It's Better This Way(56)

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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.

Five minutes in which she wondered at the wisdom of what she was about to do.

Five minutes in which she debated walking away and forgoing the hope that she might reach an understanding with Heath’s sons. But she knew the best way to accomplish this was likely through Adam.

The receptionist motioned to her. As Julia rose, she noticed her knees were as unsteady as her resolve. With her head held high, she walked back to his desk.

“Mr. Wilson will see you.”

“Thank you,” she said, and hoped none of her apprehension showed in her voice. After giving him her identification to copy, he handed her a badge that read Visitor and a code for the elevator.