He took the coffee cup from his wife and handed it to Claire, as if she were the maid. Without another word they made their way down the hall, backs stiff as starched sheets.
“Ordeal, my ass.” Brad twisted his lips in a grimace. “I noticed they didn’t once ask how you were, Julia, or if there was anything you needed.”
“What a couple of cold fish,” Claire added.
“They just don’t know how to deal with a situation requiring emotion. Nothing has ever disturbed the smooth surface of their lives. And I don’t expect them to think of me. The minute they discovered they didn’t have me under their thumb, I became the enemy.” She rubbed her forehead. “It’s fine. But I don’t know what to do about the medical power of attorney. The last thing I want under the circumstances is to make those kinds of decisions.”
“Well, honey.” Brad gave her a lopsided grin. “I hate to tell you, but you’re stuck until Charles is alert enough to appoint someone else.”
“Maybe if I sneak in and pull out his tubes and wires, we won’t have to do anything,” Claire teased.
“Claire!” Julia was shocked her friend could call up gallows humor like that.
“Just kidding.” Then she winked at Julia. “But it would solve a lot of problems.”
“Right now I think I’d like to go home and see the children. I’ve done what I can here for the moment.”
“I’ll get the car and meet you two downstairs.” Brad strode toward the elevator.
They were all silent on the drive to her house. Julia was too exhausted to form words and she was sure Claire and Brad were giving her space. All the house lights were on and Miranda opened the door for her as Brad helped her and her suitcase up to the porch.
“Thank you,” she told him. “I... Just thank you.”
“It’s okay, kiddo.” He kissed her cheek. “We’re here for you, whatever you need.”
“The kids are across the street with their friend, Charley.” Miranda closed the front door and took her coat. “I told the Greggs what happened and they invited the little ones over to play. Give you a chance to get yourself together before you have to tell them what happened.”
“Oh, thank God.” She hugged Miranda.
“You go on upstairs. I’ll bring this suitcase up in a bit.”
Gratefully Julia made it up to her room, closed the door, and threw herself across the bed. What a mess. What an incredible mess. Just when she thought she’d finally gotten things under control and could move forward, fate knocked the pins out from under her. All the pent-up tension finally exploded and sobs burst from her throat. Hot tears burned her cheeks. She reached up and touched the tiny charm at her throat, wrapping her fingers around it. She could almost feel Luke there with her, encouraging her. Telling her how strong she was. As her tears finally subsided and her heartbeat slowed, she realized she had the strength to get through this, for her children and for herself.
Chapter 10
It hardly seemed possible it was only five o’clock in the afternoon. The day seemed as long as a year since Claire’s early morning phone call. Cried out at last, she washed her face and drank a glass of water. Then she sent Miranda to fetch the twins. They were wildly glad to see her, hugging her with great ferocity and pressing their bodies against hers.
“Why do you look so sad, Mommy?” Beth plastered herself against Julia’s side.
“Did we do something wrong?” Andy’s voice had a plaintive sound to it.
“No, babies. Not at all.” Julia dug up a smile. “You are my wonderful children.”
“They know something’s wrong.” Miranda shook her head. “Kids sense those things.”
“I missed you guys so much.” Julia hugged both of them at the same time. Fear of the unknown bloomed in their eyes. She knew exactly how they felt. How would she tell them from this moment on their lives would be dramatically altered?
They would be her salvation in the difficult days ahead. Their love for her and their needs would keep her sane and grounded when the urge to run away became too strong.
“How come you didn’t come home this morning like you said?” Andy demanded.
Julia swallowed. “Some…things came up. Let’s have dinner first and then we’ll talk about them.”
“What things?” he demanded in his child’s voice.
“After dinner,” she insisted.
“Will you eat with us, Mommy?” Beth begged.
“Please?” Andy added. “We didn’t see you for three whole days.”
Julia’s head throbbed and her stomach was doing a war dance again, but no way could she deny these adorable imps.
“Yes.” She hugged them tightly. “I’ll eat with you. But just some soup and tea,” she told Miranda. “I think it’s about as much as my system can take right now.”
“Why don’t you change into something more comfortable and I’ll get something on the table. Come on, kids.”
Miranda herded the twins toward the family room. “Give your mama a few minutes to herself and then you can sit down together.”
Bless Miranda. Life would be abysmal without her.
Julia unpacked, showered, and opened a drawer to take out sweats. Charles hated for her to sit around the house in them, but right now she needed the feel of comfort they gave her. Her hands hovered over the set Luke had given her for just a moment. She recalled how his eyes lit up when he saw it on her, and darkened with passion as he’d slowly removed each piece. She was just finding herself and now she was being swallowed up again. She needed Luke.
But Luke was an impossibility at the moment, and who knew for how long. Depression settled over her. Stop it, she told herself. No time for tears or self-indulgence now. Her children needed her. And Charles, damn him, Well, she’d do what she had to for him to get stabilized and then she’d tell Harry to get the
