Page 93 of Soaring Free
She can be, but I don’t think it’s a competition. We absolutely have room for another kick-ass woman with good taste in our book club.
Vivian
Absolutely.
Pippa
I’ll co-sign that!
Lauren
Always!
Harlow
Just because Savannah invites Sophia into the group doesn’t dim the sparkle that is all you, Stacy.
Stacy
Yeah, ok. I’m good with that. I am quite sparkly.
Willa
lol this is what we get for having a shrink in our book club.
Harlow
You’re welcome.
Stacy
But no other additions without a full vote, Savannah!
Me
You got it. I can’t wait to see you all next week. Or in Stacy’s case, this afternoon when she meanders through our back gate.
To someone else, Stacy’s abrasive love could be too much, but I adore her quick wit and fiercely loyal heart. Although she may have a point, our book club is probably full at this point, at least for now.
There’s a lot of work to do to heal, but like our book club, my heart is full, and I am incredibly grateful for thepeople in my life. I’m privileged to have the honor of experiencing life with such wonderful people. I thought I knew what gratitude was before all of this, but I didn’t fully grasp it, not until it was almost all taken away from me. I might be a little damaged from everything, but I’m not broken. Kyle didn’t break me, he doesn’t get to have that right or control, and I know I will get to the other side of all of this. As though he is reading my thoughts, Theo reaches over, squeezes my thigh, and gives me a little smirk.
Yeah, we’re going to get our happily ever after—and it’s going to be so damn good, so long as we are together.
Chapter sixty-one
“Daddy, does she know?” I shake my head to Gigi’s hushed question and try to appear very focused on my pizza creation. It will be a small miracle if one of the girls doesn’t blurt out what’s happening tonight, but it was a gamble I was willing to take.
Despite how much I adore and love Savannah, we both know that it’s not only about the two of us, so when I knew I was going to propose to her, I wanted the girls to all be involved. I also not only asked for Murphy’s blessing to propose to Savannah, but I also asked her daughters’ blessing, along with Gigi’s approval. We have been talking more about things as a family of six, especially as we finalize plans for the house we’re going to build together in the spring.
Shane and I will never be best friends, but he sees how much I care about Savannah and their girls, and I think that he has given as much approval as possible considering everything.
“Mama, I need more cheese!” Lucy squeals with delight.
“Baby, if you put any more cheese on that pizza, you will have some cheese with a side of crust instead of an actual pizza,” Savannah says as she hands her a bowl of shredded cheese.
“It’s a risk I’m willing to take, Mama Mia!” Lucy proclaims in a terrible impersonation of an Italian accent, topped off by blowing a chef’s kiss to her mother.
Olivia subtlety takes the bowl of mini pepperonis and walks out to the pizza oven while Gigi and Emily distract Savannah. As she walks back into my kitchen, Olivia winks to let me know everything is in place.
