocolate off her fork. “It happened so fast that I surprised even myself. My dad was going on and on about how we should consider Florida for the actual ceremony and then my mom piped up with how she thought it was ridiculous we were making everyone fly all the way to St. John…And then right when I was about to say it didn’t matter since the invitations had all been sent, I just said it.” She stabbed her fork into her cake and a smile crossed her face. “I still can’t believe I did it.”

  “What did Ethan say when you told him?”

  The smile slipped off Kate’s lips, but before she could answer, Mo said, “It’s possible he doesn’t know yet.”

  “You told your parents you were gay before you told Ethan?”

  “I know I’m going to have to tell him. Honestly, I’m a little worried that my parents will call him first.” Kate’s brow furrowed. “I’ll do it tonight. It’s going to crush him, but I have to end things…”

  “You’ll let him down easy. You always manage to have ex-boyfriends who still love you after you’ve broken up with them,” Julia said. “And it’s a good idea telling him on a Sunday night. He’ll have work tomorrow to distract him.”

  “All his friends are gonna make him feel better saying this is all the fault of the lesbians,” Mo added.

  “Except that’s only partly true. It’s not like I’ve had an affair with a woman.” Kate set her fork down. “I’m not in love with Ethan and I should never have agreed to marry him. I don’t know how I let it get this far.”

  “You don’t like to disappoint people,” Julia said. “But you have to make yourself happy too.”

  “And this is step one,” Kate said. “Someday I’m getting married to someone I love and we’re going to order this cake.”

  Kate left not long after they’d boxed up the rest of the cake. The resolute look on her face derailed any doubts that she’d go through with her plan. For the first time since she’d met him a year ago, Julia felt sorry for Ethan. It wasn’t his fault Kate didn’t love him. Of course, he could take some blame for being oblivious and self-centered. But despite what Mo thought, Julia maintained that he wasn’t a bad guy. She honestly hoped he’d weather the breakup and maybe find someone who wanted that fancy wedding in St. John.

  “Do you think they can get some of their money back?”

  Mo shrugged. “It was all Kate’s money they used for the deposit and you know she’s got plenty to spare. At this point, I doubt she cares about losing ten thousand dollars.”

  “At least Ethan’s not out any money…” Julia paused, eyeing Mo. “Okay, admit it—you feel a little sorry for him.”

  Mo held her thumb and her index finger an inch apart. “Maybe this much. He never liked me either.”

  “He was jealous of you.”

  “Which is ridiculous,” Mo argued. “He had Kate. If he’d tried harder—or at all—she would have stayed. She wanted to love him. She’s been trying for months.” She paused. “What would Reed have to do to get you back?”

  “You’re seriously asking me that?” Julia didn’t want to answer the question despite the fact that she’d been mulling over her answer ever since she’d closed the door on Reed.

  Mo went to the kitchen and found the open bottle of wine. “Want more?”

  Julia held up her empty glass. “I’ll take half a glass. I still have work to do tonight. Tomorrow morning I have to meet with one of our new clients.”

  Mo poured and then settled back into her spot on the sofa. “The truth is I feel sorry for Ethan and Reed. For entirely different reasons.”

  “Okay, Ethan first.”

  “He never had a chance,” Mo said. “But Reed had a chance. She let you slip through her hands. And I don’t think she ever realized what she had…You two would have been perfect together.”

  “Now you tell me this? Two hours ago you hated Reed.”

  “She hurt you so I had to hate her,” Mo defended. “But we all saw it coming—even you. What I didn’t see coming is Reed asking if she could call me later to talk.”

  “She asked you that when she was here today?” Julia tried to remember a time when Reed and Mo would have been alone together long enough for a conversation. Then it hit her—when Reed had gone out to get Carly’s medicine…

  “So answer my question,” Mo said. “What would Reed have to do?”

  “We want different things. It’s not happening.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll tell her,” Mo said.

  Julia felt her heart drop at the finality in Mo’s voice. It really was over. Mo reached for her phone and started typing out a text to Reed. Julia didn’t move, staring numbly at the words on the screen. Sorry dude. She’s done. After Mo had sent the text, she started scrolling through her contact list. Her finger stopped at Andi’s number.

  “Guess who keeps asking about you? Want to give this one a second chance?”

  “No.” Julia felt nauseous. There was no way she was going to go out with Andi, or anyone else for that matter, anytime soon. “I want to spend the next year watching plants grow. I’m done thinking about women.”

  “That’s what I always say after a breakup. It lasts about a month.” Mo chuckled. Mo set her phone down and looked over at Julia. “I still can’t believe Kate told her parents.”

  * * *

  Julia climbed into bed that evening in no mood to face the morning. She had a week full of meetings and a host of new messages from Val that were waiting for responses. But she didn’t want to think about work. Her mind was still spinning through the afternoon’s events—Kate had finally come out, Mo was happier than she’d been in months, and she’d officially ended the relationship that never was.

