Epilogue
Olivia
Being a rancher, Derrick wakes up and is in the shower when I get dressed. I write him a note and put my lipstick on to kiss it.
Then as I reach the front door, he stops me. “Where are you going? Sneaking out?”
“No,” I laugh. “I left you a note.”
“Yeah, but then you gave this paper my kiss, and I want it.” He is wet in only a towel knotted around his waist. He crosses the space between us and pulls me against him, kissing me breathless and letting his towel drop as he trails hot wet kisses down my neck as he unbuttons my blouse. “You don’t want to leave before I give you that special kiss that makes your toes curl, do you?”
He’s already got my jeans down around my ankles while I very weakly remind him, “I have to go to work.”
“You better get used to being a little late.” And he carries me over to the couch. I’m thrilled to hear it and consider opening the office an hour later on a regular basis.
Epilogue 2
Chrissy
“So wait, hold up, I missed all this. He didn’t actually leave you at the bar?” I ask. I was late getting to Patty Cakes for what has turned into a weekly lunch with friends. I wish I could say I was late because I was doing something exciting, but I wasn’t. I was on the phone with my ex-husband. I don’t even know why I bother answering the phone anymore when I see it’s him. There’s never any good that will come from it.
“Yes. I’m sorry I lied, Chrissy. I was so embarrassed about my one-night stand. But I shouldn’t have lied to you all,” Olivia apologizes.
Derrick’s always been a great guy. A little gruff and rough around the edges, but he’s a good guy. I can’t hide my surprise when I ask, “So wait, it was Derrick that left you the morning after?”
Olivia smiles. “Yeah, it was all a misunderstanding. He heard me on the phone with Kyle telling him that I would meet up with him. He thought Kyle was my boyfriend and I was playing him.”
All the women around the table laugh at that. Olivia’s definitely not some femme fatale.
“So from the smile on your face, I’m guessing that you guys have worked it out?”
Olivia blushes heavily, and it’s obvious to everyone exactly how they’ve been making up. “Yes, we’re good.” She giggles.
The conversation continues, and everyone is talking and having a good time. I’m so happy for my friends. They’re such a good group of women, and they’ve helped me so much as I’ve been going through this divorce. I don’t know what they’ll think of things now.
Carrie nudges my leg under the table and asks me quietly, “What’s wrong?”
Carrie has been one of my best friends since high school, and if anyone is going to notice I’m off, it would be her.
I just shrug my shoulders, hoping to let it go, but instead everyone’s attention turns to me.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” Lacy asks, looking between Carrie and me.
“Nothing. I’m fine. I don’t want to ruin lunch. We can talk about it another time.”
I can tell by the way they’re looking at me that I’m not getting out of this. “David wants to talk about getting back together.”
Lacy bursts out laughing and then stops suddenly. “You’re serious?”
I nod my head at her.
I know it’s ludicrous. I just divorced the man and told myself I’d never go back. But it’s different when you have kids involved, and Katie seems like she’s missing her dad.
“You told him no, right, Chrissy?” Carrie asks me.
I shrug my shoulders. “I told him I’d think about it. Katie is really missing him.”
Carrie slides her chair over and covers my hand on the table with hers. “Chrissy, you were miserable with him. He wasn’t good to you…”
I interrupt her. “He never hurt me.”
She answers me in a patient voice. “Maybe not physically, but he was so controlling. You were so happy to get away from him. What’s changed?”
“I don’t know.” I look around the table, and all eyes are on me. They’re not judging me, but I can see that they’re trying to figure out what I’m thinking. “He says he’s changed. He says it will be different. And then Katie… I just feel like I owe it to her to try.”
I know that Carrie is stunned and doesn’t know what to say. She wants to argue with me—heck, right now she looks as if she wants to slap some sense into me.
Lacy reaches across the table and pats the empty spot in front of me. “Whatever you need, we’re here. Whatever you decide, we’ve got your back. We just want you to be happy.”
And everyone else agrees with her. Encouraging me to do what I need to do to be happy.
Happy. I thought I was happy. I’m happier now than I’ve ever been, but the fact that the preschool teacher is worried about Katie’s behavior since her father left, well, I feel like I need to do what’s best for her. Even if that’s bringing my ex-husband back into my life.
“Thank you guys. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” I tell them honestly.
The conversation goes on around me, and I’m so lost in thought until I hear Carrie say her brother’s name.
“Yeah, Bart is coming to visit. He’ll be here in the next few days.”
“Is he coming to visit or on a special case?” Rose asks. Bart is a detective in Knox. It’s only an hour away, but he still hardly ever comes to Forest Grove. I guess being a detective in the big city keeps you busy.
Carrie shrugs her shoulders. “I guess to visit. He hasn’t really said.”
Carrie looks over at me, and I know what she’s looking for. I used to be in love with her older brother. Not that he ever knew it. I spent all my time watching him, but I made sure he never knew how I felt. When he left town after graduation, I was devastated. It was during that time that I met David. I know Carrie’s probably wondering if any of my old feelings are still there, but I just smile easily at her. “That’s great. I know your mom will be happy to see him.”
She agrees with me, but she’s my best friend. She sees through my words, and she knows that I still have feelings for Bart. I probably always will.
So now I’m going to have to deal with my ex-husband wanting me back and make sure I avoid my first love while he’s in town. The stress just keeps piling on, and I’m hoping nothing else comes up. I don’t know if I can handle much more.
THE END
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