Cutting Through

by Joan Hohl

  How had they managed to raise such a wonderful son? No, not “they.” Drew had hardly ever been home. She had somehow managed to raise this terrific kid, who was now a man.

  Laura felt tears of pride sting her eyes for her tall, handsome son. What had she done to be so blessed?

  Saturday dawned bright and hot. The phone rang as Julia was dressing to go to Philadelphia, and fretting because Jon wasn’t home from his Saturday-morning appointments.

  Why couldn’t he have rescheduled, she thought, fuming as she lifted the receiver.

  “Julia!” Krissy cried before Julia could even say hello. “I’m a nervous wreck. I feel sick…or like I want to run away and hide.”

  “What’s the matter? Did you change your mind?” she asked.

  “No, no, I do want to get married,” Krissy said, a little wildly. “But, well, I’m used merchandise. I’m ten years older and not nearly good enough for him.”

  Jon strolled into the bedroom, arching his eyebrows at the concerned expression on Julia’s face.

  Krissy, bridal nerves, she mouthed.

  He rolled his eyes and yanked at his tie, whispering, “Have fun, I’m going to grab a shower.”

  Julia made a face at him, then said soothingly into the phone, “Krissy, that is simply not true.”

  “I am ten years older than him!”

  “I didn’t mean about the age difference,” Julia said. “I meant about you not being good enough for him. And too used? Tell me he hasn’t had his share of lovers?”

  “But he didn’t marry them.” She sniffled.

  Julia sighed around a smile. “Okay, so you did. So what? Do you love him?”

  “Oh, Julie, so much it scares the hell out of me,” she wailed.

  “And I believe Rand truly loves you.”

  “So do I,” Krissy admitted meekly.

  Julia’s eyes flew wide. Krissy meek was damned startling. “So, what’s the problem then?”

  “I don’t know.” There was a slight pause before she heaved a sigh. “I’m being silly, aren’t I?”

  “Yes, because you are nervous. But I do believe that’s normal behavior for all brides on their wedding day.”

  “I never was before. I wonder why?” Krissy mused. “Isn’t that strange?”

  “No.” Julia smiled. “You weren’t marrying Rand before. Did you love the others as much?”

  Krissy was quiet for a moment. “You know, I thought I was in love before. But the way I felt then didn’t come close to this scared feeling.”

  “And I’ll bet he feels the same way.”

  “Oh, hon, I wish, but I seriously doubt it.”

  “Where is he now?”

  “In the shower.”

  “When he comes out, ask him how he feels.”

  “I can’t do that!”

  “I double dare you,” Julia challenged, as if they were grade-schoolers again.

  “Well…” Krissy drew a deep, audible breath. “Maybe.”

  “Goodbye, Krissy,” Julia said, grinning. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “Bye, hon, thanks for listening to me whine.”

  “Anytime, dear heart.”

  “Anytime, what?” Jon asked, coming out of their bathroom as she hung up the phone.

  “She had the jitters,” she explained, aching inside as she watched him step into boxer shorts. After twenty years, he was still lean and muscular…with an attractive, tight butt. “She thanked me for calming her down.”

  “Well, she has a lot of stress right now,” he said, sitting on the side of the bed to pull on his socks. “It’s only normal if she’s jittery.”

  Julia just stared at him in disbelief for a moment. How could he understand Krissy’s emotional state so well now, when he hadn’t understood her own feelings, her stress and fear about anyone other than him performing surgery on Emily?

  “Are you ready?” Busy stepping into his suit pants, Jon hadn’t turned to look at her.

  Julia was acutely tempted to broadside him with a complete list of her emotional state then and there, but quickly brought herself up short, before she could open her mouth and let fly. It may have been the place, but it certainly was not the time. With the work schedule he had been keeping, there never seemed to be enough time for a long, meaningful discussion.

  And Julia was getting pretty damn tired of living on the edge of what appeared to be an ever widening chasm between them.

  “Julia?” Jon finally turned to look, frown at her. “Is something wrong?”

