Page 130 of Single Mom's Guide to Love

And she can still say no. There’s no gun to her head. But I wanted her to actually consider it, because I think it could be a smashing success.

“I’d be happy to,” Christopher says, clicking back to a recap slide he’s presenting to us. “The idea is for you to be unapologetically yourself. Just from this conversation, your realness and bluntness are tools that will set you apart from other home makeover stars. What we want you to do is be honest, and sometimes that comes off as gruff. Which is what we want. We want you to take the most stubborn clients—preferably ones with horrible taste—and convince them to let you help them decorate the home of their dreams.”

“Okay, that’s what I thought you said.” Maeve shakes her head a little, but more I think to try and gather her thoughts. “This is all very overwhelming.”

“I understand,” Christopher says as he puts away his tablet. “Please though, give this some thought. When you have ideas and have wrestled with this one, I’d love to talk to you about it more. Get your ideas. This was just a starting off point. I’m open for suggestions.”

Maeve nods and the two of them shake hands. “Thank you. We’ll be in touch.”

I walk Christopher out to the front door, tell him thanks again for meeting on short notice, before heading back into my office.

“What was that?”

And that is why I walked Christopher out. “Okay, Love, hear me out.”

“Oh no, don’t you ‘Love’ me,” she says as she points her finger into my chest. “Did you really set up a meeting with a reality show producer and not tell me?”

“I did. But I have good reasons.”

“Oh there better be,” she says, perching herself onto my desk. “Start talking, husband.”

I know she’s miffed at me. But that doesn’t stop the tingle I feel when she reminds me of our marital status.

“It happened to come up in conversation,” I begin.

“Really? You just happened to be talking to a reality producer and you just happened to bring up an idea that I joked about months ago that I was never actually serious about?”

I think about it for a second, but there’s no other way to say it. “Yeah. I did. But if youreallywant someone to blame if you’re angry, I suggest being pissed at Vivian.”

“Vivian? What does she have to do with it?”

“Because if it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have been on the phone with a reality producer.”

“Are you…”

“I am. Christopher is one of the producers ofReal Lives of Nashville Wives. And now a personal friend if I do say so myself.”

If I had any hopes of our lives calming down after we exposed Vivian for what she did to Maeve, those were quickly shot out of the window.

The next day we were delivered notice that Josh was dropping his petition for custody. It also came with a text message from Josh saying that he needed some time to figure things out. He explained that he was divorcing Vivian and needed some time to reevaluate things in life. Maeve understood and told him to take the time he needed. That they’d talk everything through when he was ready.

That talk came this week. Josh profusely apologized to both Maeve and myself—because yes, I went with her—and asked if things could go back to how they were. He admitted she was right, that he wasn’t ready to have Jayce full-time, but was interested in adding one night per week. Maeve agreed, and afterhe promised that Vivian was permanently out of his life, they agreed that each Tuesday night, Jayce spent the night with Josh.

It was the best outcome we could’ve hoped for when it came to our family. And really for Josh. But for Vivian? She’s…well…as Stella has said bluntly, “She’s going through it.”

It started with Josh serving her divorce papers. It continued withReal Lives of Nashville Wivesannouncing their casting without her on their list. Did that have anything to do with me contacting the producer—who just happened to be the one sitting in my office today—with all of the information we found? Actually no. Christopher said all that did was solidify their suspicion that she would’ve been too much drama.

For a reality show.

Featuring catty rich women.

Of course, Vivian blamed everything on us and tried to take to social media with her claims that Maeve and I ruined her life. Little did she know that we had a woman named Kat Smith waiting in the wings to drag her through the mud.

And drag her she did.

There wasn’t a media outlet that wasn’t told the story about how a would-be reality wannabe was willing to ruin the lives of an innocent woman and her child just for fame. Pictures were leaked of all of her affairs. Hashtags and social movements began to not only cancel Vivian, but to support Maeve. It was a whirlwind few weeks, but when it was all said and done, we came out of the other side stronger than ever.

Which is why we’re sneaking away this weekend with Jayce to a beach house at an undisclosed location. Just the three of us, sand between our toes, and quiet all around us.

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