When Girlfriends Let Go

by Savannah Page

  “A little?”

  “Hey, come on.” I crack a thin smile. “I’m a work-in-progress. You can’t expect me to pull a Jekyll and Hyde here.”

  “We both can’t turn around just like that, but we can try. A little bit here, a little bit there.”

  I nod slowly. “I suppose I can be more…more…”

  Our eyes meet, and what was once a thin smile on my lips is now growing broader. I can feel my cheeks redden with excitement and nervous energy as my husband and I share that connection—that shared passion and love for each other—with a single heartfelt and mesmerizing gaze into each other’s eyes.

  “I will be more understanding of your work,” I say. “But now!” I shake my shoulders and hold my head high in pride. “Now I’m also a business person.”

  Andrew laughs and says, “That you are, baby doll. That you are.”

  “I’m trying; really I am.”

  “I know. And you’re miles ahead of me with this road to a better marriage. Of course, I am here on a Thursday morning, nine o’clock—prime business hours…” He gives me a sheepish grin, slightly devilish and ultimately sexy.

  “That is impressive.”

  “Look at you.” He gestures to me. “You’ve come a long, long way. You’ve started your own business, you look great, you look happy…”

  I laugh and roll my eyes. “Yeah, right. My roots are seeing the light of day for the first time in years.” I pull at my hair. “I’m a hundred years late for my mani-pedi.” I wave my fingers. “And happy? Well…I guess I am doing better than I was…” I look into his eyes and lower my voice. “But I’m not as happy as I can be. Without you, Andrew…”

  He holds out his hand and I consent, letting him pull me up on wobbly feet.

  “Know what?” he says.

  “What?”

  “I think this just might be reason to celebrate with some bubbly?”

  “Oh I’m always up for a little bubbly and celebrating,” I say with a flirty expression.

  He hitches a thumb in the direction of the cabin, where I can see a bottle of champagne chilling on ice, two glasses set out beside it.

  “Pink?” I ask giddily.

  “‘Pink champagne. That's the kind of life we've both been used to,’” he says with a debonair ring, reminiscent of Cary Grant.

  “Oh, Andrew.” I sniff back the tears.

  “And you know what else?” he says. “I think we should start couple’s therapy.”

  “Wha— Are you serious?” I’m stupefied.

  “We both have a lot of work to do, and I can’t think of a better way than to get a professional’s advice to help make sure we’re on the right track.” He tightens his hand around mine.

  “God, I’ve missed you so much, Andrew,” I say in a shaky voice, that familiar rush of tears returning.

  He places one hand gingerly on my waist and steps nearer.

  “A fresh start?” he says softly.

  “No.”

  “No?” His face turns down.

  “No,” I repeat, resting a hand on his chest. “We’ve already started. At the jazz bar, when we first met.” I bring my hand to the nape of his neck. “These past few months have just been another chapter of our love story.” Fresh hot tears run down my cheek. “And now we’re starting the next chapter.”

  “I like that story.” He slowly brings his other hand to my back, pulling me closer.

  “I do, too.”

  I breathe in his warm, enveloping scent, redolent of expensive cigars, thick aftershave, and musky cologne, and I press my chest to his, my heart pounding so hard I’m sure he can feel it. I dance my fingers along his neck, up into his salt and pepper hair. I bite down on my bottom lip through a growing smile.

  “I don’t know exactly who I am yet, Andrew,” I say in a small, weak voice, “or where I’m going. It’s an adventure, and sometimes it scares me. So much change…growing up…life…it’s hard.”

  He pulls me tighter.

  “But I do know this much.” I look deep into his eyes. “I know that I’m your wife. That’s who I’m supposed to be, that’s who I want to be. And I know that this is where I belong. Right here, with you, my husband. This is where I’ve always belonged.”

  “I love you, Mrs. Andrew Kittredge,” he says, his lips nearly grazing mine.

  I step up onto my tiptoes and touch the tip of his nose. “That’s Mrs. Jackie Kittredge, mister.”

  He makes an aha expression as I lean farther in, wrap my arms tighter about him, and kick up a heel.

  My stomach fills with butterflies and I feel like I’m rising to Cloud Nine. I think I might even hear fireworks going off in the distance. I feel passionate, I feel hopeful, I feel content and happy. I even feel a little bit scared, but more than that I feel loved. Truly and madly loved…and in love.

  “And I love you, Andrew.”

  As the last of the tepid summer air whips about, causing our sailboat to sway, a new season, a new chapter, is ushered in. It’s filled with possibility, with hope, and, as my lips meet my husband’s, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that this new chapter is also filled with a lot of love.

  Epilogue

  Most people only get one shot. I got two. And for that I consider myself the luckiest woman in the world. Well, that and the fact that I married my soul mate.

  The story of how Andrew and I struggled through our second year of marriage was certainly not something straight from a charming black-and-white Turner Classic movie. It was the roughest chapter of my life, beating the loudest fight with my mother, the worst insult hurled by my father, the most atrocious of unhealthy habits from my past. Not having Andrew in my life last summer was like missing a piece of myself.

  I used to say I felt like I was drowning, slogging it through a really difficult marriage filled with every argument, disagreement, and blowout under the sun. I was screaming at the pool party, and no one was listening.

  I realize now that I was the one who wasn’t listening, that I was the one who needed to teach herself to swim. I’ve been my biggest obstacle, falling back on excuses and crutches, complaining and insulting along the way, unwilling to figure out how and when to dive, to take that deep breath, to paddle, to stroke-stroke-stroke, or to just keep on treading. It hasn’t been easy getting to this point, but it wasn’t impossible, especially when a woman’s got love and guidance and such great support.

