Chapter 45
Three days had passed since the horrible nightmare, and without a doubt, I still didn't feel any better.
Chloé had been with me most of the time, and today she had tried to encourage me to go for a run with her, so I could clear my mind. But it was a failure because I didn't even feel like getting out of bed; I just showered and went back to bed.
Trying to stop thinking about him was a lost cause, especially since today we were supposed to meet for dinner to set a new wedding date, which I had to attend with my whole family, but it was clear that circumstances had changed. The last thing I wanted was to be there, with Gérard's hateful gaze.
"Juliette, come down for lunch," I heard my mother call from downstairs.
We hadn't exchanged words since the day we came back from the station, and it made me a little uncomfortable to interact with her after everything that had happened.
But I was also very hungry, and I couldn't go without eating, so I had no choice but to grab my phone to get out of bed, then go down to the kitchen, where I found her.
"Here's your meal," she said upon seeing me, pointing to the plate on the counter. "I put enough because you didn't have breakfast."
"Thank you," was all I could say, then I sat down on the bench.
There was a lot of tension between us, and I didn't want to feel even more uncomfortable, so I didn't talk much. I knew very well that I was thinking out loud as I brought a spoonful of mashed potatoes to my mouth, I glanced up to see if she had heard me, and indeed she was there, watching me with an almost imperceptible smile.
"Are you sure you won't come see Damien with us," she suddenly blurted out.
"No, mom," I replied.
"As you wish," she replied disinterestedly, but I could tell by her expression that she was upset by my answer.
"Mom, I..."
"If you're going to talk about anything that happened, you better not even bother, Juliette," she warned me instantly.
"I just wanted to apologize to you," I murmured softly.
"If anyone should apologize here, it's him, not you," she cut me off and walked out of the kitchen.
Perfect, now even my mother hated me.
A moment after finishing my meal, as I was about to go back to my room, I saw Chloé coming down the stairs behind mom and dad, they were both in coats and she was holding her handbag, I didn't know they were leaving so early.
"You're leaving already?" I asked my father, as my mother just passed by me.
"Yes, we're having lunch with your Aunt Maggie and the boys before the visit," he explained.
"I don't think I'll taste much, I'm too full," my friend said, holding her hands to her abdomen, grimacing.
"Are you still convinced not to come?" Dad asked, giving me a goodbye hug.
"Yes, I'll be better off here," I commented after we parted.
"Have fun, and tell Damien I'll call him later," I said to Chloé as she headed for the exit.
"I'll take care of it, don't worry," she replied, finally leaving and closing the door behind her, leaving me alone in this place.
Before their departure, I had planned to go back to bed, but instead, I decided to watch a movie in the living room.
I was about to sit on the couch when the cell phone in my hand started ringing, and when I looked at the screen, it showed an incoming call from an unknown number.
"Hello?"
"Good morning, Miss, this is Dr. Meier speaking," answered the male voice at the other end of the line, and now I remembered.
"Yes, doctor, tell me," I was just waiting for him to tell me that Damien was doing better now.
"I was calling to give you an update on Garnier's condition."
"How is Damien?" I asked quickly.
"Well...," he seemed about to say something but stopped abruptly.
"I was going to give you this information, but I think someone else would prefer to do it."
"Juliette," I heard his voice say, and I could have sworn I even jumped. I couldn't believe it.
"Damien!" I exclaimed, astonished.
"How are you?"
"I should be asking you that!" I exclaimed, and a laugh was heard from him, followed by a brief groan.
"I'm pretty beat up, but I'm okay," he confessed. "I'll have to stay in bed for several days."
"Wow..." was all I could say.
"Yeah, Meier told me you came a few days ago," he told me. "I wanted you to know you didn't have to."
"I had to, Damien, I couldn't leave you there alone after what happened."
"No, Juliette," he replied. "I deserved it, I provoked it.”
"What do you mean?"
"I wanted to get close to you... with other intentions. He realized it, and that's why he acted that way," he sighed. "I understand."
"Yes, but it wasn't up to him to... almost kill you," I struggled to articulate the last word.
"But it didn't happen that way, and I'm still here, right?"
"You're right, I'm really glad you're feeling better now," I said warmly.
"It makes me happy that you're glad," he said cheerfully and remained silent for a few seconds.
"I have to hang up soon, as they'll come to see me. I just want to tell you that words will never be enough to express the regret I have for what I did to both of you, Juliette," he said, leaving me speechless. "Believe me, I'm not that kind of person, precious. And finally, I want you to know that I won't press charges against Gérard; he doesn't deserve to be there for something I provoked."
"Damien..."
"It's better for me to stay away from you as I promised," he said, cutting me off. "I wish you all the best, both of you, and especially you. Take care of yourself, Julie."