I have directed my attorney Mr. Tillman to disburse lump sum inheritances to my children and grandchildren, but the remainder of my estate, including my house are now yours. I know this may come as a shock to you, but I feel you are most deserving of what I have for taking such good care of me during my time of need. I pray that God blesses you with a long life and that He brings you the perfect partner to complement your life.
I have instructed Mr. Tillman to make the necessary arrangements to transfer my assets into your name. I trust he will take good care of you. Now I can rest in peace and finally enjoy eternity with my husband.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs. Covington
Heather’s jaw relaxed as a stream of tears began flowing down her face. Her body shook as she sobbed quietly, trying to absorb the unbelievable news. She had never expected or imagined that the wealthy woman would have left her anything. But Mrs. Covington knew she couldn’t carry her wealth into heaven and had left Heather far more possessions than she could ever hope to achieve on her own.
A rush of emotions gushed to the surface as Heather wiped a hand across her swollen eyes. Everything seemed too good to be true, and she didn’t know what to believe. She almost expected Mrs. Covington to jump out from the casket and tell everyone that faking her death had been a cruel hoax and that the greatest joke was on Heather. But the ringing of the chapel bells was a stark reminder that Mrs. Covington had indeed left this world for another and that the letter in her hands was real.
Heather fixed her gaze on the front of the envelope. It had been handwritten in cursive and next to the woman’s signature was her family crest stamped into hot wax. There was no doubt in Heather’s mind the letter was authentic. Guilt washed over her as she counted the sporadic times she had visited Mrs. Covington during the last year. She had wanted to visit her old friend more often, but it seemed her duties at the Robbins household kept her busier than she expected.
Heather’s eyes skimmed over the letter one last time and stopped near the middle.
“But the remainder of my estate including my house is now yours.”
She still had trouble believing the words and brought the letter closer to her face to reread them over and over until the news slowly sank in. She thanked God for the chance to know Mrs. Covington and the miraculous gift that she could never repay. Leaving everything that the woman owned including her money and her house, to Heather, was more than the nurse could ever hope for and would change the course of her life. As soon as the funeral was finished, she would need to work out the details of her new future with Mr. Tillman before she took off for France.
Chapter 16
Once the formality of the social gathering after the funeral was finished, Heather spent the rest of the day with Mr. Tillman getting a grasp on how to handle the newfound wealth she had inherited. The cordial lawyer turned out to be a wealth of knowledge and had been paid well in advance to help Heather keep things running smoothly until she was ready to tackle it alone. He spent plenty of time going over each investment and business that was part of the Covington estate.
Heather’s jaw dropped as he outlined how much money she had inherited and the monthly income from her newly acquired businesses. She had always lived a humble life, and possessing such lavish wealth seemed foreign, almost evil to her. She was sure it wasn’t on par with what Michael owned, but it sure seemed close. God had blessed her with a great opportunity to show her Christian love for others, and Heather intended to use her wealth to make a difference in the lives of others. When Mr. Tillman finished his presentation, Heather sought his opinion on several matters before agreeing to conduct future business over the phone while living in France. After the meeting, she headed back to her new house for a final tour before driving back down to San Diego.
Heather spent most of the afternoon wandering around the ten thousand square foot estate. The section closest to the front had been the most familiar to her, and she had never experienced the upper levels until yesterday. Hearing the sound of her own footsteps echo through the hardwood hallways was a stark reminder of how cold and lifeless the mansion seemed without the presence of a happy family and staff to inhabit it, a family like the Robbins.
Heather continued down the east wing, passing halls lined with rich paneling and large gold framed antique paintings. She finally found her way into a large suite that was decorated in pink and composed of two smaller rooms, and her first thought was that it would have been perfect for Evelyn if Michael and her had married. She couldn’t help picturing a long, blonde-haired girl running down the halls, her carefree laughter drifting throughout the house.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips, and Heather fought the pang of sadness that pounded on the door to her heart. Why couldn’t God erase the pleasant memories of her time at the Robbins estate? Why was He allowing her to suffer through the memories of what she couldn’t have? Heather needed to move on and begin a new life, a life that promised her adventure, a new career, and new friends. But no matter how much she tried, she couldn’t shake the feeling that God wanted her to return to Crystal Cove.
God, why would you want me to return there? What good could possibly come from reopening our wounded hearts?
Heather waited for a whisper from the divine, a still small voice that would agree with her decision to stay away from Crystal Cove, but the voice she heard brought an uneasy feeling to her stomach.
Go back to Crystal Cove. I have plans for you there.
“How can you make me go back there, God? I’m going to get in the way of his new marriage, and Cynthia isn’t someone I want to mess with. You know how spiteful she can be.”
Heather remained silent for a few seconds, hoping the voice would change its directions. But all she heard was the moaning of the wind outside the bedroom window as if the Holy Spirit had moved on to minister to another believer in need. It seemed that God had a purpose for her return to Crystal Cove, and as much as she wanted to fight God over what he wanted her to do, she knew it was futile and disobedient. She bowed her head and opened her mouth to pray.