  “No…er, I was worrying about Krissy,” she said, which wasn’t a complete lie, Julia assured herself. She really was worried about her friend.

  “Well, worrying isn’t going to change anything.”

  No kidding, Sherlock, Julia thought, irritated with the complacency most males appeared to possess. Problem was, they never offered an answer for how to turn off the worry.

  “You know,” he continued, supremely unaware of the annoyance biting at her. “This lump in Krissy’s breast might not be as bad as she has herself believing it is.”

  “I know,” Julia was forced to agree. She also felt compelled to remind him of a very salient point. “But, considering she watched her mother die of breast cancer, I think she has cause to be stressed.”

  “Yes, of course,” he agreed, rather quickly, as if aware he was on the losing side of this discussion. In the process of buttoning his shirt, he raised his eyebrows at her, and changed the subject. “Are you just about ready?”

  “I have my makeup to do, that’s all.” She started for the bathroom.

  “The girls?”

  She didn’t stop moving, or glance aside to look at him. “Your sister picked them up an hour ago. They were going shopping, then to a movie.”

  “My sister spoils them.” Humor laced his voice.

  “I know.” Julia stepped into the bathroom, but left the door open.

  “She should have had some of her own kids to spoil.” The touch of humor was replaced by a sad note. His sister and brother-in-law had never been able to have a baby. So they doted on his and Julia’s daughters.

  “I know,” Julia repeated in soft compassion. Putting the finishing touches to her makeup, she walked into the bedroom. Catching Jon’s eye in the mirror as he adjusted his necktie, she announced, “I’m ready. Will I do?”

  He ran a long glance over her body from head to toe, his expression changing to one of surprise. “You look…fantastic.” A slow, almost sensuous smile of admiration curved his lips. “Is that a new dress?”

  Julia was struck speechless for a second. The dress. The one she had bought early in the spring in hope of getting his full attention. Well, it was now months later, but it had certainly elicited the response she had hoped for. Warmth spread through her. It had been so long since he had complimented her on her appearance, never mind looked at her the way he was now.

  He swung open the bedroom door. The motion restarted her mental and speech process. “Thank you. Yes, the dress is new. It’s one of the things I bought on my mad shopping spree last spring…when I spent so much money.”

  “And worth whatever you paid for it.”

  She swept a glance the length of his body. “You look quite handsome yourself.” She met his avid perusal. “Not many men look that good in a tux.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he grinned, following her from the room and shutting the door behind him. “I’m a regular movie star.” His grin broadened. “Like Rand.”

  “Sorry.” Suddenly feeling light, easy, she grinned back at him. “I can’t think of any man as handsome as Rand.”

  CHAPTER 18

  When she and Jon checked into the hotel, Julia was surprised when they were shown to a suite, compliments of Krissy and Rand.

  “This friend of yours knows how to live,” Jon said, taking stock of the two rooms.

  “This friend of mine,” Julia echoed, “is loaded, and I’m sure Rand isn’t on his economic knees, either.”

  Jon opened his
mouth to respond, as a trill of the phone sounded. “Krissy,” he said, smiling. “Wanna bet?”

  “No.” Julia shook her head, smiling back as she reached for the receiver. “Hello?”

  “Julia! I knew you were in, I called the desk.” Krissy now sounded the exact opposite of jittery; she sounded bubbly. Julia wondered if she had been into the wedding champagne. “Honey,” she bubbled on, “I need you up here, Laura’s already on her way. Can Rand and Drew come to your suite?”

  Julia frowned. “Yes, of course. Is something wrong?”

  “Wrong?” She laughed. “No, everything is perfect, unbelievably perfect. You’ll be delighted to know how perfect. It’s just that—” she hesitated, then laughed again “—I threw Rand out of the suite, told him he couldn’t see my dress. He was so cranky. ‘What am I supposed to do, hang out in the lobby in my tux?’ he asked me. Isn’t he adorable?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “Will you come?”

  “I’ll be up in a few minutes. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Will you unpack for us, Jon?” she asked, replacing the receiver on the base. “Krissy wants Laura and me to come up to help her dress.”

