"I'm the lucky one," she said, and it was true. It was a wonderful thing he was doing for her and she couldn't lose sight of that. Even if he did fall back in love with this adorable woman. Who would blame him?
"I hear a bit of an accent there," Amelia said, cocking her head slightly. "Where are you from?"
"South Africa. But my parents were from Wales originally."
"Were from? They're not with you anymore?"
"No."
"Mine are alive and kicking," Amelia said with a sigh of exasperation. "And still trying to tell me how to run my life."
"I'm sure they mean well."
"No, they're just nosy and controlling. They always have been. I swore that when my Tommy was born, I would allow him to grow up to be whatever he wants to be. Play with the friends he likes regardless of their social standing, marry the girl he loves even if she's penniless. All of the things I never had. I'll even let him go to public school if that's what he decides he wants."
It sounded as if she and Amanda had quite a bit in common when it came to family. "My sister and I went to a private girl's school," Julie told her. "I hated it. I never felt as if I fit in."
"And I fit in too well. I was an entitled, spoiled brat. If not for my Tommy, I probably still would be, but having him has taught me so much about what really matters, you know?"
Julie could only imagine.
Amelia relaxed back into her seat, looking a bit less as if she might bolt. "How did you and Luc meet?"
"We were both volunteering for Doctors Without Borders."
"Oh, you're a doctor, too?"
"No. Currently I'm Luc's research assistant."
"Research for what?"
"Luc's medical inventions and surgical techniques. They've made him quite famous in the medical community." And very wealthy.
"What is it that you do exactly?" Amelia said, looking genuinely interested.
"I conduct interviews, collect data and statistics."
"So you must see him a lot."
"Actually, no. As chief of surgery for the hospital, he's always on call. There are days when I barely see him."
Amelia scrunched up her nose. "Don't you hate that?"
"That's just the way it is," she said. "The way it's always been. But I work long hours as well, so I can't really complain." Nor would she ever feel the need.
"I used to hate that Luc's career meant more to him than I did. I was so jealous. At the time, I was used to getting what I wanted, and he did try to accommodate me. Looking back now, I have to wonder why he stuck around as long as he had. Why he wasn't the one who dumped me. I was such a bitch sometimes."
Julie had no answer for her. But she was guessing it was because he loved her, and he was willing to overlook the not-so-perfect stuff.
"He's still mad at me," Amelia said, eyes lowered. "I feel so bad for the way I treated him and I was really hoping we could put the past to rest, but that doesn't seem very likely. He won't even talk to me."
"Just give him time. I'm sure he'll come around."
"I appreciate the encouragement, but I think it's misplaced. And you're probably the last person I should be confiding in about this. To be honest, I'm not even sure why you're talking to me. If the situation were reversed, I wouldn't talk to me. Or if I did, I would tell me to stay the hell away from my husband. Why aren't you, by the way?"
Because he isn't really my husband. "You two clearly have unresolved issues. It's in both your best interests to deal with them so you can move on."
"That's all I want."
Julie wasn't sure she believed that. She didn't not believe it, either. Luc had always described Amelia as cold, heartless and manipulative. To Julie, she just seemed sort of...pathetic.
"How is his mom doing? I heard that she's been sick. It must be difficult for him, as close as they are."
"It is."
"Do you get along with her?"
Julie hesitated and Amelia cringed.
"Am I getting too personal? I'm sorry if I am. I'm just curious. Too curious for my own good, my daddy used to claim."
"Yes, we get along. I consider her one of my closest friends."
"She hated me-but I didn't like her, either. She and Luc were very close and I was threatened by that."
Elizabeth was as down-to-earth and easygoing as her son. It was hard to imagine her hating anyone. And Julie had always considered his close relationship with his mother a good thing. She'd certainly never felt threatened or jealous.
Amelia must have read her mind. "I don't blame her for not liking me. I was different back then. I was very much into appearances. Her disability made me uncomfortable and I'm sure it showed. I'd never known anyone in a wheelchair. I had no idea how to act around her. I realize now how ridiculous it was for me to let her disability define who she was as a person. The idea of someone judging my Tommy based on his physical capacities makes my heart hurt. I feel as if I owe her an apology. I asked Luc if I could visit her. He didn't seem to think that was a good idea."
"Her health is compromised, leaving her vulnerable to infection. I'm sure that's the reason." Though to be honest, she really wasn't sure.
"And I'm sure that you're just saying that to make me feel better," Amelia said with a sad smile. "But I appreciate the effort. I guess some things just aren't fixable."
She genuinely seemed to want to rectify her past mistakes. Luc should at least give her the chance to explain, for both their sakes. "I'll talk to Luc and see what I can do, but no promises."
"You know," Amelia said, "you're not at all what I expected."
When Julie smiled, she really meant it. "Neither are you."
* * *
That morning, the instant he stepped through the hospital doors an hour later than usual, Luc was ambushed by half a dozen people needing him for one thing or another. Sign this. Initial that. Should it be the red or the blue pill? It was the major drawback of being chief of surgery. When he did finally get to his office, Ruth greeted him with one brow raised, looking from him to her watch, then back to him again. "Working a half day, are we?"
"I know, I was up late and slept through my alarm." All night, Luc had been attuned to even the slightest noise coming from Julie's room across the hall. When she woke he wanted to talk to her, but he never got the chance. The last time he looked at the clock it had been four forty-five and still dark. When he opened his eyes again, sunlight was pouring through the blinds and the clock said 7:38 a.m. He'd gotten up and checked Julie's room, but of course she was gone.
He took off his suit jacket and waited for Ruth to get up and retrieve his lab coat, but she just sat there. "Lab coat?" he said, expecting her to jump to attention.
She didn't.
"I'm very busy," she said, but she just sat there, arms crossed, glaring. She didn't look busy to him. She did look pissed off though.
"Did I do something to upset you?" he asked her.
"Like what?"
"I have no idea. That's why I'm asking."
"It wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that a week after your wedding you're hooking up with ex-girlfriends?"
"Hooking up?" He'd never heard her use the vernacular of a much younger generation. "Do you even know what that means?"
"I know that what you're doing is wrong," she said, chin tilted stubbornly. "How do you think this will make Julie feel?"
Pretty lousy if what his mom said was true. "Cancel anything I have before noon," he told Ruth, getting the lab coat himself. He had a lot of explaining to do, and he had the feeling it might take a while. "And for the record, I am not hooking up with Amelia. I've barely spoken to her."
"That's not what I've heard."
And he didn't have the time to sit there and explain. Ruth's feelings on the matter were the least of his worries.
He headed to Julie's office three floors up. He knocked on the door, hoping she was there.
"Come in," she called, so he opened the door...and got the shock of his life when he realized Amelia was sitting there with Julie.
Talk about awkward.
Or was it? Julie and Amelia looked completely at ease with each other.
"What the hell is this?" he asked, his tone sharper than he intended, feeling like the odd man out.
Julie looked at Amelia, and Amelia looked at her, and then both women burst out laughing.
Eleven
"We weren't laughing at you," Julie insisted to Luc several minutes later after Amelia left her office and they were alone.