I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s always been so alone in the world, without family, growing up being passed from foster home to foster home.”
Kathryn had always told Heather that she found Justin’s drive to be one of his greatest strengths. He’d majored in business, and after graduation he’d worked for a while in the steel industry, then started his own steel fabrication company. Trigon Steel was now a major player in a city where the competition was stiff and often brutal.
“He had me. I was his family,” she reminded her mother, her eyes cloaked with sadness. “He walked away from what we had.”
“He was hurting, as you were. Justin isn’t anything like your father, honey. Henry was manipulative and selfish. He never led me to believe there was anything wrong between us. If I’d known he was having an affair, I would have left him long before he left us.”
“Dad didn’t care about you or me.” Heather’s eyes glistened, and she looked away.
She had a tremendous amount of respect for her mother. Kathryn Watson was strong and independent. She’d raised her daughter alone, had worked overtime hours as a secretary to help her pay for college. Heather was fortunate to have her mother as her best friend and confidante.
However, her father’s desertion remained with her throughout her life. Though her mother had dealt with his betrayal, Heather was never able to express the hurt and rejection that was always a part of her.
Kathryn remained silent for a moment, then said quietly, “Not all men leave.”
“Justin did.” Heather couldn’t forget that. His leaving had effectively reinforced the wall around her heart.
Kathryn reached across the kitchen table and touched her daughter’s hand. “Everyone handles grief differently. Justin handled it the only way he knew. He threw himself into his work. He didn’t know how to relate what he was feeling.”
“Mom, you’ve always championed Justin.” She wrinkled her brow, deepening her frown. “I know you’ve supported me, too, but why is it you feel the need to come to his defense?”
“Because he’s never had anyone to do that for him,” Kathryn answered softly. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to grow up without any connection to the world. No family, no distant relatives, no one.”
“Well, now he has an entire family, complete with a half brother and sister. Apparently, they’re extremely rich.” She shoved her plate away and sat back in the chair. “Mom, he wants me to go to Texas to meet his mother and he has this…this weird idea of us giving ourselves a month together to see if we can work things out between us.”
Speechless, Kathryn stared blankly at her daughter. “A month? What did you tell him?”
“That I needed to think about it. What else could I say?” Gauging her mother’s thoughtful expression, Heather asked, “What do you think?”
“Marriages aren’t always easy, honey. The fact that Justin has come to you means a lot. He must still have feelings for you. And how would you feel if you gave up this chance? You have Timmy to think about, as well as yourself. You’re going to have to tell him about Timmy, Heather.”
Heather saw the censure in her mother’s eyes. “I know. And I will. Just not yet.” She flushed as guilt ate at her. She had intended to tell Justin about the baby before now, really she had. It was ironic that he’d shown up and had effectively taken away her chance to come clean voluntarily. “I know Justin, and if he found out about his son, he’d insist on reconciling for that reason alone. I don’t want a marriage based on sacrifice.”
Kathryn picked up Heather’s plate and took it to the sink. “Look, why don’t you think about going to Texas? You’ll be alone together, and it will be the perfect opportunity to see if you can salvage your marriage.”
“I can’t just up and run off to Texas, Mom. I have responsibilities here. I have Timmy to take care of.”
“Don’t use Timmy as an excuse,” Kathryn scolded. “I can keep him for you, and you know he’ll be safe with me.”
Heat darkened Heather’s already flushed face. Her mother wasn’t easily fooled. Using Timmy was a quick and easy excuse she could hide behind. “All right, I know that.”
“Then go home and think long and hard about what Justin has proposed.”
Later at home, Heather could think of nothing else. Did she dare do as her mother encouraged? She wasn’t even sure if she could leave Timmy for a long period of time. He was so little, and he needed her. Since his birth, she hadn’t been away from him, other than the hours she was at school. How could she abandon him to her mother for a month?
There was no way she could leave Timmy. She’d just have to think of something else, she decided, her head full of decisions to make, her heart heavy.
“Your wife is on line four.”
“Thank you, Ms. Harris,” Justin responded, and realized his voice wasn’t as steady as he’d have liked.
He’d been impatiently waiting for Heather to call, had instructed his secretary to put her through immediately. He’d even picked up the telephone several times to call her, only to put it back down. Aware his hands were sweating, he rubbed them on his slacks, then picked up the receiver and punched a button on the telephone.
“Heather?” He was anxious to hear her husky voice, to hear her say his name. Her effect on him even after one short visit was lethal. She was all he could think about.
“Hi. Is this a bad time?”
Justin thought she sounded a little rattled. Well, he could relate to that. His uncertainty as to what she was thinking or what her decision might be had made him irritable. His secretary had threatened to quit after working with him for only a few hours this morning. He knew the reason, and its name was Heather.
“No, of course not. You can call me anytime.”
“Oh.” There was silence on the line while she digested that. “Well, I’ll only keep you for a moment. I was wondering if we could meet. You know, to talk.”
“Of course,” he assured her, enjoying the breathless sound of her voice as she spoke. It wrapped around him, warming him like a blanket on a cold, snowy day. “How about if I stop by the house this evening?” he suggested, wanting to see her again as soon as he could. He’d drive there right now if she said the word.
“No,” she replied quickly. “I, um, have some business to attend to in the city. I thought maybe you wouldn’t mind if I came to your apartment.”
That cost her—which made him curious as to her motive, wondering if she was purposely setting a meeting on her own terms. Though he’d told his lawyer to give her the address in case she needed to reach him, Heather had never set foot in his apartment or called there.
“All right.” He leaned over his desk, propped his elbows on it, and he stared at her picture. In it she was smiling at him, reminding him of everything he’d given up when he’d left her. “What time is good for you?”
She named a time, and he gave her directions. He hesitated breaking the connection, reluctant to end their conversation.
