All The Summers Between Us | TSITP

The Shape Of Letting Go.

The afternoon sunlight had shifted into a softer gold, pouring through the kitchen windows and catching on the dust still floating in the air. Music hummed quietly from someone's phone on the counter, and the house—though far from spotless—finally looked more like a home again.

Steven was sweeping up broken glass into a dustpan. Jeremiah was loading the dishwasher for what felt like the hundredth time. Belly and Skye were collecting empty bottles from under the couch. Lydia wiped down the dining table while Conrad stacked chairs against the wall. It was exhausting, but no one complained. For the first time in days, the heaviness in the air wasn't just grief—it was hope.

Then the door creaked open. Laurel stepped in first, followed by Julia. Everyone froze.

Julia stood there, hands clasped in front of her, eyes sweeping over the kids—all of them pausing mid-task to stare at her. Her voice was softer than any of them had ever heard it.

"I've..." she began, exhaling shakily, "decided to pull out of the sale."

It was like the words needed a moment to sink in.

Then—

"Yes!" Skye cried, sprinting forward and wrapping their arms around their mother. Julia laughed, startled but holding them tight.

"What?" Jeremiah asked, spinning around.

Belly didn't hesitate—she jumped into his arms, laughing breathlessly. "Are you serious?" she squealed.

Conrad and Lydia didn't jump or cheer, but they exchanged a glance—small smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths, like they were both afraid to let themselves feel too much just yet.

"Let's not celebrate yet," Laurel said, raising a hand. "We still need to convince your dad to buy the house from Julia."

Then she turned to Julia, her voice dipping into something quieter, gentler. "Thank you."

Julia gave a small, shaky nod. "You're welcome."

————

A few minutes later, Lydia approached Julia hesitantly. "Can we... talk? Outside?"

Julia blinked in surprise but nodded. "Of course."

They stepped out onto the back deck, the late-afternoon breeze coming off the water, carrying with it the faint scent of salt and sunscreen and summer. Lydia leaned against the railing, her arms crossed—but not defensively, just grounding herself.

"Okay," she said, exhaling. "I need to say this—all of it—and I need you to just... listen."

Julia nodded silently.

"I know I haven't exactly been your biggest fan," Lydia said with a self-deprecating laugh. "I called you Satan. I threw a shoe at you. Which, by the way, I still stand by—you did deserve that shoe."

Julia laughed softly. "It nearly took my head off."

"Yeah, well, I have good aim," Lydia said with a faint grin before her expression softened again. "But the thing is... I wasn't angry because of the house. I mean, I was, but it was more than that. This house—it's like the last piece of Susannah that we all have left. And when it felt like you were taking that away, it felt like you were taking her away, too. And I didn't know how to handle that."

Julia's face softened as she listened, eyes glistening faintly.

"I'm sorry," Lydia continued, her voice quieter now. "I'm sorry I was cruel. I'm sorry I didn't try to understand where you were coming from. You're not the villain here, Julia. And maybe I needed to see that for myself."

Julia swallowed hard, and for a long moment they just stood there in silence, the wind carrying the weight of words neither of them knew how to say.

Then Julia stepped forward—and Lydia didn't pull away.

They hugged.

It was awkward at first, tentative. But then Lydia let herself sink into it, and Julia's arms tightened around her, and for the first time since they'd met, there was no bitterness, no resentment. Just two people bound by the same grief, forgiving each other.

When they pulled apart, Julia was smiling. "Thank you," she whispered.

"Thank you," Lydia replied, and for once, she meant it.

————

Later, Julia wandered back into the house, her steps lighter than they'd been in weeks. She found Skye sitting cross-legged on the living room floor, sorting through a pile of photo frames. They looked up and immediately, patted the spot next to them.

Julia sank down beside them with a sigh. "Oh my god," she muttered. "What am I doing? Am I crazy to give this deal up?"

Skye smiled. "You are totally and completely sane."

Julia laughed, the tension melting from her shoulders. "So you're not going to disown me after all?"

Skye grinned. "Consider my plans scrapped."

Julia's heart softened. "I'm proud of you. You felt how you felt, without apology. You even risked my wrath."

"Yeah, well," Skye teased, "don't do things that make me disagree with you. It's weird."

Julia chuckled. "Don't make a habit of disagreeing with me. I won't stand for it."

They both laughed again, and for the first time in days, it felt like the air between them was clear.

"It's been a... weird week," Julia admitted.

"A fun one, though," Skye said.

"Wait," Julia said suddenly. "Tell me everything."

Skye leaned back against the wall. "Well... there was dancing."

"Uh huh."

"And I made an apple bong."

Julia's eyebrows shot up. "Oh God."

"And... I had my first kiss."

Julia's gasp was so dramatic that Skye immediately rolled their eyes. "Really?"

"Whatever," Skye muttered, trying and failing to hide a grin.

"Oh my God," Julia said, leaning closer. "Who?"

"I can't kiss and tell, mom."

"I'll keep it a secret. Promise."

Skye sighed, giving in. "He's super nerdy. And he loves whales."

Julia burst out laughing. "Whales?!"

"Yeah," Skye said, grinning now.

"Whales?" Julia repeated, still laughing.

They were still laughing, the sound echoing softly through the house, when the sun dipped behind the horizon—two people who had spent so long talking past each other finally learning how to listen.

And for the first time in a long time, it felt like the future might not be lost after all.