It's Better This Way, page 17
“Dad, no,” Michael said, and his face tensed. “Don’t do anything rash, like marry her. You barely know this woman.”
“How can you trust her?” Adam asked.
Arguing wasn’t going to convince his sons that Julia was the woman for him. Their minds were set, and nothing he said would convince them otherwise. His strength was waning, and he closed his eyes. Later he’d have more to say—for now, for now, he needed to sleep.
* * *
—
Heath woke when Hillary Jones entered his room. She stood stiffly, just inside the door, as though this was the last place she wanted to be.
“You asked to see me?”
He nodded, nearly desperate, since he hadn’t been able to reach Julia, after repeatedly trying. “Thank you for coming.”
“I’m on break and only have a few minutes,” she said gruffly, having no qualms about letting him know she was eager to be on her way.
“I appreciate that you’re here. I wanted to apologize for the way my sons treated you and your mother yesterday.”
She lowered her gaze, avoiding eye contact. “You don’t need to apologize; I gave as good as I got.”
He was tempted to smile. “So I understand. Good for you.”
She looked up then, as if surprised. “Mom was badly shaken. If your sons owe anyone an apology, it’s my mother. They were horrible to her, insisting she should leave. They made it sound as if she was responsible for your heart attack, which we both know is ridiculous.”
This was exactly what Heath feared. “That should never have happened. How is she now?”
“She spent the night with my aunt Amanda.”
“I haven’t been able to reach her.” That worried Heath more than anything the heart specialist had told him earlier.
“She wasn’t able to sleep after she left the hospital. I spoke to her this morning, and she said she was going home to nap. I suggested she turn her ringer off. She probably forgot to turn it back on.”
That helped explain her silence and eased his mind. “I’d feel better if I was able to talk to her, reassure her I’m alive and well.”
“I let her know you were recovering from surgery. She wanted to come to see you herself, only I discouraged it for fear she’d run into one of your sons. I assured her you would be back home soon.”
Heath had gotten the same news from the heart specialist, along with a list of new medications he would need to take for the foreseeable future.
Hillary came farther into the room. She held his gaze for a long moment before she asked, “Do you love my mother?”
Heath welcomed the question. “With all my heart. What makes you ask?”
Julia’s daughter crossed her arms as she stepped closer to the bed. “My mother is everything I hope to be one day. She’s the most loving person I know. She is thoughtful and generous. She does everything she can to show us how loved we are. Even when she knew Dad was cheating on her, she was willing to swallow her pride and pain and look past his betrayal to keep our family together.”
Heath agreed, Julia was the most loving, caring woman he had ever known. How any man could walk away from her was beyond him.
“That said, after Dad left, Mom struggled to find herself. She did an amazing job, but deep down I don’t think she was happy. It was like a part of her heart was missing. Since she’s been seeing you, I’ve noticed a change in her. Her smiles come easier now, and there’s a glow about her that I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
He saw all that in Julia—that light was the same one that touched his heart and brought sunlight back into his life.
“When she told Marie and me she was dating you, I’ll admit we were upset. We discouraged it and made sure she realized that we weren’t on board with this relationship. Then yesterday, when she didn’t know if you would survive, my mother lost it. I’ve never seen her this undone, not even after we lost our grandfather.”
Heath hated how deplorably his sons had treated Julia. One day they would realize how they had wronged her and apologize.
“I know there’s trouble between our families, and I regret that. I would welcome a way to bring us all together and end this animosity.”
“I would welcome that, too,” Hillary told him, “only the way things are now, it’s highly unlikely. Your sons…” She paused and shook her head. “It’s better I not tell you what I think.”
“Thank you.” Heath didn’t want to be in a position where he would need to defend Michael and Adam.
“What I will say,” Hillary continued, “is after seeing how Mom reacted yesterday, Marie and I talked. If Mom has your heart, then we won’t do anything more to discourage your relationship.”
“She is my heart,” Heath said, and it was more truth than Julia’s daughters would ever understand.
“She clearly cares deeply for you,” Hillary said, dropping her arms to her sides. “Marie and I decided that it would be wrong for us to stand in your way, especially if you shared her feelings.”
“I do, heart and soul.”
She smiled then, and Heath did, too.
“Thank you,” he whispered, overwhelmed and grateful.
Her eyes narrowed. “You hurt her, and I’ll make sure you regret it.”
“It will never happen,” he promised her. He thrust out his hand.
Hillary stepped forward and shook it.
This was a start, Heath mused, as she left the room.
The beginning of the healing for their families.
