Page 57 of Unpredictable
She dug in her purse for her phone. “Not at all. He’s been encouraging me to spend more time with my friends now that Blair’s sleeping better at night.”
“I’m so glad.” My shoulders relaxed.
Just talking to Alexis about her family made me feel more at ease. I loved hearing about Sophia’s adventures and what baby Blair was learning and doing. Though, she wasn’t that much of a baby anymore. She was one now, and she was walking and babbling—such a happy little girl.
“I can’t believe she’s one,” Alexis said, echoing my thoughts. “One.”
“Where does the time go?” I asked, thinking as much about her girls’ lives as my own.
Two years had passed—at times, both fast and slow. Waiting to hear news of Ryan was agonizing, but during that time, my business had taken off. My clients, their events, had become my life.
Which was part of the problem. I had been so focused on my business, I hadn’t given myself any time to grieve and find myself again. But Harrison was helping with that, helping me realize that it was okay to respect the past while embracing the present.
“I don’t know,” she sighed. “My babies are growing up way too fast. The other day, Sophia came home and started baking cookies by herself.”
“That sounds pretty awesome.” I grinned, loving her daughter’s ambition. Sophia was sassy, smart, and so self-assured.
“It would be—if she hadn’t been making them for her boyfriend.” She cringed.
I laughed. “Oh my. I don’t envy you that. How did Preston take it?” I asked, knowing how protective her husband could be of his girls.
She laughed. “His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. But he handled it calmly. And after she told him why she liked the boy and what it meant to be boyfriend/girlfriend, he helped her make the cookies.”
I smiled, thinking of sweet Preston baking cookies with Sophia. “He’s such a good dad.”
Alexis smiled. Before I could ask what it meant to be someone’s girlfriend at the age of eight, she clapped her hands together. “Let’s do this!”
I flashed her a bright smile and clapped my hands together, mimicking her. “I’m so excited!”
Her brows pulled together. “I’m not sure if you’re being serious or sarcastic.”
I laughed. “More like, trying to psych myself up for the task. I once read an article that if you were dreading something, you should smile and say, ‘I’m so excited,’ even if you aren’t. Try to trick yourself.”
She laughed. “How’s that working out for you?”
“Enh.” I lifted a shoulder. “Not so well.”
She wrapped an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in for a hug. “I’m proud of you, Jules. I’m sure this isn’t easy. And not to compare in any way, but after I divorced Cal, moving out was hard. Necessary and a long time coming, but still hard.”
I nodded, appreciating her encouragement. “I was so proud of you for standing up for yourself. For doing what was best for you and Sophia.”
The corner of her mouth lifted, and the sadness that used to lurk in her eyes was no longer there. “Me too. And now it’s your turn.”
I glanced around, finally admitting that I was ready. I wanted to move forward. I wanted to reclaim my life and my happiness. And while I wasn’t naïve enough to think that selling my house and moving would solve all my problems, I knew it was a huge step in the right direction.
“Let’s start at the front,” Alexis said, interrupting my thoughts.
I followed her to the front door. She walked outside, down to the curb. She tilted her head as she assessed the exterior, and I waited anxiously to hear what she had to say.
“Front looks great. Maybe a fresh window cleaning and some pots by the door.”
I made notes on my phone. So far, not too bad. But it wasn’t the curb appeal that concerned me; it was the work that needed to be done on the inside. Because the exterior was gorgeous and inviting, but the inside was a wreck. Not that it was disorganized—more that I had a lot of emotional baggage to shed if I was going to leave this home. But I finally felt like I was up to the challenge.
We passed through the family room, and she paused by the windows overlooking the backyard. “This is a huge selling point. A tranquil oasis in the big city.”
Ryan and I had spent hours and poured a lot of sweat and money into the fountain, white lights, and patio. I’d dreamed of having our wedding here, surrounded by our closest family and friends. I let out a heavy sigh, thinking of how that would never happen. This backyard that had held so many hopes and dreams. But there would be no wedding, no lazy Sundays spent lounging on the outdoor bed, no children running across the grass barefoot. At least, not for me.
Alexis turned to me. “You okay?”
