173
After approximately eight hours of travel, we landed in Toulouse.
As soon as I arrived, I notified Gérard, who warned me to behave and take care, causing me to roll my eyes.
Honestly, I noticed he was very paranoid and reluctant about me being back here. And no wonder, we have a tendency for terrible things to happen every time we're apart.
It seems like the only way for us to be okay is to be together all the time. Although I don't think much can happen when I'll only be here for a day.
I know it won't be easy to convince my mother, but once I do, I hope she decides to leave voluntarily, or I'll have to find a way to persuade her to go.
At the airport, I choose to take a taxi to avoid arousing suspicion when I arrive at Isabella's apartment, where my mom told me she is. Apparently, everyone is gathered there waiting for me, and they're eager to see me.
I feel a bit anxious thinking about their reaction or the number of questions they'll ask. I'm pretty sure they'll subject me to some kind of interrogation, so I have to keep my answers as brief as possible.
Throughout the journey from the airport until I reach Isabella's building, my hands fidget nervously.
As I step into the elevator, my head spins with growing concern, and when I reach the apartment and I'm about to knock on the door, to my surprise, it opens earlier than expected, and my look of astonishment is unforgettable when I see that it's Sophie who's standing there, immediately launching herself into a hug.
"Juliette!" she exclaims ecstatically.
I go into a sort of shock at seeing her, but I accept the warm embrace from my sister. I can't believe it, I lost track of how long it's been since I saw her, and here she is today.
"Sophie," I whisper, astonished.
"I can't believe it. You're okay!" she says with a lot of joy as she pulls away.
"And you're here."
"Of course, why wouldn't I be? Juliette, you had us worried sick!"
"I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize, I was about to leave, but mom is inside," she informs me.
But just as I'm about to take a step to go inside and see her, Sophie stops me.
"Wait a moment, Juliette," she says, causing me to look at her strangely as she takes a perfume bottle out of her purse.
She immediately sprays me from head to toe, making me cough from the intense fragrance.
"Sophie, what...?" I'm about to say, but she interrupts me.
"I've figured out why you suddenly disappeared," she says in a hushed voice. "You smell like men's cologne, Juliette."
I'm frozen hearing her say that, but she just gives me a mischievous smile.
Damn.
"Now we can go in," she says, linking our arms after practically dousing me in lotion.
Upon entering the living room, still stunned by how my sister found out the reason for my "disappearance," everything gets worse when I see Damien sitting next to my mother.
"Daughter!" my mother jumps up from the couch, rushing over along with Isabella and her fiancé.
"Juliette," the others call my name.
"Hi, Mom," I turn to her. "Hi, guys."
"My dear, you have no idea how worried I was about you," my mother says with a choked voice after hugging me. "You don't know how relieved I am to know that you're safe."
Suddenly, she starts crying.
"Mom, I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to worry you that way," I say as I glance at the man who has stood up and keeps scrutinizing me.
"I'm so happy to see you, my treasure," she says as she steps back to make sure I'm okay. "I almost died when they told me you had disappeared and there was no news about you. I thought the worst."
"Mom, please don't cry, it hurts me," I say, wiping her tears.
It truly hurts to see my mother cry, especially if it's because of me. And even though I know I didn't cause this, I feel bad for giving everyone such a scare.
"Oh, daughter," she says between sobs. "Tell me where you were, why did you leave like that?"
Suddenly, she seems curious, leaving me unsure of how to respond.
"Uh... I... I..."
"I think we shouldn't overwhelm Juliette with so many questions," Sophie intervenes. "The important thing is that she's safe with us."
"She's right," Isabella says now. "I'm so glad you're okay, Juliette."
"Oh, friend, I'm glad you're okay," Chloé says, her eyes also moist. "You had me so scared."
She gives me a hug, followed by a big smile.
"Thank you for caring about me, guys," I appreciate taking their hands.
"We all did," Dave, Isabella's fiancé, says, so I give him a grateful smile.
"Well, Juliette, I'm sorry I can't spend more time with you, but I have to go," Sophie lets me know. "I promise we'll catch up soon, I'll call you."
"Alright," I reply. "See you."
We say goodbye with a kiss on the cheek.
"Goodbye, Mom," she says to my mother, then leaves the apartment.
Everything remains in an awkward silence for a while, until my mother speaks again.
"Oh, I almost forgot an important person... Damien, dear, why don't you come?" my mother calls him, leaving me puzzled by the way she addressed him.
"I'm not sure if Juliette feels comfortable with my presence, Diane," he replies, addressing her by her name? What's the reason for this familiarity?
"Nonsense, come," she asks him, making him stand up. "Daughter, you have no idea how worried this young man was about you." Suddenly, he's in front of me and at a close distance. He behaved incredibly and helped us look for you."
"No need for so much praise, Diane. I would do anything for her," Damien replies, gazing at me intently.
"I know, dear, more than any man has done for her before," she says in a venomous tone. "Hug him, darling."
She almost forces me to do this, so I have no choice but to approach and hug Damien, feeling very uncomfortable due to his proximity and my mother's scrutinizing gaze.