Chapter 11

Behind her, a grim-faced older gentleman flanked by a younger woman and a man who looked slightly younger than Julian, walked slower but with no less purpose in their direction.

To her surprise, Julian took her left hand in his and held it close to his side. He fumbled with her fingers even as he looked up with a welcoming smile. It looked completely forced to Nina, but the woman didn’t seem put off.

Abby went past them.

The woman, who Nina recognized as Abby and Julian’s mother, threw her arms around Abby. “Oh sweetheart, you are here!” the woman said.

“Yes mom, we are here” Abby replied, smiling and hugging her mother tightly, then she moved to hug her father too.

The woman threw her arms around Julian, and still, he didn’t let go of Nina’s hand. He returned her embrace with his free arm and said, “Hello, Mom. I told you I was coming.”

“I know, but after Loveth told me she’d been to see you and when she told me that…”

She broke off and loo