Page 101 of Julian

“Have a good week,” she said.

“Thanks. You too.”

He stepped closer to Kiara and offered her a hug. Kiara welcomed it, wanting that brief connection with him before they went their separate ways again.

As they moved apart, he bent forward a little and rested his hand lightly on her bump. “You be good for your mama, little guy.” Julian straightened, removing his hand from her stomach. He pulled something from his back pocket and held it out to her. “Here.”

Kiara glanced down to see a folded envelope. She took it from him, but she didn’t have a chance to say anything before Julian stepped back. She turned to the open door and climbed into the SUV.

Julian moved to the door as she settled into her seat. Their gazes met for a moment before he closed the door and stepped back. The SUVs rolled into motion, and the hotel—and Julian—were left behind.

Kiara looked down at the envelope and unfolded it. Her name was scrawled across the front of it in a familiar penmanship.

Why had Julian written her a letter? They’d just had a conversation where it was only the two of them present. Surely, he could have said whatever he needed to then.

Did this mean it was something bad?

With that thought in her mind, Kiara slipped the envelope into her purse. She’d read it later when she didn’t have anaudience, just in case it was something that might provoke an emotional response.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

All the way to his apartment, Julian questioned his decision to give the letter to Kiara. He’d considered tossing it after he’d written the first couple of paragraphs, but then he’d felt compelled to get everything out.

In the end, he’d told her about his struggles at the gala and then apologized for the role they’d played in his distraction the previous night. He could have just told her while they were having breakfast, but he’d gotten used to sharing more vulnerable things through letters, not face to face.

So he’d taken the easy way out and written it out rather than say it to her in person.

He wanted to be able to communicate better with her, but while he had no problem with business conversations, personal ones were more challenging. Over the years, he could count on one hand the number of deeply personal and vulnerable conversations he’d had with people other than his therapist at the treatment center.

The ridiculous thing was that he knew that Kiara would have been supportive. After all, she’d stood at his side as he’d poured his stash of alcohol down the drain. But doing that had made him look strong. Like he wasn’t weakened by temptation.

The gala had been the opposite. There had been too many times when he’d been so close to taking the offered alcoholic drinks. If Anthony hadn’t come alongside him, he wasn’t confident that he wouldn’t have found a way to get a drink.

He wasn’t sure if Kiara would respond, but he spent the day waiting for a text from her. It wasn’t until nearly eight o’clockthat night that he got a notification that he’d received an email from her in his personal email inbox.

He tapped to open it, bracing himself for her response to what he’d told her

Dear Julian ~ Thank you for your letter. I’m sorry that I didn’t understand the stress you were under last night. I just assumed that events like that would be easy for you. I wish I’d realized you were struggling.

Julian wasn’t sure what she could have done. But perhaps if he had been focused on her instead of himself, he could have done something for her. His regret over how he’d abandoned her was huge.

I hope that the week ahead isn’t too stressful for you. I have no idea what board meetings are like, but I imagine they aren’t all fun and games.

I’m glad to be back home. I don’t know if it’s my nesting instinct or what, but being here soothes something inside me. It’s great to be able to walk into the nursery and sit in the rocking chair.

Unbidden, the image of Kiara in the nursery came to his mind, the chair slowly rocking as she rested her hands on her belly, a serene look on her face.

That was home.

He realized that then. It wasn’t his perfectly decorated apartment. Nor the main house on the estate. No, home was the place where Kiara and his son were. Somehow, they had become his home, and Julian wasn’t sure what to do about that revelation.

It’s also beautiful here. Coming to the estate on the helicopter was just gorgeous. All the lovely colors of autumn. I can’t wait to go for a walk and take some pictures.

I’m ready to call it an early night, and I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed. Hope you’re enjoying being in your own bed too. Have a good night!

Take care ~ Kiara

Julian relaxed back in his chair and stared out the dark window, taking in the lights of the city around his apartment. He was glad that Kiara had replied, and that she had been so understanding. More understanding than he deserved, if he was honest with himself.