The Young Wives Club

by Julie Pennell

  “George, thank you for understanding. Going off with Cash was something I thought I needed to do.” Her mind flashed back to Cash, and how dismissive he’d been. She frowned. “But you’re right. When I was there, I realized it wasn’t what I wanted or needed in my life.” She sat back against the swing. “This whole thing with my dad—it made me realize that I wanted someone who would be there by my side through everything. When I’m looking back on my life, I want it to be filled with laughter and adventure—not tears and drama.”

  George put his arm around her and rubbed her shoulder. She leaned into his touch.

  “What I’m trying to say is . . . I think that person is you.” She took a deep breath. “If you would give me another chance, I’d like us to start over again and see if there’s something real here.”

  He looked deep into her eyes, pulled her close, and kissed her. It felt surprisingly natural being in his arms. And for the first time, Madison felt genuine love for George—not because of his money, but because of the person he was . . . and who she was when she was with him.

  47

  laura

  AS LAURA WALKED into Claire’s tidy, sunlit kitchen, she was greeted by a cooing Sadie and a table full of pancakes.

  “Happy last day of school!” Claire said, wiping off Sadie’s face. Sadie and her high chair were both covered in blackberry applesauce. “Come join us! I made you breakfast.” Claire pointed to the pancake plate on the table.

  Laura couldn’t believe this day was actually here—that she was actually graduating high school. She felt a strange sense of déjà vu. A year ago, she’d experienced what she thought was her last day of high school, and she’d been so proud to be leaving Toulouse behind. But one year later, everything had changed. Now she was just happy to have her diploma and her future—whatever it held—ahead of her.

  She pulled out a chair, the scent of deliciously browned batter welcoming her as she sat. “Ooh, chocolate chip! My favorite. And you made ’em into a smiley face . . . that’s how my mom used to do it.” She grinned up at Claire, touched by the effort. “Thank you so much.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  Laura poured syrup over the pancakes. “You’ve been so wonderful to let me stay here.” After she’d left Brian that night at Mossy Pointe, she’d packed up her things at Rob and Janet’s and moved into Claire and Gavin’s guest bedroom . . . although Gavin was no longer there. He’d been staying with his parents while he and Claire met once a week for counseling. She hated having to impose on her friend, especially when Claire was going through her own problems, but being together had helped them both get through these past few weeks.

  She took a bite of the fluffy pancakes, thinking about how lucky she was to have such supportive friends. Her emotions had been in a constant flip-flop since leaving Brian. Sometimes she’d feel thankful that it had happened the way it did, that Brian was the one who clearly messed up and betrayed her. In a weird way, she felt like it gave her permission to break up with him, even though she was already unhappy in the relationship. But then other times, she would start crying as she mourned the good parts of their marriage, from the seemingly insignificant stuff like how comfortable she was singing music in the car with him, to the more significant things, like how he was the only guy she had ever loved.

  “So, have you decided what you’re gonna do after you graduate?” Claire asked, taking a handful of Cheerios and feeding them to Sadie.

  Laura shook her head. With the stress of the breakup, making up all of her schoolwork so she could graduate on time, and taking on some extra shifts at the Sea Shack, she hadn’t had a chance to sit down and actually plan her new future. After she graduated, she’d probably head to Arlington to live with her parents . . . but after that, she had no idea. Not having everything planned out was scary and exhilarating at the same time.

  Claire stood up and put the dirty dishes in the sink. “Well, just know that you can stay here for as long as you need to while you figure it out.”

  “I appreciate it, Claire—I appreciate everything. I don’t know what I would’ve done without you and your hospitality.”

  “Love you! We’re so proud of you.” Claire turned to her baby. “Isn’t that right, Sadie?” The little girl giggled and nodded her curly blond head.

  As Laura headed off to school, she realized that she was proud of herself, too.

