“What on earth is that piece of junk you’re wearing?” Charles snapped, his gaze focusing on her. “Where did you get it? I don’t remember giving it to you.”
Julia swallowed. “I saw it in the airport and it appealed to me. Besides, you no longer have the right to tell me what to do or wear.”
“Really?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Now that’s where you’re wrong.”
“Excuse me?” Now what?
“You may not realize it”—he smirked—“but you may have just handed me the keys to the kingdom.”
She frowned. “I don’t understand. You’d better explain.”
“Not now. Right now I’d like you to leave.” His voice was cold, like chipped ice. “I have a lot of thinking to do and I’d rather do it alone.”
“Fine.” Julia gathered up her purse and jacket. “I’ll be back in a few days. It’s obvious you’re fine without me and I have things to do.”
“I want you back here tomorrow,” he snapped. “But in the afternoon. I’m going to have Rod come by in the morning. Then we’re going to have a discussion about the future. Everyone’s, including mine and yours.”
Outside the room, she leaned against the wall, her legs threatening to collapse under her.
“Mrs. Patterson?” One of the nurses stood next to her. “Can I get you something? A drink of water?”
Julia drew a breath and exhaled slowly. “No. Thank you. I’m fine now.” She walked to the elevator on rubbery legs, her mind whirling. She felt guilty enough about Charles’s condition without nearly hastening his demise, but she was not getting rid of this child. Charles wasn’t going to live forever. Was she a terrible person because she clung to that thought like a lifeline? And then she could make a life with Luke.
* * * *
She had avoided telling Claire about her situation, but in fairness to her friend, she couldn’t stall any longer. She called the office from the car. “Can you stay a little later today? I need to talk to you.”
“Sure. Of course. What’s up? Is Charles worse?”
“No.” Not exactly. “I just need to chat with you a few minutes.”
“No problem. Come on. I’ll wait for you.”
All the way to the office, she rehearsed how she would break the news to Claire. It should have been easier than Charles, but for some reason this was worse. When Julia walked in the door, her practiced speeches failed her, and she simply blurted out, “I’m pregnant.”
Claire stared at her, open-mouthed. “It’s his, isn’t it,” she said, eyes flashing.
“Whose?” Julia tried to keep her voice level.
“The deep voice. It is, isn’t it? Come on, Julia, we’ve known each other forever. ’Fess up.”
Julia was silent and Claire laughed.
“How fascinating. A love child. Our proper Julia. Good for you.”
“Claire!”
“Don’t ‘Claire’ me. You needed a little spice in your life, being married to an ice cube. And I won’t help with the hair shirt you insist on wearing by condemning you for this.”
“Charles is just…reserved.”
“Ha!” Claire barked a laugh. “Reserved, my ass. How are you going to tell his majesty, anyway? The man you’re all but divorced from?”
“He guessed. The nausea and vomiting, and the fatigue, gave it away. He remembered.”
“You could have been upset about this whole situation. Emotionally distressed.”
Julia flapped her hand. “I’m all that, for sure. But his eagle eye zeroed in on the symptoms from my last pregnancy. It might have been a shot in the dark but he scored a bull’s-eye. We had an unpleasant little conversation today.” She dropped into the chair in front of Claire’s desk. “I don’t think I’d like to repeat the process.”
“I can’t imagine what he said.” It was a statement, not a question.
“No. You can’t. He wants me to have an abortion.”
“What?” Claire was nearly speechless. “What a bastard. That’s harsh even for him.”
Julia twisted her hands. “He knows it’s not his. That’s reason enough.”
“But... You’re practically divorced. And would be if he hadn’t been such a prick. It’s none of his business.” She shook her head. “Let him go to the nursing home and rot there.”
“I…I just…” She felt herself sway.
“Oh, my God. Stop.” Claire came out from behind the desk. “You need some tea. Sit down and let me fix you a cup.” She literally pushed Julia onto the couch, pulled a tiny footstool over to prop her feet on, and plugged in the kettle in the powder room to heat water. In minutes, she handed Julia a steaming mug of fragrant liquid. “Drink. So. The baby is Luke’s.”
Julia nodded. “Yes. It is.” Her hand automatically went to her stomach.
“What happens next? I’m sure you didn’t agree to an abortion.”
“No way. I told him I’m keeping this child and nothing he said could change my mind.”
“Good for you. Who knows how long Charles will be around, anyway?”
“Claire!”
“Julia, you can’t run away from the truth. His heart condition is acute and Rombauer told you the prognosis is not good.”
Julia shoved her hand through her hair. “This couldn’t be happening at a worse time.”
“Are you going to tell Luke?”
“Are you out of your mind?” Julia’s jaw dropped.
“The man has a right to know.”
“The man also knows I have a husband who is dying, twins who need my love and support, and an uphill battle no matter how you look at it. I know Luke. If I tell him, he’d hang up and jump on the next plane to San Antonio. How would I possibly keep this little secret from him? And then we’ll be in a bigger mess. You think Charles flexed his muscle to hold up the divorce? You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
“Secrets have a way of coming out, Julia. One of these days it will come
