A Man's Heart (33 page)

Jules shook her head. “Cruz doesn't want to hear from me.”

“You don't know that.”

“I do know that—I told you I asked Cruz to marry me and he refused.”

“Outright refused?”

“He wasn't enthusiastic about the idea.”

“What man would be with you two's history? He'll eventually come around.”

“I wish I could be as certain.”

“Nothing's certain, Jules, but this moment.” She reached for Jules's hand. “Try and trust that God's in control, and
both you and Cruz are exactly where he wants you to be right now.”

“I wish I had your faith.”

“It's like riding a bike. You'll take a few painful spills, but if you practice enough you'll get good at it.” Reaching in her pocket, Crystal removed her cell phone. “I'm calling Adan.”

“Fine.” Jules lay back, staring at the stars. “He's always glad to hear from you.” Somewhere Cruz was under this brightly lit canopy. With Ms. Eye Candy? Trying to fall in love with her enough so that he could marry and provide both mother and father for Sophie's kids? Envy rendered her silent.

Crystal hit speed dial and in a minute she was talking to Adan. Jules only caught half of the conversation, but it sounded as though the two brothers were taking fatherhood in stride. Crystal chatted, telling about their day, the adventures they'd had, the perfect relaxation.

Before she knew what was happening, Jules found the phone in her hand. She sat up straighter when Cruz's voice came on the line.

“Hi.”

“Where
are
you?”

“Fine, thank you. And you?”

“Adan says you're in Florida with Crystal.”

“I am, and we're having a lovely time. How are the children?”

“They're good. When are you coming home?”

“Oh …” She leaned back, balancing one flip-flop on the end of her toe. “I haven't decided. Joe says everything is going well with Blue Bayou, and it couldn't be a more lovely time to be down here. The beach is great, the crowds have thinned.”

“Sounds nice. When are you coming home?”

“Do I have a deadline?”

“No … but the kids keep asking where you are. You can't just up and disappear.” A thin vein of neediness filtered through his tone.

“The kids miss me?” She brightened. “Are they okay?”

“They're fine. They just want their Aunt Jube.”

“Ah, that's sweet. Can I talk to Ethan?”

“He's in bed.”

“Can you wake him —”

“Good grief, no! That would wake Livvy. Adan's potty training her. It's been a day I wouldn't relive. I've been sidestepping crackers, chips, salty stuff to make her go — it's been a nightmare, and we're out of juice and milk again. She won't go if we can't get a lot of liquid in her.”

“Potty training?” The picture of Adan and Cruz potty training flashed before her eyes. They wouldn't know where to start! She sobered. She'd planned on training Livvy. Envy spilled over more. She glanced at her watch. “It's pretty early for them to be in bed, isn't it?”

“Same time they go to bed every night.”

“Okay — maybe I'll call later in the week and talk to them.”

“How long do you plan to be gone?”

“I haven't decided. Do I need to come home?”

“No … unless you want to.”

“Then I don't know how long I'll stay.”

“Jules …” She recognized that tone. He wanted to say something but didn't know how to phrase it. Did he miss her? Could he form the words to tell her so? If he couldn't, she might as well stay here forever.

“Yes?”

“Nothing. It wasn't important.” “I'll call later in the week.” “Have a nice time.” “Thanks. I will.”

She clicked off. The prior peace that filled her now bubbled like a cauldron. Why did she let this man upset her? Obviously he wanted her to come home, but why? Because he loved her, that he couldn't live without her?

Please, God, let that be the cause of his silent reserve.

O
kay.” Adan appeared after breakfast holding a sheaf of papers. “I've downloaded this off the web, so we'll have a better grasp of the situation.”

Cruz glanced up from the newspaper he was reading. “What is it?”

“It's that article on potty training. There's all sorts of approaches on the Web.”

Cruz's attention pivoted back to the paper. Adan's efforts to train Livvy were tantamount to bulls ramming heads. Useless. Livvy was more stubborn than any bull Adan had met. “I thought you could do it in three days.”

“I can — I was going about it the wrong way. Hank Sites — you know him. Lives over near the Brown place? He and his wife had a baby a couple of years back, Hank says he trained his girl in nothing flat. I've downloaded the instructions, and it seems Hank left out a few steps. Starting today, we'll see some progress.”

“Fine.” Cruz perused the sports section. They'd gotten nowhere so far. The familiar diaper stench permeated the hallway.

That day, Adan stuck with Livvy like glue. Every so often, Cruz heard the now familiar phrase, “Livvy, you tell me when you have to go potty.”

All morning Livvy pretty much ignored the issue. The words “cookie,” “dolly,” and “go way!” came through clear enough. Adan didn't press the issue, but said every half hour or so, “Livvy. Tell me when you have to go potty.”

