It's Better This Way Page 2

  She’d just taken her first sip of coffee when her phone rang. It was her sister, Amanda.

  “Hey, you’re up early,” Julia said by way of greeting.

  “I didn’t wake you, did I?”

  “No, I was up. I can’t seem to sleep past six. What’s going on?”

  “It’s Carrie,” her sister said.

  Julia’s niece, an only child, was especially close to her parents. She suspected what was coming. Carrie still lived at home, and the failure to break out on her own was a thorn between Amanda and her husband, Robert.

  “Robert and I had another heated discussion about Carrie last night,” her sister said with a groan. “He wants Carrie to move out. I mean, she’s twenty-eight. It’s time. Past time,” she added in defeat. “The problem is: How do we tell her?”

  “Glad it’s not up to me.” As Carrie’s godmother, Julia dearly loved her niece. She understood her sister’s concern. Carrie had graduated from college with a degree in French literature. A degree that didn’t offer much in the way of career opportunities. Never one to be idle, Carrie had applied for several jobs, many of which had lasted only a few months.

  Since her graduation from college, Carrie had steadily drifted from one position to another. She’d been a receptionist for a real estate company, worked for an accountant, had done a stint at an employment agency, sold cosmetics at a department store as a beauty specialist. And those were only the jobs Julia could remember. Except for that brief time when Carrie had sold high-end knives, of which Julia had a set. Her niece wasn’t lazy, she just wasn’t particularly employable. Six years after graduating from college, she still hadn’t found a job that suited her unique set of skills.

  Carrie was great with people, caring and conscientious, and a good employee while she lasted. The problem was that wherever Carrie worked, she didn’t earn enough to support herself, and then she quit when she grew bored. Consequently, she lived at home.

  “I was hoping you had some pearls of wisdom to give me.” Amanda sounded utterly defeated.

  “Sorry, you’re on your own with this one, little sister.”

  “Grrr.”

  Julia smiled. “Failure to launch.”

  “I remember the movie.” Amanda continued, “The parents plotted to convince their son to move out of the house. I don’t know that Robert and I could do that. I know he’s right; we aren’t helping Carrie move forward in life. Only I don’t know what else to do. She’s such a wonderful daughter and always has been. It’s not like we can kick her out. She’s our daughter.”

  Julia didn’t know, either. She felt bad for her sister and wished she knew how to advise her. “Just be honest with her.”

  Amanda sighed. “You make it sound simple and it isn’t.”

  “I know.” Julia sympathized and wished she had a solution to offer. She knew Robert had offered to pay for an apartment for Carrie. She’d refused. Carrie insisted she would make it on her own or not at all.

  “There’s another reason I called,” Amanda said, her voice brightening.

  Simply by her sister’s tone, Julia again knew what was coming.

  “I have someone I want you to meet.”

  “No,” Julia said and moaned inwardly.

  “Julia. I haven’t even told you who it is.”

  “Not interested.”

  “Come on. Don’t be so stubborn. Okay, so you’ve had a few dating disappointments…”

  “A few, yes. More than enough to know that whoever it is, I’m not interested.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” This was an unwelcome subject.

  “Do you seriously want to live the rest of your life alone?”

  “Amanda, please, you know how I feel about this.” Following her divorce, Julia’s sister and other friends had made continual efforts to introduce Julia to a variety of single men her age. Most were divorced and carried more baggage than an international airline. She’d suffered through these attempts until she decided to give up dating entirely, even if it meant living the rest of her life single. She was content, happy, and had moved on, for the most part, without bitterness or resentment. The first couple years following her divorce had been a struggle until she wrote Eddie a long good-bye letter. Although she’d never mailed it, the process had given her a sense of closure. Even more, it helped her accept her life as it was; she didn’t need a man to feel complete. The letter and the aftermath had freed her, changed her outlook, which allowed her to move forward.

  Eddie appeared to be happy. She spoke to him only about matters that involved their daughters, which were rare, now that both Hillary and Marie were in their twenties and on their own.

  “Are you sure?” Amanda asked again. “Frank is perfect for you. Please reconsider.”

  “Amanda, please. I’m not interested.”

  “Okay, then, but you’re missing out.”

  “Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. It doesn’t matter. I’m happy as I am.”

  “If you say so,” Amanda said, her words heavy with doubt.

  They spoke for a few minutes longer before Amanda ended the call.

  * * *

  —

  Once she finished her coffee, Julia dressed and headed down to work out. The Heritage had an exercise room that, although small, was state-of-the-art. There were a couple treadmills and exercise bikes. Plus some weight-lifting equipment.

  As a matter of habit, she exercised every afternoon, when she returned from work, walking off tension on the treadmill while listening to an audiobook or music. It was a good way to keep herself in shape. Before she knew it, she’d be sixty. She certainly didn’t feel that age. Not anywhere close. Her daughter had recently commented that sixty was the new forty. That was a stretch, but Julia would take it.

  Most afternoons, the exercise room was empty. She wasn’t sure what she’d find when she altered her schedule to morning workouts. She preferred to have the room to herself.