  “What about Rand?” A knock on the door came on the heels of his question.

  “I believe that’s him now,” she said, unable to suppress a giggle. “Seems like Krissy’s acting like a first-time bride. She won’t let him see her dress.”

  Jon rolled his eyes and went to the door.

  Rand strolled in, grinning. “Isn’t this fun, kids?”

  Julia made for the door. “I’m outta here.” She pulled the door open and cried “Oh!” at finding a young man standing there, hand raised to rap on the door.

  “Drew?” Julia asked, recognizing Laura’s son from the pictures she’d shown them.

  “Yeah.” He nodded with a boyish grin. “I’m Mom’s escort for the wedding.”

  “Oh,” she said again, wondering where Drew Sr. was as she stepped aside to allow him to enter.

  After Drew Jr. was inside, Julia made the introductions, gave Jon a telling look, silently asking him to take care of the young man, and left.

  She had a few questions for Laura.

  Julia didn’t get a chance to ask her questions for some time. Everything else flew out of her mind at the announcement Krissy made the minute Julia entered the suite.

  “I’m clean,” Krissy blurted out, laughing as tears ran down her face. “I got a call from the doctor half an hour ago. The radiologist thought it was a cyst when he read the ultrasound, but the doctor wanted a biopsy to be certain. I had the biopsy the day after the ultrasound. That’s why my doctor called today—my wedding day—to tell me it’s a benign cyst. She said we’ll leave it go for now, but she wants to check it every six months, to see if it’s getting larger.”

  Julia and Laura ran to hug her at the same time.

  Arms around one another, they laughed and cried together for quite a while. When they finally parted, they all three got a case of the giggles at the sight of one another’s mascara-smeared eyes.

  “Ahhh, ladies, we’ve got work to do,” said Julia, always the practical one, glad she had had the foresight to bring her makeup bag with her.

  It was while they were repairing the damage to their faces that Julia remembered to ask “Where’s Drew, Laura?”

  Krissy frowned, glancing from Laura to Julia. “Isn’t he in your suite with Jon and Rand?”

  “No, Drew Jr. came with me.”

  Both Julia and Krissy gazed at Laura, waiting for her to explain.

  Laura drew a deep breath. “Drew Sr. is on the golf course as we speak…I think. From there I suspect he will be staying with his latest girlfriend.” She sneered.

  “What?” Krissy yelped.

  “Are you serious?” Julia asked.

  “Yes.” Laura drew another breath. “I tossed the cheating bastard out.” She shrugged. “Well, I didn’t physically toss him out. I had finally had enough,” she explained. “You see, I found out by accident that Drew was having an affair with a woman named Megan…our real estate agent, of all people.”

  “Did you confront the creep?” Krissy said, visibly outraged for Laura.

  “No. I’ve been trying to decide what to do for weeks. There was, is, so much to consider. The kids. The house.” She sighed. “I didn’t know what to do. Then Drew decided for me when I told him about the wedding.” She paused and neither friend felt inclined to interrupt her recitation.

  “He said he wouldn’t be attending because he had made plans for an afternoon golf game and dinner afterward.” She shook her head. “The very same excuse he used last week for leaving, when I wanted to wait here until you got back from seeing the doctor. I swear the man believes I’m either that stupid or unconscious.”

  “You are neither one of those,” Julia said.

  “Yeah!” Krissy agreed.

  “I know, but thanks, guys.” She smiled, if wanly. “Anyway, I got so angry, I told him to go to his game, and his girlfriend, and don’t bother to come back.”

  “And what did he say?” Krissy said.

  “He said, ‘fine, I’ll send for my things’ and slammed out the door.”

  “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry,” Julia said, taking Laura into her arms to offer a comforting hug.

  Laura hugged her back and shook her head. “Don’t be. I’m not. Made me get my thoughts together. Oh, for a few minutes, I didn’t know what to think, what to do. I didn’t know Drew Jr. had overheard everything until he came to me, saying everything would be okay. He told me he had figured out some time ago his father was seeing other women. He’s behind me one hundred percent, even helped me tell the other kids.”

