Chapter 52
An Imperfect Life – Sigh
Late August
Three days after the Rescheduled 4th of July party
Just before the Tremblay Hunt's departed for England, Lissa and Amelia planned a spa day. Fairly sure Jen was a passing fling, Amelia invited Julie to join them. After coaxing Adam, Amelia was able to convince him to allow Julie to spend the day at the spa and then spend the night at the Lake House. She assured him that Julie would sleep in one of the bedrooms and that no males would be allowed. When she urged Adam to let her mother Julie, he acquiesced.
As they slipped into cozy robes in the locker room at 9:00am, Julie admitted with a hint of embarrassment what Lissa and Amelia already knew, "This is my first time in a spa." Lissa thoughtfully explained spa etiquette to Julie, emphasizing that Julie needn't stress. She encouraged her to ask any questions that might arise.
The trio began by stretching out by an inside pool on reclining lounges that felt like clouds. With closed eyes, they chatted and shared stories.
"Just relax and take deep breaths," Lissa advised with a relaxed voice as the room's warmth surrounded them.
Laughing, Amelia commented, "We're old pros. Lissa and I sneak away and treat ourselves as often as we can manage. From now on, you can be part of our escapes, Julie."
"That's a generous offer, Ma'am," Julie responded with the words her father had taught her.
"Sweetheart, the ma'am stuff has to stop," Amelia warned dryly and followed it with a small chuckle. "Lissa calls me Amma. Owen calls me Mia. My brother calls me Amy, and everyone else calls me either Mom or Amelia. Take your pick of those or create one of your own, but no more ma'am. It makes me feel old."
"My dad would flip if I called you by your first name," Julie sputtered. "How about Dr. Shepherd?"
"Too formal," Lissa quipped as she stretched her neck.
"I'll have to think about it and come up with something," Julie stalled. After a relaxing pause in conversation, Julie wondered aloud, "So what happens next?"
"First," Lissa encouraged, "we let go of the schedule and forget the time. Then, we let everyone here pamper us."
"We scheduled massages, manicures and pedicures. In between each one, you can lie here, soak in the hot tub, or sit in the sauna," Amelia advised.
"I remember when Nolan took me to Victoria and surprised me with a spa day," Lissa mused with a song in her voice.
"Victoria? As in BC?" Julie inquired.
With a matter of fact tone, Lissa stated, "Right. That's where he, Ryder and Olivia were born. Ryder never told you that?"
"Not the location. I knew his dad died when Ry was really little and that his mom died suddenly in a car accident," Julie shared.
"These boys of ours," Lissa quipped, "are Canadian." She sighed audibly and continued her story, "After the spa day, Nole bought me an incredible dress and had my hair and makeup done. We took pictures, then walked along the water and ate dinner…"
"…then you gave him your virginity," Amelia reminded her daughter-in-law with a sly tease.
"That, too," Lissa giggled.
"Wow. Really?" Julie reflected, shocked to hear Lissa and Amelia casually banter about sex.
"Hair, makeup, a new dress, a spa day… Nolan sounds like a romantic," Julie reflected.
"Hmm… yes, he can be," Lissa admitted with a subtle edge. "When he's not consumed with work or school anyway." After a slight pause, Lissa pressed, "What about Ryder?" When Julie didn't respond, Lissa repeated, "Jules – what about Ryder?"
"What about him?" she inquired with confusion.
"Tell us something juicy," Lissa giggled.
Julie laughed, "There's nothing juicy to share. Everyone always wants to think we're a couple, but we really aren't."
"C'mon," Amelia pro9dded. "I know my baby bear very well, Julie. He's incapable of not being up to something."
"I agree," Julie snickered. "But he doesn't get into anything with me. He tells me the stories – with a great deal of exaggeration, I'm sure. But, between us…" Julie drifted off as he recalled their one kiss.
"Between you, what?" Lissa eagerly implored.
"Nothing, really. We kissed. Once," Julie confessed.