  To her disappointment when she arrived, she found a man, busily walking on the treadmill. He was big, easily over six feet, with broad shoulders. He wore a sleeveless shirt that was damp with sweat, as if he’d been going at top speed for some time, and shorts. She noticed how well defined his legs were. He had a full head of salt-and-pepper hair. Julia had seen him around though she didn’t know his name. As best she could remember, he’d moved into The Heritage about a year ago but hadn’t participated in more than a few of the social gatherings. The other times she’d seen him, he’d been dressed in a suit and tie and made for a fine figure of a man. As she recalled, there’d been some speculation floating around about him and the condo concierge. Julia didn’t generally listen to gossip and couldn’t remember what the story was, since it was none of her concern. What she did know was that the management was taking applications for a new concierge.

  Seeing him, Julia hesitated before stepping into the room. “Morning,” she said casually.

  He nodded in return.

  She got on the treadmill next to him and put her earbuds in and started her routine. He finished and moved to the exercise bike. Julia walked three miles, and he was still going at the bike, leaning his well-defined upper body forward and pumping his legs at a furious pace.

  * * *

  —

  The next morning and for the following three, they exercised side by side, never exchanging more than a simple greeting. She felt him glance her way on occasion, as if he wanted to start a conversation. Julia discouraged it, as she was there to exercise. Nevertheless, she noticed him, probably far more than she should. When he didn’t show on Friday, she was surprised to realize she was disappointed. Without exchanging a word, he inspired her to work harder and longer, and she missed the challenge.

  * * *

  —

  When she arrived Monday morning of the following week, he seeme
d to be waiting for her. He stood next to the treadmill, a towel around his neck, looking more appealing than ever.

  “Heath Wilson,” he said.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I’m Heath Wilson. I thought it was time I introduce myself.”

  “Julia Jones.”

  “I figured if we were going to exercise at the same time each morning, we should introduce ourselves.”

  She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Heath.”

  “Have you lived at The Heritage long?” he asked.

  “A couple years. You arrived last year, right?”

  “Right. A friend of my son’s lives here. Eric Hudson. Do you know him?”

  Julia shook her head.

  “Not surprising. Eric has a home office and works odd hours since he has several overseas clients. I don’t think he’s attended any of the condo functions. I’ve only attended a couple myself.”

  “I love living here. It’s a fresh start for me.”

  “Me, too. I hung on to the house following my divorce thinking I wanted to keep it. That was a mistake. So many memories and more room than one person would ever need. I decided it was time to move on.”

  “I hear you. I’m divorced as well, over five years now.”

  “About that long for me. Did you hold on to your house?”

  “No. I needed to sell, as it was part of the settlement.” Putting her home on the market had been one of the hardest aspects of the divorce for Julia. “It was probably for the best.” Like Heath, the house held a lot of memories, and would have been a constant reminder of all that she’d lost.

  Plugging in her earbuds, she set about her routine. When she’d finished, she gave a wave to Heath and headed back to her condo to shower. She intended to stop by the shop to advise the new owner at some point that day, and thought she’d head out early before it was too hot to walk the seven blocks to West Coast Interiors. Since Julia hadn’t taken time to eat breakfast, she decided to stop on her way for a latte at the Busy Bean, a tea and coffee shop next door to The Heritage.

  Three people were in line in front of her. Her phone beeped, letting her know she had a text message. Taking it from the outside pocket of her purse, she saw it was from her niece, Carrie.

  Can u talk?

  Julia called and Carrie answered right away.

  “You okay?” Julia asked.

  “Not really.” She sounded as down as Julia could remember. Carrie was generally upbeat and happy.

  “You want to tell me what this is about?”

  It wasn’t uncommon for Carrie to seek Julia’s advice. Her niece was like a third daughter. Carrie was the same age as Marie, and the three girls were tight, having grown up together. Carrie often claimed she had two mothers.

  “I’d rather do it in person.”

  “Great. How about lunch tomorrow?” Her niece had been on her mind ever since last Monday’s conversation with her sister. And when Heath had introduced himself, she’d gotten an idea. The condo was looking to hire another concierge, and Carrie would be a perfect fit. Plus, a small apartment was offered with the position.

  “Sure, I can do lunch.”

  “How about the Thai place,” she suggested, knowing it was Carrie’s favorite. “Noon?”

  “That would be perfect. Thanks so much, Aunt Julia.”

  If this panned out, it would solve a big problem for Carrie, and her sister and Robert.

  Chapter 2

  “What’s got you so down?” Marie asked Carrie.

  Carrie sat with her knees bunched up beneath her chin in the middle of her cousin’s apartment. “It’s Mom and Dad,” she said, releasing a slow, frustrated breath. Rarely had she been more depressed.

  “Your mom and dad,” Marie repeated, her eyes widening with alarm. “They aren’t splitting up, are they?”

  Carrie supposed this was a natural assumption after what had happened with Marie’s parents. Even now, after nearly six years, Carrie found it hard to believe that her uncle Eddie would leave a woman as wonderful as her aunt Julia.

