2The room was quite comfortable, considering the circumstances. Mismatched and worn furniture lined the hardwood walls of the living room with scuffed coffee tables at their sides. It had always been a room where pulling your feet under you on the sofa was acceptable and spilling your drink required only a, "Here, let me get you a paper towel" from the lady of the house. However, this wasn't the time for personal comforts.
Grant Banner's eyes scanned the room full of people over a paper cup full of coffee. Most he guessed were relatives of either Julie or Mark. Several he knew were friends of the family, many of which he had gone to school with himself. A few coworkers lingered here and there, looking lost and out of place amongst the mourners. He knew their discomfort. It had been too long since his last visit and most people did not recognize him.
There was one missing amongst the crowded room. No one had seen Julie since that morning, yet no one was looking for her, either. It was whispered that she needed space to collect herself. Grant sipped his coffee. She couldn't be far; Her grandmother would never allow her to leave at a time like this, even if Julie had tried. No, she was around, he was sure. The million-dollar question was "where." He walked through the living room past the people chatting amongst themselves. Few paid him any attention while a few glanced at him, trying to place a name to a face.
He knew the house though he had not been in it since it had become the Wright residence. The log cabin-influenced living room with an old fireplace met the entrance of the home three steps below the hallway railing. The hall closet separated two bedrooms, their doors shutting out the outside world. The tiny kitchen was separated from one end the living room by a pair of western-style swinging doors while a tiny study was left unnoticed on the other end of the room. It was a cozy home for a couple just starting to spread their wings in the world, though at the moment all the people inside made the house seemed suffocating.
Grant glanced to the left just outside the kitchen. The corner of the hall was lined with a bookshelf filled from side to side with thick, worn novels. Grant approached the shelf and examined its contents. Fantasy novels and psychological thrillers lined the left wall while the right was filled with science-fiction novels and a few Star Wars encyclopedias. His and hers book shelves, he smiled. How cute.
A sound from behind caused Grant to look up from the bookshelf in the direction of the master bedroom. It had sounded like a cross between a whimper and a hiccup. He knew then he had found who he was looking for as he walked back up the living room steps to the hall. Carefully, he pushed open the door to the master bedroom.
She hasn't changed a bit.
It had been five years since he'd seen Julie. It was at her wedding, and she had looked like an angel. Seemingly endless curls fell down her back and framed her round face. Her eyes were wide and a dark shade of green found only in the deepest part of the forest. With her veil and flowing gown, she looked like a picture from a Christmas card. He had expected her to be different somehow after time had passed.
Julie sat on the bed with her stare off somewhere in the dark. "Grant?" She hadn't turned around, yet she knew who was behind her.
He couldn't help but smile. "How'd you know?"
"I know your footsteps."
Confused, he glanced down at his feet. He hadn't even realized he'd walked halfway into the room. He looked up sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head with his hand. "Of course," he half mumbled. "So, um... How are you?"
Well, that was original, Banner, he winced.
Julie sniffled faintly. "I've been better. Things have been pretty crazy around here and... and..."
When she hesitated, Grant began to worry he'd said something to trigger even more tears. Instead of more tears, however, Julie finally lifted her head as she turned to face her old friend. The corners of her mouth twitched upwards in the attempt of a smile. Her eyes were red no doubt from the last two sleepless nights while dark circles hung like crescents beneath her eyes. Her hair was pulled back into a single braid that now missed her waist by centimeters. The black dress she wore made her face pale as milk. Make-up smeared from crying stained her cheeks, but her forest green eyes were strong and she was as beautiful as ever, but why did any of this surprise him?
"Do you want me to fix you something to eat?"
Grant couldn't help but smile. She really hadn't changed a bit.