  • • •

  “CHEERS!” LAURA AND Vince sat outside of Sal’s Sno-Cones, a tiny shed on Dupont Road that sold fifty different flavors of shaved ice. They had snuck away during their lunch hour and managed to snag the last available table outside, which happened to be right next to the speakers that were blaring Cajun music.

  “I’m glad we’re doing this,” Vince said, cracking a smile. He bit into his cone. True to their argument all those months ago, he’d gotten root beer, but Laura had decided to go with a wildcard: blue moon.

  “Me, too,” she said, trying not to feel guilty. Since Brian’s surgery, Laura had neglected her friendship with Vince—not answering his texts, declining his offers to study, and studying in the library during lunch to avoid having to talk to him. “I’m sorry I’ve been so MIA recently.”

  Vince set his sno-cone down, his hazel eyes widening. “Listen, you don’t have to apologize. I understand why we stopped hanging out. You know, I’m not married, but I could see where it would be weird to make new friends of the opposite sex.” He blushed and adjusted his blue Duke baseball hat. “And as much as I liked hanging out with you, I don’t wanna make things complicated in your relationship.”

  Laura took a deep breath, shifting on the wooden bench. “Vince, I left Brian a couple of weeks ago,” she quietly admitted.

  Too quietly, apparently, because he cupped his ear and said, “What was that?”

  Laura cleared her throat. “I left Brian,” she said more loudly, practically shouting. She glanced around the packed outdoor area, afraid that someone from school was around and had overheard—so far she’d only told her parents and her closest friends.

  Vince’s mouth dropped open and he leaned across the table, lightly touching her arm. Laura felt a spark of heat at his touch. “I’m so sorry,” he said.

  “That’s why I’ve been so weird,” Laura continued. “I’ve just been doing a lot of reflecting. I won’t get into everything, but I really wanted to thank you.”

  Vince gave her a confused look.

  Laura shyly tucked her hair behind her ears. “I feel like you pushed me this year. You made me feel smart, like I wasn’t just this dumb girl who lived in the shadows of her husband.”

  “But you are smart,” Vince said incredulously. “And you know that.”

  “It’s always good to be reminded.” She shrugged, feeling her face turning red. “Anyway . . . you’ve been amazing this year, and I’m excited about your future.”

  “You know, you’re not the only one who got something out of this,” Vince said.

  Laura glanced back up, and they locked eyes. Her stomach flipped.

  “Thanks for making me feel welcome here,” he said with a chuckle. “It was hard coming into a new school for my senior year—especially such a small, insular school—but you made everything feel easy.”

  They grinned at each other for a moment. Laura wondered what high school would have been like if she’d fallen for someone like Vince instead of Brian, someone who encouraged her to seek her own spotlight, though maybe the better question was who she would have been if she’d focused on herself instead of on a boyfriend. But she couldn’t dwell on questions like that. She couldn’t change her past, and as hard as this year had been, she’d come out the other side and she felt good about where she’d landed.

  “I hope we can keep in touch after graduation,” Vince said. “I’d love to hang out this summer.” He looked down, his cheeks reddening slightly. “And I know you and Brian just broke up, but maybe—when you’re ready—I could take you on a date sometime.”

  Lau
ra’s heart fluttered. “Definitely,” she said with a smile. “I’d love that.”

  • • •

  THEY GOT BACK to campus with five minutes left before lunch was over, and Laura used that time to stop by the guidance counselor’s office.

  “Well, hello, m’dear!” Mrs. Walker said as Laura entered her office. “What can I do ya for?”

  Laura sat down in one of the scratchy chairs in front of Mrs. Walker’s desk. “I wanted to talk about college.”

  Mrs. Walker’s eyes lit with excitement. “Oh, have you decided to apply to LSU? I heard that Brian was headed back—such a great idea to join him in school.” She opened up her drawer, pulling out a brochure and sliding it across the desk to Laura.

  Laura stared at it for a second and then gulped. “Um, actually, I was thinking somewhere else.”

