Page 146 of The Comeback Summer

I’ll admit that I wasn’t thrilled when you told me you didn’t want to work with me on my public relations campaign. Still, I respect y’all for that decision. It would’ve been so much easier to take the job—but instead, you each chose a new path.

Cheers to you both, and thanks for being my guinea pigs. I hope you learned a thing or two from my little program. Either way I’m proud. And your grandmother would be, too.

—Lou

Epilogue

HANNAH

The view of Chicago from thirty-five stories off the ground is stunning, especially on a June evening at sunset. I’m sitting in the back of the rooftop venue, watching as Libby says goodbye to the final guests from tonight’s event. This was a joint effort, the first time the Freedman sisters have “worked” together since we dissolved the Freedman Group about nine months ago.

It’s pushed us way outside of our comfort zones—but it’s been worth it.

“Tonight was everything we could have imagined,” Preeti says, coming up and giving me a hug.

“Thank you so much for recommending Libby,” Serena adds.

“My pleasure,” I say, beaming at them. My very first clients, now bestselling authors. “Congratulations—now go enjoy some well-deserved time off!”

Their book released two weeks ago, and I coordinated their media appearances and tour, culminating with this special event here in Chicago. Libby planned an epic, fifty-playerMurder Mystery Dinner, with each guest assigned a different role to play in a fictional case: detective, victim, accomplice, murderer, medical examiner, suspects, and more.

It was fascinating and twisted and morbid—perfect for a bunch of true crime junkies.

Serena and Preeti say goodbye and head out, pausing to thank Libby. She looks gorgeous tonight, wearing a dress that accentuates her curves and her cleavage, her hair and makeup perfectly done. Not to mention, she carries herself like a total boss. If I thought she was good at PR, it’s nothing compared to how she’s blossomed at the helm of Freedman Events—allowing herself full rein to be creative, to listen to and collaborate with her clients, creating an experience they’ll never forget.

The past ten months haven’t been easy, though. Dissolving our partnership was more challenging—and more painful—than we could have anticipated. We spent hours having difficult discussions that sometimes got heated or even tearful as we navigated our new dynamic and boundaries. But eventually, through lots of conversation and compromise, we figured out our new paths moving forward.

Selling the company (and all our office furniture) gave us each enough of a nest egg to set out on our own—a teeny, tiny, hummingbird-size nest egg. Just enough cushion to feel comfortable taking some risks. I started my own boutique PR agency for books, focusing on nonfiction and memoirs. I’m a one-woman show, which pushes me outside my comfort zone every day, but it also makes use of my strengths, and I can do it all from the comfort of my own home. Libby, on the other hand, has a gorgeous office space in Old Town with three full-time and five part-time employees (Great Scott was the first one she hired).

My thoughts are interrupted by the feeling of a familiar arm wrapping around my waist.

“You’re looking especially beautiful tonight, future wife,” Josh says in my ear.

I smile and lean against him. “Same to you, future husband.”

As Libby predicted, Iamengaged this summer, though not to the person she originally hoped. She’s warmed up to Josh, though, seeing how he treats me. The wedding will happen this fall; we want Josh’s mother to be able to participate before it’s too late. It’ll be a simple ceremony and an intimate reception—Libby will plan it, of course—followed by a honeymoon to Australia, with Josh finally showing me all the places he loved during his time there.

“I’m really proud of you,” Josh says, nodding to Serena and Preeti as they leave. “Both you and Libby.”

“Thanks,” I say, and give him a kiss.

I’m also proud of me and Josh, for choosing each other, day after day. He still loves working at the aquarium, but he’s also exploring positions at a few universities. With my new career, I can work from anywhere, but Josh hasn’t taken that for granted. We’re both full participants in all discussions of our future.

I glance over to see Adam sitting at a table in the corner, stroking his beard absently and watching Libby with a proud smile on his face. They took things slow at first, rebuilding trust while getting to know each other without any secrets between them. But it didn’t take long before they were head over heels for each other. She moved into his apartment last month.

And I know something Libby doesn’t: Adam has enlistedme to help plan an epic proposal in a few months, one that blows every romance novel out of the water. It’ll be way over-the-top and totally swoonworthy, just as Libby would like it.

•••

AN HOUR LATER,the venue is clean and everyone else has left; it’s just the four of us—Adam and Libby, Josh and me—sitting at a table overlooking the lake, sharing a bottle of champagne before calling it a night.

“I’d like to make a toast,” Adam says, raising his glass. “To my talented, smart, beautiful girlfriend, Libby, for planning this amazing event.”

“To Libby!” I say, raising my glass and smiling at my sister, who’s blushing with pride. “You outdid yourself.”

“And to Hannah,” Libby cuts in, “for getting me this gig, plus coordinating an incredible book tour for the authors we celebrated tonight.”

“Hear, hear,” Josh adds, smiling at me. “And to both Libby and Hannah for each taking a big risk this year.”

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