A Man's Heart (5 page)

He left his father's watch to Cruz. Jules sat up straighter. Jack glanced up and continued reading. “By now Jules will be on point, but you tell her that I find the man worthy, and I
want him to have the watch to remind him that time goes by too fast. I regret the sacrifice the boy's made on my behalf.”

Cruz's sacrifice? What about me, Pop?
Jules shifted in her chair.

The attorney turned a page. “He left a particular hoe to Miles Ledbetter. Said Jules would know why.”

She nodded. “He broke the blade and never got around to buying Miles a new one.” That had been last summer.

Nodding, Jack sobered and read on. “By now, you know that I had a burial plan and plot so you aren't out that expense. Other than that, I leave the farm and all my worldly possessions to my daughter Jules.”

Jules's jaw dropped. She sensed Crystal's swift intake, then silence.

Closing the folder, Jack cleared his throat. “Short. That's how Fred liked things.” His gaze focused on Crystal and then shied away. “Everything's in order. The estate should be settled without a hitch.” Pushing back, he stood and shook Jules, Joe, and Crystal's hands.

Crystal's expression remained pleasant. “Thank you, Jack. I barely remember you, but I know Pop thought the world of you.”

“It's good to see you, Little One.”

Jules sensed that he wanted to apologize for Pop's oversight, but didn't trust his judgment. But then there were no words or reason why Pop had excluded Crystal from his estate.

Outside, Jules sat in the Tracker organizing her thoughts before she turned to Crystal. “I don't know what to say. Maybe Pop …”

Crystal smiled. “What's to say? Pop wanted you to have the farm, and I think that's only fair.”

“Fair?” Jules didn't see anything fair about it, but Crystal appeared unfazed.

“Pop was a good man, but you know his weakness was forgiveness. That was evident with Mom.”

Yes, Mom's one indiscretion with a young farmhand during a turbulent time in her early marriage had led to the fights. One was enough. Pop was a God-fearing, God obeying man in every way but forgiveness. You did the crime; you served the time. There were days when Jules feared she had the same unreasonable trait. “Rest assured that half the farm is yours. I wouldn't think of taking part of your inheritance.”

“You will think of it. I would have it no other way. End of subject.”

When had she become so virtuous? And so insightful. Jules couldn't figure her out. Give away half of what she owned? That made about as much sense as leaving a daughter empty-handed. Fred Matias would have given you the shirt off his back, but he could carry a grudge to his death, which apparently he'd done. But why resent Crystal? She was an innocent pawn in a war that she'd had no control over.

W
hat could easily have been an awkward silence turned out to be a pleasant ride home. Jules's mind spun at the turn of events. Crystal couldn't be that complacent that Pop had left her out of his estate. Not that he was a millionaire, but Jules considered the oversight to be an insult. Crystal was his child, for gosh sakes. Just because he and Mom couldn't get along, why did he take it out on his own flesh and blood, especially when he'd loved his daughters, or claimed that he did.

He sent Christmas gifts to Crystal every year — or had Jules do it. Birthday cards. Sometimes Easter greetings. Yet Crystal sat on the passenger's side quietly humming “In the Sweet By and By” under her breath as though she hadn't a care in the world. She'd matured. When Mom died, she'd left nothing but bills. There was no estate to settle. So the shell shop had to be running on a wing and a prayer.

Pulling into the farm yard, Jules spotted Sophie's car.
Thank you, Lord.
When Pop's exclusion finally penetrated Crystal, she'd have someone to help calm her. She slid out of the Tracker and went inside.

The Matias home, a simple rock farmhouse, a couple of barns, machinery shed and the potato cellars — underground storage units, was always open to Sophie. She'd had a back door key since she was nine years old, and she came and went as she wanted. It wasn't unusual to come in from a cold winter's day and find a couple of fresh loaves of Sophie's bread waiting on the stove. For someone so domesticated and loyal, Jules couldn't understand why the woman couldn't keep a husband, other than her best friend had an uncanny knack for picking louses.

“Hey.”

“Hey.”

Crystal came in and closed the door. “Hi, Sophie!”

“Crystal.” The two women embraced. “Great to see you. It's been a long time.”

“Too long, but I don't feel that I've missed a —” Crystal drew back. “What's wrong?”

Jules opened the refrigerator for a cold drink, turning when she heard alarm in her sister's tone. A red-eyed Sophie seized her attention. She'd been crying. Streaked make-up and runny mascara marred her features. Closing the door, Jules approached the table.

“Better sit down.” Sophie lifted a tissue and dabbed her eyes. Dropping into a chair, Jules faced her. “Is it one of the kids?”

Sophie shook her head.

“What is it, honey?” Crystal eased to put her arms around Sophie's shoulder. “Whatever it is, we're here with you. God's in his heaven.”

“I just got a call from my gynecologist.”

Jules tensed.
Sophie's annual physical.
They'd found
something unusual — maybe an abnormal pap? That happened. “Oh hey, whatever it is I'm sure it's simple —”

“It's uterine cancer.”

Silence seized the room. The ticking wall clock penetrated the thick air. Jules swallowed. “Scary, but they can —”

“Stage three. They took a biopsy. It came back positive.”

Bringing her hand to her mouth, Jules swallowed back panic.
Stage three.
The abysmal number rang in her ears.

“Oh, honey.” Crystal held Sophie closer. Jules waited for the usual platitudes to follow: “It'll be okay. They can do a lot these days — they've come so far.” But none of that happened. Crystal held her while the dam broke and Sophie cried, agonizing sobs that clawed at the heart.

