Page 93 of Julian

“Did Lucy say why they were leaving?”

“She said that Kiara was tired and that her feet were hurting.”

It made sense, but after his conversation with Emilia, Julian wondered if that was the real reason. “Maybe I should go check in on her.”

“Let me call Lucy to see if Kiara is up for a visit.”

Julian wanted to protest that he should be able to see his wife if he wanted to, but he held his tongue. He was a husband in name only, so he had no right to make a demand on Kiara’s time.

As Anthony stepped away with his phone, Julian sank down on a chair at the table. His gaze settled on Annie and Cole, still out on the dance floor. The two of them gazed at each other as if they were the only two people in the world.

They were still technically in the honeymoon stage, since they’d only been married a month and a half. It was reminiscent of Angela and Jude.

He supposed it was only fair that the twins, who had been so negatively impacted by his actions, had found happiness with the people they’d married. And perhaps the struggles he was facing were his payment for what he’d done.

The unfortunate thing was that Kiara had gotten caught in the middle of his mess. She deserved better than that.

“Lucy said she’s gone to bed,” Anthony told Julian when he reappeared.

Julian gave a nod that he heard, though he didn’t look at the man.

He was still sitting there when Cole and Annie returned.

“Hey, bro,” Annie said as she sat down in the chair Cole held for her. “Where’s Kiara?”

Julian wanted to ask her why she’d left Kiara all by herself at the table, but he knew the blame lay with him, not Annie. “She was tired and her feet hurt, so she went upstairs with Lucy.”

“I’m about ready to call it a night too,” Annie said. “They need to let us wear sneakers to these events.”

“You do realize that you can do what you want, right?” Julian asked. “You’re a Burke. We’re not restrained by the fashion rules.”

Annie laughed. “Yeah. Two problems with that. First, Dad. Second, Elizabeth. Also, I’m not keen on drawing attention, and being a fashion rebel would do just that.”

“Do we need to talk to Duncan and Elizabeth before we leave?” Cole asked.

“I’ll tell them you’ve gone,” Julian said with a wave of his hand.

“Are you sticking it out to the very end?” Annie asked.

“I’m usually expected to.”

Annie stared at him for a long moment. “You don’t look happy about it.”

“I’m not,” Julian said. “But I’ve survived hundreds of these types of events over the years.”

“I feel like I owe you,” Annie told him. “Since you’ve always had to come to these things, while I never did.”

“Even if you’d had to come to them, it wouldn’t have meant that I didn’t. Duncan would have insisted I be here, regardless.”

“Maybe you need to just say no,” she said. “If what you say is true about being a Burke, then it shouldn’t matter if you’re here or not.”

Julian wondered if maybe it was time to have a conversation with Duncan. Being in this environment so soon after going to rehab was a challenge he hadn’t expected. Unfortunately, it had taken being put in the situation for him to realize that maybe he wasn’t strong enough to handle it just yet.

“How long are you guys hanging around New York?” Julian asked.

“I think we’re going to head home tomorrow afternoon. Dad said we could use the plane. Are you coming back to the estate soon?”

“No,” he said. “I’ve got meetings here all week.”