Amelia scoffed, "Only once? Was it that bad?"
"Promise not to tease me?" Julie fretted. After both agreed, Julie described the situation that led up to their kiss and detailed the actual event. She concluded with, "I can't believe I just told Ryder's mom that story."
"That's what Moms are for," Lissa reassured Julie.
"And sisters," Amelia added.
"I've never had either," Julie pointed out. "I've had a caring and protective brother and an overly-protective, loving father… and I can't imagine what either of them would do if I told them that story."
Still lying in lounges with their eyes closed, the three processed the conversation in their own minds. Out of the blue, Lissa shared, "I never had a Dad or any siblings. My mom became pregnant as a teenager and raised me until… well, it's complicated. Then I lived at the Lake House awhile. Anyway, Dads is the only Dad I've ever known."
"My dad died when I was five," Amelia mentioned. "He was shot. I was there with my brother. I was so little that I only have fleeting memories of the whole thing."
Julie replied, "My mom became sick when I was five. All my years of elementary school, she was in and out of the hospital. When she was home, she was almost always in bed. Every now and then, she'd leave the house. That happened less and less as she became weaker and thinner. I remember holding her hand as she took her last breath. She never had a chance to teach me how to be a girl."
"We'll give you a crash course," Amelia chuckled lightly. "We orphans have to stick together."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~"
When the trio returned to the Lake House wearing PJs and sporting relaxed, half opened eyes, they encountered Ryder, Nolan, Owen, and Lucas in the TV room playing Mario Cart.
"We're back," Amelia announced dreamily, leaning over the back of the sofa and kissing Lucas' forehead.
"Mama!" he grumbled. "Don't ruin my concentration with kisses!" He rubbed off his forehead with disgust.
"Yeah, Mama," Owen chuckled as he leaned his head back and kissed his wife. "You three appear to be in the zone. Did you enjoy your day?"
Snuggling in next to Nolan as he manipulated the control, Lissa sighed, "Lovely. It was lovely. Where's my Molly girl?"
"Sleeping," Nolan uttered without stopping his roving thumbs and eagle eye concentration on the screen.
Julie walked around the edge of the sectional and sat at the end. Grabbing a blanket that was lying on the couch, she wrapped up in it and rested her head on the arm of the couch.
"How was your frilly, girly experience, Caldwell?" Ryder asked as he maneuvered his car in front of Nolan's and then threw a throw pillow at Julie.
"I have painted nails," Julie chuckled as she grabbed the pillow and placed it under her head.
"Ha," Ryder balked. "They gave you the full indoctrination, huh? What'd you two do to my best pal?"
"She loved it," Lissa drawled as she tried to snuggle up to Nolan.
Quietly, he grumbled, "Liss… knock it off, Babe."
Owen and Amelia shared a glance then both peered over at the Tremblay Hunts. Lissa rolled her eyes and then her body, stretching out on the couch and resting her head on a few stray pillows. Absentmindedly and thinking he was offering a kind gesture, Nolan tossed a blanket over to his wife. It landed, folded, on her torso.
"Gee, thanks, Romeo," Lissa huffed playfully.
"Oh, man!" Lucas hollered in frustration. "Ryder! Get outta my way."
"Not happening, Curly," Ryder laughed mischievously.
"Lower your voice. You wake the baby, you take her, Uncle Lucas," Nolan warned.
"I'm out," Owen declared as his car spun off the track. He raised his arms in surrender, then landed one around Amelia. He kissed her head and whispered something nobody else heard. She giggled in response and whispered back words that brought on a light chuckle. He nudged his nose on her temple and hummed softly.
Beginning to doze off, Julie closed her eyes as she smiled. The banter and interactions were comforting and entertaining. Being at the Lake House was always a delight and never felt anything like the silent, empty home where she lived.
A few minutes later, Ryder won and jumped over the back of the couch. "Gentlemen," he declared with pride. "The Victor has a date."
