All The Summers Between Us | TSITP

Keys To Goodbye.

The air felt heavier than it should have for a summer morning. There was no ocean breeze, no birdsong cutting through the tension—just the faint sound of the of waves crashing against the shore as they all stood outside the Fisher house for what might be the last time.

Nearly a day had passed since the blow-up, but nothing felt settled. If anything, the silence had only made everything worse.

Taylor, Steven, Lydia, Belly, Conrad, and Jeremiah stood in a loose, uneasy semicircle, their eyes fixed on Julia, who stood at the front door with her purse slung over her shoulder and a file folder tucked under one arm. Skye hovered a few feet behind her, their arms crossed tightly across their chest.

Jeremiah was the first to speak. "It's sold?" His voice cracked halfway through the question.

Julia nodded once. "Yes."

Conrad's voice was sharper, angrier. "You—you sold the house in the last twelve hours?"

"Yes," Julia said again, calm but not cold. "To a... a lovely family with three children and some kind of poodle mix."

Jeremiah shook his head in disbelief. "Well, it can't just be over."

Julia's expression softened, but only slightly. "It is. Uh, I'm going to need your keys, please."

The words hit like a punch to the chest.

Her eyes flicked toward Lydia, who was standing off to the side, swirling the iced coffee in her hand.

"And also," Julia added, "please just... take that cup from her hand, Steven."

Lydia's eyes cut toward her, cold and sharp. "Oh, what's wrong, Julie? Afraid I'll throw this one at your head too?"

"Lyd," Steven warned gently, but she just rolled her eyes and took another long sip, making a point of it.

Conrad shoved his hand into his pocket, pulling out his keyring with jerky, angry movements. "I bet you're really enjoying this," he muttered.

Julia sighed and held out her hand, palm up. "I'm not," she said quietly.

"Mom, don't do this," Skye said suddenly, stepping closer. Their voice trembled slightly, but their jaw was set.

Julia blinked. "Skye, really? I told you two that I was selling the house. You just refused to believe it. And I'm not enjoying it, but I will admit..." she swallowed hard. "I'm relieved it's finally over."

Lydia just stared at her, expression blank and unreadable, the cup still in her hand.

Julia shifted uncomfortably under the weight of all their eyes. "Come on, Skye. Excuse me." She turned and started walking toward the driveway.

"Mom..." Skye followed after her.

"I really don't want to fight with you," Julia said over her shoulder.

"Mom." Skye's voice was firmer now, louder. "Look, I know the past few days have been hard. I haven't forgotten all the stories about how there was no place for you here..."

Julia nodded tightly. "That hasn't changed."

"It's changed for me," Skye said. Their voice cracked with emotion, but they pressed on. "I—I like this town. And I like the house. And I like the... I like the stupid beach."

Julia turned to look at them, confusion etched into her features. "But you hate the water."

"You hate the water," Skye said, tears beginning to well in their eyes. "I don't know. I'm kind of happy here. And not in a pharmaceutically induced way."

Julia's expression softened, just a little. "And I want you to be happy. I want you to know them."

"Do you?" Skye asked, voice breaking. "Because it kind of feels like you've kept me away and only told me all the bad stuff. But... I don't know, I mean, this place is kind of like our last tie to them."

Julia's voice faltered. "Well, it wasn't me. I mean, they didn't want us around."

Skye sighed deeply. "Yeah, but that—that's the thing. I talked to Conrad and Jeremiah."

Julia's voice rose slightly, defensive now. "Okay, okay, what's done is done, Skye. I can't go back to the buyers because you want more time to play with your cousins. If they want to see you again, they'll reach out. Just... don't be surprised if the phone doesn't ring. That's all."

She turned toward the car, but Skye wasn't finished.

"I know you genuinely believe that you're gonna get closure by selling this house," they said, their voice rising, "but you're not. You never will."

Julia stopped walking and turned slowly. "What makes you so sure?"

"Because you're not selling it for closure or for money or any of the other reasons," Skye said, louder now, their eyes wet and furious. "You're selling it for confirmation."

Julia opened her mouth to respond, but Skye wasn't done.

"That you could... that we could never belong here. That if you tried, it would just be Shitmas all over again."

Julia sighed, shaking her head slightly. "So you think I made it up?"

"Mom, obviously not," Skye said, softer now, but still firm. "I mean, your dad was an emotionally withholding prick. And Aunt Susannah was in denial about her parents' shittiness. But the moment Conrad and Jeremiah came to you with a version of their house and their family that didn't fit, you just shut down."

Julia stayed silent, her jaw tight.

"I mean, instead of hearing them out, you got rid of all their stuff and took the first offer on the table?"

"It was a very good offer," Julia said weakly.

"Mom!" Skye's voice cracked. "You have the biggest heart, and it really sucks to see you close it off because of the past. So please back out of the deal."

Julia stared at Skye for a long, trembling moment. Her eyes were glassy now, her voice shaking when she finally spoke. "It doesn't work like that. Now get in the car. We need to be in Boston by ten." She climbed into the driver's seat and buckled her seatbelt.

Skye stood there, frozen. "No. Mom, I love you, but I can't go with you. This isn't right."

Julia's hands tightened on the steering wheel. "I love you too, Skye," she said quietly. "But you're wrong. I'll see you at the hotel when I get back from Boston."

And with that, she turned the key.

The engine roared to life.

The tires slowly rolled over the gravel.

And just like that—with the sound of a door slamming and a car pulling away—Julia was gone.

The group stood silently on the driveway, watching the taillights disappear down the road. None of them spoke. None of them moved.

Because even though the house was still standing in front of them, it felt like it was already gone.