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“I’m so sorry, Dad,” she finished in a great rush of tears. “I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could un-do all of it. I’m sorry for betraying the family and for betraying Mom’s memory and for everything. I’m sorry I fell in love with Remi. I didn’t mean to—I couldn’t help it. It just happened. And I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.” Her blue eyes were drowning with tears as she peered up into her father’s face waiting for the worst.

Dad smiled and Julia

“I wish I could forgive you, kiddo, but I can’t.” Julia

“I can’t forgive someone who doesn’t have anything to be sorry for. You haven’t done anything wrong.” Dad spoke with a quiet resolution. He looked over his daughter’s shoulder, out onto the mangled beach.

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Julia

“You’re not angry?” She said it slowly, disbelievingly.

“Julia

Do I wish that you didn’t hide things from me? Of course. Every parent wishes that. Do I wish you felt comfortable enough to tell me that you were feeling pressured and conflicted? You know that I do. But you’re old enough to make your own decisions about the kind of support you need from your family.” Dad’s voice remained calm, almost pleasant, as he spoke.

Julia

She had practically been sleeping with the enemy—well, not sleeping with the enemy, but definitely making out with the enemy—for weeks, and he wasn’t even batting an eyelash.

As soon as Julia

Her dad paused, clearly weighing his words before sighing and crossing his arms in front of his chest.

“Look. What the Moores are doing—it’s terrible. It’s greedy, it’s wasteful, and it’s unkind. There’s no doubt that these folks play dirty, and there’s no doubt that I 203

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disagree—I can’t stress enough how strongly—with what they want to do with our property. But this kid isn’t the one doing it. His parents are.”

“But he’s not even trying to stop them!” Julia

“Maybe he is, maybe he isn’t. I don’t know. That’s not my concern. But Julia

“But . . .” Julia

“It’s just an example, okay? Stick with me, here. Let’s say that you really wanted us to sell the house, but Chloe and I didn’t agree.” He looked at Julia

“Okay . . .” Julia

“If Chloe and I said to you, ‘Julia

“Of course I would. You’re my family.” Julia

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“Then why is it so impossible to think that this boy would do the same thing for his family?” Dad pressed gently.

Blood rushed to Julia

“And you should certainly know what it feels like to want to support and stand up for your family. It’s what you’ve always done for us.” Dad reached out and tousled Julia

“You know, I had a feeling something was going on all summer.” Dad stopped and turned back toward Jules, his hazel eyes twinkling.

“How?” Julia

“You were never around. Even when you weren’t working with Bill or painting, I practically never saw 205

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you. And you know, I don’t think Remi’s parents had seen much of him, as I recall from some extremely awkward small talk.” Julia

Julia

“Between you and me, your grandfather wasn’t so wild about his ‘hippie son-in-law’ when your mom and I first got together.” Her dad opened the refrigerator and reached for a small blue Tupperware container of sprouts and some pita bread.

“What happened?” Julia

“Nothing, really. These things take time. All you can do is try to listen closely and follow what your heart is telling you. Can you pass me the hummus, sweetie?” Julia

Just then, Julia

Julia

Forbidden Boy

being in the same room with Chloe trickled in. She swallowed hard and tried to brace herself for Chloe’s anger.

But it never came. Julia

Subtlety was never one of her sister’s strengths.

Chloe was shaking ever so slightly, and her coffee-colored hair was staticky around the crown of her head—

Julia

“Um, hi.” Chloe’s voice was quiet and tentative.

“Welcome home, Dad.”

Dad smiled benevolently in the direction of his older daughter.

Chloe cleared her throat and smoothed her wrinkled scrub shirt. “Hey, Jules.”

“Hey.” Julia

A part of her wanted to run over and throw her arms around her sister. Another part of her wanted to hit Chloe in the face with a pie. She also considered hopping in the sisters’ shared hybrid and not looking back until she’d safely crossed the state border.

“Um, I was sort of listening out there and I have a few things I’d like to say.” Chloe’s voice pulled Julia

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Julia