by Francis Ray
“Granddaddy.” Crying, she went into his arms. “I couldn’t have made it without you.” Applause sounded and she lifted her head, brushing away tears. She had real, lasting friends who saw you at your worst and loved you anyway. She’d been truly blessed. “Thank you.”
“This calls for a toast,” Nettie said.
“Before we do, there is something I have to say.” Ryan crossed to her and took her hands in his. “I realized something when I wanted to knock out your stepfather’s gold teeth.”
“Yes?”
“I want to be around to protect you, to laugh with you, for you to keep me in line.”
Her entire body began to shake. Hope blossomed in her before she could stop it.
“I love you. Will you marry me?”
Traci wasn’t sure if the gasp came from her or one of the women standing around her. Probably not her, because she couldn’t make a sound as she stared up into Ryan’s eyes.
“Traci, girl, you’d better say yes, or else I might have to get my shotgun out of the truck.”
“He’d do it, too, but he won’t have to, will he, honey?” Ryan kissed the knuckles of both her hands. “Say yes.”
“Yes. Yes!” She launched herself into his arms. He caught her weight without a stagger or even a grunt. He was definitely the man for her. Lasting love was possible. Ryan would never have to beg.
Laughing, Ryan swung her around, then set her on her feet. “You made me a happy man.”
“I’m so happy for you.” Maureen, with tears in her eyes, threw her arms around both of them.
Traci promised herself, as she was passed from one Invincible to the other, that somehow she’d help Maureen find her own happiness.
Maureen wasn’t in a partying mood, but that didn’t seem to matter to anyone.
“This is going to be so much fun,” Nettie said from beside Maureen in the front seat of her Beamer.
“I haven’t been to the beach in years,” Ezekiel commented from beside Nettie. “Thanks for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome.” Maureen took the turn to her house on the Isle of Palm. She was sure Nettie, not the beach, was what drew Ezekiel. In the two weeks since Ryan and Traci’s engagement, he’d flown home twice to check on his place for a couple of days, then flown back. If Nettie needed to go anyplace, Ezekiel was there for her.
“Ryan and Traci are already here,” Ophelia said.
“They make such a handsome couple,” Donna said.
“I can’t believe she’s asked us to help her find the perfect wedding gown.” Betsy sniffed. “I always cry at weddings.”
“Me too,” Ophelia admitted.
Maureen said nothing. The lump in her throat wouldn’t let her. With all the talk about Traci and Ryan’s wedding she was reminded, sometimes on an hourly basis, of Simon’s proposal and how miserable she was without him. She’d lost count of the number of times Traci or one of the Invincibles, with just a look, said she didn’t have to be.
What kept her awake at night was knowing Simon was just as miserable as she. Had she made the right decision or the worst mistake of her life? Love meant trust. Traci had made the giant leap of faith with Ryan. Maureen founded the Invincible Sisterhood for women who overcame, women who were brave enough to face fears and heartaches and come out the other side better. She didn’t run from problems. At least, she hadn’t in the past.
Deep in thought, she parked in front of the house behind Ryan’s car. Lights blazed from the front windows. “We’re here.” And she wanted to turn the car around and go find Simon, talk to him, have him hold her, hold him.
“Ladies, you go on inside. I’ll get the luggage.” Ezekiel helped Nettie out of the car, then went to the opened trunk.
“We can help.” Maureen slipped her keys into her purse. “We’re used to bringing in our own luggage.”
“I wasn’t here then. Shoo.” Ezekiel reached for a midsize suitcase.
“Come on, Maureen.” Nettie took one arm, and turned toward the three wooden steps.
Ophelia took Maureen’s other arm. “I can make us a pitcher of apple martinis.”
“I don’t think I want one,” Maureen mumbled.
“I think we know what you need,” Betsy said.
“We sure do,” Donna added, opening the front door.
“Simon,” Maureen whispered his name, felt the never-ending ache of missing him.
“Hello, Maureen.”
She lifted her head sharply, then blinked. Simon couldn’t be here in her beachfront cabin.
“Consider him an early birthday present.”
Traci stepped into her line of vision; Ryan was next to her. She tugged Maureen’s purse from her and removed the set of keys, then gave the purse back to her. “We’ll be back in the morning. We’re at the hotel if you need us, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Ryan stopped when he was even with her. “Go for it, Mother.”
“Good advice,” all the other Invincibles told her. “Make the most of a second chance.”
The door closed. Maureen heard the symbolic click of the lock, swallowed hard. Simon looked so strong and handsome, but he had yet to smile at her. “I-I didn’t know anything about this.”
“I can’t say the same.” He came to her. “When Traci asked me if I wanted a second chance to get my foot out of my mouth, I jumped at the chance.”
“You were so angry,” she said.
“And wrong.” He drew her gently into his arms. “I shouldn’t have given you an ultimatum.”
“I refused because I love you.”
His hand lifted her head. “That’s the second time you’ve said that, and I haven’t been looking at you. Please. Say it again.”
Her hands covered his. “I love you.”
With incredible tenderness his lips brushed across hers. “I love you. I don’t want to live another day without having you be a part of it.”
The words went straight to her heart, banishing any lingering doubts. She stared up into Simon’s strong, beloved face and wondered how she could ever have been unsure. No matter what, Simon would always be there for her just as she would always be there for him. The strength of their love, not their ages, was what mattered. Fear caused her to forget that one irrefutable fact. Never again. “I feel the same way, she finally said, taking the leap and finding it one of the easiest things she had ever done.
“I’ll take you any way I can.”
“You mean that?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
“Yes.” His steady, adoring gaze never left hers.
“That’s good because, if the offer still stands, I accept your proposal,” she said, her voice shaky, tears glistening in her eyes. “I was thinking of driving back to Charleston to find you.”
His eyes filled with warmth and unending love. “I’m here and I always will be for you.”
Her trembling fingers grazed his lower lip. “I finally figured that out.”
His head lowered, his hungry mouth finding hers, kissing her until both were breathless and needy. “When?”
She laughed with happiness. Her hands on his wide shoulders, she kissed him back. “Soon.”
He swung her up into his arms. “I’ll always love you, Maureen.”
“I know. We’re one of the lucky couples.”
“That we are,” he said, taking her to bed to prove it in the best possible way.
A Reading Group Guide
Has anyone ever asked you out and you thought, Not even if you begged? Did you remain firm or did you later go out with the person? What happened?
Traci let her deceased husband influence her attitude about men. How do you get over a bad relationship and open your heart to love again?
Maureen wanted the deep bond of love again, but thought she was too old for Simon. Can you be “too old” to want love and companionship? Why or why not?
Simon was ten years younger than Maureen. Should age matter in a relationship? Does it matter if the man or woman is
younger/older?
Traci was confident about her full figure until a teasing word caused her to doubt herself. Why is it that a man can make a woman second-guess herself?
Maureen and Traci had an argument that almost cost them their friendship when Maureen said things that Traci told her in confidence. Has a friend ever betrayed you? Answer this silently. Did you lose your friend?
Ryan didn’t react very well to his mother dating. Why is it that males are often overprotective of their mothers? Are they being selfish or are they just concerned?
Although Elisa was mentally ill, how difficult is it to get over being in love with someone when they don’t love you back? How do you move on?
Ryan and Simon didn’t give up on trying to get Traci and Maureen to go out with them. How persistent should a man be if a woman says no the first time? Have you ever said no and regretted it later? Have you ever said no so as not to seem too anxious? What was the outcome?
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