It's Better This Way(39)

From what little Heath had said, Julia knew this was likely true.

“I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but, Mom, please, you need to seriously think about not continuing in this relationship.”

    Hillary was right; this wasn’t what Julia wanted to hear. Still, as painful as it was, she was grateful for her daughters’ honesty.

“It isn’t that we don’t want you to be happy,” Hillary explained further. “I’m sure Heath is great, only you should know there are plenty of fish in the sea. All you have to do is keep your eyes open to new possibilities.

“Our relationship with you has always been our safe place. When Dad left, you were the one who held everything together. We knew you would always be there for us. Dad was gone, and he made it clear he no longer wanted to be part of our lives.”

The divorce had been emotionally hard on her daughters. Eddie seemed to feel that, because they were older and basically on their own, breaking up their family wouldn’t hurt them, as they had their own lives now. How wrong he’d been. How na?ve.

“I know how you feel about Heath,” Hillary continued, “but, Mom, you can’t seriously ask us to deal with his family? Can you even imagine what the holidays would be like? And what happens when there are grandchildren? Can’t you see what an impossible situation you’re putting yourself and Heath in?”

“And us?” Marie added.

Julia felt the sudden need to cry. Tears filled her eyes, and she blinked them away. “Nothing will ever change between us, that I can promise you,” she whispered. Still, she needed to seriously consider what Hillary said.

Before lunch, her mind had been set. She’d been determined to work this out with her family so she could be with Heath. Seeing how upset this news made her daughters, Julia realized she needed to do as they suggested and carefully consider her options.



* * *



—

    Back at home, Julia sat in her condo, gazing out her window with its limited view of the blue-green waters of Puget Sound. She couldn’t face Heath, even knowing he was anxiously waiting for her return. For a solid hour she remained motionless, reviewing the lunchtime conversation. Before today, everything had been clear in her mind. Now she wasn’t sure about anything. About Heath. About the future. About her daughters’ reaction.

Her doorbell chimed, and without answering she knew it was him. Her feet felt as if she had strapped on weights as she slowly approached her door.

As she suspected, it was Heath. Wordlessly, she stepped aside so he could enter. As soon as she closed the door, he brought her into his arms and held her tightly against his chest; so close she could feel the solid beat of his heart. His heart that was her very own. Julia didn’t know how she would ever be able to give him up.

The same thought repeated itself when he kissed her. In all her life she’d never been kissed with such passion, with such incredible need. It was as if the only reason he drew breath, the only reason he lived, was because it meant he could be with her.

Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t know how I am going to learn to live without you,” she whispered brokenly.

“That’s because you will never need to find out. I can guess what your daughters said, Julia.”

She looked up at him, his handsome features blurred by the tears that swam before her. “You can?”

    “I heard the same from Michael and Adam. It shook me, and I figured once your girls learned who I was, it would rattle you. I stayed away for as long as I could, before I realized I couldn’t allow Laura’s infidelity and my children to rule my life.”

She understood, she really did. Hillary and Marie were everything to her. They had remained faithfully by her side throughout the divorce, and afterward, had become her staunch supporters. They claimed all they wanted was for her to be happy. But, and it was a big but, they hoped she would find that happiness outside of a relationship with Heath.

“Until I started seeing you, Julia, I had no idea how lonely I’d become,” he continued. “I went through each day like a robot without emotion, without laughter, without sunshine. You brought all three back into my life, and by all that’s holy, I’m not letting anyone take what we have away. Not my children. Not yours. Definitely not Lee or Eddie.”

Julia so badly wanted to believe their love was possible. She leaned her forehead against his chest, knowing that if she gazed into his eyes, she would never have the courage to leave him.

“I need time to think about all this,” she told him.

“No,” Heath insisted.

“No? You took three days,” she reminded him. “Am I not allowed that same grace period?”

He hesitated. “You’re right. I did take those three days and I left you hanging, not knowing why—something I regret. But I needed that time to realize how precious you are to me and find the courage to fight for us. And that’s what I intend to do, Julia. I’m determined not to lose you.”

She looked up, and her eyes met the intensity in his.

“I love you, and I’m not letting you slip away from me without one hell of a fight. You take all the time you need, but realize one thing.”

    “What’s that?”

He grinned down at her and kissed her again with enough soul and passion to set her heart racing.