"My little darling came to you for milk?" the woman squealed cheerfully, then released her onto the kitchen floor. "Come on, we'll get you something delicious."
The dog followed her, skipping after her. Janice took some chilled milk from the refrigerator and a few yesterday's sausages, which she arranged in a saucer. She poured the milk into a small bowl and set both containers on the ground beside the contented animal. Piper whimpered softly, then began to eat.
"You really spoil her, Mrs. Holbrooke," Julie said happily, taking a seat at the table.
"Oh, because it's so lovely!" "The older woman chirped, sitting down next to the girl. "How are you, honey? Are you feeling all right? You look pale.
" "Good. It's the heat," Julie replied. "It's been a while since I've had one.
" "I have something delicious for you." Janice stood up and went to the fridge.
Julie looked slightly embarrassed.
"Oh, no need, Mrs. Holbrooke!
" "No way, sweetie. You have to drink my juice with me. I made it myself."
She set a jug full of burgundy liquid and two glasses in front of her. She poured both glasses full, then returned to her seat at the table.
Julie took a sip of the drink. She swallowed the delicious strawberry liquid and praised it.
"It's amazing. You have to teach me how to make juices like that sometime.
" "No problem. It's easy. If you come over someday, we'll make enough juice for half the town." She laughed, echoing Julie's sentiment.
Julie suddenly looked down at her hands, which she had placed on the table like a well-behaved schoolgirl.
"Actually, I have a favor to ask you," she said
, confused. "Go ahead, sweetheart," the older woman chirped mischievously, showing off her surprisingly white teeth in a wide smile.
"I'm leaving for New York in four days...
" "Any family problems again?" She interrupted, her expression changing from amused to serious.
"No, no!" She denied quickly. "I need to rest a bit. Besides, I've been missing home a bit. So, I feel silly asking you, but...
" "Take care of Piper?" She guessed quickly, sparing the girl the embarrassing explanation.
Julie smiled.
"How do you do it?
" "It's that age, sweetheart." She giggled. "Don't worry. Piper will be in good hands.
" "Really?" Julie said happily. - You don't even know how much you will help me.
"You've been doing so much for me, so I finally have a chance to repay you.
" "Exactly." She remembered. "Of course, I'll do all the shopping before you leave, enough to last you a long time. I'll also buy food for the dog.
" "Thank you, honey," she said warmly, squeezing her hand. "Taking care of Piper is definitely not enough for me to repay you.
" "I do it with pure pleasure. You don't have to do anything for me. Since my parents died in the accident, I haven't had anyone who supported me as much as you do."
They hugged. Mrs. Holbrooke patted her head.
"And how long are you going away for?
" "A month. It'll go by quickly." She lied smoothly, returning to her normal position.
"Oh, it'll be over in a flash. We'll manage just fine, right, Piper?"
The dog wagged its tail as it ran to the table. Both the milk and sausage dishes were thoroughly licked clean.
Julie said goodbye to her pleasant neighbor and headed toward her house. While she was in the garden, she heard the phone ringing inside. She let the dog out onto the driveway and quickly ran to the door, unlocked it, and dashed inside. She picked up the phone just in time.
"Hello?" she gasped.
The dog slid between her legs and ran into the living room.
"Hey, baby," she said to Brauni on the other side. "I thought you were gone."
Julie smiled and replied,
"I was at Mrs. Holbrooke's. I heard the phone ring when I was at the gate.
" "How is she?
" "Mrs. Holbrooke's? Fine! I asked her to look after Piper until I got back from New York. I didn't tell you about—
" "I know you're leaving," the girl interrupted. "Chris told me. I met him today on his way back from your place." And if you wanted someone to look after Piper, you could have asked me. You know I adore her.
Julie's last statement sounded like a reproach. Julie was flustered and for a moment unsure what to say. Finally, she mumbled,
"I know, Brauni. But I'm leaving on August 29th, two days before your school starts. You wouldn't have time to take care of her. And Mrs. Holbrooke lives near me and doesn't seem to have much to do.
" "I understand, sweetie." Brauni laughed cheerfully, then added in a more serious tone, "I saw Arthur today.
" "Yes?" Julie didn't know how to hide the curiosity in her voice. She'd long wanted to know what was going on with her old friend, but had never had the courage to ask him or Brauni. Now she finally did and asked, "How's he doing?
" "I won't tell you that," her friend said mysteriously. "But you'll have a chance to find out for yourself."
Julie frowned, crouching in the hallway.
"I don't think I understand what you mean..."
"Arthur is inviting you, me, Chris, Daniel, and Pres to a party tonight.
" "A party?" the girl asked, surprised. "Where?
" "On his yacht. And you can't say no. It's very important!" Brauni emphasized. "You have to buy yourself a new, fancy outfit. What are you doing in about twenty minutes?"
Julie was so stunned she didn't know what to say.
"No... I don't have any plans...
" "Great!" Brauni chirped. "We'll go shopping, to that new boutique."
Suddenly, a dark silhouette appeared at the door, and the bell rang.
"Oh my!" Julie suddenly banged. "Chris is here.
