"Good-bye, Matthew."
He stared at the phone for long seconds after she ended the call, not realizing he'd been crying until a fat tear plopped onto the screen.
Chapter Nineteen
Late June
"You have no idea how much I've missed mornings like this - getting my ass kicked for ninety minutes while sweating my brains out, and then rewarding myself with a cappuccino and a muffin. Not to mention hanging out with two of my very favorite people."
Julia took a sip of her foamy coffee drink, sighing in bliss as she swallowed, then broke off a piece of the oversized caramel chunk muffin she'd ordered.
Sasha eyed the muffin skeptically. "Since you're still nursing twins and obviously need the calories, I'll skip the nutritional lecture for once."
Julia shrugged. "Good. Because I wouldn't have listened to you, especially after the week I've had. Both of the boys had ear infections, and I swear I wanted to cry every time they did. Thank God for my part-time nanny. At times Alina is the only thing standing between me and a complete nervous breakdown. Be sure to tell Freya thank you again for the referral."
"I will." Sasha scooped up a spoonful of blueberries and Greek yogurt. "She was happy to help, and will be pleased to hear that Alina is working out so well."
Tessa smiled impishly as she sipped her tea. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be needing a referral for a nanny one of these days. Maybe sooner than later."
Julia gasped in delight. "Omigod, are you pregnant? Tessa, that's fantastic news!"
Tessa shook her head. "Not yet. At least, it's probably too soon to tell. But I've stopped taking the pill, and Ian and I are definitely trying." She gave a very, very satisfied smile. "We're trying very, very hard. And very, very frequently."
This time Julia stuck her tongue out. "Quit rubbing it in, okay? I can't tell you how many times Nathan and I have gotten this close to making it happen, only to get interrupted by one or both of the boys. It's almost gotten to the point where we have to get a babysitter so we can sneak out to have sex somewhere."
Sasha's eyes twinkled in amusement. "It will get better," she said confidently. "Look at how much has improved in just two months - you have a part-time nanny, you're eating better - well, except for that muffin - and getting more sleep. And you're back to yoga. Patience is the key, Julia. And taking a few minutes to meditate every day helps, too. God knows it's one of the only things that's helped me cope as of late."
Tessa gave Sasha's hand a squeeze. "I'm so sorry," she replied sympathetically. "Here Julia and I have been prattling on about the wonderful things happening in our lives, and being totally insensitive to what you're going through."
"You're not being insensitive, Tessa," assured Sasha. "And I'd much rather hear about the happy things going on in your lives than dwell on my own misery."
"I wish I could think of some way to help," fretted Tessa. "Ian and I would be happy to let you stay at the beach house for a week or two. Maybe it would be good for you to get away."
Sasha shook her head. "As much as I love your beach house, I'd be going there alone right now. And being by myself is probably not a great idea. In fact, I've been thinking about maybe going to Paris for a couple of weeks and seeing my aunt and uncle. My mother suggested the idea, and would go with me." She gave a small shudder. "That right there shows you how desperate for a distraction I am, the fact that I'm even considering spending two whole weeks with my mother."
Julia popped the last piece of muffin into her mouth. "But you'd have your aunt and uncle there to run interference, wouldn't you?"
"You'd like to think so. However, all three of them are Russian, and sooner than later one or two or all of them get angry about something and pretty soon there's a huge shouting match going on. Then they make up and break out the vodka, and get a little drunk. And then start arguing again." Sasha grimaced at the recollection.
Julia sighed in bliss. "Ah, but it would still be worth it to spend two whole weeks in Paris. God, I love that city! And not just because it's where Nathan proposed. Great food, beautiful clothes, fabulous art - what's not to like about it?"
Tessa nodded enthusiastically. "I agree. Paris is one of our favorite cities, and Ian has promised me another quick trip there when we go to England for the Christmas holidays. You should seriously consider going, Sasha. Even if your family might be a little on the dramatic side. It would do you good to have a change of scenery."