  No matter how she tried to focus on the book she’d picked to help her wind down, she kept seeing Reed’s smile. When she’d first walked in and met Julia’s eyes, a smile had popped on her face as if she couldn’t hold it back. Julia’s heart had bounced up to her throat in response. But then there was Reed standing in front of the refrigerator with the waterfall picture in her hand. The words of that conversation repeated in her mind and she wished she could forget the pained look she’d seen on Reed’s face. It was over then—not two weeks ago in the hall outside of Carly’s room. Even if it hurt Julia to hear it, Reed hadn’t meant it then. But Julia had meant it today. And what she’d told Mo was the truth. There was no reason to try and patch things up when they wanted two different things.

  She stared down at her cat pajamas and then reached for her phone. Waiting for the ring, she pictured her parents’ living room with the pair of old sagging couches, the long dark walnut coffee table, and the Turkish rugs arranged about the room like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle waiting to be connected. She knew her mom would answer even though it was after ten in New York. She’d be sitting in one of the couches rereading one of her favorite torrid romance novels.

  “Julia? What’s wrong?”

  “Hi, Mom. Nothing’s wrong.”

  “What time is it? Are you in the hospital?”

  She smiled, despite herself. “It’s not that late in California. And I knew you’d still be awake reading. How’s the book?”

  “You know me too well.” Her mom laughed. “I love this book—I’ve read it three times. But the cover is terrible. Thank God your father doesn’t have a hairy chest like this man.”

  “Maybe he secretly waxes.” Julia felt the tension in her neck easing already.

  “All these years? I’d know. He’s terrible at keeping secrets.”

  Julia smiled at the love in her mom’s voice. All these years…Despite how her mom teased her dad, they were perfect for each other. Still.

  “How are you? It’s been a while…” How long had it been since their last phone call? She couldn’t remember. Too long. “And how’s Dad?”

  “My knee’s aching and I’ve got a hemorrhoid flare-up. Aren’t you glad you asked?” She laughed. “Your father’s fine. He’s here with me on the sofa snoring away. Can you hear it? Ever since his hair fell out he sounds like an elephant when he sleeps.”

  “I don’t think it’s because of the hair,” Julia said, smiling again.

  Her mom sighed. “Maybe not. I told him it might be that we’re getting old…Now tell me what’s wrong.”

  “I think I’m homesick.” Tears sprang to her eyes when she said the words. “And I need a Mom hug.”

  “You broke up with the woman you were seeing? The one with the kids?”

  Julia exhaled, not wanting to say the words that would confirm her mom’s guess. She hadn’t explained the nature of her relationship with Reed, but she’d let a few details slip. After Hawaii, her mom had asked if she was seeing someone, partly because their phone calls were further apart and partly because she heard the excitement in Julia’s voice when she did call.

  “Oh, Julia.” Mom clicked her tongue three times the way she used to when Julia had a scraped knee or had a cold and then said something in Mandarin. Julia recognized the phrase, but she didn’t know the exact meaning. It was something her mother used to say to soothe her, and for not the first time, she wished she’d learned more from her mom. “I’m going to wake up your father and get him to buy you a plane ticket. You need a slice of my cheesecake.”

  “Your cheesecake is the best.” Julia sniffed, trying to keep the tears in check. She couldn’t swing time off, but maybe she could squeeze the trip in over Memorial Day weekend. “I could go for a slice right now.”

  “Did I ever tell you the time Charlotte tried to steal my recipe? We were playing cards one night and I’d left that old church recipe box out. I got up to check on your father and when I got back to the kitchen, I found her rifling through those cards.” Mom laughed. “She didn’t know I keep the cheesecake recipe in my head!”

  Charlotte was the neighbor her mom always complained about. They had a love-hate relationship that had started when Charlotte’s now deceased poodle decided he liked Julia’s mom better than his owner.

  “Good thing you got your father’s stomach instead of mine.” Her mom laughed again. “If I eat more than a bite of my cheesecake, I’m in the bathroom for the rest of the night.” She grumbled something about lactose intolerance and then there was a pause before she shouted, “Paul, wake up!”

  Julia heard a clatter and then her father’s sleep-slurred voice asking, “What is it?”

  “Julia’s coming home for cheesecake. You need to buy her a ticket.” Back on the line, Mom said, “When can you come? I can’t wait long. I’m old you know.”

  “I can buy my own ticket, Mom.”

  “I know. My successful daughter can do everything herself. But I still want to take care of you.”

