Late the next morning, Julie stood in the bathroom of her hotel room, applying a couple of layers of mascara. She wore a corduroy tan jumper dress with a red turtleneck and red tights. Her long hair was in a simple braid, thrown over one shoulder. She stood back from the mirror, examining herself.
Well, Francis and Irene should be happy enough.
She grabbed her purse and a jacket, walking out of her room and into the elevator. The boys had a morning practice, but Herb had promised he'd be back in time to be with her when her grandparents showed up. When the elevator doors opened on the first floor, she saw the boys walking into the hotel lobby.
"Hi," she greeted them, walking up to where Rob, Jack, and Mark stood talking. They turned to look at her, and Rob couldn't help but smirk at her.
"You look like you're 15 again."
"Well, I didn't think Francis and Irene would appreciate the leather jackets, hip huggers, and band t-shirts I usually run around in," she told him, rolling her eyes. Julie checked the small watch on her wrist. "Ugh, they should be here any minute."
"It'll be okay. It's only a couple hours, and then you can rant to me all night," Rob promised.
"We can blindfold and tie up OC and let you beat him with a hockey stick if it'll make you feel better," Mark suggested. Julie laughed, shaking her head at him. Jack just glared at Mark, his mouth hanging open.
"Herb said I can't damage him until after the Olympics."
"That's right," Herb said, coming up behind them. He looked to Jack. "After the Games, you're out of my protection."
"I'll keep that in mind," Jack nodded. Most of the team had made their way towards the elevators, but Rob, Jack, and Mark stuck behind with Herb and Julie.
"It's 12:01. Maybe they're not coming," Julie shrugged, doing nothing to hide the hope in her voice.
Just then, the doors opened, letting in the cool fall air. In walked an older couple, both of them dressed well and looking very proper. The woman stood, dripping in jewelry and makeup, looking around the lobby. They had an arrogant air around them, as they looked around in distaste. The woman's silver hair was pulled back into a beat bun, and she wore a matching dress and coat in a baby blue style. Her husband stood tall and intimidating in a dark suit and red tie. Julie could feel her breath catching in her throat.
"Is it just me or did it suddenly get colder in here?" Julie asked quietly
"You're doing the right thing. Three hours, max," Herb said quietly as he waved to the couple, who then quickly made their way over.
"Julia," the woman cooed as she awkwardly hugged her granddaughter. Her husband followed suit, and the boys watched as Julie plastered an unconvincing smile on her face. Her eyes screamed for help.
"Hi, Grandma. Hi, Grandpa."
"Herb," Francis said quietly, extending his hand for Herb to shake.
"Francis, Irene. Nice to see you."
"As always," Francis said, sounding almost sarcastic.
Mark, Rob, and Jack suddenly and unanimously regretted sticking around to witness this awkward encounter. Mark was the first to slowly start backing away, but it was too late.
"And who's this?" Irene asked, her cold eyes suddenly on the three of them.
"These are my friends, and Herb's players. This is Mark Johnson, Jack O'Callahan, and I don't know if you remember, but this is Robbie McClanahan. He's been my best friend since we were eight."
"Since you moved to Minnesota," Irene spoke, nodding to the boys who politely smiled. It was easy to sense the disdain in her voice. The tension in the lobby was thick enough to cut with a knife.
"We better get going," Francis interrupted.
"Of course. Um, what time did you need me back for the game, Uncle Herb?" Julie looked to her uncle desperately.
"Oh, about 2:30 maybe?" Herb looked at Julie, his face not betraying his lie. He could see the gratitude in Julie's eyes the moment the words left his mouth.
"Sounds good. Bye, guys."
The four men stood around and watched as Julie followed her grandparents out the hotel doors. She looked back at them one last time, a look of dread in her eyes. Herb turned to his players, sighing.
"I sense an unpleasant evening to follow."
"Yeah, yeah, I got it," Robbie nodded, as the four of them made their way to the elevator.
"How was your drive?" Julie asked politely once they were seated at a restaurant. The drive over had been fairly quiet, mostly her grandparents offering her sightseeing ideas. She respectfully reminded them she was spending her evening at the hockey game.
