It's Better This Way(49)

Eddie knocked his knuckles against the tabletop. “I bet you do.” Once again, he started to leave. “Oh, one last thing.”

“Sure.”

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t contact me again outside of anything to do with the girls. It distresses Laura.”

    “Then I won’t,” she said with a saccharine-sweet smile. “The last thing I would want to do is distress your wife.”



* * *



—

“How’d your talk go with Eddie?” Heath asked when they met in the lobby before heading out to play tennis.

Julia wasn’t sure how best to answer. “About as good as it could, I suppose. Eddie is, well, Eddie. It’s hard for him to admit when he’s in the wrong, and even harder to make amends.” She didn’t mention the final dig. He’d acted like she made excuses to contact him, when nothing could be further from the truth. She’d done what she could to help him and their daughters. What happened next was up to him.

Heath gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “I know this was hard for you.”

She appreciated his understanding. It had been difficult, and she was grateful it was over. Time to move on and shake off the unpleasant meeting. Playing tennis to work out her frustrations was exactly what she needed now.

“Did you tell him what you decided?”

“Yep, and then I suggested this might well be his last chance with the girls. What he does now is up to him. If he chooses not to act, then he’ll need to learn to live with the regrets.”

“Those are strong words.”

“They are,” she agreed, but she meant everything she’d said.

“Hey, you two,” Carrie said as they walked toward the concierge desk. “It looks like you’re off to Wimbledon.”

Heath laughed. His hand remained on Julia’s shoulder, a gentle reassurance that he was by her side. Julia had talked about her decision with him and had appreciated his words of wisdom. He didn’t advise her, didn’t try to persuade her one way or the other. He had simply listened and encouraged her.

    “I didn’t know you played tennis,” Carrie said, directing the comment to Heath.

“Your aunt is much better than I am. The real reason I’m willing to make a fool of myself is so I can see her in a skort.”

Julia smiled. “Don’t let him fool you. He’s a fine tennis player.”

Heath led her into the basement parking garage. “Did you know Michael’s friend Eric and Carrie are dating?”

Julia had heard rumors along those lines. “I haven’t heard much. What do you know?”

“Michael thinks it’s great that Eric has finally found the incentive to get outside of his condo. Supposedly, Eric’s become a workaholic and is shy by nature, but smarter than anyone Michael knows.”

“Carrie would be good for him.”

“I think so, too. Eric took her to a movie last week and a dinner this week. They seem to get along great. He doesn’t know Carrie’s related to you and I didn’t mention it.”

“Probably a good idea.” Later, Julia would make a point of asking her niece more about this budding relationship.

Heath drove, and they arrived five minutes before their scheduled court time. Over the last few weeks, they’d managed to get in a match or two about once a week. When they’d first started playing, Heath had been rusty and Julia generally bested him. It’d taken three or four court times for Heath to keep up with her and become a worthy opponent.

The first game they played went to Heath. “Hey,” he called across the net. “You’re losing your edge. This match is mine.”

    She snickered. “In your dreams, smarty-pants. I was going easy on you.”



* * *



—

Bending forward, her racket in hand, Julia bobbed in a standing position, balancing on one foot and then the other, waiting for Heath to serve. The ball bounced just inside the line, but she reached it in time to return it toward the far corner. Heath raced across the court and then abruptly stopped.

The ball flew past him as his racket fell onto the court.

Heath dropped to his knees.

“Heath?” she cried, wondering if he might have stumbled.

Then he looked at her and she knew.

He hadn’t tripped. This was serious.

Frantically, Julia screamed for help as she raced around the net to reach him.

He looked up at her before his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed facedown onto the court.





Chapter 19




“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?”

Julia’s voice trembled so violently that she was barely able to speak. A man from another court over had rushed to Heath’s side, reaching him almost at the same time as Julia. Immediately assessing the situation, he started CPR while Julia hurriedly located her phone to call for help.

Within minutes, she heard the sirens and raced to meet the paramedics who came to tend Heath. Everything happened so fast that she barely had time to absorb what was going on before Heath was taken away, sirens blaring.

Collapsing onto the bench on the side of the court, she buried her face in her hands. Her knees were shaking so hard she was in danger of slipping off the edge of the seat.