Juliana – Chapter 58 Progress

Time in Willow Creek: 12 months, 1 week, 6 days

One morning, Hillary decided to eat breakfast in the living room. Her back was hurting, and the couch was oh so inviting. She sat on the love seat out of habit as Harold usually rested on the sofa–not that she was expecting him. When Juliana saw Hillary dining in there, she joined her.

“Good morning,” Hillary said.

“Buenas días.” She enjoyed throwing around some of her native phrases.

“You wanna run around with me today?”

“Shopping?”

“No, but I do need to go to some stores.”

“Ok.”

Minutes later, footsteps echoed in the stairwell. They were slow and light. The girls knew who it was before a body appeared. The footsteps faded slightly as they went toward the kitchen. The refrigerator door opened and shut. The footsteps were expected to fade even more and move toward the dining room, but they got louder. Hillary tensed up and looked over her shoulder to find her father coming toward her with his breakfast. She hadn’t done anything wrong, but that was her natural response when he was around. Juliana looked a bit stoic as well. Her relationship with Harold wasn’t troubled, but she did not enjoy the tumult that came from those two being around each other. Hillary’s eyes followed her father’s movements as she took another bite of her omelet. She almost choked when he sat next to her.

“G’mornin,” he said.

The tenseness she felt previously had turned into that tingly feeling she got when she was excited. “Mornin, daddy.” She couldn’t stop smiling.

Juliana smiled too.

Hillary was surprised yet nervous. Positive attention from her father was all she ever really wanted, but she had no idea what to do with it. She continued eating while trying to catch glimpses of him in her peripheral vision. He seemed to be struggling too. It was not unusual for them to have meals in silence, but he seemed to be making an effort. Finally, he said, “How is your sister?”

The tenseness returned accompanied by a heat that was rising in her face. He barely says three words to me and months, and the first thing he says to me is about the one he likes better than me? Her breathing got heavier and faster, but then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Juliana grinning at them.

She realized she was seeing the situation completely wrong. Harold was not in his comfort zone. Interacting with her in that way was just not something he often did. He opened a pathway for dialogue. Sure, it had nothing to do with her, but it was an opportunity nonetheless. Progress was happening. Whatever form it came in, she accepted it.

“She’s doing fine.”

“Y’all had a good time?”

“Mmm hmm.” She went back to her breakfast. “She gave me lots to think about,” she added for good measure.

“Good.”

Harriett joined them with her breakfast and was beside herself at the sight of them. “Awwww! Look at you too! What are we talking about?”

“Nothing,” they said in unison.