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“No, but…maybe you just need to spend some time away from each other and cool off.”
“He’s gone, so we’re apart. He took a call, as usual.”
Julia heaved a sigh as her sister continued to sniffle. “Okay, well, while he’s gone, maybe take a nice hot bath or watch a movie. You sound really upset, Ally.”
“I am,” she said, her voice breaking again. “I wish you were here with me.”
Guilt coursed through her as she swiveled in her chair, catching sight of her wedding photo in the process. She was, once again, torn between two worlds. “I’m right here, Ally. I can talk as long as you’d like. Or you can just cry, and I’ll be right here.”
“I don’t want you to be so far away,” her sister sobbed.
“I know,” Julia answered, desperately searching for a way to move the conversation forward. “Okay, that brings something to mind. When I was in Harbor Cove, you and Ethan reconnected. Why? What was different?”
“We were focused on something else. Something bigger than us.”
“All right, well, maybe you need to find a project. Something you can work on together that’s outside of your relationship.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, umm, a charity. Or…a town initiative. Something you’d both enjoy.”
Her sister’s sniffles met her suggestion. “Could you just come home again and bring your idiot husband so we can both hate him together? That worked.”
“No, I can’t. And he’s not an idiot.”
“Pretty close,” Alicia said.
Julia sighed, shaking her head as a slight smile crept over her face. “I’m not coming to Harbor Cove with Grant so you can collectively hate him and save your marriage. If you need Grant to save your marriage, you’re in trouble.”
Silence spanned for a few seconds before her sobbing sister answered, “I think we’re in trouble.”
Julia’s shoulders slumped. “Oh, Ally, I’m sorry. I know this is hard. Trying to decide if your marriage is salvageable or not is probably gut-wrenching, but I think you need to just…take some time here.”
“Time for what? Another argument?”
“Yes and no. Time for you to really think about what you want, what you need, and what you’re both willing to do to stay together. You shouldn’t jump into anything.”
“It hardly feels like jumping. We’ve been at it for over a year.”
“I know. And that’s a long time, but guess what? You’re still together after a year. So one or both of you feel like there’s something there worth saving.”
“Or we’re both too lazy to take the first step and leave the other one.”
“No. You both are working through your emotions. And that’s a good thing. But you need to take some time to really think through your options. Can you live without Ethan? Do you want that?”
“I don’t know,” she answered with a sigh.
“No, I’m sure you don’t. But that’s what you need to think about.”
Alicia heaved a sigh as Julia swallowed hard, resisting the urge to take her own advice and force herself to think about a life without Grant. Whether she wanted it or not, the choice may not be hers.
“Okay,” Alicia said, sounding defeated. “I’m going to go watch a movie and think about my life.”
“Don’t overthink, just…take your time, Ally.”
“I love you,” Alicia answered.
“I love you, too. Call if you need anything, Ally. Okay? Day or night.”
