Secrets of the Heart Read online

  “That’s okay.” Linda gave her a smile. “You’re not the first person to do that.” She glanced at her watch, “You’re right on time. Mr. Robbins will appreciate that. If it’s one thing he hates, it’s someone always late for their appointments.” Linda swung the large door open and stepped back. “Please, come in and follow me.”

  Heather caught her breath as she stepped into the spacious entryway decorated with rich wood flooring and a large crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Double arched stairs descended into a round foyer that housed a large vase on a pedestal and led guests to a grand dining room with a long table. The smell of fresh cut flowers permeated her senses as she gazed at the collection of fine artwork proudly displayed against the walls, paintings that reminded her of pieces she had viewed at a museum in Los Angeles while doing research for a college art class.

  “Wow, Mr. Robbins collects some very nice art,” Heather said as she gazed with awe at a beautiful painting she recognized by Van Gogh.”

  “Art is one of Mr. Robbins passions. You’ll be amazed at all the fine artwork he has throughout the house.”

  “I sure hope he has a good security system. I’m sure there are a lot of people who would love to have this painting in their home.” Heather glanced up at the ceiling, trying to spot a security camera.

  “Oh yes, the house is well protected. I don’t think World War 3 would destroy this place.” Linda laughed. “Please, follow me this way.” Linda led Heather to the left down a long hall before turning right into the formal room. “Please, have a seat, and I’ll let Mr. Robbins know you’re here. Miss Watson took her leave, and Heather waited.

  “Thanks.” Heather gave her a smile as she perched herself on the edge of a firm leather sofa detailed with intricately carved gold color frame. She glanced around the tastefully done room. The lighting from the window played off the large Oriental vase in the center of the table, and she gazed with awe at the gold colored walls adorned with various gold carvings. Another large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, its gold frame shimmering in the light. The lavish display of gold overwhelmed Heather’s senses, a stark contrast to the humble life she led.

  Heather glanced up above the mantle and sat taller as she took in the large oil painting.

  “Could it be ...” she whispered as her jaw relaxed.

  She gained her feet and moved closer to the painting, taking in its beauty. The jigsaw puzzle style reminded Heather of a popular impressionistic painter she had studied about. She marched toward the painting and gazed intently at the boldly colored triangles, squares, and distorted face, instantly recognizing it as the work of Picasso. A breath escaped Heather’s lips as she leaned closer to inspect the painting. There was no doubt it was an original, and Heather’s jaw relaxed knowing how lucky she was to stand so close. Her attention was so riveted that she never saw someone enter the room.

  “Please be careful with the painting,” a deep voice boomed from behind her.

  Heather jumped to attention and spun around, her hand pressed against her pounding heart. “I’m so sorry. I wasn’t going to touch it. I was just admiring it.” Heather flashed a nervous smile at the man with combed wavy brown hair before her. Even though she could tell years of stress had aged his face, his aquamarine blue eyes still brought a tingle down her spine. The man in his early thirties spoke firmly, as someone who was used to giving orders most of his life.

  “Do you like art?” The man maintained a serious expression as he gazed intently into Heather’s eyes.

  “I love art. I took an art class when I was in college, but it’s been a while since I’ve visited a museum. I see you like to collect fine art.”

  The man shrugged his shoulders. “I love art, but not as much as my grandfather did. He’s the one that purchased most of these paintings. I just inherited them after he died.”

  “Did you inherit this Picasso?” Heather turned to gaze at the painting behind her.

  “I see you’re familiar with the Impressionistic era.” He flashed Heather a smile. “I purchased that myself about two years ago at an auction house in New York.”

  “It must have cost you a pretty penny. Dora Maar was one of Picasso’s favorite models.”

  “Let’s just say it was a significant investment.” The man held out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced. I’m Michael Robbins.”

  Heather shook his hand. “Heather Parks. It’s nice meeting you, Mr. Robbins.”

  “You can call me Michael.” His mouth lifted into a half-smile.

  “Okay, Michael.”