Chapter 21
For fear of running into one of Heath’s sons, Julia stayed away from the hospital even when every beat of her heart urged her to find a way to be with him. Because Hillary worked as a physical therapist at Seattle General, her daughter was able to update Julia on Heath’s condition following his surgery. A dozen times or more since she’d walked out of the hospital with Amanda, Julia was tempted to call him, but hadn’t, for fear of disturbing his recovery. Her one consolation was the brief text messages he’d sent, assuring her he would be home soon and eager to see her. He thanked her and claimed her quick action had saved his life.
She nervously waited for word when the hospital would release him. She was told he was unlikely to spend more than a couple days recuperating from his surgery. She was certain one of his sons would escort him home and impatiently waited for the chance to see him herself. Not until she could hold his face and look into his eyes would she believe, once and for all, that he had truly survived.
Hillary had been good about keeping her updated; without knowing Heath’s condition, Julia would have been lost.
Her doorbell rang. Because she was waiting for Hillary’s call, she was irritated and in no mood for company. When she saw Heath standing on the other side of her threshold, she burst into tears.
Immediately she was in his arms. Heaving huge, gulping sobs, she clung to him, holding on as if she never intended to let him go.
“Sweetheart. Julia. I’m okay…only I should probably sit down.”
Julia instantly brought him into the condo.
Heath sat on her sofa while she searched for a tissue and blew her nose. She had never been one of those women who looked beautiful while crying.
“It looks like you missed me,” he teased. He patted the place at his side, and she sat next to him.
“I was so worried,” she whispered, still having trouble believing he was here with her.
“Me, too,” he said, and placed his arm around her shoulders, tucking her close against his warm body. He tilted his head so it rested on top of hers.
“I thought I’d lost you,” she said, struggling not to dissolve into tears a second time.
“It isn’t going to be that easy to be rid of me, my love. I have a lot of incentive to live. I only just found you, and I fully intend on sticking around for a good while longer.”
“Tell me what the doctor said.” She didn’t mention that no one would update her on his condition because she wasn’t family. What she had been able to learn came from Hillary and her contacts within the hospital. She’d never let anyone know, for fear of getting her daughter in trouble.
For the next ten minutes, Heath relayed what the heart specialist told him. He had a follow-up appointment scheduled for the next week. He listed the new medications he would need to take. Julia made a point of remembering each one, so she could research the drugs on the Internet. The more information she had about his heart and the problems associated with this attack, the better she would be able to watch for signs. She wanted to be sure there wouldn’t be a repeat of what had happened, at least not if she could help it.
“If you don’t object, I’d like to go to the doctor with you,” she said. She felt it was important that she know his limitations and was afraid Heath would either forget to tell her or purposely leave something out.
Surprise showed in his face at her request. “You’d do that?”
“Of course. I want to support you.”
He tightened his hold on her and kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know what I ever did to deserve you.”
“Oh, stop,” she said with a soft laugh.
“Do you think I’m joking? I thank God every day that we’re together.”
She could see how serious he was and wondered if he realized that she felt the same. “I thank Him for you! Oh Heath, you can’t imagine how frightened I was that you weren’t going to survive this.”
“Like I said, I’m still aboveground, and I intend to stay that way for a long time to come.”
“I’m holding you to that,” Julia told him.
His eyes grew dark and serious before he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. It’d been years since anyone had kissed her with the passion and intensity Heath did. By the time he lifted his head from hers, it felt as if her insides were melting.
He was home and recovering, and that was what mattered most.
* * *
—
That evening, Julia cooked dinner for Heath. Michael called to check on him, and after dinner Adam did, too. It did her heart good to know how close Heath was with his sons. She prayed that at some later date, his sons would accept that she loved Heath and wanted only the best for him.
Earlier, when Heath mentioned his conversation with Hillary, Julia knew she had to make an effort with Michael and Adam, the way Heath had with Hillary. Unsure how it would play out, she decided not to tell him in advance.
Julia felt it was her duty to give Heath the same peace of mind Hillary had given her after talking to him. If she could convince Heath’s sons that she had only their father’s best interests at heart, then perhaps there would be a way for them to forget the distance between the two families. The fact that she was willing to make the effort should tell Michael and Adam she was serious and sincerely cared for their father.
“That was Adam,” Heath said, once he was off the phone.
“Your sons love you,” she said, stating the obvious.
Heath’s eyes grew wary and he looked down. “I heard how rude they were to you at the hospital, Julia, and I’m genuinely sorry. They should never have spoken to you the way they did. One day, they will apologize, that I can promise you.”
She came to him and slipped her arms around his middle, assuring him as best she could that all was forgiven. “It’s fine. I understand. Your heart attack frightened them as much as it did me. They didn’t mean it. And I refuse to take offense.”
“You’re far too generous.”
“Besides,” she said, smiling up at him, “nothing was going to keep me away from you much longer. I didn’t care if I had to sneak into the hospital in the dead of night, I was determined to be with you.” She would have if the hospital had kept him any longer than the two days. Without Heath’s texts, brief as they were, she would have surely gone mad.
