Page 33 of Best Kept Vows

He stepped closer, reaching out to briefly squeeze my hand. The touch was gentle, almost tentative—so unlike Sebastian. “Have a great first day.”

I nodded, still wary. “I’ll try.”

I left, feeling off-kilter.

Sebastian’s sudden kindness unsettled me more than our usual arguments.

As I drove toward downtown Savannah, my mind raced, replaying his words, trying not to analyze his intentions. I couldn’t afford to fall into old habits again—I couldn’t let myself disappear so he could be the man of the house.

Pulling into Savannah Lace’s parking lot, I took a deep breath to steady myself, forcing Sebastian out of my mind. My first day at a job deserved my full attention.

Rachel led me to my desk, which was in the center of the open office area where several employees worked. Surrounding this space were private offices occupied by managers and team leaders, creating a layout that balanced collaboration with designated leadership spaces.

Luna brought me a cup of coffee and leaned against my desk. “I hope you take it with a little milk.”

“I do. Thank you.”

“We’re diving straight into the hospital bid today. Ready?”

Was I?

“Yes.” I had no reason to be nervous. I worked hard for my MBA and acquired knowledge andsomeskills. I could do this.

Luna walked me to a conference room that looked more like a design studio. It was spacious, flooded with natural light, and filled with drafting tables, architectural models, and design plans pinned across every surface.

She introduced me to the rest of the team working on the hospital project: Evan Beard, the lead structural engineer, who specialized in integrating cutting-edge materials into healthcare design; Izabel Mar, our project coordinator, ensuring timelines, permits, and compliance were on track; and Jasper Wolf, the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineer, who would make sure the hospital’s systems ran efficiently and met sustainability standards.

“And, of course, you’ve met Stella,” Luna added, nodding toward the landscape architect in charge of designing the hospital’s healing gardens and outdoor spaces.

They greeted me warmly and walked me through the blueprints and renderings, explaining the hospital’s layout, critical zones, accessibility codes, and the intricate details of creating patient-friendly spaces.

As the day progressed, I realized how seamlessly they worked together—bouncing ideas off each other, debating construction methods, and ensuring the hospital’s design was as functional as it was innovative.

Luna was brilliant, and I admired how effortlessly she balanced creativity with technical requirements. Everyone spoke to me as an equal, not an intern, and it felt incredible. No one was treating me like the poor schmuck who had to bring coffee and snacks for everyone—no, they included me in their conversations and asked for my input (not that I had a lot to give).

It was my first day at work, and I knew I was addicted to it—to contributing, to workingwithpeople toward a common goal. I’d spent my life taking care of the house and raising our children, but they were gone, and honestly, I didn’t have much to do. I’d figured that out after Tristan left and I saw how much of her own life Ada was living. They weren’t babies—they were on their own, and that made me think about what I wanted for myself.

After the introduction, Luna took me to her office for a one-on-one meeting. “We’ll have these once a week. I’ll make sure they’re on your calendar. This is time forusto talk about what you need and how I can help you.”

Since this was my first job and I didn’t know much about the inner workings of companies, I had expected myboss to be…well, bossy, even though the drinks the previous evening had told me that things wouldn’t entirely be as I’d seen on television. And they weren’t. Luna was asking me how she could helpme, not the other way around.

“You’ll need to familiarize yourself with healthcare codes,” Luna told me. “Especially ADA regulations, NFPA guidelines, and Savannah’s historic district restrictions. It’s a juggling act, but that’s what makes these projects challengingandrewarding.”

“Got it.” I took notes, feeling a rush of excitement. “Anything else?”

“Yes.” She grinned, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Relax. It’s your first day; you have time to learn.”

The day passed quickly. I helped Luna review the presentation for the hospital bid, learned the nuances of patient flow diagrams, and soaked in conversations about structural integrity, ADA compliance, and therapeutic garden design. It felt incredible to be doing meaningful work surrounded by strong, talented women who supported each other.

By the time evening arrived, my mind was buzzing pleasantly, exhausted but exhilarated. I drove home, smiling uncontrollably the entire way, feeling proud, purposeful, and fulfilled in a way I hadn’t experienced in years.

I was stepping into a new and thrilling chapter—and for the first time, it was entirely mine.

When I got home, Sebastian wasn’t there. I opened the fridge and looked inside, wondering what to cook, when my phone beeped.

Sebastian:I made reservations to celebrate your first day at work.

I read the message once, then twice, and then a third time. Was I in a coma, and this was all happening in my head?

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