  Michael drew out his hand toward the sofa. “Please, have a seat.”

  Heather made herself comfortable on the sofa while Michael sat in a loveseat adjacent to her.

  Michael leaned back and extended his hand across the top of the sofa. “So Allison tells me you’re her best nurse.”

  Heather gave him a puzzled look. “Did she really say that?”

  “During my last conversation with her. I told her I wanted the best nurse for my daughter, and she highly recommended you. Said you were the best when it came to home care and encouraging patients to get well. That nurses like you were one in a million.” Michael leaned his head against his hand with the confidence of a multimillionaire.

  Heather smiled. “That was very nice of Allison to say that, but I’m a little more modest about my reputation. Caring for my patients is my number one priority, and I truly believe the key to a patient’s healing starts with the heart. Without the mind and spiritual life in harmony with God, a person can’t begin the process of true healing.”

  Michael sat taller, his brows tilted with disapproval as he glared at Heather. “Did you say God?” He hesitated for a second. “Are you a religious person, Miss Parks?”

  “Why yes; I’m a Christian,” Heather replied.

  “Hmmm . . .” Michael grunted as he clenched his jaw muscles. “Did Allison tell you why I hired you?”

  “Yes, she mentioned you needed someone to care for your daughter since she’s battling cancer.”

  “Leukemia to be exact.” Michael’s lips remained pursed together. “Evelyn has been battling cancer since she was the age of four. The doctors gave her a good chance of survival after the first remission, but five years later, it’s back.” Michael hesitated before turning toward the large window, his eyes gazing blindly at the ocean. His upper lip began to quiver. “And now they’re worried it might metastasize to her brain.”

  Heather’s face softened with sympathy. “Mr. Robbins, I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  Michael cleared his throat. She could see the pain in his eyes, and her heart ached at his pain. Seconds later, the cold businesslike expression returned to his face. “Tell me, Miss Parks, if God were such a loving God, why would He allow my daughter to relapse with cancer?”

  “I wish I could offer you a comforting answer, but sometimes we can’t understand why God allows things to happen. All I can say is I know God loves Evelyn, and He won’t forsake her. God is the only one that can help her survive this ordeal.”

  Michael narrowed his brows tightly together. “Ha! You Christians are such fools! You’re all the same,” Michael mocked with anger in his eyes. “You choose to believe in some simplistic answer to life’s tragedies because you can’t make sense of it, and you go about living life, pretending everything’s going to be all right. Well, I don’t buy it. God can’t be a loving God if He would allow my innocent daughter to suffer so much. What did she do to deserve it?”

  Heather opened her mouth to respond, but Michael cut her off.

  “I used to believe in a loving God, but now, I don’t believe He exists. A loving God wouldn’t have let my wife die in the hands of terrorists and take my daughter’s future away. Don’t preach lies to me, Miss Parks. I finally saw religion for what it really is, and I don’t want you preaching that nonsense to my daughter.” Michael glared at Heather through squinted eyes.

  “But Michael, I’ve seen f
aith in God heal—”

  “Have I made myself perfectly clear?” Michael’s voice raised a notch.

  A sigh escaped Heather’s lips as her shoulders drooped. “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page. Respect my rules, take good care of Evelyn, and we’ll get along just fine. Linda will take you to your room and see that your needs are taken care of. If you have any questions or concerns about the job, you can speak directly to me about it.” Michael turned towards the hallway and shouted. “Linda!” He turned back to Heather.

  “Do you have any further questions?”

  Heather shook her head. “No Sir, none at the moment.”

  “Good. Then make yourself comfortable. Evelyn is napping right now, but I’ll introduce you to her in an hour. And another thing, Evelyn has no idea the cancer might spread, and I don’t want her to know it. She’s dealing with enough suffering from all the chemotherapy. I want her to focus all her energy on getting better.”

  Heather nodded her head. “I understand.”

  “Good, I’m glad we have an understanding. You’ll be able to meet Evelyn at dinnertime. Until then, feel free to make yourself comfortable.”

