Secrets of the Heart Read online

  They reminded him of a happier time, a time when everything seemed to be going right in his life, and he felt on top of the world. A time when his family was complete, and the future looked bright. The casual outdoor photo was taken several years back when his daughter Evelyn still had a carefree smile, and his wife Carla had been the light of his life. The sound of Andy’s voice, his financial advisor on the other end of the phone drew him from his reverie.

  “Look, Michael, I wasn’t trying to be pushy. I was just saying you needed to get out more. Have a little fun in your life. If you don’t take care of yourself, how are you going to be there for Evelyn?”

  “Andy, I appreciate your concern. But Evelyn needs me now. I can’t think about my own needs when she is suffering through so much pain.”

  “How’s the treatment going?”

  “The doctors are getting ready to treat her with another round of chemotherapy.”

  “Another round? Poor Evelyn, it must be hell having to suffer through that poison.”

  “It kills me to watch her suffer. You don’t know how much I wish it were me instead. The doctors say she needs to go through what they call consolidation. Something about making sure they kill the cancer.”

  “It’s a total travesty that little children should have to suffer cancer at such a young age. I feel for you, Michael. I give you credit; you’re a good father.”

  “Thanks for the compliment. But I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t the best father when she was younger. I made my business more important than my family. But now’s my chance to make it up to her. I owe it to her.”

  “Look, I totally understand. What do I know? I’ve never had kids.”

  “You never wanted any?”

  “Of course I wanted to have kids. But Bridgette couldn’t have any. The doctor said there was something about her uterus making it difficult to get pregnant.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Look, Michael, we’ve been friends for a long time. I was just trying to be helpful. Just ignore my babbling. Listen, we need to talk about the Orange Peach deal.”

  “I know. I’m driving over to the office in a few minutes. I just need to make sure everything is set at home for the new nurse. She’s moving into the west wing today. Believe me, if I had my way, I’d just as soon get this deal locked up today.” Michael rapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk.

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.”

  Michael ended the call and pushed himself away from the desk before consciously smoothing down his tie. It was a habit instilled in him as a teenager when his father began grooming him for the family business. Buying and flipping real estate was a skill that had come naturally to Michael. A savviness that helped him smell a lucrative business opportunity a mile away and rewarded him with a very comfortable life. Very comfortable. But now it seemed his wealth brought little happiness to his life.

  He marched out of the mahogany paneled office and headed out to the well-manicured landscaping of his expansive front yard. The arboretum-like garden would have contradicted Michael’s early business philosophy of living a simplified lifestyle to preserve his wealth. But that was before he met his late wife, Carla. Before her, he believed success in life was the culmination of old-fashioned hard work and a sharp mentality. The fairy tale endings of children’s bedtime stories were nothing more than a happy distraction for children, an illusion that kept kids protected from the harsh realities of life.

  But after he met Carla, his businesslike demeanor softened, and his tastes began to change. She had infused his life with a new appreciation for things outside the business world, and ever since Evelyn was a little toddler, she had always had a fascination with fairy tale themes, and Michael couldn’t find it in himself to break her carefree spirit. Not like what his father had done to him.

  “Fairy tales are for little kids. You need to grow out of that stuff if you want to do well in the business world,” his father would say to him at the age of five. Having emigrated from Ireland in his twenties, Adair Robbins worked hard to achieve success in the business world, something he tried to instill in Michael at a young age. His father had ruled the house with an iron fist, and Michael learned at an early age that it was better to comply with the old man’s wishes than to face the punishment from disobedience.

  Carla had given his landscaper specific directions to fashion the front yard with a cottage theme, after a famous painter, and to his surprise, the dream-like setting began to grow on him. But he would never admit it to anyone, especially his business partners. They would laugh if they knew he had a sensitive side to his personality. No, he needed to maintain a cool and controlled demeanor. It was an essential attitude in his business.

  Michael peered past the collection of tall pine trees flanking the side of the house and saw Evelyn chatting with her nanny and drinking tea. He started off in their direction.

