Page 60 of Hate On
She took a deep breath then and shifted her gaze back to me. “It was his best friend, Michael Montrose.”
“His…what?” Julianna gaped at her mother, certain she’d heard wrong.
“You heard me.” Exasperated, Janice waved a hand. “Before this whole stupid feud, your father and Michael were best friends. Competitors, yes…but the Castle and Montrose families had been friendly rivals up until there was a falling out between your father and Michael.”
The pieces clicked—the words she hadn’t said finally coming to me. “They had a falling out overyou.”
Her mother blushed, fidgeting a little. “I’m afraid so, yes. I’ve always hated that, too. Michael and Charles were so close, but when I chose your father over him, Michael just…”
“He couldn’t take it,” Julianna said shortly. She could see that. The sharp-edged man she’d met a handful of times struck her as the type of man who’d be a sore loser.
Did he pass some of that on to his son? She thought a moment about how Roman had reacted when he’d discovered his ploy to steal the prototype hadn’t gone unnoticed nor had she been unprepared. She also thought of how he’d reacted earlier at the restaurant.
She remembered what her father had said, wanting her to be happy and not thinking it could happen with a man who had been raised to hold a grudge.
And wow, could Michael Montroseeverhold a grudge. This was a thirty-year-old flame he’d been nursing. But, she’d seen Roman’s regret on his face that night in the elevator and she’d heard the pain in his voice when he said his father had threatened to throw Roman out of the family company and he’d stood firm for her. So, while she could easily accept the elder Montrose’s actions and accusations told of his inability to let go of something that happened decades ago, everything within her was saying that his son was simply not that sort of man.
“No, I guess Michael couldn’t,” Janice said softly.
Rising, Julianna started to pace the cobbled stone path that made up the floor of the greenhouse. “So, all of this…the machinations the Montrose family had used against us in business, even the attempt to steal the prototype, it all goes back to that?”
Janice nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
Julianna, once again, thought of the talk she’d had with her father, the almost wistful way he’d talked to her. There hadn’t been any bitterness in his voice when he’d told her not to harbor any fantasies about a relationship with Roman and she understood that now.
Hewasn’tbitter.
He’d won the girl. Her parents were still madly in love with each other.
“Julianna.” Janice rose from the low wall where she’d been sitting, moving to cut her daughter off. Standing in front of Julianna, she lifted a hand to brush her finger across the locket’s engraved surface. “I know where you got this,” she said quietly. “Michael once tried to give me a necklace that had aMpendant, done in the same design.”
Julianna met her mother’s gaze.
“Are you in love with him?” she asked gently.
Julianna nodded, although it hurt to even think it, especially after what had happened earlier that day.
“Why does that hurt you?”
She wasn’t surprised her mother had seen it. Her mother had always been able to see beneath the surface so easily.
“We had a fight,” she said quietly. “It was ugly.”
“Fights usually are. But if you love him, he’s worth fighting for…and with.” Janice smiled a little. “I’ve fought with your father plenty.”
“You’re not upset,” Julianna murmured.
“We don’t get to choose where and when and who we give our heart to.” Janice shrugged. “Believe me, I know. Your father was the last thing I was looking for. Reckless and hotheaded…” She laughed softly, her head falling back, face awash with memories. Finally, she looked back at her daughter. “But he was exactly what I needed.”
Now, she reached up and covered Julianna’s shoulders with her hands, squeezing lightly. “You love him…so go to him. Fight for him. Fight with him again, if that’s what it takes. If he’s what you want, then I want him for you.”
“And what will Dad think?” Julianna whispered.
“In the end, your dad will want you to be happy.” Janice shrugged. “If it takes him a while to see that, then so be it. But I’ll support you, no matter what.”
* * *
Julianna tookone of the family cars.