Flat-Out Love

“I’m fine. Just distracted, I guess. Busy. Gearing up to head back to school.”

“Uh-huh. If you say so.” Something caught his eye, and he reached his hand out. “Julie? Where did you get this? Is this Matthew’s?” He held the stone of her necklace in his hand.

“Oh.” She sat back, pulling it from his grasp, and clasped her hand to her chest.

As much as she couldn’t bear to think about Matt, she hadn’t been able to take off the necklace. It was part of her—her and Fi

Roger squinted. “It is Matthew’s. Did he tell you what this is?”

Confused, she shook her head. She hadn’t really thought about where it had come from. Obviously not from Fi

“Wow. I haven’t seen that in years. When Matt was a kid, rocks and minerals fascinated him. He was actively involved in the Boston Minerals Club.”

Of course he was. Julie felt that same twinge of wistfulness that hit her more than she liked to admit. She knew Matt so well that it hurt.

“I used to take him on weekend outings with the club,” Roger said. “We’d go on hikes in New Hampshire and Vermont. Once to the Berkshires. And the kids would dig and whatnot, looking for rocks. All little boys love that stuff, but Matthew in particular. He kept copious notes about his findings and made charts and graphs that he kept in a binder. Rock and mineral-wise, this is not a terribly exciting part of the country to live in. Nonetheless, Matt held out hope that he would find that special item. And God love him, he did.” Roger pointed to her necklace. “That’s a fragment of purpurite.  Not the sexiest-sounding mineral, I guess, but Matt was over the moon when he collected this. He wouldn’t let anyone touch it, and he kept that thing in a locked display case for years.” He tipped his head to the side. “I can’t believe he parted with that. You mean something very special to him, Julie.”

She looked down and squeezed her hand around the necklace.

“Look, this is none of my business, and I don’t know exactly what happened this year, but I know something fell apart between you two. I’ve tried to talk to him about it… Well, you know Matt. He has a hard time opening up. I do know a bit about him posing as Fi

Julie looked up. “I guess.”

“Can you imagine how much time he spent doctoring all those pictures? Inventing new volunteer opportunities? And when he sent Celeste the package, the poor guy had to track down an old friend overseas, mail the package there, and have that person mail it back to the house so that it would have the right postage. Not to mention all the work it must have taken to keep his stories straight.” He smiled.  “Come on, Julie. Effort has to count for something.”

“This had been hard on me,” she said. “I feel stupid saying that considering what your family has been through, but—”

Roger stopped her. “You’re allowed to feel the way you do. Matt was an idiot. And maybe you have other reasons for holding back. Reasons that don’t have to do with Matthew.”

“I don’t know what to trust… who to trust.”

Roger tipped his head to the side. “Look, Fi

Images from the past year flashed through Julie’s head: Matt picking her up in front of the non-apartment. Explaining font nerds. Reluctantly taking her to buy hinges for Flat Fi

And that’s when she knew. Julie looked at Roger and smiled. She felt whole for the first time in weeks.

Chapter 32

Matthew Watkins When I screw up, I’m just going to think of it as the group disbanding. And by “the group” I mean “brain function.” And by “disbanding” I mean “failing miserably.

Julie Seagle “ The best way to hold a man is in your arms.” –Mae West

Celeste Watkins thinks the expression should be, “Free to be you OR me,” because “Free to be you AND me” makes one think of a dissociative identity disorder.

Her heart was pounding uncontrollably. Julie had to muster every scrap of courage she had just to ring the bell. She was on time for the party, but she hoped that she wasn’t too late for the most important thing.

Erin opened the door. “You’re here! Look at you! You look wonderful!”

Julie leaned in for a hug, smiling at Erin’s typically awkward embrace. “It’s a big day, huh?”

“A long overdue day. Come on, we’re all in the backyard.” Erin waited for Julie to step into the house. “Well, come on. Don’t be shy. This is practically your house, too.”

Julie forced her feet to move. Breathe, breathe, breathe.

They walked to the dining room. A platter with bagels and spreads sat in the center of the table underneath a mass of balloons, and ribbons had been tied to the backs of the chairs. The room was lighter and cheerier than Julie had ever seen it.

“Tell me about your summer, Julie. You and I have barely seen in each other in months, and I don’t like not knowing what’s going on with you. And have you registered for fall classes yet? I’d be honored to look over your course options with you.” She pulled out a chair. “Here, sit down. Coffee?”

Julie nodded. She spent twenty minutes trying her best to pay attention to Erin’s advice about the upcoming semester. She had missed Erin and was so happy to see how engaged and genuinely cheerful she was. But her mind was elsewhere.

 Celeste bounded into the room and practically toppled her with a hug. “Why is it that nobody told me you had arrived? Oh, my gosh! Are these for me?”

Julie nodded and handed her a massive bouquet of flowers. “Congratulations, pal. I know this day means a lot to you. It does to me, too.”

“I’m going to find out if Roger is almost ready,” Erin said. “He has been in the basement for two hours, and the house is still sweltering.” She fa

“My dad is fiddling with the AC system,” Celeste explained. “Don’t go near him until he has finished, because he’s not very adept and has already given himself two minor shocks. Did you see Matt yet? He’s hiding in the backyard. I think he’s nervous.”

“Join the club.”

Celeste touched Julie’s arm. “Do not be nervous, Julie. This is going to work out marvelously. I believe in you. Both of you.”