Sophie accepted a handkerchief from Jules and rubbed her eyes. “What's going to happen to my children?”

“Don't even think that way.” The thought of losing Sophie was intolerable. She was twenty-eight years old. She'd barely begun to live her life. “Maybe there's a mistake. Get a second opinion.”

Wagging her head, Sophie declined. “They want me in the hospital today.”

Jules's head spun. Her mind couldn't grasp the turn of events. First Pop. Now Sophie? She struggled to wake from the nightmare.

Crystal broke the stagnant silence. “What can we do to help?”

“I need someone to look after my children. Cruz and Adan said they will take them, but I need yours and Jules's help. You know men.” She blew her nose. “My brothers don't know beans about taking care of children. The big lugs are kids themselves.”

“We'll keep them,” Crystal offered. “I can hire someone to run the shell shop. There's no reason I can't stay here for awhile.”

Sophie met Jules's eyes. “I know what I'm asking is a lot—you'd have to be around Cruz more often than you'd like, but —”

“I'll do it,” Jules confirmed. Dread filled her. Not only would she be forced to deal with Cruz on a daily basis, she'd have to adjust to having Crystal around. She and her sister had been so distant—so foreign to each other. They were strangers with nothing in common but the blood running through their veins.

“There's treatment —”

Sophie dismissed the hope with a wave of her hand. “Surgery first, then chemo and radiation.”

“You can beat this.” Jules reached for her hand. “I know you. Right now you're terrified, but we'll fight this. Miracles happen every day in the medical field.”

Nodding, Sophie wiped her eyes. “The children's fathers are not to know about this. I don't want Matt or Jake coming around if this doesn't turn out the way we hope. They might try to get the children though that's laughable. Cruz says he won't let that happen, but you may have to help him fight, Jules. You know both my ex-husbands are no good. They've relinquished all paternal rights.”

“Isn't Matt in jail?”

“Usually. I don't know where he is right now. I don't think you'll have to worry about him or Jake, but whatever happens, those two men are not to have custody of my children. Nor the grandparents.” Sophie sniffed. “I want those children to remain here.”

Jules wasn't sure what she could prevent, but she'd give it
her all. “I'll protect the children, I promise, but you have to promise me that you won't give up. This is going to be a hard fight, Sophie, but you've weathered some tough times.”

Biting her lower lip, Sophie faced her, tears spilling down her cheeks. “I'm scared, Jules. I'm so scared.”

“You can do it, honey.” Crystal drew Sophie's head to her shoulder. “We'll pray, and God will hear our prayers.”

Shaking her head, Sophie buried her face in her hands. “It's hard to believe in God right now.”

“I know,” Crystal soothed. “I'd feel the same, but every day brings new hope.”

And when had Crystal become so virtuous? Smart. Savvy. What happened to the old airhead Crystal? Jules shifted Crystal aside. Sophie didn't need a sermon. She needed comfort. Pop had always seen that Jules went to church — God would hear her prayers. In truth, her spiritual life had slipped a little. Weekends she studied, but the times she came home she always accompanied Pop to church.

“I'll help Cruz and Adan with the children until you recover. When are you expected at the hospital?”

“I'm supposed to go home, pack a bag, and check in.”

“Who has the children?”

“Ann Ramsey.”

“Crystal will collect the children from Ann, and then I'll go with you to your house and pack a bag, then on to the hospital.”

“I'll bring the children over here,” Crystal offered.

“No, Cruz wants them with him, for the time being.”

Jules knew the next answer before she asked. “He agreed to let me help?”

“Not exactly — but I convinced him it was the sensible way to handle this.”

“Cruz and Adan are struggling with old equipment and potato fields. They'll want to spend time with you.” Crystal straightened. “I'll talk to Adan and see if he doesn't think it wise to bring them here for now. You're not to worry about anything but getting better.”

Now she was stepping on her feet. Jules turned to face her sister. What made Crystal think she'd have more sway with Adan than Jules would? A heifer would have more credibility with Cruz than she would, but that wasn't the point. She and Cruz had far more history than Crystal and Adan, and Jules resented Crystal's interference. She'd left years ago; she didn't know these people like Jules did. What right did she have to step in and be Florence Nightingale?

Sophie pushed back from the table and stood. “I don't want the children told yet about my condition.”

“Whatever you say.” Jules's mind raced. What day was it? Graduation was this Friday night. She had to return to Pullman, attend graduation ceremonies, and close the apartment. “School … I graduate the end of the week.”

“Don't worry. I'll be here.” Crystal smiled. “I'll make a few phone calls and we'll be fine.”

“Jules.” Sophie's face sobered. “Make me a promise.”

“Name it.”

“There may come a time when I'll ask you to take the children indefinitely. It … depends how this all works out.”

“Everything will be fine, Sophie. You know I'll do anything you ask—if it comes to that.”

Crystal broke the weighty tension. “I'll take over here until you get back. You graduate; it's what Pop wanted. Then come home.”

The joy from all her hard work was gone. Jules didn't give
a whit whether she walked down the aisle and accepted her diploma, but the apartment had to be closed by the end of the month.

“I'll get you settled, Sophie, then return to Pullman Thursday, graduate, close the apartment and move back home.”

Sophie nodded. “Thanks — I love you.”

“I love you too, kiddo.”

And I can't lose you.
The idea was inconceivable. Crystal was staying. Cruz would be around a lot more than she liked, Pop had excluded Crystal from his will, and Sophie was facing a ghastly fight for her life.

Exactly what was the proper course of action when in hades?