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Chapter 10: Trusted

May 2008

"Hey you," Peter said, meeting Julie as she exited her last final. She smiled and kissed him. "Ready to graduate Miss Gaffney?"

"Mm," She smiled, "Yes! I have been in school for twenty years, I'm so done with this!" He laughed. "So when we go to Minnesota next week,"

"I am briefed," He said, "I know everyone. What about Fulton?"

"We haven't talked," She shrugged, "He doesn't know about you. Not that it matters," She kissed him.

"He's an important part of your life Julie," He shook his head. She sighed. "Forget it, let's celebrate being done with school."

"Yes," She nodded, "Let's." They walked off campus towards the place where most law students went for after class drinks, he had his arm around her, and she smiled snuggled close to him.

"Julie?" She stopped and pulled away from him.

"Arlene," She said, shaking her head and walking over and hugging her, "Hi, how are you?"

"I'm good," Arlene nodded, "I've been meaning to call you."

"Oh," Julie smiled, "Of course, really, we should catch up. Stop by the house some time, I mean, next week, I'm going up to Minnesota, but," She stopped, "This is Peter, a friend from school."

"Nice to meet you," Arlene smiled. "I'll call you honey OK?"

"OK," Julie smiled and hugged her, "It really was so good to see you." Arlene smiled and walked away.

"I've been demoted?" Peter looked at her. She swallowed, "Julie, what's wrong?"

"That's Dean's mother," She said.

"Dean," He sighed, "The late fiancé Dean?"

"What other Dean would I mean?" She looked at him.

"You can't tell her that you have a boyfriend?" He looked at her.

"Peter," She said, "No, I can't. Things have been very tense between me and Arlene since Dean's death, and,"

"Julie, I can't do this," He shook his head.

"What?" She looked at him.

"I have to know where I stand," He sighed, "We take a step forward, and the minute things get a little uncomfortable, or something reminds you, you pull away again."

"I've told you," She said, "I can't be in anything serious."

"Then why am I meeting your friends?" He asked, looking at her.

"Because I like you," She said, "And I want to be with you, and I have fun with you, but Peter, it's only been a year, not even, and,"

"Julie, I'm sorry," He sighed, "I thought I could do this, I don't think I can."

March 2007

"She's beautiful," Dean smiled, looking at the picture of Kayla Julie had handed him, "She really looks just like Connie, God."

"Mm," Julie nodded, "She does. She asks about you, you know."

"Nah," He laughed, "There's no way she remembers me." She kissed him.

"I wouldn't let her forget you," She said. He hugged her tightly. "I have to go."

"No," He said, "Stay, stay here, in the hotel, the hotel is wonderful." She laughed.

"You have to leave tomorrow," She sighed. He nodded.

"How's the support group thing going?" He asked.

"It's OK," She said softly, "Elizabeth's husband died last week, so everything's been a little nutty." He kissed her. "I just wish you'd come home."

"So soon babe," He said, "I know it seems like a long time." She kissed him gently.

"It is a long time Dean," She sighed. "But I will pour myself into school. If I keep going to class all through summer, I'll graduate by May 2008."

"Really?" He smiled. She nodded. "God that's awesome Babe. I'm so proud of you. Did you pick a specialty?"

"Family," She said, "I like the idea of really helping people you know?"

"Yeah I do," He smiled. "Plus divorces don't make for bad bank." She laughed. He touched her face and she closed her eyes. "No, keep them open."

"Why?" She laughed.

"I wanna look at you," He shrugged, "Remember those baby blues." She smiled and kissed him. "You'll miss your plane."

"Who said I was staying beyond that kiss?" She giggled.

"I did," He laughed, and pulled her close. "It's your duty you know."

"Are you giving me an order sergeant?" She giggled as he kissed down her chest.

"Stand down your defenses soldier," He smiled and lifted her shirt over her head. "I love you so much."

"Dean," She whimpered. Five months, she could make it five more months. He savored making love to her. This had to last him five more months in the desert.

November 2007

"Well, I'm glad you're home," Margaret Gaffney squeezed her daughter's shoulders. Julie had decided to spend Thanksgiving in Bangor. Her first holiday since Dean's death and she would rather not be in Chicago.

"Yeah thanks Mom," She whispered.

"I feel like we never see you," Margaret said.

"I'm busy," Julie shrugged, "With school."

"Mm hm," She nodded, "And living with Fulton? How's that going for you?"

"It's fine," Julie said, "It's Fulton."

"You know he was welcome to come," Margaret said, raising her eyebrows. "After all if you two are at all involved."

"Mom!" Julie looked at her, "We so aren't." She waved her hands in front of her face and Margaret grabbed her hand.

"What's this?" She said quietly. Julie swallowed and pulled it back. Why did she always feel thirteen when she was in the same room as her mother.

"I'm just not ready to take it off yet," Julie said, "I will be."

"Julie," Margaret sighed. "Sit down."

"Mom," She said, "I really don't want to talk about this."

"I know," Margaret said, "But I need to tell you something."

"Fine," Julie said and settled on the couch.

"Now, you know I love you father," She started. Julie nodded, "And I love you and your brothers, but my life was supposed to be very different." Julie looked at her. "When I was eighteen my boyfriend got drafted." She sighed, "We weren't engaged yet, but we were planning on it, and he wanted to wait, until he got back."

"But he didn't come back," Julie whispered. "Why didn't you tell me this in July?"

"For the same reason that you didn't take that ring off," She shrugged, "You weren't ready. And while Dale may not have been to me what Dean was to you, I've been where you are, and I wish you'd let me back in your life a little."

"I'm trying to put the rest of my life back together," Julie explained, "And I want to include you on that, I do, but it's just easier to deal with the things I see everyday." She looked down, "And that I know won't wait."

"I am here sweetie," Her mother hugged her, "I just need you to know that."

"I know," Julie whispered.

March 2008

"So," Amy said walking into Fulton's apartment for the first time, "This is your place. I love the boxes."

"Yeah," He laughed and scratched his head, "I uh just relocated a few weeks ago so I'm still a little all over the place."

"I thought you said you'd lived in Minneapolis your whole life?" She looked at him.

"Oh," He nodded, "I did, I mean, I have, except the last seven months."

"Where were you the last seven months?" She asked. He shrugged, "I'm curious!"

"It's really all kind of complicated," He said. "It would take a while to explain."

"I'm not going anywhere," She shrugged and sat down. He sighed, "Fulton, I know we've only been dating a few weeks, but I really like you. I want to know about you."

"I was in Chicago," He said quietly. "Um, my best friend, Dean, Portman."

"I thought Charlie was your best friend?" She said.

"He is," Fulton nodded, "Now. Because Portman died."

"Baby," She said and took his hands, "I'm so sorry," She kissed him. "What does that have to do with Chicago?"

"I'm getting there," He swallowed, "He was in Iraq, and he was engaged, to our friend Julie. So in July, when he was killed I moved down there to make sure she was OK."

"That is the sweetest thing I have ever heard!" She said and kissed him. "Is she?"

"Hm?" He looked at her.

"Is she OK?" Amy asked, "I mean you moved back up here so,"

"She's getting there," He nodded. "But Amy, you should know something else, um," She kissed him again.

"I can't believe that you did something so completely selfless!" She sighed, "I mean, knowing that a man would do something like that, is this day and age is so reassuring. It lets me know I can trust you." She kissed him and stood up, "Let's get you out of these boxes hm?" He sighed. Sure, he could be trusted, based on the first half of that story he could totally be trusted.

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