Christmas at The Heartbreak Cafe (Lakeview Christmas Novel) (Lakeview Contemporary Romance Book 7) by Melissa Hill Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Melissa Hill
had without making it worse for him. This was going to have to be her battle. It would be too much to make Paul feel more guilt he didn’t deserve.
With her one worded response, she was alone.
Paul quietly left for his study, closing the grand french doors behind him. She listened to his soft and slow footsteps as he walked to his leather lounge chair, a chair that had belonged to his father years before. He turned on the room’s 40 inch flatscreen television, lowered the volume, and faded into the background.
Upstairs, Amelia was already in bed asleep. The long day of creche and then play with the nanny had worn her out, and she quickly fell asleep soon after Paul had come home from work. For the first time since her daughter was born, Heidi was grateful for the silence. While she had spent every moment thankful for the laughter, the shrieks, the cries, and even the occasional tantrum, having this moment alone to process everything was a gift.
Heidi got up to clear her and Paul’s plates and dishes. As she passed the patio doors, the view of her back garden came into view. All those past barbecue and garden party memories, with Paul on the grill, Amelia in her arms, and friends and family gathered around her came flooding back like a cruel joke.
This was not the time to be nostalgic or attached, Heidi decided. This was her reality. This was her life. She had to accept it one way or another. Paul knew what he was talking about, and if he said the house might have to be sold, then it might have to be sold. There was no use trying to solve it.
The helplessness broke her down. It crumbled her heart and dulled her mind. She went about housework mindlessly. She picked up Amelia’s toys from the living room, cleaned the kitchen countertops, and tried to hum along to a song on her radio as she prepared her clothing and accessories for tomorrow.
Tomorrow , she told herself, channeling Scarlett O’Hara, one of her favourite movie heroines, I will awake from this nightmare. I just have to get through tonight. Tomorrow will be better and brighter. Tomorrow will be all right.
10
W hen Heidi awoke at six the following morning, Paul was already gone. It was a familiar sight. She rarely woke up to him still being home unless it was a rare day off or he was sick. He had always strived to be first in the office long before his subordinates arrived.
His absence when she awoke gave Heidi a bit of a jolt. Maybe last night really didn’t happen , she thought to herself. She sprang out of bed, grabbed her robe, and headed to the bathroom in hopes of starting her day on the right foot.
When she came out and began to get dressed, the familiar voice of her husband coming from the hallway creeped in through the half open door. “I am so sorry Miriam. We never wanted this to happen. We never even saw it coming.”
“I understand, Paul. I really do.”
“As soon as we can hire you back, we will. We just don’t know when that will be.”
“I will really miss Amelia.” Heidi could hear Miriam fighting back a sob as she said her charge’s name out loud.
“Please feel free to stay in the house as long as you need to.” Or at least for as long as we’re allowed to keep it , Heidi thought mournfully.
“That’s not necessary but thank you. I can stay with my sister until I find myself another placement. Would you be comfortable with writing me a recommendation?”
“Certainly. If there is anything else you need, just let Heidi or I know.”
“How is she doing? Is she taking the news okay?” Heidi yearned to run down the stairs and hug Miriam. How lovely that instead of focusing on her ending job, she seemed to genuinely care about how Heidi was handling the big news. She wished she had appreciated her more.
“Not well, I’m afraid.” Paul’s voice had become a whisper as if he suspected Heidi could hear him. “She cried in her sleep last night. I knew it was going to be tough, but I could never imagine it would break
With her one worded response, she was alone.
Paul quietly left for his study, closing the grand french doors behind him. She listened to his soft and slow footsteps as he walked to his leather lounge chair, a chair that had belonged to his father years before. He turned on the room’s 40 inch flatscreen television, lowered the volume, and faded into the background.
Upstairs, Amelia was already in bed asleep. The long day of creche and then play with the nanny had worn her out, and she quickly fell asleep soon after Paul had come home from work. For the first time since her daughter was born, Heidi was grateful for the silence. While she had spent every moment thankful for the laughter, the shrieks, the cries, and even the occasional tantrum, having this moment alone to process everything was a gift.
Heidi got up to clear her and Paul’s plates and dishes. As she passed the patio doors, the view of her back garden came into view. All those past barbecue and garden party memories, with Paul on the grill, Amelia in her arms, and friends and family gathered around her came flooding back like a cruel joke.
This was not the time to be nostalgic or attached, Heidi decided. This was her reality. This was her life. She had to accept it one way or another. Paul knew what he was talking about, and if he said the house might have to be sold, then it might have to be sold. There was no use trying to solve it.
The helplessness broke her down. It crumbled her heart and dulled her mind. She went about housework mindlessly. She picked up Amelia’s toys from the living room, cleaned the kitchen countertops, and tried to hum along to a song on her radio as she prepared her clothing and accessories for tomorrow.
Tomorrow , she told herself, channeling Scarlett O’Hara, one of her favourite movie heroines, I will awake from this nightmare. I just have to get through tonight. Tomorrow will be better and brighter. Tomorrow will be all right.
10
W hen Heidi awoke at six the following morning, Paul was already gone. It was a familiar sight. She rarely woke up to him still being home unless it was a rare day off or he was sick. He had always strived to be first in the office long before his subordinates arrived.
His absence when she awoke gave Heidi a bit of a jolt. Maybe last night really didn’t happen , she thought to herself. She sprang out of bed, grabbed her robe, and headed to the bathroom in hopes of starting her day on the right foot.
When she came out and began to get dressed, the familiar voice of her husband coming from the hallway creeped in through the half open door. “I am so sorry Miriam. We never wanted this to happen. We never even saw it coming.”
“I understand, Paul. I really do.”
“As soon as we can hire you back, we will. We just don’t know when that will be.”
“I will really miss Amelia.” Heidi could hear Miriam fighting back a sob as she said her charge’s name out loud.
“Please feel free to stay in the house as long as you need to.” Or at least for as long as we’re allowed to keep it , Heidi thought mournfully.
“That’s not necessary but thank you. I can stay with my sister until I find myself another placement. Would you be comfortable with writing me a recommendation?”
“Certainly. If there is anything else you need, just let Heidi or I know.”
“How is she doing? Is she taking the news okay?” Heidi yearned to run down the stairs and hug Miriam. How lovely that instead of focusing on her ending job, she seemed to genuinely care about how Heidi was handling the big news. She wished she had appreciated her more.
“Not well, I’m afraid.” Paul’s voice had become a whisper as if he suspected Heidi could hear him. “She cried in her sleep last night. I knew it was going to be tough, but I could never imagine it would break
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