  “Not yet,” she said, “though I have a feeling if I don’t find a job that pays me enough to move out, they might consider it.” That would be the extreme, but after hearing their argument, she couldn’t discount the possibility. Her parents rarely raised their voices at each other. The shock of hearing them argue had hung over her head for a week now. They were miserable, and so was Carrie.

  “They were fighting about you?”

  Carrie nodded. “They didn’t know I was home. They hardly ever argue; it shook me to hear them yelling at each other.” They must not have heard her come in, and she didn’t think it was a good time to interrupt. Sneaking up the stairs, she silently went to her room without letting them know she was home from work. “Their raised voices were amplified from the foyer like it was being broadcast throughout the house. Dad insisted that it was time I move into my own place. He was adamant they weren’t helping me by letting me live at home.”

  Marie lowered herself from the sofa and sat on the floor next to Carrie. “What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Dad’s right. It’s time I accepted responsibility for myself and had my own life.”

  “You could always move in with Hillary and me,” Marie suggested.

  Adding a third person in a two-bedroom apartment wouldn’t work. Carrie had a good relationship with her cousins. Becoming their roommate had catastrophe written all over it.

  “Where would I sleep or put my things?” she asked, hoping the question was answer enough. Carrie’s cousins were close, both in their late twenties. Living together wasn’t ideal for them, either. But the cost of housing in the Seattle area made it nearly impossible for each to rent their own place.

  “It wouldn’t surprise me if Blake and Hillary announced their engagement soon,” Marie offered. “I’ll be looking for a roommate once they get married. Do you think you could wait a few more months?”

  “No way. I need to find a solution as soon as possible. Besides, even if they do get engaged, it could be months before the wedding.”

  It did cheer Carrie to hear her cousin was ready to make the leap with Blake. They’d been dating for more than three years. Marie had once mentioned that Blake had hinted at marriage a year earlier. Only Hillary claimed she wasn’t ready.

  “Yeah, I know.” Marie drew her knee up and rested her chin there, mirroring Carrie’s position.

  “I’m happy for Hillary. Blake’s a good guy.”

  “He is. She’s lucky,” Marie agreed. “I think Hilly would have accepted his proposal last year if it wasn’t for what happened to Mom and Dad. They were married thirty-one years. Even now it’s a jolt, you know?”

  “I do.” Carrie had been stunned when her mother told her the news that her wonderful uncle Eddie was leaving her aunt for another woman. While that was bad enough, it had deeply affected both Hillary and Marie. After the shouting match at Lake Sammamish, neither cousin had anything to do with their father or his new wife. From what Carrie had heard, Uncle Eddie had made several attempts to reconcile, only her cousins weren’t interested. The problem was, he insisted they meet and accept their stepmother, which Hillary and Marie refused to do. They considered the other woman to have ruined all their lives. That their dad had put this woman above them wasn’t something they were willing to forgive.

  “Hillary’s convinced Dad never wanted girls.”

  “That’s not true,” Carrie said, surprised her cousin would say such a thing. Her uncle Eddie had been a good father. He doted on his daughters, teaching them to play golf and taking them on skiing vacations. She’d often joined them on their outings. Carrie knew it must be hard on her uncle to be separated from them entirely. And especially hard on Hillary and Marie. But they were as stubborn as their dad was.

  “I told
her that, only Hillary doesn’t believe me. He has stepsons now and is constantly doing things with them. When she heard Dad took Laura’s sons to a Seahawks game, she blew a gasket. That was all the evidence she needed to prove he’d always wanted sons. According to my sister, we were poor replacements.”

  “You don’t believe that, do you?”

  Marie lifted her shoulder in a halfhearted shrug. “I don’t know what to think any longer. I miss Dad and then I don’t. This is what he wanted; he should be happy, only I know he isn’t.”

  Carrie didn’t know what to think. She’d hoped that after all this time her cousins would be willing to move on and accept their father’s choices even if they didn’t agree with them. Then again, she wondered how she’d react if her father had left her mother for a woman far less deserving of his love.

  “I don’t want to talk about my dad,” Marie said. “It depresses me. Besides, you’re the one with the problem.”

  It was easier to get sidetracked than to deal with her own seemingly impossible situation.

  “Didn’t your dad offer to pay for an apartment for you a while back?”

  Carrie wondered now if she should have accepted. “I told him no. Dad has no idea how much a studio apartment costs these days.” She refused to drain her parents’ savings account because she couldn’t find a job that would support her on her own.

  “Do you have any other ideas?”

  Carrie wished she did. “Justin suggested we move in together.” As if that was going to happen! He lived with his mom, and with them both working jobs that paid slightly above minimum wage, they would never make it financially.

  Marie’s head came up and she looked aghast. “You aren’t going to do it, are you?”

  “I’m not that dumb. Justin is…” She paused, not knowing how best to describe her sometimes boyfriend.

  “Not the one?” Marie offered.

  “Not even close.” They got along fine, shared expenses whenever they went out, and could laugh together. Carrie could never see the relationship going beyond what it was—on her end, at any rate. Even though Justin was thirty, he acted more like someone in his late teens. Life was a party. Responsibility was for someone else. Carrie knew if they were to get an apartment together, she’d be left worrying about paying their rent and utility bills because Justin couldn’t be bothered.