Page 51 of Soaring Free
“It really has been my pleasure, and I look forward to joining this fabulous book club you’ve told me about. I think we’re going to be great friends, and…” She pauses as she looks at her brother standing in the lobby. “Likely seeing a lot more of each other in a personal capacity. Take care.” Pippa leans in, gives me a brief hug, and nods at her brother before turning to walk back to her office.
Theo has a small smile on his face as he leans his head toward the door. “Can I escort you to your car, ma’am?”
I grin. “Yes, but only if you stop this ma’am crap. It makes me feel old coming from you.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we, miss?” Theo holds the door and walks me the entire twenty feet to my car. “I actually had something I wanted to ask you.”
“Oh? What’s that?” I open the passenger door and set the documents and my bag on the front seat before closing the door with my hip and turning back to face him.
“As much as I love our friendly Friday chats”—I laugh at that—“I would really like to take you on a proper date. So, what do you say, Savannah? Can I take you to dinner tomorrow night?”
I’m done worrying about what everyone else thinks about timelines and expectations. I played by the rules and did everything right—and I still ended up divorced with an ex-husband that discarded me like a box of takeout. He enjoyed it while it lasted but when he was over it—I was disposable to him.
I am not disposable.
And I refuse to let other people influence how I live my own damn life. Is it too fast? Some may think it is, but it looks like my give a damn is officially busted when it comes to what other people think about me and how I live my life. I want my life to be saturated with goodness, joy, and love—and I think there’s a real possibility that Theo and his playfulness could bring that into my life, and a lot of fun too.
“You know what, I would love to go on a date with you, Theo. Sounds perfect.”
I may have fancy dinner plans tomorrow with Theo, but I’m more than content with our makeshift pizza party that happened once The Cavalry heard the news of the divorce being finalized today. Pizza was a safe bet because Vivian has had serious cheese pizza cravings—nothing else on it—just plain cheese pizza. Our girls are inside with their uncles while Vivian and I sit out back with Daddy.
“Hey, Vivi. How are my youngest grandbabies treating you today?”
“They either have me starving like I’ve not eaten in months or extremely nauseous. There is no in between this week. It’s amazing how different I feel compared to last week, which is stressing Walker completely out.”
“Oh, I know all about that.” Daddy grins.
“What do you mean?” I ask him.
“Walker called me. He’s never been through this and thought I might have some experience in not being able to fix things for the love of your life who’s sick from carrying your baby.”
I smile. “You did have some experience with that, I suppose.” Daddy nods, he definitely has experience with that as Mama was sick every single pregnancy for at least the first trimester from what she once told me.
“Indeed, six times over and it never got easier.”
“That’s so sweet he called you. I didn’t know he did that,” Vivian wistfully says.
“We chat about once a week or so, depending on if he’s swamped with work.”
“You do?!” Vivian clearly was unaware of this weekly visit, and I can’t help but wonder…
“Daddy, can I ask you a question?” I don’t know that I really want to know the answer to this, but now that I’m curious, I can’t not ask it. He nods and I continue, “Did you ever talk to Shane on the phone?”
“Well, I’m sure I did at some point over the years, but we never had regular conversations like I’ve been having with Walker for the last five or six months. I’m sure Shane called me for specific reasons over the years, and I’m sure I called him too, but I can’t remember him ever calling just to check in. He was always respectful and cordial with me, but we never really figured out the friendship piece of our relationship, I guess.” Daddy hums. “And if that’s on me, I’m sorry, honey.”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t think it’s on you at all. I see how Walker is with the rest of The Cavalry and it’s just so different than how they were with Shane, but I don’t think it’s on them. I think it’s on Shane.”
Daddy shrugs. “I don’t think anyone ever meant to leave Shane out, but relationships, all kinds, take effort on both sides of the coin, you know?”
Yeah, and as I consider the possibility of a new relationship, I know that I won’t settle for someone not putting in the effort on their side of the coin. But I also suspect that Theo isn’t the type of man who would be afraid of going above and beyond.
Chapter thirty-one
“How long has it been since you went on a first date?” Theo’s question makes me pause and do the math.
Shane and I met a few years after I graduated college and started working in Nashville at a large marketing agency. “Now, why did you have to go and make me feel my age?” I wink in jest, but also … it’s been a long time since I’ve been on a first date. I play with the stem of my wine glass as I raise my eyes to meet his gaze. “My last first date was over fifteen years ago, so to say I’m out of practice feels like an understatement.” The low ambient lighting allows the candlelight to dance across his handsome face—lucky shadows. Luigi’s is the only Italian restaurant in town, and while we could have gone to a fancy restaurant in Nashville, I love that he suggested having dinner here for our first date.
Theo hums in response. “With the grace and poise a woman like you has, I don’t think practice has anything to do with it, nor is it necessary. In fact, I’d discourage further practice.”