  “Miss Watson, Evelyn ... I trust you’re having fun.”

  The women jumped at the sound of his voice.

  “Hello, Daddy,” Evelyn said coldly. “I don’t know how much fun you think I can have sitting in this wheelchair all the time.” Evelyn crossed her arms and gave Miss Watson a look of contempt. “Plus, I don’t know why I have to do homework either. We all know I won’t be around long enough to use them.” She pitched the textbook into the air and watched it tumble into the grass.

  “Evelyn, that’s enough. I know you think it’s useless, but trust me, we’ll find a cure for you. Miss Watson is only trying to help. Now apologize for your attitude.”

  “But Daddy I don’t ...”

  “Now, Evelyn.”

  Evelyn knew by her father’s expression it was useless to argue. She bit her lower lip before apologizing. “I’m sorry, Miss Watson.” Then she lowered her head in defeat as if her oncologist had just broken the news her leukemia symptoms weren’t improving.

  Michael’s expression softened. “That’s my girl. Now, let’s head in for a bit and see what’s for dinner. Maybe Miss Archer has some cookies in the kitchen.”

  Evelyn’s face lit up. “Cookies? Sure, anything’s better than math.” She struggled with her wheelchair, trying to pivot it around, but her weakened arms could do little more than move herself several feet before running out of strength

  “Here, my dear. Let me help you.” Miss Watson reached out to help her.

  “No,” Evelyn’s face twisted with frustration as she held out a hand toward the woman. “I want to do this by myself.” She took a deep breath and grunted as she channeled every ounce of energy into her arms, refusing to accept defeat. But her efforts only gained her several more feet before her arms dropped lazily to her sides.

  “I can’t.” Evelyn’s voice returned to its familiar flat tone as her chin dropped to her chest.

  Mrs. Watson gave Evelyn an understanding smile and said nothing as she grabbed the handles and wheeled the exhausted girl across the lawn toward the kitchen.

  “Have a good afternoon, Mr. Robbins.” Mrs. Watson gave him an enthusiastic smile before turning her attention toward the estate.

  He smiled back as the nanny maneuvered Evelyn down the winding brick walkway. Linda Watson was something of an enigma to Michael. She looked polished for being forty and was all business, the epitome of his ideal employee. If he could only clone the efficient woman, his business empire would grow by leaps and bounds.

  Michael was thankful the nanny agency had recommended the kind but efficient woman. Linda was good for Evelyn. She cared about his daughter, and for the last seven years, helped Michael with everything involved in raising a daughter. He couldn’t have raised Evelyn into the proper girl she was without Linda’s help.

  The sharply dressed woman with perfectly pinned up hair reminded him of Jennifer, his secretary at work. But even though she acted like a professional businesswoman most of the time, he knew there was a softer side to her personality. This he knew because during the few times that he had caught her returning his gaze, her
stiff demeanor melted away into a soft smile on her lips. But trying to figure out his nanny’s true personality was about as easy as trying to decipher the security code to hack into the FBI’s database.

  A sigh escaped his lips as he continued down the brick path toward the large koi pond tucked next to a thicket of tall bamboo trees. Managing the rapid expansion of his business and dealing with Evelyn’s leukemia gave his mind no rest, and he felt like now would be the perfect time to reflect and clear his mind. He found his favorite wooden chair, sat near the edge of the murky green water and lost himself for a moment in the flashes of orange color that danced across the top of the water.

  It had been a long time since he had enjoyed the beauty and peacefulness of his gardens. It wasn’t because he was too busy to enjoy it, but because it was a bitter, painful reminder of the emptiness he felt in his heart. It had once been a spot of relaxation and reflection, a place of escape when he and Carla decided to spend some quiet moments together at the end of a long day.

  Michael heaved a heavy sigh. But things were different now that she was gone. His wife had been the rainbow of color in his cold and heartless world of business. She had smelled like wildflowers and loved freely with her whole heart, and there were days he would dream she was still lying beside him in bed.