  Julia couldn’t argue then. After promising to check her work calendar and exchanging a few sentences with her father, who was only half awake, she hung up the phone. The fact that she was too old to need her mom didn’t matter. For the first time all month, she felt loved. She switched off her bedside light and pulled the covers up to her chin.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The windows were open and a warm June breeze carried in the smell of the bay. Kate was scrolling through pictures on Instagram and Mo was hunting for the beer she’d left in Julia’s refrigerator. She found it finally behind a bottle of hot sauce and then started to close the refrigerator.

  “What’s this?” She’d spotted the platter on the top shelf. “Is this one of your mom’s cheesecakes? Tell me she sent you home with a whole cheesecake.” Mo’s eyes widened as she pushed back the aluminum foil to get a glimpse.

  “She made two—one for us to eat last weekend and one for me to bring home. She made me promise to share some with you and Kate. You know how much she loves you two.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me before we made dinner reservations? We could stay home and eat this entire thing.”

  Julia pushed the refrigerator door closed. “That’s for dessert. But it’d make my mom’s day if you took some of it home with you.”

  “Can I have your mom?” Kate asked. “I need a temporary replacement.”

  “Is yours still not talking to you?”

  “Oh, I wish.” Kate sighed. “The not-talking thing lasted one week. Now every night I listen to her daily voice mail about how I’ve turned my back on God, my family, my country—sometimes she even throws in how Peeves needs a man in his life for a stable family. And the shitty thing is, I think Peeves does miss Ethan.”

  “Eileen’s a piece of work,” Mo said. “But at least your dad’s coming around.”

  Kate nodded. “He called me up the other day to tell me that he loved me. It was sweet. He said I could date whoever I wanted, but he still thinks the wedding in St. John was impractical. That’s my dad for you.”

  After spending the past weekend with her parents, Julia was reminded of how lucky she was, particularly in the Mom department. Her mom’s only concern was that she thought she looked thin. In addition to pushing multiple slices of cheesecake, she’d convinced Julia to go out to Dim Sum two nights in a row. “My mom would adopt you in an instant.”

  “Great. I’ll get the documents in order.” Kate set down her phone. “I keep hoping my mom will eventually realize that I only want to be happy.”

  Mo’s phone buzzed. She eyed the text and then went over to the papers crowding the kitchen table. “We’re up to five players for fantasy football. Guess who just decided to add?”

  “Who?” Kate asked.

  By Mo’s look, Julia knew the answer. Reed and Mo had formed a friendship, and the two had been texting way too often.

  “Reed. But she doesn’t think she can come to any of the games. Apparently she’s got the whole summer planned out and the kids start kindergarten in the fall…I think she’s more of a planner than I am—which is impressive.” Mo flipped through the pages of her calendar. “Jules, could you make it to an August 17th game? It’ll be pre-season and I think I can get us better seats.”

  “My schedule’s wide open.” She hated to admit it, but she doubted that would change anytime soon.

  Mo nodded, making marks on her chart under her name. She had two lists going—one for game dates and another for fantasy football. “What about you, Kate?”

  “You know how I feel about football. It’s absurd how many concussions those players suffer in one season and the long-term brain damage—”

  “I’ll ask your girlfriend,” Mo said, scrolling through the contact list on her phone. “Didn’t you say she was a Niners fan?”

  “She’s a Forty-Niners fan, yes, but she’s not my girlfriend,” Kate argued.

  “You’ve been seeing her for two weeks and you haven’t dated anyone else in that time, right?” Mo waited for Kate to respond. She only folded her arms however. “In the world of dating women that means Chris is your girlfriend.”

  “We’ve gone on two dates. And she’s nice but I’m not going on a third date.”

  “Why not?” Julia asked at the same time as Mo.

  Kate shrugged. “She’s not the one. Anyway I think I’m still getting over Ethan.”

  “That’s why you have rebound relationships,” Mo said.

  Kate shook her head. “I don’t want to put Chris through that.”

  Mo gave up the argument surprisingly quick. There was no doubting the fact that both Mo and Kate were happy that the other was single. Julia’s stomach growled and she eyed the clock. “When do you guys want to head out?”

  “Soonish…Reservations are at seven,” Kate said. “But it’s so close we could probably walk and not bother with parking.”

  Dinner had been Mo’s idea—she’d wanted to set up a monthly dinner at a fancy restaurant for the three of them before anyone got engaged again. The way Mo said “engaged” made it sound like a death sentence—yet another reason Julia was glad Mo was part of her life. The first restaurant they were trying was a new place that had opened up a few blocks from Julia’s apartment. Kate insisted they all get dressed up for the occasion, but Mo was still in shorts and a T-shirt.

  “Can you guys give me five more minutes? I’ve almost got this schedule set up, and I’m texting back and forth with three other people. Reed’s schedule is tricky.”

  “How exactly did she become friends with Reed?” Kate asked Julia.

  “Reed texted me first,” Mo said. “But you both know I’m an amazing person who everyone wants to be friends with.”