“Dear God, you know how afraid I am of relationships and of getting hurt emotionally. I don’t see how any good can come out of going back to Crystal Cove, but I keep hearing your voice telling me to go back. So I’m putting my trust in you that you know what’s best. You have your reasons, and I know you’ll reveal it to me when the timing is right. Please calm my nerves and help me not to worry. I ask you to give me the right words to say and show me what your will is. Amen.”
Heather pulled her eyes open and felt a wave of peace blanket over her. Her anxiety and fears slowly vanished, and she knew God was ministering in her life. If he was telling her to return to Crystal Cove, she would obey, even though she had no idea what to expect.
She finished her tour of the remainder of the estate before finalizing arrangements with Mr. Tillman on how to assign it. All of the legalese seemed like a foreign language to her, and as soon as she had the chance, she needed to find a competent asset attorney to guide her through her newfound wealth. Heather bid the household staff good-bye before getting into her car and making the trip back down to San Diego where she knew Liv and Kelly would be shocked to learn about her newfound fortune.
As her eyes focused ahead on the crowded Santa Ana freeway, she felt the gentle tugging of the Holy Spirit telling her she needed to make one last stop before San Diego. A stop that Evelyn dreaded but knew God wanted her to make. As she listened to the sound of Christian music on her radio, Heather deliberated on what God wanted her to say when she saw Michael again. Surely God wouldn’t want her to express her true affections to a married man. That would go against her Christian principles. Heather shook her head, looking puzzled. She had no idea what to expect when she saw Michael, but she trusted that God would give her the right words to say when the moment came.
Chapter 17
Traffic down the Newport Beach Freeway was heavy during rush hour, and two hours later, Heather finally
pulled up to the familiar guardhouse and was greeted by a familiar face.
“Well, Miss Parks, it’s been so long since I’ve seen you. How have you been?” John smiled at her as he leaned out of the box.
“I’m good, John. How are you? How is everything at Crystal Cove?” She could see the familiar church from the corner of her eyes and a smile formed on her lips. It was Michael’s generosity that helped save the historic building, and she was thankful she had a part in preserving God’s presence among the wealthy community.
The guard’s smile vanished, and Heather could sense something was wrong, terribly wrong.
“What? What is it?” She looked into his eyes, hoping to find the reason for his sadness.
“I’m sorry to break the news to you, Miss Heather, but over two months ago there was a big fire ... the worst in Crystal Cove since working here.” John shook his head with pity. “It burned down most of the Robbins place. I’m afraid there isn’t much left to visit.” A rush of air escaped his lungs.
His words brought a chill down Heather’s spine, and it took several seconds to register. A fire? How could a fire start at Michael’s house?
“Are you serious?” Heather pressed both hands over her mouth as images of a large and small casket played across her mind. “What about the family? Evelyn ... Michael? Are they okay?” Her voice trembled as she dreaded his next words. The thought of losing Evelyn and Michael would be more than her heart could handle. They were the two most important people in her life and the thought of facing life without them brought a pain inside her chest as if someone had crushed her heart with a vise.
Was this the reason why God brought her back to Crystal Cove? So that she could watch their bodies being laid to rest just like Mrs. Covington’s? How could God take their lives so early, especially Evelyn who showed such promise for a normal life? Why didn’t God bring her back earlier?
The tornado of questions made her brain ache as if she were suffering from an aneurysm.
“Don’t worry, Miss Heather, everyone survived. Fortunately, Evelyn was out of town at her grandparents. The staff made it out okay, but ...” A sigh escaped John’s lips as he shook his head with pity. “But Mr. Robbins, he didn’t fare so well. He got messed up real bad.”
The color drained from Heather’s face as each word tore into her consciousness. Her head seemed lighter than usual, and her fingers curled tighter around the steering wheel as she struggled to keep her balance.
“Are you okay, Ms. Parks? You don’t look too well.”
Heather’s throat felt as dry as the sun baked desert as she willed her vocal cords to speak. “How ... how bad was he hurt?” Her brows tilted with apprehension as her jaw dropped an inch.
The security guard gave Heather a compassionate look before continuing, “I ... I don’t know if it’s a good idea for me to share that with you. Mr. Robbins likes his privacy, and I haven’t seen him in person since the fire. All I can tell you is on the night when the ambulance transported him to the hospital, they weren’t sure he was going to survive. He was badly burned.”
The image of paramedics trying to resuscitate Michael’s badly charred body made her eyes tear. How badly had the one special person in her life been burned? Were they third degree burns and was he disabled, or even worse, disfigured beyond recognition? Heather tried to ignore past memories of burn victims she had treated during her rotation through the ER. She needed to believe in the best for Michael, that everything would work out fine. She believed that no matter what happened, God had a reason for the fire, and she would obediently do what God had called her to do. And if that meant helping Michael as a professional nurse and not his wife, she would accept her role with a submissive heart.
Heather lifted her head and looked through her veil of tears at John’s concerned face. “Where is he now?”