  Mrs. Walker stared at her in silence for a moment, as if digesting the implications of that statement, and then clapped her hands together. “All right, sweetheart. Now, most college application deadlines have passed for a fall start, but with your grades, you can get into just about anywhere you want for spring semester. So where are you thinking?” She pulled out some more brochures from her desk drawer. “University of New Orleans, University of Lafayette, Louisiana Tech . . .” She spread the pamphlets out on the paper-covered desk. “What’s your dream school?”

  Laura paused. She didn’t have a definite answer. “Somewhere far away from here.”

  Mrs. Walker nodded and put together a stack of folders on various schools. Finally, she handed them to Laura—they weighed about as much as her history textbook.

  “We can go over these anytime you want. I know it’s summer, but send me an email and we can set up an appointment,” Mrs. Walker said.

  “Thank you,” Laura said, standing to leave. Before she headed out the door, she looked at Mrs. Walker again. “I’ll make you proud.” And as cheesy as that sounded, she was finally ready to make that happen.

  As the school bell rang and Laura went back into the hall, she looked down at the informational booklets Mrs. Walker had given her. There were so many options, so many possibilities.

  Laura grinned, and her smile only grew bigger as she met up with Vince, who’d waited to walk her to her next class.

  “It’s so weird that this is almost over,” Vince said, sounding nostalgic.

  Laura glanced around the halls, at all her excited peers. “I don’t know,” she said. “It feels like everything is just beginning.”

  48

  gabrielle

  “WHAT’S GOING ON?” Gabby asked as Claire, Madison, and Laura sat her down on Claire’s beige couch. Sadie was staying with Gavin so Claire could host Gabby’s last night as a single lady. “Why do you guys look like you’re up to something?”

  “It’s a slumber party—we have to watch a movie, duh,” Madison said casually, braiding her hair on one side. The girls were wearing matching pink short-sleeve silk pajama sets, compliments of Claire.

  “Okay, popcorn’s ready,” Claire announced from the kitchen, pouring it into a mixing bowl. The scent filled the room as she brought it to the coffee table.

  “So, what are we watching?” Gabby asked, throwing a piece of buttery popcorn into her mouth. The other girls stood giggling in front of the flat-screen TV. “What in the world are y’all up to?”

  “We couldn’t agree on a movie to watch,” Laura said, throwing the other girls a conspiratorial grin, “so we decided to make one.”

  Gabby put her hand over her mouth. “Oh. My. God.” Her stomach flipped with excitement.

  “Please turn off all cell phones . . .” Madison said, funneling her voice with her hand.

  “And enjoy the show!” Claire finished, pressing a button on the remote control. The overhead lights dimmed, and the girls plopped back on the couch with Gabby, scooping handfuls of popcorn as the film began.

  A title card appeared:

  THE YOUNG WIVES CLUB

  Gabby wiggled her feet in front of her with happiness. “You guys!” she shouted as the first scene began.

  It opened with the three girls sitting outside in Claire’s backyard, looking into the camera as they huddled close to one another.

  Madison spoke first: “So, one of our best friends is getting married tomorrow.”

  “And we’re really happy for her,” Laura said.

  “But we can’t let her do it without first sharing our advice,” Claire added. They giggled, their heads pressed close together.

  It cut to Claire in her home office, the one that the girls had helped her redecorate a few weeks ago. Since Claire had separated from Gavin and left her job at the church, she was now working from home on her own projects. She was finishing up the ebook she had been writing for Gavin and planned to publish it that fall—under her own name.

  On-screen, she sat in her desk chair and smoothed the lapels of her black blazer. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail.

  “Hottie alert!” Gabby yelled out. “Ow ow!” The girls laughed.

  On-screen, Claire’s blue eyes focused in on the camera as she began her confessional. “My dearest Gabs,” she said. “I want you to know how happy I am for you. I know things with Tony had a rocky, unconventional start, but isn’t that how all the greatest love stories begin?” She winked. “I’ve known you for most of my life, and your eyes have never lit up quite like they do when you talk about him. I remember playing fairy-tale games with you when we were little—you always did believe in them—and I’m so happy that you finally found your prince.”