"Oh, just fine, dear. I can't imagine how you survived the drive from Minnesota," Irene said.
"It's not so bad," Julie shrugged, taking a sip from her water glass.
"So, are you in college?" Francis asked.
I didn't even graduate high school.
"No," she admitted quietly.
"What are you doing these days?"
Mostly coke and Quaaludes. Sometimes whiskey.
"Well, the band I'm in is getting ready to release our third album, then it'll be another tour," she explained. Her grandparents shared a not-so-subtle look.
"Are you seeing anyone these days?" Irene asked hopefully.
"Oh, no," Julie scoffed.
"Oh, well, my friend Louise has a grandson who you'd adore! He's in medical school. I can introduce you."
Julie smiled civilly, before picking up the menu and pretending to read it.
"Julia, darling, we can't tell you how much we've missed you," Francis began, prompting Julie to slowly put down her menu.
"Yeah...it's been a while."
It was all Julie could trust herself to say without exploding.
"We're sorry about everything that happened, Julia," Irene said after another quiet moment.
Well, she sounds sincere.
They were staring at Julie, clearly waiting for her to say something. She swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to work through her emotions quick enough to know what to say.
"It's okay," she said softly, looking between the two of them.
Whether or not it was really okay, Julie didn't know, but what was she supposed to say? She was saved when the waiter came over to take their order. She quickly ordered a salad, not having bothered to actually read much on the menu. She zoned out while her grandparents ordered, feeling more than a little confused. What was she supposed to do? It's not like she could tell them she didn't forgive them. What would've been the point of any of this if she didn't forgive them?
"Your aunt Mary just had another baby," Irene announced once the waiter was gone.
"How many kids does she have now?"
"Three. They're absolutely precious," Irene gushed. Julia had never been particularly close to her aunt or uncle, the twins who were just two years younger than her mother. Mary had just given birth to her first child when Julie's mother had left.
"And how's Uncle Frank?" Julie asked.
"Married, with four kids. They moved to Connecticut," Francis informed her. The silence hung in the air. There was one other person to talk about. Julie wondered if they would dare bring her up.
"And your mother-" Irene started to say, before Julie spoke up.
"Sylvia," Julie corrected, her face blank, but her eyes burning.
"She's married. She has two kids. Her husband, Danny, is wonderful."
"Good for her," Julie said bitterly.
"Julia, dear, please don't be upset with her," Francis pleaded.
"I'm not upset with her, I just don't care to hear about her playing house with some new man and kids," Julie snapped. Her grandparents looked at her, clearly shocked. It was too late; Julie had started and she wasn't stopping now.
"She left me, she left my dad. She doesn't care about me, why should I care about her?"
"You're wrong. She does care about you," Irene said.
"Is that why I haven't heard from her in 13 years?" Julie was seething at this point, her hands shaking.
"She's the one that asked us to contact you," Francis admitted.
"She wanted us to reach out to you. She misses you, but she thought it would be better if we got in contact with you first," Irene explained.
Julie just stared at them, feeling like she could throw up. That news felt like a slap in the face. She took two deep breaths before standing up from her chair.
"I'm going back to the hotel. Sounds like you have plenty of lovely grandchildren, I'm sure you won't miss me. Just like you haven't for the last eight years."
She didn't listen to their protests and she quickly made her way outside, hailing a cab.
After a quick shower, Jack walked out of the bathroom and back into the hotel room he was sharing with Mark. As Mark was gathering his clothes to go shower, they heard a quick knock at the door. Jack walked over, opening it up to see a distraught looking Julie.
"Can I smoke on your balcony? Herb's room is next to mine and I don't want him to happen out onto his balcony and see me," she said quickly. Jack opened the door for her, stepping aside to let her in. Seeing as their room was across the hall from her and Herb's rooms, Julie figured she'd be safe there.
"How'd it go?" He asked cautiously.
"Smoke first, talk later," she said, walking out onto their balcony and shutting the door behind her. Mark looked to Jack, his eyebrows raised.
"Guessing it didn't go all that well, then," Jack said quietly, watching Julie light a cigarette on the balcony.
