Tis The Season for Secrets (Village of Yule #2)

25. Juliet

“ B eth!” Juliet called out over the Christmas music filling the Frost house. She had to talk to her sister before she left. “Beth!”

Footsteps bounded through the halls, but instead of Beth, Diana appeared in her apron. Juliet realised she must be disturbing her from preparing dinner, which meant her father wouldn’t be far behind her. They’d always eaten at seven pm sharp, no excuses or delays.

“Are you alright?” Diana demanded. “Where the hell have you been? I got a call from Will saying you’d gone away together for a few days, and Mr Frost said I shouldn’t worry, but I couldn’t reach you.”

“I’m fine – sorry I left without telling you, but I need to talk to Beth,” Juliet panted.

“I’m sorry, Juliet, but Beth has gone to stay with a friend. She was so excited, and I promised her that you’d be okay with it. She tried to call you, but she couldn’t reach you.”

“It’s only a week away from Christmas! What about the Christmas Eve party? We’re never allowed to miss it!” Juliet desperately needed to see her sister. She feared her father would try to keep them apart until he got what he wanted.

“Mr Frost agreed that she didn’t have to attend, since her friend’s family is staying in the city. With the snow it wouldn’t be all that safe to come back, so she’s going to return to school after the holidays with her friend,” Diana explained as Juliet followed her to the kitchen.

The lasagne smelt amazing, but she couldn’t even think of food right now. Christmas Eve? It couldn’t be a coincidence. Mr Frost must believe he wouldn’t be here then, because if he got his way, he’d have Juliet’s bell.

“So she’s not coming back at all?” Juliet asked, trying not to fidget. They’d only had a few hours together, and guilt washed over her as she regretted getting so caught up in Yule. She vowed to make it up to her sister.

Diana shook her head. “I’m sorry, but it’s been arranged that she’ll return to school after New Year’s Eve. You can give her a call; she was sad not to say goodbye, but given how busy you’ve been the last few days, I thought it was best for her not to be alone in this big house.”

Juliet ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath. She knew Diana had been right to let Beth go, but it didn’t stop the ache in her chest from missing out on spending more precious time with her. Still, she was leaving herself, and this way she wouldn’t have to bear her sister pleading for her to stay. Most importantly, Beth would get to enjoy Christmas with her friends.

“I shouldn’t say anything, but I suspect Mr Frost didn’t want Beth here when you returned, in case—” Diana couldn’t meet Juliet’s eye; she rubbed her hands on her snowman apron.

“In case what?” Juliet pressed.

Diana let out a long exhalation. “In case you told her about Yule.”

Juliet thought her heart would stop, but her desire to know how the hell Diana knew about Yule kept her blood pumping.

“Y-you know about Yule?” she stammered.

There were tears in Diana’s creased eyes. “Yes. I came to the Outside in my early twenties to be a chef. Your grandfather hired me from a restaurant I was temping at. He recognised my family name, and being around people who knew about Yule made me feel safe. I’ve worked for the Frost family ever since. I was here the day you appeared, wrapped in a bundle of blankets. Your grandfather asked me to look after you, and I couldn’t say no.” She tried to take Juliet’s hand, but Juliet flinched away. “Please don’t hate me! They made me swear never to tell you. Having left Yule myself, even of my own free will, I knew how much it hurt to long for home. I didn’t want you to feel that way.”

Juliet had to sit before her legs gave out. “You let me believe my mother abandoned me because she didn’t want me.”

The words visibly stung the only mother figure she’d known. “I’m so sorry, Juliet. It was all so complicated, but I’ve always loved you as my own!”

Juliet kept distance between them. “You let Beth leave because you were protecting her from me? I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Beth, but she deserves the truth. That includes telling her our shameful family secrets –she has a right to know.”

“You’d never want to hurt your sister, but this is all still fresh to you. I was trying to protect both of you. Beth is still young. Can you imagine how poorly you’d have handled this at her age? Right now, her biggest concern is getting tickets to the Eras Tour. She shouldn’t have to bear this secret!”

“Well, she won’t have to worry for long,” Juliet told her. “Margot was able to get her tickets from a friend who works for her security company. I was so excited to tell her.” She’d seen the notification on her phone as soon as she’d got back to the Outside, and had been looking forward to sharing the news in person. “But you and Dad sent her away to protect her from me, when it’s all of you she should be protected from.”

