Jules wished she had a say in all this: that she could make Mr. Tavio leave Vivian alone, that she could make Vivian stay home and sleep in once in a while, that she could just fix everything. But wishing hadn’t done her any favors so far.

It’d also be nice to have a life outside of all this. Jules doubted that was going to happen anytime soon.

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Then, the very next day, it did.

Vivian had gone home at six thirty, her new normal. Jules was almost used to it now and told herself that she did not miss having Vivian’s company until ten thirty, when they would go down to the car and ride together to Vivian’s place without even talking to each other. It was much better for Vivian to be at home resting, as Dr. Viswanathan had said. God knew she kept busy enough during the day.

It was quieter now, though, at nearly seven p.m. Jules had finished making tomorrow’s to-do list and decided to check her personal inbox before heading out the door. And there it was: an email notifying her that her column for The Cut had been published.

She squealed aloud and then looked around, her face heating. Thank God nobody was here to hear that. But nobody was here to share her triumph either, except…

My column’s in The Cut today!!!!

Moments later, Simon texted back.

Cool, looking now

Jules looked too, taking in every word as greedily as if she’d never seen them before. She kept going back to her name at the top. Julia Moretti. It had seemed appropriate somehow to use her full first name. In Jules’s imagination, Vivian murmured her approval.

Dammit. Jules’s cheeks were heating again.

Fifteen minutes later, Simon strode into the office, phone in hand and eyebrows raised. “Nice job.”

Yes! “You think it’s good? It doesn’t suck?”

“Don’t fish for compliments. No, it doesn’t suck. I like how you point out that Melanie Griffith ends up being just another cog in the machine.” He gave Jules a wry look. “Like all the rest of us.”

“Don’t get cynical on me, now.” She rested her elbows on her desk, propped her chin in her palms, and gave a happy sigh. “Look at me. I’m going to win a Pulitzer.”

“Your delusions are adorable.”

Jules laughed. She might be a little punchy. “The New Yorker will call me tomorrow. You’ll see.”

“Would you settle for Salon in the meantime?”

“Ha! Sure, why not?”

It took her a full five seconds to realize Simon wasn’t kidding. She slowly raised her chin from her palms while he smirked down at her.

“Simon?” she asked.