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Laura frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Juliette’s certainty ebbed. “What are you talking about?”
“Juliette, Liv has decided to move to Europe. She’s starting a new branch of Aimee Enterprises there.”
A whole new kind of panic filled Juliette, so intense that she could barely breathe. “What?” she whispered. “Liv… Liv’s gone?”
“She just left a few hours ago.”
“No – no, she can’t.” Juliette felt tears spring to her eyes as she clutched at the arms of the sofa, trying to hold onto something steady as her world spun on its axis. Would she ever see Liv again? Juliette couldn’t stand the thought of living without Liv beside her.
“I’m sorry, sweetie. I know how close the two of you were.” Laura came to put an arm around Juliette’s shoulders.
Juliette blinked dumbly at her mother. “You don’t understand.”
“I know it’s hard – losing a friend always is – but you two can still keep in touch. And I’m sure Liv will be back to visit –”
“No, you don’t understand!” Juliette realized she was on her feet. She shouldn’t shout, but she controlling her voice was the last thing on her mind right now.
“Juliette, don’t distress yourself. You have other friends. You can –”
“Liv isn’t just a friend! I love her, mom!”
“Of course you do. I love her too. I’m sure she’ll always be like a sister to you, but sometimes, family moves away and –”
“No, you don’t get it! I don’t just love her. I’m in love with her!”
Laura’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “I’m afraid I don’t follow.”
Juliette hesitated. She could backtrack. She could claim she had misspoken, and Laura would believe her, because that’s what she wanted to believe.
But Juliette couldn’t do this, not anymore. She couldn’t bear to lose Liv. Not like this. Not when there was anything she could do about it. Maybe it was far too late, but she had to try. She had to fight for the woman she loved.
That meant doing the thing that terrified her most… but Juliette realized that now that it had come down to a choice, she chose Liv. She may lose her mother forever, but she needed Liv more than she needed anyone or anything else.
“I’m gay, mom. Liv and I are together. I’m in love with her. I want to marry her. I want to have children with her. She’s the love of my life.”
Laura’s expression was thunderous. “Think about what you’re saying, Juliette. I know you’re upset, but that’s no reason to overreact. I know you love Liv, but I think you’re confusing familial love with something… else.”
“No, I’m not. I know what I feel. Making love to Liv feels right, which is more than I can say about any man I’ve been with. This is who I am, mom.”
“No, it’s not,” Laura hissed from behind clenched teeth. “No daughter of mine will be gay! I intend to see you in heaven, Juliette. Don’t you dare make it otherwise.”
Juliette felt like her mom had slapped her. It would have been better if she had. The tears spilled over. “I’m not going to hell,” she whispered.
“Damn right you’re not, because we’re going to get you some proper help. There are some excellent facilities…”
A conversion camp. Her mom wanted to send her to a conversion camp.
Of course, Laura never would have accepted her. Juliette had known that, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. She hadn’t thought her heart could become any more broken and mangled than it already was, but she had been wrong.
“Juliette? What’s going – oh. Laura told you.”
Juliette looked up at Kane with pleading eyes. Surely, he would stand up for her. Juliette had stood up for gay rights to her mother multiple times, but now, she couldn’t even bring herself to look Laura in the eye.
“Oh.” His face softened in sympathy. “Laura told you about Liv.”
“Liv? Do you have any idea what your daughter has done, Kane? Juliette’s eternal soul is in danger because of Olivia’s actions!”