  On the couch, Gabby reached over and squeezed Claire’s hand.

  “But just like a knight wears shining armor to protect himself, I want to arm you with advice that will hopefully prepare you for what’s to come.” She took a deep breath and leaned forward on the desk. “Gabs, marriage isn’t easy, and anyone who tells you that is a liar. No one is perfect—not you, not him—and the more you live together, the more you’ll realize that.”

  Gabby nodded in agreement. She knew she sometimes put Tony on a pedestal—especially when they first started dating. She was so focused on being good enough for him that she wasn’t able to be herself, which ultimately led to their downfall. Instead of focusing so much on either of their mistakes and flaws, she knew she needed to spend that energy nourishing their relationship.

  Claire continued. “The bottom line is that marriage takes work on both sides, and you both have to be willing to make sacrifices.” She paused. “That being said, you shouldn’t have to make too many. Put yourself first . . . be selfish sometimes. You should never feel guilty about doing things for you. When you love yourself, it’ll be so much easier for you to love someone else.” She flashed a soft smile. “I love you so much, and hope you have a lifetime of happiness.” She blew a kiss into the camera.

  Gabby smiled. “I love you, too, Claire. That’s great advice.” She leaned her head on her friend’s shoulder.

  Claire squeezed her hand as they watched the next scene unfold.

  “Hey, Gabby,” Laura said, waving as she sat in front of the camera at her new desk job. After graduation two months ago, she’d moved to Arlington to be with her parents and got a position at a local insurance agent’s office, a temporary gig until she could start college in the spring. “So, first off, congratulations on your big day. I’m so happy for you. Now, I’m supposed to give my advice.” She scrunched her nose. “As someone going through a divorce, boy have I got some tidbits for you!” she said sarcastically. “But really, I learned quite a bit from my marriage and hope you can benefit from my mistakes. Number one, don’t ever live with your in-laws, however desperate you might be . . . but I don’t think that’s gonna be a problem, considering Tony hates his dad as much as you do.” Laura smirked.

  “Ha!” Gabby laughed. Tony’s relationship with Mr. Ford was definitely still strained, but thanks to some intervention from Mrs. Ford, they were slowly working things out. And though Gabby was skeptical that she’d
ever have a great relationship with the congressman, she did have her mom back thanks to him, so there was a part of her that was grateful for everything they’d gone through. Besides, if she learned anything from her experience with Tony, it was that everyone deserved a second chance. But Laura was right: no moving in with Mr. Ford—or any parents, for that matter.

  Laura continued. “Number two, keep a separate savings account just for you. Someone gave me great advice before: have enough money in there so that if you have to leave, you can. I hope that you never have to use it, but just have it there, and you won’t ever feel trapped.”

  “I have to get some savings first,” Gabby said, thinking about how empty her account was. Her goal this year, though, was to keep applying for scholarships and save up enough money for tuition by next fall.

  “And number three—this is the big one, okay?” Laura said on the screen, with an even more serious tone. “Remember that you are not Mrs. Tony Ford, and you will never be Mrs. Tony Ford. You are Mrs. Gabrielle Vaughn who happens to be married to Mr. Tony Ford. Do not let yourself get lost in this marriage, and don’t forget to follow your own dreams.”

  “Hell yes!” Madison shouted in the living room, giving Laura a high five. The girls all laughed.

  Gabby looked over at her friend and smiled. She had always seen a lot of herself in Laura—so much ambition but sometimes a lack of confidence. She felt like they were both probably going through similar changes right now, not only with their relationships but also with getting their personal lives and goals back on track.

  Back on the video, Laura said her final wishes. “I hope that this marriage is everything that you hope it will be and more. You deserve nothing but the best. Love you, Gabs!” She waved good-bye.

  “You guys, I can’t take this! This is the sweetest thing ever,” Gabby said in between scenes.