Laura nodded. “Yes, it was the same with Heath and me. Both boys were already on their own and it seemed if we were going to split, that was the time.”
“Exactly, only we were both wrong.”
“How do you mean?”
“I mean the children on both sides of this divorce were badly hurt. Not knowing what to do with that pain, they looked for someone to blame. The fight at Lake Sammamish certainly didn’t help.”
From the way her mouth twisted, Laura got it. “In the case of your girls, that someone was me?”
“Sending me those text messages escalated matters, and me returning with ones of my own was equally inflammatory.”
Laura’s face fell, and it looked once again as if she was close to breaking into tears. “I…I should never have sent those.”
“I have my share of regrets, too.” A minute or longer passed before she spoke again. “Did you know I tried to talk to Michael?” Julia asked.
Again, Laura looked taken aback. “You did? When?”
“Last week. I showed up at his office unannounced. I wanted to talk to Adam, but he sent Michael to meet me instead.”
“How did it go?”
“Badly. If my girls were looking for someone to blame, they chose you. Your sons apparently blame me.”
“You?”
“They told Heath if he wanted a relationship with me to keep them out of it. Like Hillary and Marie with you, Michael and Adam would prefer there be no contact between them and me.”
“I’m sorry,” Laura whispered. “I’m so sorry.”
Julia nodded silently, accepting her apology.
“I know my boys have negative feelings toward your daughters.”
Remembering the scene in the hospital, Julia said, “That’s putting it mildly.”
Laura looked genuinely miserable. “How did everything get so twisted and unpleasant?”
Julia was tempted to remind this woman it had started when she sought Eddie out for private golf lessons. However, mentioning it wouldn’t help either of them. The past was behind them. What they needed now was a plan to make things right for all involved, and that appeared to be an insurmountable task.
Ever hopeful, Laura turned her focus on Julia. “Do you think it would help if you told Hillary I’ve agreed to not attend the wedding?”
“Probably not, and I’ll tell you why. Eddie won’t stand for it. He’ll insist you be part of the wedding or he won’t go, and then we’re back right where we started.”
“What could I have done differently?” Laura asked.
On hearing the question, Julia thought Laura couldn’t possibly be serious. For the six years that the other woman had been married to Eddie, not once had she made a single effort to connect with Hillary and Marie. After this meeting, Julia was convinced there would be a spiritual award awaiting her for holding back her opinion.
“It would have helped if you had made an effort with the girls,” she suggested. She had tried with Michael, and while the results weren’t what she’d wanted, at least she’d made the effort. Given the chance, she’d try again.
“Yes…I suppose, only the girls have made it abundantly clear they wanted nothing to do with me. I’m the enemy.”
“And they see you as heartless, caring nothing for them, because you haven’t done anything to prove otherwise.”
Laura agreed. “It’s a weak excuse, but no one likes to be rejected.”
“True. However, when you married Eddie, you married his children right along with him. If you tried, even now, I believe in time Hillary and Marie would come to accept you.”
“That isn’t going to happen in a few months, though.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. All I can say is that it’s never too late to start.”
Laura looked completely clueless. “Where do you suggest I begin?”
Julia shrugged, unsure herself. “A card or a text congratulating Hillary and Blake on their engagement. Something small. I never could get Eddie to start with baby steps. I’m hoping you can. With him, it was all or nothing, and his tactics failed miserably.”
Laura reached for her phone. “I’ll do it. I’ll do anything to clear the way for Eddie to have a relationship with his children, especially after finding him in tears.”
“Don’t expect Hillary to respond. Give it a day or two and try again. Perhaps suggest a florist. I know she and Blake have been searching for one and would appreciate the help.”