Page 32 of Letting Go
“Hey Kim, what’s up?” I stand to meet her.
“Well, this is a first, but I have a special delivery for you and Miss MK. A friend of yours called in and asked to order whatever y’all typically get and then a lemonade for each of your kids.” Kim’s grin tells me that this juicy gossip will be around town before lunchtime.
“And who would this benevolent friend be, hmmm?” MK pipes in.
“The order was from a Walker Bennett, and he insisted on tipping me very generously to walk the whole two blocks over and hand-deliver them to y’all.” Kim hands the drink carriers over and waves before heading back to the coffee shop.
“Well, I’ll be damned. That sure is a nice friend you’ve got, honey. I like this friend for you.” MK bumps my shoulder with a wink as I blush at Walker’s thoughtful gesture. “I know caffeine is the way to this mama’s heart, just don’t tell my husband another man bought me coffee.” We laugh but there’s truth in her statement—Drew is territorial when it comes to MK, but I know she loves it. We visit a bit longer while enjoying the hand-delivered beverages and I can’t fight the smile on my face.
“Alright baby, let’s say goodbye to our friends and then we can stop by Papa’s place to say hey,” I call out to Eloise. She says goodbye to MK’s kids as I give my friend a hug.
MK squeezes me a little tighter before letting me go. “I know life feels messy right now, but you’re doing a great job, Viv. You know that, right? Even if things are complicated and hard, you’re a great mama. Anytime you need to be reminded of that, you let me know,” MK says with a wink.
“Thanks, MK. You’re the best.” I mean it, she really is the best friend I could ask for and I’m so grateful for her.
“And Viv, as your friend, I must forbid you from joining that stuffy old Women’s Society. What a boring group of ol’ heifers who want to complain about everything that’s wrong with our beautiful town!” MK declares and I laugh in response. “Also, her husband and son are both lawyers. Why does she need you to look at her legal stuff for the nonprofit? If anything, someone in their firm could help her, I’m sure.”
“I thought the same thing. I think she just wants a reason to connect with me again, I know she always liked me. I remember when Marcie Claire used to have tea with Mama. Not that she ever really wanted to go, but Mama always accepted the invitation like a lady.”
“Well, she probably misses you when compared to Chloe. Did I tell you we had to have a double date with them last week? Oh, Viv, it was awful. I think she really might be part witch,” MK jokes. “I know Drew and Chase are best friends, but I cannot stand that girl.” MK rolls her eyes. “I guess she has to put up with Marcie Claire but still!”
“I’m thankful I can say that Marcie Claire never was, nor will ever be, my mother-in-law.” I joke. “Small mercies and all of that.”
“Small mercies, indeed!” MK declares and gives Eloise a high five followed by a hug. “Call me later, okay?”
I agree and give MK a hug goodbye before clicking Eloise into her car seat. “Ready to go, baby?” I ask Eloise as I get in the front of the car.
Eloise gives me two thumbs up. “Yes, ma’am. Hey Mama, do you know what?”
“What’s that, baby?”
“I love you in my heart,” she tells me, stealing my breath with how sweet my girl is to me.
“I love you in my heart too.” I fight the tears that try to escape. “So much baby, so much.”
Chapter fourteen
Vivian
I grab Eloise’s backpack and help her slide it on. While I shut her car door with my hip, a text comes through.
Walker
Morning, Viv. I hope Eloise has the best first day and you get to enjoy some time to yourself. Let me know how it goes.
Smiling at his thoughtfulness, I turn my attention back to my sweet girl. “Are you ready, baby?” We took her first day of school photos in front of the guest house and Eloise looks adorable in her little navy and white plaid jumper uniform. She picked out the hot pink bow for her ponytail and it looks adorable in her blonde hair. Of course, my baby needed to have some pink on her first day.
“Yes, Mama. It’s a good day to have a great day!” Eloise repeats my daddy’s favorite saying and I know it’s helping her mask her nerves a bit. Although unlike her papa, Eloise likes to add a booty shake in for good measure, which always makes both of us giggle.
“Let’s do this, baby.” I take her hand in mine, and we walk across the parking lot to Forrest Hills Academy. It's comforting to know Eloise will attend a great school, just like my siblings and I did. Most of the residents in town choose to send their children hereas it’s the only option in Forrest Falls. If they don’t, their children are bussed to a neighboring town to attend the local public school.
As we walk through the crowds of families, I recognize most of the faces and say hello to a few of them. I step around a family and my eyes snap up to a ridiculously good-looking stranger. He has a perfect smile and is oozing BDE in his gray joggers and tight white T-shirt. Mr. Hot Jogger lifts his eyes, and we briefly make eye contact. He lifts his head in acknowledgment with a dazzling smile, and I feel myself blush a little, deciding maybe early morning drop offs won’t be so hard after all. And while I can appreciate eye candy and Hot Jogger is extremely good looking, he falls short when compared to a certain Special Agent Man.
Eloise had a wonderful first day at preschool and made two new best friends. I love hearing that she had a great first day, and Eloise establishing friendships will make so many things easier in this new chapter of our lives.
We quickly fall into a routine with her school mornings providing a gentle structure that we both appreciate. When I see a few of the children still crying weeks later at every drop-off, I’m thankful Eloise hasn’t shed a single tear and loves her teacher.
Hot Jogger and I cross paths at drop off, and he must be a runner or athlete of some kind because he has an incredible ass that should be a crime with how good it looks. He always smiles, and I’ve noticed him checking me out a few times, but I never linger. Although, after everything I’ve gone through this year, it’s nice to feel pretty enough to have a good-looking guy notice.