“My daughter doesn’t need your gifts.”

Diana and Juliet turned to see Gillian standing at the kitchen door.

“We wouldn’t have needed to do any of this if you’d just handed over the chest when you received it,” she went on. “If you’d shown any loyalty to this family, we all could have had a perfectly civil Christmas.”

Juliet stared at her. “Does everyone in this house know about Yule but me and Beth?”

Gillian scoffed. “How could I not know? After all the years they spent building up a name for themselves on the Outside, your birth nearly ruined everything. Your grandfather practically begged me to marry his son.”

“Wasn’t he lucky to find a woman with such a lovely, kind heart,” Juliet deadpanned.

Gillian’s heels clicked against the wooden floors. “He was, and to my detriment.” She pursed her lips. “Now that you know about Yule, you’d better remember not to shame the Frost name.”

“The only people who’ve shamed our name are those who’ve allowed a child to be separated from her mother,” Juliet snapped.

Gillian stepped towards her, eyes ablaze with all she’d apparently longed to say over the years. “Don’t let your emotions get the better of you. No point in getting upset about a mother you’ve never known.”

“You’re right. Why should I have wished for another mother when I had you? ” Juliet clenched her fists, her nails biting into her skin.

Gillian’s eyebrows would have risen with shock if it hadn’t been for the Botox. “I don’t like your tone. I did my best.”

Juliet didn’t want to waste another breath on her. She stormed out of the kitchen and headed outside to her cottage, but she wasn’t getting rid of her stepmother that easily.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Gillian said, following her inside. Without the fire lit it was freezing, but Juliet didn’t care; she wouldn’t be there long.

“To stay with a friend.” She didn’t mention who or where.

“With Will – a man you barely know? You’re going to abandon your family just like that?” Gillian sneered.

“Abandon my family? This is not a family. You don’t want me here, and I thought you’d be delighted to see the back of me. I think what you’re truly upset about is losing your connection to Yule.”

Gillian scoffed and folded her arms across her chest. Bingo.

“All that talk about you volunteering at the library – that was just a lame excuse for why you weren’t home. You stayed away on purpose, hoping I’d fall for Will, to use him against me. I’m surprised you didn’t install cameras to spy on us.”

She rolled her eyes. “I certainly didn’t expect you to throw yourself at him so quickly. He really is the perfect leverage! I told your father that we shouldn’t even need that, though I see now that you’ve never considered us your family. If you did, you’d have handed over the chest. I never thought you could be so selfish.” Gillian surprised Juliet by taking hold of her, her long, manicured nails digging into her wrists. “We raised you and gave you a home!”

Juliet twisted out of her grasp. This was the second time today someone had laid hands on her, and she was getting sick of it. Gillian followed her into the bedroom, where she stuffed clothes into her suitcase. She really needed to get rid of her stepmother in case she stumbled across the chest’s hiding place.

“Don’t ignore me! Your mother wanted nothing to do with you. You’ll break Beth’s heart when she learns how you’re throwing us all away over a home and a mother you’ve never even known. Then again, if your mother is anything to go by, abandonment runs in the blood.”

Juliet bit her tongue, refusing to rise to the bait. She was sure they’d spin some story to tell Beth that would paint her as the villain, but she couldn’t be held hostage by the love she had for her sister. In a few years, she could tell Beth the truth – the whole truth.

“First you try to use Will against me, and now my sister.” Juliet laughed, trying not to show how the threat stung. “Love would’ve earned you my trust and loyalty. But all you and Dad know are threats and manipulation.”

Gillian’s eyes narrowed as she fought to keep her composure. She wasn’t used to losing a fight. “Fine. Since I can’t make you see reason, go. I’m just relieved Beth isn’t here to see this –though you won’t be gone long. You only have until Christmas Eve.”

“Relieved that Beth isn’t here to see me stand up for myself? Or to learn the truth about Yule and how you’re blackmailing me into handing over the only thing that connects me to my mom?” Juliet hissed.

Gillian flinched, and Juliet knew she genuinely feared losing Beth. Still, even if it did bring her a fraction of joy to see her stepmother hurting, she’d never do anything to upset her sister.

After a second of silence, Gillian stormed out of the cottage without another word.

