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For a moment she heard Noah’s voice and his marriage proposal. She had hurt and abandoned the one person who loved her—the only one she could ever love. Yeah, she wished the illness had taken her out.
Julie looked up at Mr. Bittner. “Did you know what this note said?”
“No.”
She handed it to him to read, then said, “You don’t appear to be surprised by the message. When did Wayne give this to you?”
“Yesterday while I was eating breakfast at the community veranda. You were still delirious. And when I told him I didn’t understand and started to ask him questions, he said he couldn’t talk or he would miss his ride to the airfield.”
Julie managed a poker face to hide her feelings. She was not crushed or broken hearted. She was furious. “The coward didn’t even have the courage to sign his name to the card, much less offer me the courtesy of a face-to-face goodbye. Or make sure I had enough funds to get home.”
Home. Wherever that was. No way she would go back to London.
“I’m so sorry, Julie. I—”
“Nothing you should be sorry for, Mr. Bittner. I apologize that he put you in the middle of this.”
Just then she heard feet rushing toward her door. It was thrown open and her brother rushed in.
“Bryce!”
Mr. Bittner said, “I hope you don’t mind, Julie, but you told me you had a brother in the States, and after Wayne left and you were so sick I wasn’t sure you’d survive, I took the liberty of finding him.”
Bryce reached out and shook Mr. Bittner’s hand, saying, “Thank you for that.” Then he raced to Julie’s bedside and wrapped her in his arms.
She burst into sobs on his shoulder.
“I’ll go now,” Mr. Bittner said, “but if you need anything, just let me know.”
Bryce thanked him again and turned back to Julie. “I’ve been looking all over for you for the last five months. Nobody knew where you were. All Gillian said was that you were traveling the world with some guy you’d gotten engaged to. I tried to contact his family home, but I only got unhelpful servants. Who is he and where is he so I can punch his lights out?”
“He’s a guy you met once and didn’t like. And you were right. He left me here, and I’m glad he did because I don’t like him either. ” Another burst of sobs.
“Then why would you—”
“Because it was my fault he died, Bryce. And I wanted to be gone too.”
“Who died? You mean our father? Trevor?”
“Yes, but he’s not my father. Only yours.”
Bryce shook his head. “What are you talking about?”
“I promised him I would never tell you, but here I am—”
“Julie, why would you say Trevor is not your dad? I know you had some problems with him.”
“More than problems,” she said. “He hated me and told me he only claimed me as his child to protect you. And his reputation.”
Bryce sat back and handed Julie a box of tissues. She could feel him studying her. “Then who is your father?”
“He wouldn’t tell me. He just said that the man would never acknowledge me. He said nobody wanted me.”
“Did he tell you this when you were in London with him?”
“Yes, when he made me break up with Noah and stay in London so none of his friends would see what a failure I am.”
Bryce reached out and brushed her messy hair back from her face. “You really liked Noah.”
