Juliette called me earlier to tell me she would be released from the hospital some time during the afternoon and I join her in her bedroom right after lunch. She is pale and looks weak and she has a cast around her right leg.

I kiss her head and she pats a spot next to her for me to sit, which I do very cautiously.

"Are you in pain?"

"Yeah. The surgeon says I'll have to keep the cast for about two months. A nurse brought me crutches earlier. and I have a prescription for morphine and pain killers. You think we can stop at a drugstore on our way home?"

"Sure, anything you need. About home, I'm not taking you to your place." She opens her mouth to argue I'm sure, but I won't let her speak. "Let me help Ju."

Surprisingly she seems to agree. She must think I'm taking her to my place... A nurse enters her bedroom with a wheelchair but Juliette refuses to sit on it and uses the crutches instead. I see she's struggling and force her to sit on the chair. Once out of the hospital, I notice a black car with tinted windows and a chauffeur standing next to it, waiting patiently. When he sees the wheelchair, he approaches and we confirm our identity.I make a mental note to thank Amelia for that later.

Juliette must be high on medication because she doesn't think it weird. Or maybe she believes her healthcare company provided a chauffeur. No surely she must be high. We get her prescription and arrive in front of Amelia's building. The chauffeur helps her out of the car and carries the small luggage I had packed for Juliette. We get into the elevator and he presses the button to the highest floor, inserting a key in the pad at the same time. Finally, Ju suspects something and I feel her eyes burning holes in my skull but I don't dare look. Now I'm dreading her reaction, and questioning my decision.

The elevator comes to a halt and the doors open on Amelia's penthouse.

"Maman!!!" We hear an overly excited Lily running towards us. I catch her before she reaches her mother and carry her into my arms.

"Hey, mon coeur! I missed you so much!" She kisses her multiple times , keeping her eyes on me. Finally, Amelia walks towards us and all Juliette's questions are answered at once. She is not pleased, but I know she won't get mad in front of Lily, so I refuse to let her go and use her as a shield. Her stare has become deadly though.

"What the hell Lea! What are we doing here? Tell me you have nothing to do with....this." She would have used one hand to add meaning to her words but they are both grasping the cluthes so hard her knuckles have turned white. So instead she makes a circular movement with her head.

"Sorry to disappoint babe, it was my idea." I say, putting Lily down. She was getting restless and wiggled out of my grasp, and now I'm feeling vulnerable.

"What the FUCK Lea!" She's screaming and cursing, now that Lily is out of earshot. She ran somewhere, leaving us three alone.

"Why would you do that? Amelia of all people? Why would you lie to me too ? Unbelievable. I'm so done with you too. Lily, grab your things we're leaving!"

"Right, sorry I made this decision. I knew I should have dropped Lily at Kelly's parents instead." I'm getting angry too and regret my last words. I know I should have kept my mouth shut.

"Fuck you Lea. Don't you dare bring up Kelly. Lily!"

I have never seen Juliette so mad it scares me. Amelia hasn't uttered a single word and is ignoring my silent cries for help. I guess she's scared too. She doesn't know Ju as I do. I've seen her in grief, I've seen her in pain, I've seen her drunk af and puking her guts out...I've seen her in many different states, but I've never seen her like that. I takes me some time to react and I do something I thought I'd never do to Juliet. I shout at her, trying to hammer some sense in her thick stubborn brain.

"Juliette, for fuck's sake! Stop it! You're being completely unreasonable. I lied to you and I won't apologize for doing it. I needed to find a solution for your daughter as you were unconscious. I thought about what was best for you two. Amelia didn't ask for this but she took care of Lily while you were...." I whisper the last words, trying to shout them all the same "at the hospital."

"You lied to me...How could you." Can't she get past that for fuck's sake!? I close my eyes quickly and breath in and out slowly, calming myself down.

Screaming at her is not helping so I try a different approach. I keep on more softly "I know you don't like this but right now you need help....you can't take care of Lil' on your own."

"I've managed pretty well for two years, I don't need anyone! Come on Lily!"

"Babe please, just listen. You are the strongest woman I know and accepting help is not a sign of weakness."

"I can't stay here. Not after what happened. I can't accept help from you Amelia."

"I'm more than willing to offer, please." Finally the hot blonde found her voice again. " I made all the arangements already. Lily has her own room, you have yours too...that is, if you're willing to stay."

"Ju, if you refuse, I swear I'm calling your mother." I know Ju loves her very much, but can only cope with her a couple of weeks during the summer holidays. At least I manage to make her smile.

"And, if I have to handcuff you to your bed to make you stay, I'll do it." I add, dramatically.

"In your dreams." She answers coldly.

She wants to argue more but I see her having difficulty standing and wrap my arms around her waist before she loses her balance.

"You need to lie down babe, the surgeon said you would get dizzy and sleepy cos of the medication. Come on, let's put you to bed."

"Fine. I'll stay but only for a few days." She spits in defeat between her gritted teeth. God that woman will never accept she's wrong.

I glance at Amelia and she shows us the way. I quickly take a look around and Oh My ! her penthouse is huge and so bright with those big windows. And just look at that view...! Maybe I should stay too, I'm sure she has a fourth bedroom somewhere for me.

"No, I can't stay in your room." Juliette's voice brings me out of my daydream.

"It's no trouble at all.."

"Maman, we're staying?" Lily is peeking at the bedroom door.

"Yes, we are, but nor for long."

"I have my own room with a big bed!" She tells her mother. " And Amelia and I had a sleepover !"

Lily is grinning hugely and is that a blush on Amelia's cheeks? I was sure I had made the right call. I knew she would be up for the challenge.

"I think I'm going to have a nap Lil', I'm sorry I can't go play with you but I promise I'll make it up to you ok ?"

Juliette lies down and I place a quick kiss on her forehead. I notice Amelia's eyes on me and marvel at how calm she's being. Two months ago she would have punched me in the face for putting my lips on her girlfriend. Impressive. As I'm about to leave the side of the bed, Juliette grabs my hand and whispers between her teeth "I'm still mad at you. We're not done."

"Yeah yeah. I love you too." I wave.

I join Amelia in the living-room and sit on the couch next to her. She's watching Lily playing with one of her new toys.

"I'm glad you called me. Thank you."

"No, I'm the one who's thanking you. You stepped in when I needed you -when Ju needed you, even if you two were broken up. I had no right to call you."

"You had your reason, I guess." I sense it's more a question than a statement.

"Yes. Ever since Juliette has been back from France she has been very miserable. I know she still loves you but sometimes she's so stubborn...she can stick to a decision, even a terribly bad one, just because she's the one who made it. And she never admits she's wrong, even if I rub it in her face. God that's the most infuriating trait of hers. "

"So, what you're trying to say is she's still in love with me?"

"I'm sure she has feelings for you. I tried to bring up the subject but she's dodged it each time. But I can see it in her eyes. She misses you. And Lily talks about you all the time, she misses you too."

"I missed them both so much."

I raise from the couch and stretch. I turn to face Amelia and tell her as seriously as I can "you know what you have to do now. Don't mess this up. It's your last chance. I'll be back tomorrow to check on Ju."

.................................