Julia

A few moments earlier

“Come with me,” I said to Arnold as we stepped from the elevator into a large waiting area. “Van will be happy to see you.”

Stepping from the walkway and allowing others to pass, he replied, “You stay strong, Miss Julia.”

In that second, I realized this was where we’d separate. I hadn’t expected to appreciate his demand to drive me as much as I had. Arnold had been with my family ...