Love Starts with Elle(95)

Heath checked to see if any lights glowed from the studio. When he saw the yellow square above the garage, he checked on TL, then darted out the door, across the yard, and up the studio steps, two at a time.





In the pre-dawn light, Elle walked across the wet morning grass toward Heath, who waited by the van with Tracey-Love. The little girl was dressed in pink with her hair combed into a funky Pebbles Flintstone sprout.

Heath wore a crisp, clean oxford shirt, giving the term road trip a new level of class. His eyes followed her.

What do you see, Heath?

Last night, Heath had been so excited about his book deal. But she’d slept restlessly, struggling to find ground for her emotions. In the darkness, she’d talked to Jesus, “He’s just a friend, right? A really good friend. I mean, how could he be more? I just broke it off with Jer; he just closed the final door on his life with Ava. I can’t go giving my heart to a man moving away. It’s crazy. Besides, I have no idea how he truly feels, and . . .”

When she couldn’t take the head-heart debate any longer, she snatched her iPod Shuffle from the clutter on her dresser, plugged her ears with a Justin Rizzo play list, and drowned out the voice in her head with his.

“All packed and ready?” she called, very cheery, not at all a reflection of her heart.

“Looks like it.”

Elle lowered down to Tracey-Love’s eye level. “I’m going to miss you.”

The little girl’s lip quivered. Her blue eyes swam. “I don’t want to go to New York.” Tracey-Love flung herself against Elle. “Who’s going to fix my hair?”

“Oh, baby . . .” Elle bit her lip to keep from laughing. During her brief St. Helena stay, Tracey-Love had blossomed from little girl to big girl. “TL, you’ll have your nanny, Junie, and teachers. And one day your daddy will figure out how to make a ponytail. Maybe. If not, you’ll be in junior high and fix your own hair.”

Heath shot her a look. “Did you just insult me?”

“Yes.”

“But I don’t want him, I want you.” Tracey-Love tightened her grip.

Elle buried her face in TL’s sweet fragrance, her eyes filling.

Heath knelt next to them. “Tracey-Love, we talked about this, remember? Mr. Rock needs Daddy for a little while.”

But she simply cried, limp against Elle.

“Shh, Tracey-Love, it’s going to be all right. We’ll talk on the phone and computer, see each other in Daddy’s camera.”

“And we’ll come back as soon as we can.” Heath’s eyes met Elle’s.

“Spring is a long time away.”

“Yeah, I know.” Heath shook his head. “I thought about Christmas, but in the excitement of actually selling my first book, I didn’t consider the time commitment. I’m going to be writing nights, weekends, and holidays for a while.”

“When you’re weary and frustrated, remember I’m praying for you.”

“C-can y-you can come to New York and visit me?” Tracey-Love cheered up, wiping her wet checks with her hand.

“Maybe, yeah. Sounds like fun.” If your daddy asks.

Heath stared at her. “Maybe?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

He smiled. “I like the sound of maybe. Okay, TL, we have got to get this show on the road.”

“Be good for Daddy. I’ll talk to you on the phone soon.” Elle gave Tracey-Love a kiss and squeeze before Heath buckled her into her seat and slid the door shut.

Heath faced her, saying nothing for a few moments. “I don’t want to say good-bye.”

“Then don’t.” She hunched up her shoulders, shivering though she wasn’t cold.

“What are you saying?”

Elle kicked the toe of her shoe against the grass. “I don’t know. I’m going to miss you. A lot.”

“I’m in love with you, Elle.” The confession exploded, blowing open all the unspoken emotion.

“I might—maybe—be in love with you. I couldn’t sleep thinking about it.”

Then he was kissing her, warm and heart meltingly, drawing her to him. When he lifted his head, she pressed her face to the familiar spot of his chest. “Now what, counselor?”

Heath covered her back with his arms and kissed her forehead. “I don’t know. This wasn’t my planned good-bye speech.”

“Is this crazy?”

“A little.” Heath kissed her again, holding her face in his hands. “Elle, love was the last thing on my mind when I came here. All I wanted was to get beyond grief. Maybe write a book. Get to know my daughter.”

“I never, ever thought we’d be standing here like this. I’m supposed to be married, living in Dallas.”

“No, Elle, you’re supposed to be with me.”

Tracey-Love knocked on the window with a muffled, “Daddy, let’s goooo.”

“Now she’s ready.” Heath opened the sliding door. “Just a second, Daddy’s talking to Miss Elle.”

Heath led her around to the driver’s side, fell against the door, and pulled her to him. “The lawyer part of me says be practical, take time apart, be sure of your feelings. The man part of me says find Pastor O’Neal and gather the family.”