  A designer by trade, Carla had transformed the entire house and landscaping, infusing it with her positive energy and enthusiasm. It was hard to escape the constant reminders of her presence. They were everywhere he looked, and he couldn’t believe she had been gone for two years. First it was Carla, and now he worried Evelyn would be next. It seemed that life was slowly tearing away the few precious things that meant so much to him, and he didn’t know how he would survive if something happened to the only living reminder of his late wife.

  He picked up his cell phone and pressed several buttons.

  “Charles, I’m going to head back to the office this morning for a little business. Come pick me up by the entrance in ten minutes.”

  “Yes sir, Mr. Robbins. I’ll be waiting out front.”

  Michael ended the call and glanced at his gold and blue faced Swiss watch. It was ten in the morning, and he had a full schedule before he needed to be back home to greet Evelyn’s new nurse. As he began his trek back toward the long oval driveway in front of his house, he couldn’t help wondering what the new nurse would be like, and he only hoped the mature woman had a motherly spirit, more gentle than the last stiff-lipped nurse the agency had sent him.

  Chapter 4

  Heather took in the sights of the beautiful California coast as she cruised down the Pacific Coast Highway toward iconic Orange County. She always appreciated the diverse geography Southern California offered and the beaches, especially Laguna, had always been one of her favorite destinations growing up. As she made the transition from Los Angeles into Orange County, her speed slowed as she encountered the familiar traffic along the Pacific Coast Highway. Forty minutes later, she finally started down the beautiful private road that led to the elusive Crystal Cove.

  Smaller than other neighborhoods, it sat along the green rolling hills overlooking the beautiful Newport Beach coast. Each property had a stone’s throw distance of land between them, keeping the homes secluded and private. The community was immaculate in every way, boasting a variety of jaw-dropping multi-million dollar homes. Heather eased her blue compact sedan up the short cobblestone path leading to the entrance of the community. A stone pillar with a rectangular bronze plaque boasted the words Crystal Cove in shiny gold letters, letting visitors know they were about to enter the exclusive community. Heather couldn’t help feeling a little self-conscious as she pulled her blue sedan up to the guardhouse and the tall security guard dressed in a dark blue uniform motioned for her to stop. The stucco and stone building reminded Heather of a children’s playhouse, only designed in a sophisticated colonial theme to match the upscale atmosphere of the exclusive community of homes.

  “Ma’am, can I help you?” the guard asked; he tensed his brows disapprovingly as he glanced over Heather’s car as if she had no business driving into Crystal Cove.

  “Good evening, sir. My name is Heather Parks, and I’m here to see Mr. Robbins.”

  The guard scanned the inside of Heather’s car as if the stranger was harboring an illegal weapon or an illegal stash of drugs.

  “I’m sorry, but Mr. Robbins won’t see anyone without an appointment.” The guard rested a hand on his taser.

  Heather could tell the man took his job seriously and was passionate about protecting the residents of the community.

  “What’s in the black bag?” He motioned toward the passenger seat.

  “Medical instruments and supplies. I carry them with me on house calls.”

  “You a doctor?” The man’s voice softened, and the wrinkles on his forehead melted away.

  “I’m a nurse,” Heather replied.

  “Oh, I see. You must be for Evelyn.”

  “Evelyn?”

  “Yeah, Mr. Robbins’ daughter. She’s been real sick lately. Poor thing, having to suffer with cancer at such a young age. Nice girls like Evelyn don’t deserve to suffer like that.”

  “Poor thing, nobody should suffer with cancer,” Heather said.

  The lines of tension eased around the man’s eyes as he drew out a hand. “My name’s John.”

  Heather shook his hand. “Nice meeting you, John. By the way, you do a fantastic job protecting your community.” She gave him warm smile.

  “Thanks. The residents here want a safe haven from all the crime out there, especially with The Cove Thief on the loose.”

  “Cove Thief?”

