The Call Of The City – Episode 19
The Call Of The City by Katharine Swartz
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- 1. The Call Of The City – Episode 19
Juliet stood by the International Arrivals exit, her heart feeling as if it might jump into her throat.
She was excited over Grace’s arrival – far more than she’d been back in February, seeing her niece for the first time in the better part of two decades.
In the months since Grace had left, Juliet had felt lonely. This was something she hadn’t felt, or hadn’t let herself feel, in the 30 years she’d been living as a single woman in the city.
Grace’s arrival, and her abrupt departure, had opened up a yearning for family inside Juliet. It was frightening, yet it was exciting as well.
Grace would be spending four years at Juilliard, and she might settle in the city afterwards. It was entirely possible.
For the first time in her adult life, Juliet would have family near her. She wouldn’t be alone.
“Aunt Juliet!”
Juliet looked up and saw Grace pushing a trolley with two suitcases with one hand, and waving frantically with the other.
Lost in her thoughts as she’d been, she hadn’t seen her come through the heavy swinging doors.
“Grace!” Juliet enveloped her in a big hug. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too!” Grace eased back, smiling. “I’m so excited to be here.”
“Let’s find a taxi,” Juliet said as she linked arms with her niece. “I can’t wait to show you everything back at my apartment.”
They chatted happily during the ride back into the city.
Juliet asked Grace about her course starting next week, whether she’d get a part-time job, and if she’d met any other Juilliard students online.
“You haven’t asked about Mum,” Grace said when they were nearly home. She looked troubled. “Or Dad.”
“Haven’t I?” Juliet tried not to feel guilty, nor stung by what sounded like a reprimand. “Sorry. I was just interested to hear all the news about your course. How are they?”
She realised now how artificial she sounded, as if she wasn’t interested in her sister and her husband at all. And she was; it was just that it hurt too much to think about them, and accept how little she knew them now.
How much she’d missed out on over the years.
“They’re doing all right.” Grace hesitated. “Dad hasn’t recovered from his heart attack as quickly as we’d hoped.”
“Hasn’t he?” Why was she speaking in this awful, false voice? As if she really didn’t care?
Clumsily, Juliet patted Grace’s arm.
“I’m sorry, Grace. It must be difficult.” Now she was the one to hesitate. “How is your mum coping?”
“Coping is the right word. It’s hard on her, especially after . . .”
Grace bit her lip, then she plunged ahead.
“After the way things happened with her and your parents. Your mum dying first, then your father being so ill after a stroke.”
“Yes.” Juliet looked away.
She didn’t want to talk about that, not when she was so excited to have Grace with her at last.
“It was very difficult.”
Grace looked as if she wanted to say something more, and Juliet could imagine what that might be.
“It wasn’t difficult for you, was it, Aunt Juliet? You just ran away and left Mum to deal with it all.”
Was that what Meg had told her? Could Juliet even blame her?
Yet Grace was here; she’d been happy to see her. Whatever Meg had revealed, it hadn’t made Grace change her mind about staying with Juliet.
“Here we are,” she said with a sigh of relief as the taxi cab pulled up to her building.
Feeling as giddy as a child, Juliet beckoned Grace into the building. Dragging a suitcase each, they crammed into the lift and then into the tiny hallway outside Juliet’s apartment.
“I hope you like your room,” she said as she led Grace back to the second bedroom of the apartment.
“I added a few things to make it a bit cosier.”
Actually, she’d had a field day redecorating the previously bland, basic room to suit Grace.
Now Juliet stepped aside so her niece could receive the full impact of the room as she came to the door.
“Oh, my goodness, Aunt Juliet!” Grace shook her head slowly.
“Do you like it?” Juliet tried not to sound anxious. “I had such fun decorating it. I wanted you to have a cosy space of your own.
“But perhaps I should have let you have your own style.”
“It’s lovely.”
Slowly Grace walked through the room, taking in the new curtains and matching chair, both in a sky blue that Grace had mentioned was one of her favourite colours.
A matching cashmere blanket lay across the bed, with a few throw pillows in accent colours. There was a noticeboard in the shape of a music note, and a framed print of “Two Young Girls At The Piano” by Renoir on the wall.
Juliet had also bought a desk and chair, fitting it out with a study lamp and plenty of pens, pencils and notebooks.
By the window she’d put a squashy armchair, perfect for curling up in with a book.
Grace turned to her.
“I don’t know what to say.”
For some reason that jolted Juliet, needling her with hurt.
“Thank you is all I’d ask,” she said lightly, and to her relief Grace smiled.
“Of course. Thank you so much, Aunt Juliet. It’s the most beautiful room.”
“You’re welcome.”
The moment hadn’t had quite the joy and excitement Juliet had been hoping for, but she told herself not to mind.
Perhaps it had been a bit much to redecorate the room, but she’d wanted to.
Having Grace here meant so much to her, but she realised that it might not mean so much to Grace – yet.
Still, there was time. There was lots of time.
“Why don’t I put the kettle on?” she suggested. “And you can freshen up. You must be exhausted.”
Grace nodded.
“That sounds wonderful.”
Again, Juliet felt the urge to tell her niece how glad she was that she was there.
But she held back, feeling it was too much too soon, and with a small smile and a nod, she turned from the room.