"I'll leave you to it then, bud," Mark sighed, walking into the bathroom to take a shower. Jack sat on his bed, leaning against his headboard and kicking his feet up. Looking to the clock on the table, he let out a chuckle. 1:13. That didn't last very long. He waited a few minutes, letting Julie cool off and finish her cigarette before she opened the sliding glass door, reentering the room.
"Thanks," she sighed when she walked in, sitting on the end of his bed.
"No problem," he said, waiting for her to say something else. She stared at the floor, pausing before she finally spoke.
"Why am I like this?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why can't I just like let things go? Why do I let things get to me so much? Why do I have to storm out of a restaurant because I can't even talk about my mother without having a meltdown? I'm like a little kid," Julie ranted, looking to Jack. Jack thought for a moment, not quite sure how to reply. He wasn't typically great with words, but he thought for a moment before replying.
"You're not like a little kid, Jules. You're dealing with a lot of shit. Probably more than any of us have ever dealt with. Your whole world flipped upside down like six weeks ago, and now dealing with your grandparents...it would be a lot for anyone to handle. I think you're doing a pretty good job," he told her honestly. She looked up at him, a hint of a smile on her face.
"Thanks, Jack."
Before Jack said anything else, she crawled up the bed, sitting beside him. She laid her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her. The boys had learned pretty quickly that she liked physical affection.
"My mom is married. She has two kids," Julie told him.
"And how do you feel about that?" Jack asked, staring at her as she stared at the ceiling.
"What are you, a therapist?" Julie laughed.
"I'm trying to be," he chuckled.
"I don't know. I guess I'm not surprised, but I'm a little bitter. Like I wasn't good enough and my dad wasn't good enough, but this new family of hers is."
"She's dumb, Jules. You're pretty fucking great, and it's her loss that she's not in your life."
Just then, the bathroom door opened, and out walked Mark, his hair still wet.
"Hey, Magic," Julie said, not moving from her spot beside Jack.
"Hi, Jules. How's it going?"
"Well, Jack and I are actually being nice to each other, if that gives you an idea of my current emotional state."
The boys just laughed, and Jack squeezed her tight.
"I can be nice when I need to, Julsie."
"Only when absolutely necessary," she agreed. "Do you guys seriously shower before a game?"
"We had practice this morning, and I have to smell good, Julia," Jack told her, rolling his eyes.
"For the other team?" She laughed.
"For the ladies," he corrected with a smirk. Mark just laughed.
"Don't let the ladies see you lying on a bed with this one," Mark advised, nodding his head toward Julie.
"Oh, please, I wouldn't be caught dead with Jules in public."
Julie gasped, glaring up at him.
"Excuse you! You'd be lucky to be seen with me."
"And, they're back to normal," Mark sighed to himself. Jack and Julie just grinned, as she adjusted herself to be more comfortable.
"What time are we leaving for the game?" Julie asked.
"Bus leaves at 4:30. What do we do for three hours?" Jack responded.
"Not a damn thing, that's what," Mark decided, turning on the TV and plopping down on his bed.
By 3 o'clock, Herb was surprised he hadn't seen Julie. He had gone to check her room, and there was no response when he knocked on the door. Walking to the next door, he knocked quickly. The door swung open, revealing Rizzo.
"Hey, coach," Rizzo said nervously. It was rare to see Herb making personal visits.
"Hey, Rizzo, is Mac here?"
Rob, having heard Herb asking for him, got off his bed and walked to the door.
"Is Julie in here with you?" Herb asked, confused. He had half expected Julie to be by Rob's side. Rob just frowned, shaking his head.
"No, I've kinda been waiting for her. I was sort of expecting a meltdown," Rob admitted quietly.
"Me too. I told her and her grandparents 2:30. It's 3 and I can't find her."
Rizzo stood behind Rob, looking as confused at Rob and Herb.
"Listen to me, I'm going to check the hotel bar. If she's drunk, you better pray for her," Herb threatened, walking off towards the elevator. Rizzo and Rob looked to each other.
"She's gotta be around here somewhere. She must've just gone to hang out with some of the boys," Rizzo reasoned.