"Oh my," Nolan groaned.
"One a.m.," Owen reminded his son.
"Yeah, yeah," Ryder acknowledged. "Somebody tell Jules g'night for me if she wakes up."
Hearing his words made Julie smile inside. Before he left, Ryder thought of her. Yet, at the same time, his words caused her heart to sink. Ryder thought of her, yet went out on a date with Jen. Julie wished she could shove his shoulder and give him hell, but she was so full of serenity that she didn't have it in her.
Since Olivia was staying at a friend's house, Amelia offered Olivia's bed to Julie. When everyone headed upstairs to bed, Amelia nudged Julie's shoulder and whispered, "Hey, kiddo. Want to stretch out here or head to Olivia's room?"
Without opening her eyes, a sleepy Julie mumbled, "I'll stay here for now and go up later." Amelia smiled and wisped Julie's hair off her face. She placed another blanket on her and kissed her cheek. "Sweet dreams, girlfriend."
At 1:15am, the front door opened slowly and carefully. In the next room over, Julie heard it but lay back down half-asleep and half-awake. In the entry by the Living Room, Ryder whispered to Jen that everyone appeared to be in bed. He led her to the couch and the couple began to make out. Hands ran over and under clothing as buttons were loosened and soft laughter was exchanged.
"Are you sure nobody will hear us?" Jen asked Ryder anxiously as they caressed one another. Julie heard her but attempted to force herself to go back to sleep. The harder she tried, the more awake she became.
Ryder chuckled, "As long as you don't scream out in pleasure."
"Your mind lives in the gutter, Mister," Jen teased.
With a seductive tone, Ryder retorted, "And your eyes sparkle even in the dark, Beautiful."
Julie rolled her eyes and threw a pillow over her head in an attempt to block Romeo's ramblings. Escaping up the stairs would involve walking through the Living Room, so she was stuck. Until she fell asleep, she tolerated the muffled voices and laughter that made its way through the walls.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~'
The next day, Ryder offered to drive Julie home. By doing so, he could escape the yard work party Owen had organized. After dropping Julie off, he planned to stop at the store and grab an energy drink to help him get through the day. Jen had stayed until 3:00 am and Owen had nudged Ryder awake at 8:00 am.
After opening her door and loading her bag into the trunk, Ryder walked around the car and settled into the driver's seat. "Seems like you had fun yesterday at the spa," he commented.
"Seems like you had fun last night - or should I say 'this morning' – with Jen," Julie harassed him with a knowing chuckle.
Usually not one to blush, Ryder's cheeks reddened as he glanced over at his friend. Sputtering, he replied, "Well… uh, yeah. We… uh… we had a nice… nice… umm… night."
"I was in the TV room, idiot," Julie deadpanned as she softly shoved his upper arm. Teasing, she continued, "You… uh… umm… yeah… you and she sounded like you were having a hell of a time."
As he stopped at a traffic light, Ryder peeked over the top of his sunglasses and stared.
"The light's green, Romeo," Julie laughed as she shook her head.
"I'm changing the subject," Ryder declared as he accelerated. "What was up with your dad at the party?"
"What do you mean?" she inquired.
"Remember when we were all hanging out on the dock, and he called you over with his fake smile?" Ryder questioned.
"Oh, it was nothing," Julie shrugged. "He wanted me to throw a cover up over my bikini because there were too many young men with roving eyes around."
Chuckling, Ryder sought to confirm, "Did he really say that?!"
"In his own words," Julie admitted with a giggle. "He's so terrified some guy is going to come along and steal away his little girl's purity. I'll be 30 before I'm free of his or another adult's supervision," she concluded with a light-hearted tone.
Sarcastically, Ryder offered, "Want me to take it so you can tell him that he's too late to prevent your next step into womanhood?"
"RB, you are such a self-sacrificing, thoughtful friend," Julie groaned. "but I think I'll stick with my ridiculously strict father and his angst."