  John waved his hand in the opposite direction, “Yes, if you haven’t seen the news, there’s a burglar known as The Cove Thief. He’s been attacking the Crystal Cove community for the last few weeks stealing cash and jewelry from homeowners. The man’s armed and dangerous. One homeowner was brutally beaten after catching the burglar in his office, so be sure you steer clear of him.” John stood up straighter. “The residents here put a lot of trust in me, and it’s my job to watch out for him. Crystal Cove is the one place they want to feel safe in, and I don’t want to let them down.”

  “Thanks for the warning. I can see how the residents appreciate your commitment.”

  “Do you think you can help Evelyn?” John gazed intently into Heather’s eyes as if she held the key to Evelyn’s recovery.

  “I’ll do my best. You’d be surprised how much healing can take place when a patient remains positive and trusts in God,” Heather replied.

  “God, huh? You’re one of them Christians, I suppose?” John pursed his lips together.

  “Yes, I am.” Heather gave him a smile.

  “Well, I’ve never been much of a churchgoer, but it seems Mr. Robbins did good hiring you to take care of Evelyn. You seem to be just what the doctor ordered.” John gave her a smile before leaning back.

  “Did you still need to inspect my bag?” Heather asked as she reached for the rectangular polyester bag.

  “You seem like a trustworthy person, Miss Parks, but I’m afraid I still need to inspect the contents.” John gave her a frown. “Just doing my job.”

  “No problem, John, you’re doing what you should be doing.” Heather unzipped the bag, allowing John to search its contents.

  Satisfied with his inspection, John returned the bag to Heather. “Everything looks good, Miss Parks. Just give me moment.” John stepped inside the guardhouse and made a call. Heather watched John’s expression turn serious as he conversed on the phone. A minute later, John stuck his head out the guardhouse, a smile on his face. “Mr. Robbins is expecting you. You can go on through, Miss Parks. Make a right at the first street and then a left on Pelican Way. The road will take you along the bluff to the back of the community. You’ll see the Robbins’ home at the very end. You can’t miss it. There’s a large fountain in front of the house. Take good care of Evelyn; I have a good feeling about you.”r />
  “Thanks, John; that’s very nice of you to say that. And you can call me Heather.”

  “Have a nice day, Heather.” He waved at Heather.

  “You too!” Heather gave him one last smile before easing her car past a pair of tall stone pillars and a black wrought iron gate. She drove slowly, admiring the view of breathtaking mansions along the way. Colonial, Mediterranean, Italian, and French styles. Heather had never experienced such breathtaking architecture and lavish display of luxury in her life except for the times she flipped through an architectural magazine. Curiosity began to stir as she wondered what the Robbins’ home would look like.

  A few minutes later, Heather spotted the beige fountain at the end of the cul-de-sac. She entered the private road that led her to front of the home, and within a minute, she was parked in front of a breathtaking estate. Heather reached for her medical bag before climbing out of her car.

  The Robbins home was a beautiful two-story French chateau designed with beige stucco and brown shutters. There was not a color missing among the flowers lining the driveway up to the entrance. Heather had never seen anything more beautiful. The secluded home was perched on the edge of a steep cliff with an expansive backdrop of the blue Pacific Ocean.

  Heather made her way up to the front door, taking in the soothing aroma of lavender and gardenia from the plants along the walkway. She stopped in front of the gold scrolled wrought iron and glass double doors and rang the doorbell. Minutes later, a middle-aged woman wearing a blue blazer and gray skirt approached the door.

  “Can I help you?” The woman’s eyes traveled from Heather’s feet to her face.

  “Hi, you must be Mrs. Robbins. I’m Heather Parks, the new nurse from Everest Home Healthcare. Mr. Robbins is expecting me at one.” Heather gave the woman a smile.

  The woman with long brown hair threw her head back and chuckled. “I’m sorry, but I’m not Mrs. Robbins. I’m Linda Watson, the live-in nanny.” Linda stuck her hand out. “Nice to meet you.”

  Heather shook her hand. “Oh my, I’m so sorry, I assumed by the way you were dressed you were his wife.” Heather felt the warmth rush across her cheeks.