  “Good for him,” Krissy said.

  “He’s a good-looking boy,” Julia put in.

  Laura beamed. “Yes, isn’t he? And, more importantly,” she added, “Drew Jr. has his head on straight.”

  “So now what?” Krissy asked.

  “Now I get a lawyer and a divorce.” She paused. “My kids will always come first with me, but I think it’s time for me to be my own person. I even thought about taking some college courses, finally get my degree.”

  “About time you thought of yourself for once,” Julia said.

  “Go for it!” Krissy chimed in. “When do you begin?”

  “Now.” Laura laughed. “I can’t tell you how…relieved and free I feel. And I’ve promised myself I’d keep the Laura ball rolling.”

  “That’s just so…” Krissy began, when the ringing of the phone interrupted. “Oh, damn,” she said, turning to the phone. “Who could that be, today of all…” She happened to glance at her watch. “Oh, my God! Look at the time. I’ll bet that’s Rand, wondering if I’m going to stand him up!”

  There were a few minutes of frantic activity as the three women made last-minute finishing touches to faces, hair and clothes. Then, laughing like school-girls, they dashed from the suite to the elevator.

  “You know what?” Krissy said as the elevator descended. “I’ve promise myself that this time, I’d make this marriage work. Ten-year age difference be damned.”

  The wedding was brief, but lovely. Krissy looked as close to angelic as was possible for Krissy. She wore an off-white, street-length sheath that somehow appeared demure while hugging her fantastic curves.

  The movie director stood as Rand’s best man, while Julia and Laura stood to the right of the beautiful and glowing bride. Rand gazed at his bride with love and devotion in his eyes during the entire short ceremony.

  The reception was held in the same small conference room, lavishly decorated in white and gold. The cake rose three tiers, with white rosebuds and tiny golden leaves. A bride and groom embraced on the top tier. The bride had red hair the exact same shade as Krissy’s.

  The dinner served after the ceremony was perfectly prepared, and absolutely delicious. The champagne was French and, Julia knew, outrageously expensive.

  Julia and Jon both indulged in two glasses
each. She danced with Rand and Drew Jr. Jon danced with Krissy and Laura. They danced together twice.

  Hours later, as they entered their suite, Julia was humming the music from the last dance they had shared.

  “Have a good time?” Jon asked, smiling at her as he loosened his bow tie.

  “Hmmm,” Julia murmured, musing there was something very sexy about the ends of a black bow tie lying against a man’s white dress shirt.

  “Sleepy?”

  Uh-oh, Julia thought, an unexpected tingle of excitement tightening inside. “Errr, not very.”

  “Good.” Slowly starting to walk to her, he began to unbutton his shirt.

  Julia felt her pulse leap. Then she brought herself up short. No. Not this time. She would not fall into bed with him without talking first.

  Julia held up her hand to place it against his chest. “We need to talk, Jon.”

  “Now?”

  “Now,” she said with flat determination.

  “Jul…ie,” he said softly.

  Jul…ie, my foot, she thought. He only ever used that coaxing tone when he wanted something, and she hadn’t heard it in several years.

  “I mean it, Jon.” She stood firm, staring him down.

  He sighed, but folded. “Okay. Would you like more wine while we talk? There’s a supply in the credenza.”

  Julia shook her head. “No, no more wine. But can you call room service for a pot of decaf coffee, a large pot, while I change?”

  “Okay.” He moved to the phone. “But I hate for you to change out of that dress.”

  Pleased by his remark, Julia went into the bathroom to change, clean her face and brush her teeth. When she returned to the sitting room in her nightgown and robe, Jon was sprawled in a chair, watching the early news.

  “Coffee not here yet?” Dumb question, she chided herself, since it was nowhere in sight.

  “No.” He stood up stretching. “I may as well change before it gets here.” He handed her a bill. “That should be enough to cover the coffee and the tip.”