It's Better This Way(58)

“You made my mother’s life miserable.”

She wanted to ask if he realized Laura had done the same to her. “I never meant your mother any ill will, Michael. It’s unfortunate because there were wrongs on both sides.”

“More so on yours,” he insisted. “Furthermore, it’s ridiculous that you won’t allow your daughters to have a relationship with their father. Clearly this has been your revenge. You wanted Edward to suffer for leaving you for my mother. As far as I’m concerned, that is unforgivable. Nothing you say is going to change my mind. I can only imagine what you’d do to destroy my father, should he dare have a change of heart about you.”

    She closed her eyes and let his harsh words pass over her like a forceful wind capable of toppling a strong oak tree.

“I’ve heard what you have to say. I have an appointment I need to keep,” he said, standing and walking over to the door and holding it open for her.

Julia had trouble finding her balance as she rose to her feet. Every part of her being wanted to defend herself, wanted to explain that Eddie’s estrangement with Hillary and Marie was on him, not her. Only any defense she offered would be for naught. Michael would choose not to believe her.

He continued to stand at the door, holding it open.

She walked out, her throat thick, realizing her visit had accomplished nothing and quite possibly had done more harm than good.

“Thank you for your time, Michael. I appreciate you listening. I’m more sorry than you know that we couldn’t come to terms.”

He nodded. “I understand, and I’m sorry, too. Like I said, we won’t stand in the way of Dad’s relationship with you, if that’s what he chooses, but we’d rather you weren’t part of his life. I don’t mean to be cruel or uncaring, but it would serve us best if you agreed to no longer see my father.”

Julia swallowed hard at his words and left, making her way to the lobby. Once there, she collapsed in the chair she’d sat in earlier. Several minutes passed before she was able to stop the shaking. Coming to see Heath’s son had been a terrible mistake. She should have known better, should have accepted that anything she said wouldn’t change matters. The future stretched before her: Heath and her balancing their love for their children against their love for each other.



* * *



—

    When she returned to The Heritage, Carrie was at the front desk. Her niece immediately sensed something was wrong.

“Aunt Julia? Are you feeling ill?”

“I’m fine,” she lied. “Or I will be…” She wasn’t sure herself what that meant.

Once in her condo, she felt the strongest need to get away for a few days and think. A trip to the coast strongly appealed to her. Time spent by the ocean always had the power to calm her. When Eddie had finally admitted to the affair, it was to the ocean that she’d gone. Booking a hotel room in Oceanside, Julia had walked the beach for days. She’d grieved and prayed for a way to save her marriage. She hadn’t returned since, and knew it was the one place she needed to be now.

Walking into her bedroom, she grabbed a suitcase and packed a few items, sent a text to Hillary, telling her where she was going, and then left. She didn’t want to talk to Heath, not even by text, knowing he would ask too many questions. She needed to think, and he would be a distraction she needed to avoid.





Chapter 23




Heath hadn’t been able to reach Julia for two days. He didn’t understand why she wouldn’t answer her phone. At first, he assumed she’d put it on mute and forgotten, as she’d done before when she’d gotten busy. Then, the following day, after several tries, he decided he would seek her out.

She hadn’t shown up at the gym in the mornings, which surprised him. He was on restricted physical activity. He’d been amused when Julia had watched over him like a grade-school playground monitor, making sure he didn’t overexert himself. She hadn’t mentioned any work projects, either. To be on the safe side, he’d phoned the office and been told Julia wasn’t expected anytime that week.

Usually, Julia filled him in on her plans for the day, and he’d tell her his. To not see or talk to her for two days running was highly unusual, and he had started to worry, more determined than ever to find answers.

    When Julia didn’t answer the door, his uneasiness multiplied tenfold. For a while now, he’d felt something wasn’t right with her. She hadn’t been herself. They’d taken in a Mariners baseball game, and she’d been distracted and unusually quiet. When he tried to draw her out, she smiled and assured him all was well and claimed she was tired.

Unwilling to leave her disappearance unanswered, Heath decided to check with Carrie. Being at the front desk eight hours or longer each day, Carrie was able to catalog who came and went from The Heritage. She might clue him in as to why he hadn’t been able to reach Julia.

He strolled up to her desk and waited while she signed off on a delivery from UPS. When she’d finished, she greeted him with a smile.

“Hello, Heath. How can I help you?”

Leaning against the desk, he casually asked, “Have you seen Julia the last couple days?”

“I don’t think so,” she said. “Any reason you’re asking?”