It's Better This Way(69)

He had the good grace to take her words to heart. “I would do anything to make that happen.”

“Eddie would, too, only his efforts haven’t helped the situation. His pride has blinded him. He’s eager, and thoughtless, and I’m convinced he doesn’t mean to be. He so badly wants his daughters to accept Laura. Even his ridiculous taking over of the wedding was his misguided attempt to help. He actually thought his seating plan was offering a solution to a delicate situation.” It was everything else he wanted that had upset Hillary, and rightly so.

“The girls are dead set against having anything to do with Lee,” Heath commented, and unfortunately, he was right.

    However, Laura had been making inroads. “Don’t be so sure. Laura and I have been working on a few baby steps with the girls. She’s been texting them with little things.”

“Such as?”

“Quotes and little jokes, and while the girls haven’t responded, they haven’t blocked her, either.”

“You’ve been advising Lee?”

Julia nodded.

Heath looked as if he disapproved. “Do the girls know about your involvement in this little plan of yours?”

“Heavens, no.”

“That’s what I thought.”

They had made progress, though, and she was pleased by the small chips in the concrete wall her daughters had built up against the other woman. “Laura recommended her cousin who owns a florist shop to Hillary. Hillary still doesn’t have the florist booked for the wedding, so I suggested it wouldn’t do any harm to check it out, and even went with her when Blake had to cancel at the last minute. The florist specializes in wedding arrangements, and despite Hillary’s willingness to dismiss the woman out of hand, she was impressed.”

“Is she going with her?”

“I don’t know. I’ve leaving that up to my daughter and Blake.”

Heath didn’t appear convinced. “You are playing a dangerous game, my love.”

“I know, but one that’s necessary for my girls and for their father, if Eddie’s ever going to have a relationship with them again. It’s not for him as much as it is for Hillary and Marie.”

He accepted her decision, but she could see that he wasn’t completely on board. Not that she blamed him. Heath had no reason to champion Eddie, although he seemed to understand why she felt joining forces with Laura would help.

    She gave him a few minutes to process and then added, “No one is more surprised than me to learn that Laura and I have more in common than you would assume.”

Heath locked eyes with her. “I doubt that.”

“We both love the same men.”

He snickered softly. “All right, I’ll concede that point.”

“We both want what’s best for our children.”

Heath hesitated. “Is this your way of telling me you want to get our children together and resolve their dislike of each other?”

“It would be ideal, if possible.”

“Now you’re really taking on more than either of you can handle.”

“Oh ye of little faith. Perhaps individually it would be, but working together, Laura and I see potential for healing all around.”

“I wonder if it’s possible,” Heath whispered.

“If we are going to stay together—”

“And we are,” he inserted.

“Yes, we are,” she agreed. “Then I would sincerely hope that I could at least be on friendly terms with your sons. If Adam accepts me, then I think in time Michael will, too.”

Heath shook his head. “I’d like that, Julia. I haven’t said much because I knew it would upset you. Since Michael and Adam found out about the two of us, my relationship with them has been strained.”

This was what Julia had feared most, and she wished Heath had said something sooner, although she didn’t know what she could have done.

    “So you see this isn’t only about Eddie. Laura and I realize this is for us and all our children. We all have wounds, and some of them cut deep. Until we find a way to heal, they will continue to fester.”

Slowly Heath nodded. “I’m surprised at Lee. You said she was the one who contacted you?”

“Yes, and she did it out of love for Eddie.”

“And she’s willing to help forge a relationship with you and our boys?”

“Yes.” That was something else they were working on making right. It wouldn’t be easy; it wouldn’t be overnight, either. But it was important.

“I’m surprised you’re a willing partner in this, especially since Eddie cheated with her.”

“Ah, but, Heath, if it hadn’t been for Laura marrying Eddie, I would never have met you. To my way of thinking, I have a great deal for which to thank her.”

He grinned and leaned close to kiss her cheek. “Leave it to you to find the positive.”

“This is something I learned from my father. He was the one who reassured me when life turned bleak and I couldn’t see anything good coming out of it. He’d tell me: It’s better this way.

“Those are the very words I whispered when I signed the divorce papers, and at the time it seemed a stretch. Heath, it was because of that betrayal that I met you, and what we have, what we share, is by far better than anything I ever had with Eddie.”