It's Better This Way(60)

    Heath didn’t dare speak for fear his next words would likely damage his relationship with his son. Heath’s stomach roiled, and for half a second he thought he was going to be sick. When he was able to speak, he managed to tightly control his voice. “Did you ever consider what your mother did to Julia?”

“I don’t think it is a good idea for you to defend—”

“Did you?” he asked, louder this time. “Lee tore apart Julia’s world. When she made a single request to wait six months to try to save her marriage, your mother made her life a living hell. Did you know anything about those ugly text messages Lee sent to taunt her?”

“No, but I read the ones she sent to Mom. How would you know about any of this anyway?” Before he could answer, Michael sarcastically said, “I suppose Julia told you, and naturally you believed her.”

“No, she didn’t. Julia never mentioned a word of this, not even when I confronted her about the texts she sent your mother. The only thing she mentioned was the regret she suffered for lowering herself to Lee’s level.”

“If she didn’t tell you, then who did?”

“Hillary.”

“And you believe that witch?”

“Yes, because she showed me a picture of the texts Lee sent Julia. Trust me in this, Michael, what I read, it was shameful.”

“Dad, I hope you’re hearing yourself. What did I just say? Already Julia is coming between us. It will be like this as long as you insist on being with her. You need to ask yourself who’s more important to you? Julia, or Adam and me?”

    Heath had heard enough. “I refuse to answer that…not when I’m this emotional. I’m hanging up now, because I need to find Julia.”

He disconnected before Michael had a chance to respond. As soon as Heath was able to breathe again, he sent a text to Hillary and another to Marie, knowing both of Julia’s girls were likely at work and probably wouldn’t see his message until they were on break. Having to wait to hear back was killing him.

Carrie returned and must have overheard his conversation with his son. She placed her hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry, we’ll find her.”

Not knowing who else to turn to, all Heath could do was wait. His condo felt bleak and empty, and his heart was heavy, especially after speaking to his son. Pacing his condo, he feared he was about to wear out an entire section of carpet. He saw Julia everywhere he looked. In the paintings that hung on his walls that reminded him of their time together in Gas Works Park. The colorful decorative pillows on his sofa that she handpicked for him, along with the lamps on the end tables. She’d even added a pitcher he used as a utensil holder next to his gas stove. It wasn’t only in his home, either—Julia had left an indelible mark on his heart. He didn’t know what he would do with himself until he could hold her and reassure her.

Just before noon, Hillary called. When his phone buzzed, he jerked it so fast and hard, it nearly flew out of his hand.

“I got your message,” she said. “Don’t worry, Mom is fine.”

“Where is she?”

    “She asked me not to tell you if you called, only I don’t want you to worry. She went to the ocean. She finds peace there.”

“Where, exactly?”

“Sorry, Heath, I think you should give Mom time to sort all this out by herself. She needs to clear her head and think through everything.”

“But…”

“I know it’s hard. Heath, trust me, it’s best to leave her be. Mom will return when she’s ready. It’s best if she doesn’t see you right now.”

They spoke for a few minutes longer, and eventually Hillary was able to talk him off the proverbial cliff. She managed to convince him, despite his persistence, that seeking out Julia now wasn’t the right thing to do.

Patience and waiting, Heath decided, were the two worst words in the English language.





Chapter 24




Julia spent three days at the beach. On the one day it rained, she found a cute coffee shop, called Bean There, on the main street running through town. As the raindrops bounced against the large window, she sat and enjoyed a vanilla latte and a homemade cinnamon roll. While she was there, a man arrived, and the lovely young woman behind the counter immediately brightened. Her name tag identified her as Willa. She came around the counter, and Julia could see she was pregnant. The young man, clearly her husband, ordered a coffee and the two of them sat together, their heads close, whispering animatedly. Seeing the love they shared nearly brought tears to her eyes. She’d felt that same devotion and love from Heath…

Once she finished her breakfast, she strolled down to a quaint bookstore and purchased a book by one of her favorite authors, C. S. Lewis. The rest of the day was spent reading on the hotel balcony, tucked back from the wind and the gloomy gray clouds. While enjoying the book, she stumbled upon a passage that connected with her heart, something that wasn’t unusual when she read C. S. Lewis.

    He wrote about his time at the ocean, and she suspected it must have been after the death of his wife, Joy. He spoke of how he viewed the sea as a lifeline that connected him to things that were temporal. Julia was sure this comfort, the solitude and silence, the steady pulse and current of the waves, was exactly what he’d needed. What she needed now.