  “Thank you. I promise I’ll do my best to make Evelyn comfortable,” Heather replied.

  “You called for me?” Linda announced as she entered the room.

  “Yes, can you please show Miss Parks to her room and give her a tour of the property?”

  “Of course, Mr. Robbins.” Linda gave Heather a smile and drew her hand down the hall. “Follow me this way.”

  “It was nice meeting you, Michael,” Heather said as she turned and followed Linda down the hall.

  A brief smile flashed across Michael’s lips before his gaze returned to the tranquil view outside his window.

  Chapter 5

  Linda watched Michael’s backside as he lost himself in his thoughts. It seemed with the passing of time that her employer grew more distant and lost within himself. While she was happy there was a new addition to the household who could push him to his limits, a part of her couldn’t help feeling jealous over Heather. It seemed that no matter what she did, Michael never paid much attention to her. If only he took more interest in her personal life, then maybe he would see her as more than just an employee. Linda had hoped he would notice how often she stared at him with star-struck eyes. But he was always too busy with business or worrying about Evelyn to even notice.

  A part of her couldn’t help feeling disappointed. Disappointed that the only thing he praised her for was how great she was at being his Nanny. Why couldn’t he notice how much she sacrificed her own needs so he could be happy? Or appreciate the extra effort she took to make her face look flawless in the morning or how much she worked out at the gym just so he could appreciate her toned body.

  Her chest sank as she forced a sigh from her lips. Maybe she was just a hopeless romantic, thinking that such a strikingly gorgeous man, a man with money and power, would notice an average girl like her.

  Linda touched Heather’s arm lightly and beckoned toward the staircase heading toward the west wing of the house.

  “Come along. I’ve made up a room for you in the west wing. I do hope you like it. I think it has a much better view with the pond and seems a little cozier to me.”

  Heather followed closely behind as they climbed to the top of the stairs and strolled down a long hallway leading to the back of the large estate. The staircases of both wings wound around a fancy crystal chandelier before merging at the top and branching off. As the women continued down the hall to the guest suite, Heather noticed some beautiful pieces of art along the way that boasted vivid hues of blue, which was her favorite color. They finally stopped at the third room on the left, and Linda pushed the door open. “I hope our guest room is satisfactory to your tastes. It was decorated by the Mrs.”

  “Wow, this is beautiful,” Heather said with a hushed tone as her gaze swept across the large room illuminated by a huge crystal chandelier that strategically hung from a cathedral ceiling. Opposite a French queen bed was a sitting area with a grand white mantled fireplace. Heather was astonished at her accommodations. Her last apartment in Dana Point paled in comparison to the room she was standing in.

  Heather turned her attention to the shiny satin drapes accented with peach swirls and gold trim that framed a pair of French double doors. The doors led to a large balcony that overlooked the shimmering ocean below.

  “I hope our guest room is satisfactory for you,” Linda said as she walked past the bed and unlocked the patio doors, allowing a rush of cool ocean breeze to freshen the room.

  “Guest room? Wow, this is gorgeous.” Heather’s eyes widened. “I thought this was another master suite.” She sauntered over to the bed and plopped onto the perfectly cushioned mattress, her hand exploring the silky soft comforter tucked perfectly around the bed.

  “Is the bed comfortable enough for you?” Linda said as she stopped in the middle of the room and gave Heather a smile.

  Heather leaned back into the comforter. “It’s perfect. I thought the memory foam mattress in the mall felt wonderful, but this mattress feels like I’m literally sleeping on a cloud.” A sigh escaped Heather’s lips as she stretched out her hands and closed her eyes, trying to imagine what it would feel like to be floating in the sky.

  “I’m glad to hear that. It was specially shipped from Sweden. Mr. Robbins saw it in a store during a business trip, and he just had to have it. Since we ordered it two years ago, all our guests fight to sleep in this room.”

  “I can see why.” Heather opened her eyes and sat up.

  “I’m glad you like it. It’s important to Mr. Robbins that all his guests are well taken care of.”