"Okay if she didn't come here, she would've gone to Jimmy, Silky, Magic, Buzzy, Bah, or OC," Rob said, before looking at Rizzo. "Aren't Magic and OC roommates? My money's on them."
"You check with them, I'll check with Jimmy and Silky," Rizzo nodded, walking off.
Rob walked across the hall, stopping in front of Mark and Jack's room.
"Come in," he heard Mark call softly after he knocked. Once he entered the room, he saw Mark lounging on his bed. Mark quickly put a finger to his lips, signaling Rob to be quiet and pointed to the other bed. Julie was fast asleep in Jack's bed, her head resting on his shoulder. She was curled up close to him, breathing softly. He laid back in bed, his arm around her shoulders.
"Well, someone looks comfy," Rob sniggered, looking at the two of them. Jack just rolled his eyes.
"This was all her. She fell asleep like this an hour ago," Jack defended himself.
"Herb's looking for her. When did she get back?" Rob questioned.
"Around quarter after one. She wanted to smoke on our balcony because she didn't want Herb to catch her. Then we started talking and she just cuddled up. I couldn't move her; even I'm not that big of an ass."
"Did she say anything about lunch?"
Jack pursed his lips, glancing down to make sure Julie was still asleep.
"She said she stormed out. Her mom is married with kids. That's about all I know," Jack told him. Before Rob could respond to this news, Rizzo came in the room, leaving the door open behind him.
"Mac, tell me she's here or Herb is gonna flip!"
"Oh, she's here alright," Mac smirked.
The sound of Rizzo entering had only disturbed Julie a little. She moved in her sleep a bit, raising her head slightly before falling back onto Jack. Jimmy and Silky followed in after Rizzo, ready to join in the hunt.
"Aw, isn't that adorable," Silky laughed at the sight of Julie sleeping beside Jack.
"It won't be adorable if Herb sees," Mark chuckled, making Jack's eyes widen. He gently shook her, sliding off the bed slowly.
"Jules, wake up. Herb is looking for you, and he's not gonna find you sleeping in my bed," Jack said urgently, causing the boys to laugh. Julie stirred a bit more, before finally sitting up. She glared at the light filling the room, her hair messy.
"I was sleeping," she protested.
"Herb wants you," Rob told her, causing her to notice all the boys in the room. She rubbed her eyes, smoothed her hair, and got up from Jack's bed.
"What time is it?" She asked, stretching.
"A little after three," Rob told her, before they all heard the ding of the elevator. The boys all looked to Julie, who sighed. She walked towards the open door, poking her head into the hallway.
"Hi, Uncle Herb," she said cheerfully upon seeing her very stressed out uncle. His head snapped towards her, his eyes widening.
"Julia, there you are," he sighed. He walked toward her, peering into the room to see the boys gathered around. "I see the boys joined in my witch hunt."
"Sorry, I got back and saw Magic in the hall and I just invited myself in and started bitching to him and OC," she said. It wasn't the total truth, but Herb didn't need to know that Julie ran to them to smoke and fell asleep cuddling up to Jack.
"How was it?"
"Awkward. Annoying. I left before we even got our food and got a cab back to the hotel."
"You what?" Herb asked her, shaking his head. The boys all stood around, staring anywhere but Julie and Herb.
"I have a very good reason!" Julie defended.
"I would love to hear it," Herb told her. "I'm sure it'll be as entertaining as all your reasons."
Rob watched Julie's face, sensing that she was starting to get seriously mad. The last thing any of the boys needed to witness was Julie and Herb going at it. Julie glanced back to the boys, before taking a deep breath and speaking calmly.
"Francis and Irene informed me that Sylvia Brown, also known as the woman who gave birth to me and then left me and my father, is remarried and has two more children. I also learned that she is the only reason Francis and Irene reached out to me. She asked them to call me. They never even wanted to," Julie shrugged, walking past Herb out the door. After a few seconds, they heard a door slam. Herb looked to his players, his eyes stopping on Rob.
"I don't know if we just avoided a meltdown or if we're in for a bigger one later," he admitted.
"My money's on later," Rob predicted.