of dogs might be available for adoption. Lucy is set on a puppy, and we frankly didn’t even know if they had those at shelters. We had a late lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, and we walked hand in hand along the canal, talking about old times.
It was a perfect day, and we made it home not long before Lucy was due to arrive on the bus.
I asked Jim to stay for dinner, but he declined and it shocked me at first.
“I don’t want to make things too confusing to Lucy,” he’d said, standing just inside the foyer and not willing to come in any farther. “She knows we’re trying, but I don’t want to get her hopes up when there’s still a chance they could get dashed.”
That was like a bucket of cold water being dumped on my head because he was right.
Jim had pulled me in close, then brushed his mouth against mine. “Until you commit a promise back to me, Ella—that you’re ready to give this a real try—we keep things a little cool around Lucy.”
I hated he was right.
And the message was clear. Jim would continue doing what he was doing. Still, until I made the decision to open myself up fully and trust in the man he had seemingly become to keep our marriage together, we couldn’t progress any further as a family.
A realization hits me hard, almost sucking the breath out of me. I inhale deeply, then blurt out, “I think I’m going to ask Jim to come back home.”
There’s silence around the table, all the women looking at me with wide eyes.
I nod effusively. “Yes, I think it’s time. It’s like Clarke said… if the reward is bigger than the risk, you gotta take it, right?”
I swivel toward Clarke, and she nods emphatically. “Right.”
There’s a chorus from the women, all with positive affirmations and delight I’ve seemingly made a huge decision while pouring out my whole story to them.
“When will you let him know?” Regan asks.
“Not tonight,” I say quickly. It’s game night and while Lucy and I are going to watch, we won’t be seeing Jim after. He’s leaving the next morning with the team for a game up in Seattle. They’ll be staying Sunday night and back Monday morning. “Jim said he wants to whisk me away for a little getaway on Monday when they get back since the team has a day and a half off. We’re not going anywhere really… just a day and night at the Ritz. A romantic overnight date. I’ll tell him then.”
“Do you need someone to watch Lucy?” Brooke asks. All the women nod, and some volunteer.
I shake my head, smiling at my new friends that all want to help me. “No, thanks. She’ll stay at a classmate’s house as it’s a school night, and they’re good with the puppy coming to stay.”
“Puppy?” Mollie exclaims. “You didn’t say anything about a puppy?”
I have to take a moment to explain to Mollie about the two-week foster program and how Jim and I are going to get Lucy a dog next week after we have to take Brody back. This starts a cacophony of questions about what type of dog, but the conversation eventually breaks up into pockets as the waitress comes around to take our food orders.
Nora leans over to nudge me. “You look very settled and happy.”
I tilt my head. “As opposed to…?”
“When you walked in,” she replies knowingly. It’s her job to read people, so I don’t question it. “You had some weight on your shoulders. It’s gone now that you’ve committed to starting over with Jim.”
“I feel it,” I murmur. “Feel it in my very bones that it’s the right thing to do.”
“I’m happy for you,” Nora returns. “Jim is a very lucky man.”
“And I’m a lucky woman.”
So incredibly lucky my husband is made of grit and determination, and he refused to let his marriage die.
CHAPTER 17
Steele
I put away the last of the laundry I had done—a skill I’ve become adept at over the previous six months since Ella always did ours—and check my watch. I’ve got another three hours before I need to be at Ella’s to pick her up for our little overnight getaway to the Ritz.
Just another brilliant idea I had to woo my wife back into my arms permanently, and because I’ve missed her like fucking crazy the last few days. She sent me a text about half an hour ago telling me how excited she was,