It's Better This Way(34)

Julia’s eyes slowly closed, as if remembering all that had gone before. Tugging her hands away from him, she straightened. “Hillary and Marie got into it with your two boys…They should never have confronted Laura. I told them so as soon as I heard what they’d done. I’m sorry, Heath. It was a bad time. They knew how deeply their father’s betrayal had hurt me, and when they ran into Laura, they let loose. They were in the wrong.”

“It’s understandable.”

“So many negative consequences came about because of that confrontation,” she said, as if mentally reviewing the events of that awful day.

“Nothing happened that should make it impossible for us to be together, Julia. I can’t bear to lose you. I won’t.”

“I need to think.” Scooting off the sofa, she paced the rug, the same way he had done earlier before she’d arrived. Her arms hugged her waist, as if she’d suddenly grown chilled and needed all the warmth she could muster.

“That was the day Eddie drew a line in the sand with our girls. Nothing has been the same between him and our daughters since.”

    “What do you mean?”

Pressing her hand against her forehead, she continued. “When our children were shouting at each other, Eddie interceded. He told Hillary and Marie they needed to treat Laura with respect. That she was soon to be his wife, and if they couldn’t accept her, then he didn’t want to be part of their lives any longer.”

Heath released a low whistle. “Did he mean it?”

“At the time, I’m sure he did. I know he’s lived to regret it, because he’s made multiple attempts to bridge the gap, without success.”

“Hillary and Marie must feel that he made his choice?”

“Yes, unfortunately.” Julia continued to pace.

He waited in the silence, wondering if he should drag another issue into their conversation. “I need to ask you about the text messages you sent Lee,” he ventured, watching for her reaction.

Julia went still, and the color drained out of her face. “I…” She paused before starting again, leaving the impression there was something she wasn’t telling him.

“It wasn’t my finest moment, that’s for sure. I regretted it and wish I’d risen above such behavior, but I’m guilty as charged.”

He appreciated that she didn’t make excuses and took responsibility for her failings. As he’d reminded his sons, at the time tempers were volatile and emotions ran high. He found it easy to forgive Julia, knowing how hard she’d battled to save her marriage.

“Your sons mentioned those texts?”

Heath nodded. “They brought it up along with…a few other things.”

“Such as?”

    Heath hadn’t meant to get into anything else. What transpired between him and his kids would remain with him.

Julia turned toward him and let her arms fall at her sides. “Michael and Adam don’t want you to see me any longer.”

This wasn’t a question, but a statement of fact—one he didn’t bother to deny. “I’ve made my decision. I love my sons, but this is my life. After taking a few days to mull over possible ramifications, I’m determined not to lose you.”

“No,” she cried automatically. “You’re doing the very thing that caused a wedge between Eddie and our girls. I refuse to be a party to this.”

“Julia, I am not going to let my sons dictate whom I love. I’m not severing my relationship with them because I’m choosing to be with you. They assured me this wouldn’t change our relationship.”

“They want nothing to do with me.”

Again, he didn’t deny it.

Burying her face in her hands, Julia looked as if she was about to break into tears. Eating up the distance between them, Heath drew her into his arms and held her tightly.

“Oh Heath, what are we doing?”

“We’re falling in love, that’s what we’re doing.”

“But your boys.”

“It was a shock. Deep down, I know they want me to be happy. And you, Julia Jones, make me extremely happy. They were willing to look the other way when their mother sought her own happiness. In time, once they’ve grown accustomed to us being together, they will come around.”

Julia trembled in his arms and he kissed the top of her head.

    “You need to realize this is only the first hurdle,” he whispered.

She looked up. “How do you mean?”

He closed his own eyes and exhaled sharply. “You have yet to tell Hillary and Marie.”

Julia went silent.

Heath had a sickening feeling in the pit of his stomach that the worst was yet to come.





Chapter 13




This was supposed to be a happy occasion. Instead, Julia’s stomach had twisted into knots tight enough to dumbfound a sailor. Hillary had asked her, Marie, and Carrie to meet her at the bridal shop to help her choose her wedding dress.

Afterward they planned on lunch at Alice’s, a local seafood restaurant that was a longtime family favorite. Julia knew she couldn’t delay telling her girls that Heath’s ex-wife had married their father, especially knowing how strongly they disliked Laura. Julia prayed Eddie had taken her advice and reached out to Hillary when he learned of her engagement.