" "That's even better," her friend rejoiced. "He'll come with us. Tell him about the party.
" "Okay. I have to open it," she said, as the sound of the doorbell being pressed filled the house again.
"Okay. I'm done. Shall we go in your car?" she asked as the girl was about to hang up.
"Yes, I'll pick you up in twenty minutes.
" "OK, see you then, Sunshine.
" "Bye!" Julie hung up the phone and quickly headed for the door. She wondered what had suddenly compelled Arthur to organize a party. And more importantly, why he'd invited her and Brauni.
At his previous yacht parties, everyone had been there except the two of them. What was more strange was that he'd invited her even though they were at odds and hadn't spoken in less than three months.
She turned the knob and opened the door. Chris stood impatiently behind them.
"Oh my, I thought you were having a heart attack or something?" He said in a deadly serious tone, then gave her his famously sweet smile.
Julie hadn't heard his words; she was still processing what Brauni had told her. She let the boy through. He looked at her in surprise, and after a moment's silence, he waved his hand in front of her eyes, as if checking if she was going blind. The girl batted her eyelashes, snapping back to the present.
"Is everything okay, Jules?" he asked as her gaze wandered from his hand to his face.
She nodded and headed for the living room. She managed only one word:
"Strange."
They entered a spacious room with two couches at opposite ends. One was placed in front of the television, next to plush white armchairs. Behind the back of the couch stood an old mahogany coffee table with an elegant lamp. A little further on a raised platform stood a large black grand piano with a small seat pulled up against it. Julie loved to play it on her lonely evenings. On it sat a few framed photos and a small, gilded candlestick. The other furniture resembled furniture from the early twentieth century.
Chris settled himself on the sofa near the piano, opposite the large windows overlooking the harbor. He loved this place because whenever he sat there, he was overcome with a sense of calm he couldn't experience anywhere else.
"What's strange?" he finally asked, watching a small yacht enter the harbor. From a distance, it looked like a tiny paper boat.
Julie sat down on the piano seat facing him. She looked in the direction he was looking and finally told him everything that had happened. She didn't fail to mention her visit to Mrs. Holbrooke's. She also informed him that he was invited to the whole party.
"So, are we partying tonight?" he asked, laughing, when she had finished. "Finally, something's happening. What time is this party?
" "I don't know exactly, tonight." She was clearly irritated by his joy. "I have to be at the Brauni house in about ten minutes; we're supposed to go shopping.
" "Great!" I'm coming with you." He clapped happily. He saw that Julie was still sad. "Hey, what's wrong with you? I don't see you're particularly happy about this party. "
Julie stood up as if the chair she was sitting on had been electrified.
"They couldn't have chosen a better time to organize a party!" There was a strong tension in her voice, like before a storm. "I'm in a fight with Arthur!" Daniel was also giving me a dirty look. The only people who'll be friendly to me there are you and the Braunis. Because Pres hasn't spoken to me in months!
" "And I don't think he'll speak to me now!" Chris added quickly.
Julie turned to him.
"Why?
" "Girl!" the boy began, his fatherly tone prepared for a moral lecture. "Pres has his show recording today, he won't miss it for anything!"
She didn't answer. She walked over to the windows where Chris was sitting and looked toward the harbor. There was no sign of the yacht. It must have docked at the quay.
"I understand!!!" the boy suddenly shouted.
Julie almost screamed. She looked at him, surprised and speechless.
"I'm sorry for shouting, but I finally understood what was going on."
"I don't... really... understand!" she muttered.
"When I was walking from you to Pres today, I saw Brauni and Arthur coming out of the jeweler's.
" "Jeweler's?" the girl asked in surprise. She sat down next to him and began to listen carefully to what he was saying.
"Yes. Arthur," he said, holding a small box in his hand, the kind you'd use for large rings or pendants. They looked embarrassed by my presence, and when I asked them what they'd bought, Arthur blurted out a story about tie clips.
"So?
" "I think Arthur wants to propose to Brauni today!" He said it so quickly she almost didn't understand.
She thought about what he'd said for a moment. Chris mentally compared her expression to that of a dog trying to relieve itself but unable to.
Suddenly, her lips curved into a smile, and a convulsive laugh burst from her throat.
"What?" he asked, not understanding what she was laughing at.
Julie was writhing with laughter, slurring her words. When she finished laughing at what he'd said, she started again at the sight of his expression.
When she calmed down, she said,
"Sorry, sweetie. That's very sweet, but they've been friends for two months, and Brauni said goodbye to Peter a month ago. And from what I know, she missed him terribly until recently. It must be something else.
" "Maybe she wants to reconcile with someone," he suggested unexpectedly, causing Julie's smile to drop. "Like that one brown-haired girl with green eyes who lives on Pendelton Street."
Julie immediately dismissed that idea.
"Maybe there's another option.
" "What?" he asked, surprised that his comment didn't impress her.
"That he bought tie clips. You're overthinking things. Get ready, we're going to Brauni."
She got up and went to the kitchen where she got her car keys. She poured some water from Piper's bowl and headed for the door. Chris caught up with her, muttering under his breath,
"Tie clips... A lie on springs."
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