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"Not yet. I'm going to finish the job I started. It's only two more weeks, then we can work out where to go from here."
"I'm coming to you then. I need to see you."
"No," she says way too quickly. "I don't need the drama, Heath. I'm enjoying this job, and I want to see it through. I will be home soon, and we can talk properly then." There is a determination in her voice that makes me really take notice of what she's saying. I know I have to respect her wishes, even if it's not what I want.
I glance to Summer, and she drops her head, like she's not listening to our every word. "Okay. Things are going to be different when you get back. You won't ever have to go through a scandal like this again. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep, Heath," she says sadly.
But she doesn't know what I do. "This promise I know I can keep. You'll see."
"See you in two weeks, Heath."
"Amelia. I love you," I tell her, needing her to know now more than ever how I feel about her.
Silence, and my heart sinks.
"I love you too," she whispers, then the line goes dead. She's gone, but she still loves me, and hope fills me that we will eventually be okay, and all of this drama will be just a little bump in the road.
I already know it's going to kill me to stay here waiting for her to come back, but I know if I want her back, I have to. And right now, I will do everything it takes. Even with what Blanchet said to me playing over in my head.You’re a lucky man. You should enjoy your time with her while it lasts, because your days with her are numbered. Princesses like Amelia Harper belong with a man who knows how to take care of them, not little boys who like to play pretend.
He doesn't know what he's talking about.I know how to take care of her, and as soon as she's back, I'm going to do exactly that.
AMELIA
TheBlanchetfashionshowis in two days, and we have spent every possible hour pulling our collection together. Today is the last day for any adjustments, and we've had models in all morning being fitted for the show. Seeing my designs on these beautiful girls and styling them with their accessories is so satisfying. It's probably my favorite part of the whole process.
The past three weeks have gone by in such a blur of emotion. Sometimes I'm happy to be doing what I love and sharing this special time with my children, while other times I feel guilty that I left Heath to deal with the scandal alone because I wasn't strong enough to be by his side. Other times I'm still so angry that I even had to go through any of it in the first place. But I know one thing for sure—I miss him like crazy.
Since he called from my office and filled me in on what Della had done, he's called most days to talk to the kids. They tell him all the exciting things they have been up to with Gabrielle. I can see how close they’re getting with him, and I know it was tough the week they didn't talk. I did exactly what I said I wouldn't do and let my feelings stop them from communicating. I won't do it again. I can see how important they are to each other.
I have also talked to him a little bit, but it's so hard when I just need to see him face to face so we can really deal with all the shit that happened. When he told me about Della causing all the trouble, I believed him right away. I knew she was trouble right from the start just by the way she talked to him. Controlling bitch. But to go so far as orchestrating this whole elaborate scheme is insane. She really must have been threatened by me. I feel terrible for Heath and the other boys, but I'm glad they have worked it all out now and got rid of her. At least it eases my mind knowing I'll be back there soon and no one should be interfering with us.
Three weeks with Julian has been different to what I thought it was going to be. Us designing together has been a true collaboration. He said normally he would just be overseeing someone's work, but we didn't have time for that. We had to work closely together on each piece to make sure they were done in time, and even though I wasn't so sure of Julian's intentions early on, he has proven to be hardworking and dedicated, and we have built up a friendship through it all. I'll be back in California the day after the show, and I feel like I'm going to be retuning with a newfound appreciation for who I really am.
"Isn't that your boyfriend on the television?" asks Julian, breaking me from my concentration pinning up the hem of the ballgown, our final piece and the grand finale of the runway show. The pin slips past the soft fabric and right into my finger. "Damn it," I mutter, shaking my hand to stop the sting, then sucking the blood from my finger, hoping I didn't just mark the dress.
"You all right?" he asks, concerned, coming over from the other side of the room where he was adjusting a bodice to check on me. He places a hand to my shoulder and looks me over. I have become used to his touchy-feely way around me; he seems to be like that with everyone in the building, so I feel like it's harmless.
"Yes, I'll be fine." I brush him off so I can concentrate on the television. The image on the screen captivates my attention, making me forget the pain immediately. Sure enough, the four members of 4 Smoking Coyotes are sitting in some sort of a press conference. "Can you turn it up, please?" I'm desperate to hear what they're saying. I may not have had a lot of contact with Heath while I’ve been here, but he is never far from my mind, and seeing him does all sorts of things to my insides, reminding me of the effect he has on me and how strong my feelings are for him.
The volume increases, and I'm able to hear what the four of them are talking about. And then I hear Heath say that there will be no more tours or albums indefinitely. They are releasing their latest work, having one last concert in their hometown, then taking a break. The message hits my ears loud and clear, causing my heart to race as I try to go over all the possibilities of what this could mean for him, for the other guys. Have they had a fight? They all look perfectly happy to be side by side on the stage right now. Are they splitting up?
One of the journalists asks Heath if it's because of all the drama lately involving him. I can tell he is uncomfortable by her question but answers her with confidence, explaining it's not but that it is just time for the four of them to all move on with their lives, that this year has taught him what's most important, and at this time in his life, it's his family. The way he looks at the camera as he says it, it's like he is staring straight into my eyes, and I know that line was for me. He's giving it all up for us. I feel sick to my stomach, the guilt hitting me hard. Here I was not able to cope with it all, so I ran away to another country to hide from the reality, and he has faced it head-on and come out the other side still wanting us.
"He still loves you very much,ma belle."
I know Julian is right. "Yes." I feel teary. This must be what he was talking about last week when he said I wouldn't have to go through a scandal again. Because he's not going to be interesting to the media anymore if he steps away from the spotlight and becomes a family man. He will just be ours.
"Maybe he should have thought about you before it was too late," Julian mutters, unimpressed.
I give my attention back to the image in front of me, not wanting to hear his opinion on my relationship. "It's not too late," I say louder than I had intended to. And I'm not even sure if I'm saying it for Julian's benefit or for Heath up there on the television. But I know for sure right now it's not.
"You would be a fool to take him back. Look how far you have come without him." He motions to the designs we have lining the mannequins around the room. I could have done all of this if I was with him, so I don't get his point.
"Maybe I am a fool then, Julian, because when I leave Paris, the first person I want to see is Heath."
He looks at me with a sullen disappointment, but he doesn't say anything else, just goes back to work.