By noon, Livvy shoved the Tinkertoys aside and said, “Potty.”

Cruz stuck his head around the kitchen doorway. “What'd she say?”

“She said she has to go potty.” Adan beamed.

That night, Livvy wet her diaper, soaked her bed, and everything including her blankie had to be washed.

Day two, the accidents were less frequent. Cruz assumed full care of Ethan and Adan stuck to Livvy like honey to skin. The two sat in the middle of the living room floor, building Tinkertoys, playing dolls, reading books until it was time for the child to go to bed.

“Livvy, tell me when you have to go potty.”

The occasional nod sufficed.

Cruz said a prayer of gratitude for Adan's patience. The method was boring and taxing, but Livvy was starting to respond.
Jules, I don't think you'd be as patient as Adan.
He grinned at the thought.

By the third day, the child was not only telling Adan when she needed to go, but she was completing the process herself.

Adan and Cruz bought a T-bone steak and grilled out in celebration.

Twice during the meal, Livvy interrupted with, “I hafta go.”

Moonlight glistened off the ocean water. Jules closed her eyes, picturing Cruz and Adan at home, with the children. She'd bet the two men were tearing their hair out with the new responsibilities. Potty train Livvy, indeed. They'd never have the patience. She'd helped Sophie train Ethan and it had taken months, months of frustration and wet clothing. By the time Jules returned home, Cruz would be only too happy to hand the child's bathroom training over to her.

Crystal slipped into the house, leaving Jules to stare at the ocean. The past few weeks had brought about an incredible change, one that she warmly welcomed. Jules was relaxed now, non-combative. Sophie's untimely death had settled her down, made her look at life with a new perspective. Was that Sophie's intent? Or was her request to bring Cruz and Jules together, to make them realize they were paired for life? She had no doubt that it was the latter. Was Cruz learning the same lesson? With Sophie's passing, no one would ever know her full intent, but Crystal was grateful of the small role she now played in Jules's life. For the first time ever, she had a sister.

She reached for the cell phone and hit Adan's button. His voice came on the line after the third ring.

“Hi—I thought I'd get your voice mail.”

His tone brightened. “I'm at The Grille. It took a minute to recognize your ring.”

“I have a special ring?” She never bothered assigning fog
horns, pin ball machines, old cars, or cyber beeps to friends. A simple ring found her.

“Yeah, you're the song that made Sonny and Cher a hit: ‘I Got You Babe.'”

Laughing, Crystal walked into the privacy of her bedroom. She never knew when Jules would come in and find her talking to Adan. There had been numerous hushed talks over the past weeks and she was fortunate Jules hadn't caught her in the act yet.

“Hey, I think Jules is weakening.”

“Yeah? So is Cruz. He's a basket case. I don't know if he's angry with Jules for staying in Florida so long, or scared that she might not come back, or that she refuses to tell him when she's coming home.”

“She doesn't know when she's coming home.” She sat down on the side of her mattress. “One moment she talks about selling Blue Bayou and moving here, and the next she's crying, wishing she was home with the children. If she thought for one moment that Cruz wanted her there, she would be on the next plane out.”

“I can't read him,” Adan confessed. “But he's got a burr under his saddle about something.”

“What we're doing is best, isn't it?”

“It's right.” Background music faded as he stepped to a quieter location. “I know how you're feeling because I'm feeling the same way. I love the kids, but like we discussed, Jules and Cruz are the logical parents. Just let nature takes its course.”

“I agree, but it's hard.” Crystal missed the little imps, the board games, messy hands and peanut butter and jelly smiles.

“Come-on, Cris.” He used her pet name. “We're young; we can have all the children we want.”

“So are Cruz and Jules. They're not ancient.”

“They're not, but you don't think for a minute that Sophie had anything other than Cruz and Jules in mind when she hatched up her plot. That's Sophie, always thinking ahead.”

“But she didn't know how critical her situation was; how could she?”

“She knew. From the moment she got the diagnosis she knew. And she turned a tragedy into a blessing.” Pride filled his voice. “That's my big sis.”

Crystal sighed. “Of course you're right. Not for a moment did I believe that Sophie's request wasn't carefully planned, but suddenly there are logical options other than Jules and Cruz. The children might be better off with me, or the Parkers. Either of us could easily give them a life of luxury, while Cruz and Jules can only offer potatoes.”

“And love. Don't forget the main ingredient.”

“You don't think the Parkers or I would love them?”

“Sure you would; and grandparents adore their grandchildren, but nature has a way of slowing us down. The Parkers would need a heap of energy, energy they don't have in order to raise two small children, participate in school activities, gymnastics, dance, church activities. Then there's the teen years, cars, dating —”

Crystal closed her eyes, exhausted thinking about the hectic schedules. “Agreed; we'd all make good parents.”