“Speaking of nights, I’ve been working on a little birthday surprise for you.”
“Oh?” He certainly had piqued her curiosity. “Tell me more.”
“I’m not going to ruin the surprise. Because of my recent setback, I’ve had to delay it.”
“Just as long as we aren’t returning to the tennis court anytime soon.”
“This has nothing to do with what you wanted for your birthday, my love. This is actually something else I’d arranged earlier. I had to do a bit of rescheduling while I was in that hospital bed. We will go out for dinner the way we originally planned, just not yet.”
That he would be thinking about her birthday following heart surgery nearly brought tears back to her eyes. Knowing how badly he wanted to do something special for her, she did her best to hold the emotion in check. “You could give me a hint.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry, you’ll find out as soon as I can get everything put in place again.”
* * *
—
Two nights later, Heath arrived to pick her up for her birthday surprise. When she reached for her purse, he stopped her. “You won’t be needing that.”
“No purse?” This was all rather mysterious. “Okay.” Unsure what to think, she followed him to the elevator.
Instead of heading to the lobby, they rode up to the rooftop. Lights were strung across the space, shading the area in warmth. Carrie stepped into view, her hands held together in front of her. She looked to Heath and said, “Everything is arranged the way you asked.”
“Thank you.” He reached for Julia’s hand.
“Heath.” Julia paused, looking around at the table set up with a bottle of champagne, crystal flutes, and a beautifully decorated birthday cake with her name written across the top.
“Are you ready for your surprise?” he asked.
“You mean the cake and champagne aren’t it?” It seemed Heath had something more up his proverbial sleeve.
Kennedy and her friend moved from the shadows in the corner. “Happy birthday, Julia,” she said.
“Thank you.” Kennedy was young, around the same age as her daughters, if Julia were to guess. She was a member of Seattle Women’s Chorus. Last Christmas Julia and Amanda had attended a performance and she’d recognized Kennedy.
Kennedy introduced her friend, and then Carrie started the music as the two women in beautiful harmony sang Julia’s favorite song from Frankie Valli, “My Eyes Adored You.” Their voices blended melodiously, clear and vibrant, wrapping their way around Julia’s heart as Heath opened his arms to her.
“Shall we dance?” he said.
“Here? Now?” she whispered, self-consciously.
“Come on, Julia. Don’t you know my eyes adore you?”
No way could she refuse him. Walking into his arms, she tucked her head beneath his chin and let him gracefully lead her around the rooftop. They danced together, as if they had spent a lifetime matching each other’s steps, not once faltering.
This was above and beyond the most romantic birthday gift Julia had ever received.
When the song ended, Heath reluctantly broke away from her. “Champagne?” he asked.
“Please.”
While he poured it into the flutes, Julia thanked Kennedy and her friend. “Frankie Valli himself couldn’t have sung that any better,” she told them. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” Kennedy said. “Heath gave our choral group a donation. He didn’t need to do that, as we would have been happy to sing to you for free.”
“Please stay for cake.”
“How about we take some and leave you two alone?” she suggested.
Carrie dished up the cake—coconut, Julia’s favorite—and the two women left. Heath handed her a flute along with Julia.
“You arranged this?” she asked her niece.
A smile lit up Carrie’s face. “All part of the concierge service. Happy birthday, Aunt Julia.”
It was by far the best birthday surprise of her life, and Heath had made it happen.
Chapter 22
Julia had rarely been this nervous. She hadn’t told anyone where she was headed, least of all Heath. He would do his best to dissuade her if she had been foolish enough to mention what she intended. Nor was she tempted to tell Hillary or Marie, knowing they would strongly disapprove. After the confrontation at the hospital, she knew she had to do whatever was necessary to find a way to reach Heath’s sons and end this tension between their families.
The office building was walking distance from The Heritage, and the fifteen-minute hike gave her time to sort through her thoughts of what she would say. By the time she arrived, her hands were moist and her mouth was dry. Her throat already had a lump and she wasn’t sure she’d be able to swallow past it to talk.
After entering the high-rise, she approached the receptionist desk and announced herself as if she were a long-standing client.
“Julia Jones for Adam Wilson.”
The man behind the desk reached for his phone and called up to the office where Adam was employed. Heath had casually dropped the information weeks ago, proud that his sons had followed in his footsteps and gone into the investment field.
The man at the reception desk jerked his gaze to her. “You don’t have an appointment?”
“No. Will you please ask Mr. Wilson’s assistant if he has time to see me?”
Julia was instructed to wait. Walking over to a lobby chair, she sat on the edge of the seat while she awaited Adam’s response. She chose to approach Heath’s younger son, hoping he would be more amenable to hearing her out than Michael would be. She was left to wait for five minutes.
Five of the longest minutes of her life.
