It's Better This Way(78)

The organ started Pachelbel’s Canon, the traditional bridal entry music, and, following the bridesmaids and maid of honor, Hillary and her father slowly proceeded down the middle of the church.

Heath reached for Julia’s hand and held it tightly in his own. She smiled up at him, feeling a joy she never fully expected.

As father and daughter approached Blake, Hillary turned to her father and, instead of the traditional kiss, she hugged Eddie and whispered, “I love you, Dad.”

“I love you, baby girl. Always have. Always will.”

As Hillary and Blake exchanged their vows, Julia reflected back through the years when she’d been the young bride standing next to Eddie. They had been in love as well, eager to start their lives together. She thought their love would last a lifetime. She glanced at him and noticed him looking at her.

The moment was precious, to see the man she had once loved with all her being and not feel the terrible sadness of loss. She’d never wanted the divorce, would have willingly worked toward reconciliation, but it wasn’t meant to be. As her father had so often reminded her: It’s better this way. And it was.

    Tearing her gaze away from Eddie, she glanced up at Heath and saw that he was closely watching her before his eyes skirted to Eddie. In case he assumed she was longing to have Eddie back, she leaned close to him and wrapped her arm around his waist. He gazed down on her, his eyes full of questions.

“Love you,” she mouthed.

His frown disappeared and he smiled. “Love you,” he returned, and tucked his arm around her shoulders. Julia pressed her head against the side of his arm.

All was right in her world. She hadn’t expected to find love again, and she knew Heath felt the same. Their meeting had been providential, coming when they least expected to find someone else.

The incredulity of learning their divorced spouses were married to each other had badly shaken them both. For a time they’d faltered, until they realized they couldn’t allow their relationship to be ruled by the others.



* * *



—

Once the ceremony was over, Heath was to drive Julia to the reception. After he’d helped her into the passenger seat and joined her, he glanced her way.

“It was a beautiful wedding.”

“It was,” she agreed.

“I’ve been thinking…you know, I do that sometimes, and it seemed, you know, that the two of us get along well and, you know…”

    “Heath? What in heaven’s name.” He was stumbling over his words, and he kept repeating “you know,” when she didn’t know. “What’s wrong?”

He leaned his head back against the headrest and heaved a giant sigh. “I’m nervous.”

“About what?”

“This,” he said, as if that was self-explanatory.

“The wedding reception and dinner? It’s all settled. The seating plan puts us together and—”

“Not that,” he said, cutting her off and making a noncommittal hand gesture. “This.”

“O-k-a-y,” she said, dragging out the word. “Only I don’t know what this is?”

He leaned forward enough to press his forehead to the steering wheel. “I’m bungling it and I apologize. I had everything I wanted to say planned, and now the moment is here, I can’t get the words out and I’m tongue-tied.”

“Take a deep breath and start at the beginning,” she advised.

He did as she suggested. “I’m badly messing this up. Forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive, Heath. Tell me what’s troubling you.”

He nodded, sucked in a breath, and started again. “I realize you have your life and I have mine and it’s been good.”

“Yes, it has.”

“The thing is, I’m finding that every minute I’m away from you is too long. I want you with me every minute of every day.”

“That would be nice, but not possible.”

“It would be if we were married.”

    So that was this! What he’d been trying to say. She hadn’t meant to be obtuse, nor had she wanted to make assumptions, either.

“I realize there’s more involved than loving you,” he continued. “There’s the problem with our kids disliking each other. I choose to believe that will work itself out in time if we’re patient. You’d need to sell your condo, and then there are the mingling of finances or not, whatever you want. Second marriages can be complicated, The thing is, Julia, I am willing to knock down any roadblock you put up to convince you we were meant to be together. I meant it when I said I don’t want to live another day without you. I love you and want you by my side for the rest of my life.”

He paused, drawing in a deep breath as he continued to look expectantly at her, awaiting her answer.

As unexpected as this proposal was, and as much as there was to consider, her heart was screaming at her to accept. Still, there was more to consider than love, as he’d mentioned.

“Julia, please. Tell me what you’re feeling.”

“Overwhelmed, at the moment,” she whispered, her mind whirling at the speed of light. “Can I think about this?”

“Of course.”