  “Well, you can tell him that I’m perfectly happy with my room.” Her gaze traveled around the room, taking in the light pink colors of the room. “Linda, can I ask you something?’

  “Of course, my dear. What is it?”

  “Has Michael always been such an uptight person? I mean, I know he’s got a lot on his mind with Evelyn being sick. But he seems very miserable, even with his comfortable life.”

  “You mean Mr. Robbins?” Linda looked at Heather as if she had confused him with someone else. “It’s been a while since I’ve heard anyone call him by his first name. The Mrs. was the last one to use it. Even I’m not allowed to address him as Michael. You must have made a good impression on him because he doesn’t allow many people to address him by his first name.”

  “I’d like to hope so, but I don’t think we hit it off too well for our first meeting. Michael seems pretty bitter about life, especially when it comes to religion.”

  A sigh escaped Linda’s lips. “You’ll have to excuse him. He doesn’t mean to be so abrasive. He wasn’t always this way. In fact, up until a few years ago, Mr. Robbins was always a kind and happy man.”

  Heather gave her a puzzled look.

  “I know, that sounds hard to believe doesn’t it?” Linda stole a glance over her shoulder as if Michael might be outside the room. Her voice dropped lower. “It wasn’t until after Carla, Mrs. Robbins, died five years ago . . . He’s never been the same.”

  Heather’s eyes grew wide. “What happened?”

  Linda lowered her voice. “The Mrs. had gone for a two-week trip to Jamaica by herself. Mr. Robbins had an important business meeting with some clients from China, so he couldn’t go with her. Mrs. Robbins had gone shopping for a dress in downtown Montego Bay when she was kidnapped by some terrorists as she got out of her car in the parking lot. Those crazy people weren’t afraid of anyone because they did it in broad daylight in front of some of the locals. They kept her hidden away for weeks in some secret place where even the local authorities couldn’t track her down.”

  Linda hesitated for a moment before a heavy sigh escaped her lips as she shook her head. “It was awful; they sent videos to Mr. Robbins of Carla being tortured and demanded a ransom of one million dollars or else they threat
ened to kill her.”

  Heather’s eyes narrowed. “How awful for Michael; I mean Mr. Robbins, to have to go through all that. Did he pay them the ransom?”

  “The police told Mr. Robbins to try and stall the kidnappers so they could trace the call. They asked him to tell the terrorists he needed more time to raise the money. But Mr. Robbins didn’t listen. He was desperate to rescue Carla. Against the advice of the police, he made the ransom drop-off alone without telling anyone. I begged Mr. Robbins not to do it.” Linda shook her head with pity. “But he wouldn’t listen to me; he was stubborn like always. And now . . . now he’s become an angry man, distant and unapproachable.”

  Heather could see the pain in Linda’s brown eyes as she quickly brushed a hand across her eyes, leaving a dark shadow of mascara trailing across her cheeks. Heather could tell Linda had been actively involved in the Robbins household for years and was like one of the family. “I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to make you upset by bringing up the past.”

  Linda regained her composure. “It’s okay. You didn’t know. I’m surprised it still makes me emotional just talking about it.

  Heather decided to change the topic. “Tell me about Evelyn. What’s she like?”

  Linda remained silent for a moment before answering. “Evelyn was one of the sweetest girls you would have ever met. She was always cheerful, unselfish, and generous with others. Poor thing, once that cancer got hold of her, it changed her whole outlook on life. She used to get the inspiration to paint ocean scenes all the time, but now she’s been so depressed; I’ve never seen her pick up a paintbrush in years. She’s lost that sparkle in her eyes.” Linda gazed intently at Heather. “Tell me, Heather, are you a religious person?”

  Heather smiled. “Yes, I’m a Christian.”

  Linda pursed her lips. “Hmmm . . . I’ve never been much of a religious person, but I can’t understand why a loving God would let a sweet girl like Evelyn suffer from cancer. If I were God, I can think of a lot worse people to punish.”