“He’s been recovering at Langston Memorial Hospital. But from what I hear, only family members are allowed to see him.”
“I must see him, John. Please tell me how to get there.”
“You’ll take the Newport Beach Freeway all the way until it ends and then you’ll see it on the right.” John pointed a hand toward the ocean. “I hope you get to see him. I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you.”
“Was anyone else hurt during the fire?”
“Only Reagan suffered minor burn injuries, but that’s because he helped rescue Mr. Robbins to safety. The rest of the household escaped without injuries.”
“Linda ... Ms. Jamie? They’re okay?”
“Yes, they got out okay.”
“And how is Mrs. Robbins taking it?”
John looked at her with furrowed brows and pressed lips. “Mrs. Robbins? Oh, you mean Ms. Wilson. Didn’t you hear the news?”
Heather shook her head with a look of confusion in her eyes. “I’m sorry, John, I haven’t kept in touch with anyone here since my new assignment. What news?”
“Mr. Robbins and Ms. Wilson, they never got married.”
John’s words echoed for a few seconds in her head like a rusty foreign dialect.
They never got married?
“What happened?” Heather held her breath as she anxiously waited for his reply. What had changed Michael’s mind about the woman? Or had the selfish woman dumped him? The latter wouldn’t have surprised Heather. For all she knew, the hypocritical woman could have found another richer more eligible bachelor to court, someone who was naïve to her seductive ways and could be manipulated by her poisonous charm.
All this time she had mistakenly assumed they were married. But God knew what had really happened, and in her determination to erase Michael from her heart, she had ignored the gentle pleading of the Holy Spirit to come back to Crystal Cove. Heather silently scolded herself for not listening sooner. Michael had been available for her, maybe even waiting to hear from her, but she had kept herself in a bubble, thinking she was protecting her heart so she could move on. But now she realized it was causing her to live life with muted passion, unable to experience the joys of life with the one person who knew her better than herself. Heather knew it was time to open the sacred door to her heart and let her feelings flow freely.
But what about Michael’s disability? Could she accept the scars of what the fire had inflicted on him? Would her love for him overshadow the lifetime of disfigurement he was left with?
Heather bit her lip as her heart fought to win the battle over her mind. She knew that what really mattered was what was inside Michael’s heart and mind. His body was only a temporary shell until his soul was reunited with his Maker. She knew that if God could love Michael unconditionally, she could too with the Almighty’s help.
“I have to see the house. Would I be able to do that, please?”
John wrinkled his lips together. “There isn’t much to see, and you can’t walk through the property. It’s pretty unstable.”
“I promise I won’t touch anything. I just need to see for myself how bad the fire was.”
“Alright, Ms. Heather; I know you’re a decent person, so you can go in. Just be careful over there. I wouldn’t want anything happening to you.”
“Thanks, John, I promise I will.”
John activated the large iron gate, and Heather gave him a short wave before driving up the main drive for a few minutes before parking a few meters from what had once been her heaven on earth. Her eyes widened at the charred rubble of what had once been a model-like mansion. The front lawn was still green, unscathed by the inferno that destroyed almost the entire estate. A skeleton frame of blackened jagged beams was the only reminder of what was once a beautifully crafted home.
Her gaze traveled to the west wing which had sustained major damage caused by the upper level collapsing onto the bottom floor. The east wing was almost just as bad as if someone had plotted to make sure the entire estate would go down in flames. Broken glass and mounds of black soot blanketed the entire foundation.
Heather spent a few minutes absorbing the ghastly scene, her m
ind refusing to believe that a fire could do so much damage. Never in her life had she seen such devastation, and she was thankful everyone had gotten out alive.
Her legs buckled, and as her knees pounded into the soft grass, her body shook uncontrollably as she began to sob. It seemed she couldn’t hold back the pressure of her emotions, releasing them like a geyser gushing into the air. Heather cried for what seemed like hours before her body stopped shaking. The place that had brought her fond memories was no longer there, but that didn’t matter to Heather. She knew it was only because of Michael, Evelyn, and the rest of the staff that made the place feel like home. Mansions could easily be replaced, but the people she cared about couldn’t. They had carved a special place in her life, and Heather now knew nothing could replace them.
She squeezed her eyes shut and began to pray.
“Lord, I thank you so much for saving the lives of Michael, Evelyn, and the rest of the staff. They’ve all grown dear to my heart, and this fire has taught me that nothing in the world can replace them. I was wrong to leave Crystal Cove, and now that I’m back, please show me where you want to lead me. If it’s your will that Michael and I be together, I trust you to show me that. I know how hard it must be for Michael to accept the reality of his new life, but I pray you give him strength and show me how I can love him unconditionally. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Heather stood to her feet and brushed the dirt from her clothes before heading down to the hospital. The drive down was a scary reminder of the time Michael was shot. She had almost lost him then and she determined in her mind not to lose him again. Now that Cynthia was out of the picture, she vowed nothing would keep her separated from the only man who seemed to be a gift from God. She couldn’t give up, even if Cynthia Wilson was there.
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