Chapter 19 - Summer in the Hamptons
By July, the relentless pace of departmental restructuring and legal depositions had finally slowed down, allowing for a long-overdue weekend escape. Julian had invited me out to his family’s quiet, sun-drenched coastal retreat in Sag Harbor—far away from the glass canyons of Manhattan and the frantic noise of investigative dockets.
The weekend was an exercise in restorative simplicity. We spent Saturday morning walking along the secluded shoreline, the cool Atlantic breeze tangling my hair while tiny waves washed over our bare feet. There were no hidden agendas, no midnight phone calls about suspicious bank transfers, and no exhausting emotional calculations. That evening, sitting on a weathered wooden deck overlooking the water as the sky burned in magnificent shades of orange and magenta, Julian reached across the small table and took my hand. His touch was warm, steady, and completely unpretentious. For the first time in years, I didn't feel the compulsive urge to analyze, cross-examine, or protect myself. I simply leaned back, listened to the rhythmic crash of the surf, and allowed myself to be entirely present in a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness.
