Page 6 of Serendipity

Yet another nod. Apparently that’s all I can do. “That he was.”

She pulls an eek face. “Yeah, I guess it will be a little weird, huh?”

I splay my hands over my face. “Definitely. I haven’t even kissed another man in well over twenty years. Do kids still practice on their arm? Maybe I should do that.”

Naomi slides off the stool and comes to stand in front of me, laughing a little, but still pulling me in for a hug by my shoulders. Naomi hugs are the absolute best. For as little as she is, she’s a strong and fierce young lady and knows how to make people feel better. If the romance author thing doesn’t work out for her, she’d be an excellent therapist.

“I know it’s hard,” she says before pulling away. “But think about it. I wasn’t saying those things about Stone just to make you feel good or to embarrass the boys. Though, that was an added bonus. It’s the truth. Maybe it’s time that you let yourself see it.” Her eyes light up and she commands, “Follow me.”

Taking my hand, she leads me to my bathroom that’s attached to my bedroom, spinning me so I’m facing the mirror.

“Tell me what you see.”

I open my mouth to respond and she stops me before I can get a word out. “And be honest. Really look at yourself. Don’t say the things youthinkyou’re supposed to say.”

With a heavy sigh, I take a long look in the mirror.

My long brown hair is a gorgeous shade, which is thanks to my hair stylist, but it’s still mine. With a few added highlights around my face, my hair helps to brighten up my dark brown eyes, even. Thanks to a good skin care regimen, my skin is glowing and blemish-free, aside from a pesky zit or two when I have my period. I managed to lose about fifteen pounds because of walks my friends and I have committed ourselves to, and with the help of Corbin Rae and Naomi, my wardrobe has never been cuter. The nice ladies at Sephora helped me pick out the perfect shades for my skin tone and gave me step-by-step instructions on how to apply each product, but even when I’m not wearing makeup, it’s not that I find myself some hideous creature.

“Tell me,” Naomi encourages.

I meet her eyes in the mirror, my own shining with tears. Brett’s words dug deep and I let them change my vision of myself. Of course, I’ve always had insecurities. Who doesn’t? But after Brett left me for a younger woman, telling me that I’d let myself go and not only was he no longer in love with me, but he wasn’t attracted to me, either, those insecurities heightened. It was hard not to look in the mirror and see a frumpy middle-aged woman who did just as he said. Let myself go. Not completely, but I wasn’t taking care of myself. With the help of Naomi and Corbin Rae, though, they gave me back my confidence. They helped me remember who I was on the inside, and it helped shine outward. She gives me a soft smile and hug from behind.

“See? You’re beautiful. Say it. Say it out loud until you believe it. Write it on Post-it notes and stick them to your mirror.”

“I’m beautiful,” I whisper, feeling self-conscious at voicing the words but desperately wanting to believe it. I believe I’m pretty, but beautiful? Isn’t that a word reserved for models?

“It’s not just the outside, Leah. You’re the most caring, loving, generous, and just plain awesome person I know. You’re beautiful on the inside, that’s why your outside reflects it.”

My smile is watering and I turn to give Naomi a hug. “Thank you, sweet girl.”

“My pleasure.”

“How’d you get so amazing?”

“I’ve had a pretty amazing lady to guide me there.”

Our tearful smiles turn to giggles as she comments on my breasts and their size, not to mention my ‘bodacious booty’, her words, not mine.

“Honestly, Leah. You’ve got it goin’ on,” she says in a hilarious voice that causes me to laugh even harder.

“You’re a nut, you know that?” I tell her. “But you’ve got it goin’ on, too. At least your boobs are still perky.”

“They are pretty great, huh?” she says, pulling her shirt tight against her body.

I do the same then we burst out laughing. Again.

“Okay. Get outta here. My boy is going to yell at me for stealing you.”

“He’ll get over it.”

Yeah. He will.

She winks and saunters out of my bathroom. I take one last look in the mirror and vow to not allow Brett’s words affect me any longer.

ChapterTwo

LEAH

---