Juliet tucked the chest safely in her suitcase and concealed it with thick jumpers. She’d called the hotel in Hartdale town on her way back from the barber’s; thankfully, they had one room left, so she’d be able to hide away from her dad. She didn’t want to go back to the apartment, since it was the first place he’d look for her.

“Can you tell Victor I’ll call him once I’m settled?” she asked Diana, who’d come out to say goodbye at the side gate. Juliet didn’t want to risk leaving by the front door, just in case her father had instructed Gillian to inspect her bags.

Diana sniffled. “Victor will understand. You need to do what’s right for you, and Beth will be fine with her friends. I’m so sorry I kept the truth from you,” she said again, opening the gate. “Find your own family. Beth will understand in time, and you still have us.”

This time, Juliet let her take her hand. Hope shone in Diana’s eyes.

“I’m mad at you, but you’re my family– always have been.” Juliet couldn’t ignore the hurt she felt about her part in the lie, but years of Diana being there when others hadn’t outweighed the deceit. It would take time, but she couldn’t hold any more hurt in her heart. She didn’t want to be poisoned like her father had been over the years.

“I know it’ll take time for you to trust me again. But please, be safe, and keep Will close. I see the way he looks at you. I haven’t seen a man look at anyone that way since I saw Victor walk to the altar with that goofy smile.”

“My smile is far from goofy,” Victor interrupted, stepping towards them from the other side of the gate. Diana must have called him and asked him to bring the car around.

Juliet looked at him, wanting to ask him why he’d lied, why he’d sided with her father, but now that she was leaving it all felt pointless. Besides, she knew deep down that they’d had little choice in the matter. If they’d gone against the Frost family, they would’ve been fired, and she really would have lost the only family she’d known.

“I’m sorry, love, for the part we played.” Victor wrapped her in a bear hug. It took all her strength not to crumble, but she had a plan to get through. Now was not the time to fall apart. “We made our choice, and now it’s your turn. So long as you’ll have us, we will always be in your life. As will Beth, no matter what they tell her. She loves you.” He released her and took her suitcase, putting it into the car.

Standing on the gravel path, Juliet wondered if she’d ever come back.

“As much as I wish you’d both told me the truth… thank you for raising me.” She gave the aging couple a wobbly smile, swamped with memories of all the kindness they’d shown a sad and lonely kid. “Please look after Beth, and no matter what the others tell her, make sure she knows she’ll always have a home with me. That she can come to me whenever she needs or wants to.”

“Don’t worry about Beth; she has her school and friends. I don’t believe for a moment they’ll be able to taint her love for you.” Diana gave Juliet a quick hug before opening the car door for her. “It’s time to look after you – and give Will our love. I’ve already packed his things. Just have him call Victor, and he can bring them wherever he needs.”

“Thank you, but I’ll take them now, I’m probably going to see him soon.” She was sure that Will wouldn’t have brought anything incriminating with him, but better safe than sorry. “Di, I’m sorry for what I said in the kitchen. You’ve been the best mom I could’ve asked for.”

Diana’s eyes filled with tears. “Call me when you get where you’re going.”

“I will,” Juliet promised, and Diana closed the door.

“Ready?” Victor asked in the rear-view mirror.

Juliet nodded, finally able to say goodbye to the house that had never been her home.

Once she was settled into her hotel room overlooking the snow-covered Hartdale, Juliet argued with herself. She wanted to see Will, but she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt his night with Harvey. He’d done so much for her; he deserved some time to himself. There was so much to digest, to think through before she could even begin to tell him about her dad’s scheme.

I need you.

Juliet sent the text before she had a chance to overthink it.

It didn’t take five minutes for Margot to respond.

I can be in Hartdale first thing in the morning. Just wrapping up with a client xxx

She turned up the following morning as promised.

Juliet had spent most of the night agonising over this decision, but she couldn’t stand the taste of another lie on her tongue. Even if it meant breaking yet another of Yule’s rules, she couldn’t be like her family; she needed to choose truth and trust. Once the small kettle on the desk had boiled and two large cups of coffee were made, she told Margot everything.

When Juliet had finished her story and Margot had examined the contents of the chest, her best friend put down the snowman-shaped hotel mug and let out a long sigh. “We’re going to need something stronger than coffee.”