It's Better This Way(4)

    Eddie appeared to be happy. She spoke to him only about matters that involved their daughters, which were rare, now that both Hillary and Marie were in their twenties and on their own.

“Are you sure?” Amanda asked again. “Frank is perfect for you. Please reconsider.”

“Amanda, please. I’m not interested.”

“Okay, then, but you’re missing out.”

“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. It doesn’t matter. I’m happy as I am.”

“If you say so,” Amanda said, her words heavy with doubt.

They spoke for a few minutes longer before Amanda ended the call.



* * *



—

Once she finished her coffee, Julia dressed and headed down to work out. The Heritage had an exercise room that, although small, was state-of-the-art. There were a couple treadmills and exercise bikes. Plus some weight-lifting equipment.

As a matter of habit, she exercised every afternoon, when she returned from work, walking off tension on the treadmill while listening to an audiobook or music. It was a good way to keep herself in shape. Before she knew it, she’d be sixty. She certainly didn’t feel that age. Not anywhere close. Her daughter had recently commented that sixty was the new forty. That was a stretch, but Julia would take it.

Most afternoons, the exercise room was empty. She wasn’t sure what she’d find when she altered her schedule to morning workouts. She preferred to have the room to herself.

    To her disappointment when she arrived, she found a man, busily walking on the treadmill. He was big, easily over six feet, with broad shoulders. He wore a sleeveless shirt that was damp with sweat, as if he’d been going at top speed for some time, and shorts. She noticed how well defined his legs were. He had a full head of salt-and-pepper hair. Julia had seen him around though she didn’t know his name. As best she could remember, he’d moved into The Heritage about a year ago but hadn’t participated in more than a few of the social gatherings. The other times she’d seen him, he’d been dressed in a suit and tie and made for a fine figure of a man. As she recalled, there’d been some speculation floating around about him and the condo concierge. Julia didn’t generally listen to gossip and couldn’t remember what the story was, since it was none of her concern. What she did know was that the management was taking applications for a new concierge.

Seeing him, Julia hesitated before stepping into the room. “Morning,” she said casually.

He nodded in return.

She got on the treadmill next to him and put her earbuds in and started her routine. He finished and moved to the exercise bike. Julia walked three miles, and he was still going at the bike, leaning his well-defined upper body forward and pumping his legs at a furious pace.



* * *



—

The next morning and for the following three, they exercised side by side, never exchanging more than a simple greeting. She felt him glance her way on occasion, as if he wanted to start a conversation. Julia discouraged it, as she was there to exercise. Nevertheless, she noticed him, probably far more than she should. When he didn’t show on Friday, she was surprised to realize she was disappointed. Without exchanging a word, he inspired her to work harder and longer, and she missed the challenge.



* * *



—

    When she arrived Monday morning of the following week, he seemed to be waiting for her. He stood next to the treadmill, a towel around his neck, looking more appealing than ever.

“Heath Wilson,” he said.

“I beg your pardon?”

“I’m Heath Wilson. I thought it was time I introduce myself.”

“Julia Jones.”

“I figured if we were going to exercise at the same time each morning, we should introduce ourselves.”

She smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, Heath.”

“Have you lived at The Heritage long?” he asked.

“A couple years. You arrived last year, right?”

“Right. A friend of my son’s lives here. Eric Hudson. Do you know him?”

Julia shook her head.

“Not surprising. Eric has a home office and works odd hours since he has several overseas clients. I don’t think he’s attended any of the condo functions. I’ve only attended a couple myself.”

“I love living here. It’s a fresh start for me.”

“Me, too. I hung on to the house following my divorce thinking I wanted to keep it. That was a mistake. So many memories and more room than one person would ever need. I decided it was time to move on.”

    “I hear you. I’m divorced as well, over five years now.”

“About that long for me. Did you hold on to your house?”

“No. I needed to sell, as it was part of the settlement.” Putting her home on the market had been one of the hardest aspects of the divorce for Julia. “It was probably for the best.” Like Heath, the house held a lot of memories, and would have been a constant reminder of all that she’d lost.

Plugging in her earbuds, she set about her routine. When she’d finished, she gave a wave to Heath and headed back to her condo to shower. She intended to stop by the shop to advise the new owner at some point that day, and thought she’d head out early before it was too hot to walk the seven blocks to West Coast Interiors. Since Julia hadn’t taken time to eat breakfast, she decided to stop on her way for a latte at the Busy Bean, a tea and coffee shop next door to The Heritage.