  Those few months without Andrew were anything but easy—they were a whole new level of pain, in fact. Emily says I should take whatever positive things I can glean from the difficult experience, and I know she’s right. I’m still the same wild and fancy-free Jackie Kittredge, eager to slip into a party dress and hit the dance floor, but so much of that damaged and frightened and, admittedly, spoiled, woman was a shell of a woman drowning. Now, about half a year later, I’m much stronger, and I’m no longer drowning.

  Well, maybe I’m drowning in work. Interiors By Jackie is taking off! With the advertising help from Lara and the investment and business-savvy from Andrew, not to mention the support and encouragement from all my girlfriends, and even Conner and Chad, too, my company’s got more clients on the books than I know what to do with. It’s not full-blown successful like Sophie’s café, but it’s exactly what I dreamed it would be. I’m busy, but not workaholic-busy, and I’m doing something for myself and other people. I’m in a really good place right now, and I couldn’t be happier.

  Andrew still spends quite a bit of time at the office, but now that I’ve got a business of my own, working a couple late nights a week in the home office, I don’t give him such a hard time. He has promised to be home before dinner the majority of the time, though, and he hasn’t broken that promise once!

  We try to take the sailboat out now and then, and I’ve even started to take sailing lessons! I’m not half-bad, and I can definitely look the part. Oh, I have the most perfect designer nautical wardrobe I’ve put together from… Well, what can I say? Sailing’s turned out to be a
great hobby for Andrew and me. Even if we can’t find the time to break free and get away from it all for an extended weekend, sometimes we’ll just stay a night onboard, docked. It’s so romantic.

  As for the rest of the gang, they’re all doing well. Emily and Gatz are in the middle of planning their next globe-trekking adventures. Australia was only the beginning. Now they’re talking of sofa surfing their way around the world or something insane. Those two are definitely made for each other!

  Robin and her little clan are doing as fabulously as anyone could imagine. Phillip is growing up before our eyes, Rose has turned three! She knows her ABC’s, can count without using her fingers, and says she’s going to be just like her mommy when she grows up: “the bestest momma in the world.”

  Lara and Worth are still together, in love with their professional lives, and, more importantly, with each other. Their road’s taken some interesting turns, but I have a hunch they’re destined for a happily-ever-after.

  Claire and Conner are living in Spokane and, to Claire’s surprise, really loving it. It’s not how any of us imagined it would be, them living outside of Seattle, but they’re happy and doing well.

  Conner’s got a great job and has received a promotion. Claire’s settled in just fine in the geriatrics wing at the hospital and she says whenever she gets the baby bug she just wanders over to the maternity ward, gushes a bit, then tells herself she’ll be there soon enough. To that I laugh and say, “We’ll definitely see.” I’m betting anything she’ll be calling with exciting news any day now.

  Sophie’s doing well. The Cup and the Cake is always packed. She’s still up to her neck in work, but at least she’s not so sour on her love life anymore. She…oh, what am I saying? That’s her story to tell. And it’s a good one…

  Of course, I’d hardly say it’s as dramatic as my story, but everyone’s got their own tale.

  Whenever I think back on last summer’s insane string of events I’m reminded to be grateful for my second chance. If Andrew and I hadn’t pulled ourselves up from the rubble that’d become our marriage we wouldn’t be here today, in love and promising to stand by each other and work through whatever problems come our way.

  Like I said, most people only get one shot. Andrew and I are lucky. I let go of him once, but I’m never letting go again. Because when you have something as special and as powerful as true love, when you have that beautiful, pink champagne-filled affair to remember, you can’t let go.

  The End

  Want more of these Seattle Girlfriends?

  Read Book 1, Available at Amazon:

  When Girlfriends Break Hearts

  Follow Sophie Wharton as she learns what to do about matters of the heart when things don’t quite go according to plan.

  A novel about the bonds of friendship, the power of forgiveness, and the lessons you learn when you let go.

  Book 2:

  When Girlfriends Step Up

  Join mom-to-be Robin Sinclair as she embarks on a journey she never could have imagined.

  A novel about love and support, and learning that with enduring friendships, no woman is ever alone.

  Book 3:

  When Girlfriends Make Choices

  Follow Lara Kearns as she struggles with how far she’ll go for true love…however forbidden…

  A novel about forbidden love, the choices you make, and discovering what’s important in life.

  Get the First Three Books in One Boxed Set:

  When Girlfriends Collection, Books 1-3

  This digital boxed set includes the first three novels of the When Girlfriends collection at a discounted rate. Boxed Set Includes: When Girlfriends Break Hearts, When Girlfriends Step Up, and When Girlfriends Make Choices.

  Book 4:

  When Girlfriends Chase Dreams

  Take a ride with Claire Linley as she plans the wedding of her dreams…with more bumps, surprises, and disasters along the way than she just might be able to handle!

  A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living your love story.

  Book 5:

  When Girlfriends Take Chances

  Trek with world-traveling Emily Saunders as she sets off on a new kind of adventure!

  With a string of eligible bachelors lined up by her best friends, will Emily finally be able to find a true and lasting love?

  Or will wanderlust call, yet again?

  A novel about exploring love and life’s path, and taking chances along the way.

  Book 7, the Final Book in the Collection:

  When Girlfriends Find Love

  Come along with Sophie Wharton as she discovers that broken hearts can learn to love, once again.

  A novel about friendship, love, and following your heart.

  About the Author

  Savannah Page is the author of the seven-novel When Girlfriends collection, heartfelt women’s fiction that celebrates friendship, love, and life sprinkled with drama and humor. Savannah is a native Southern Californian living the life of an expat in Berlin where she resides with her husband and collection of books. She enjoys jazz, fresh flowers, and, like Jackie, Cary Grant films.

  Savannah loves hearing from readers, so please feel free to drop her a line!

  And if you enjoyed this novel, please consider leaving a review on your favorite e-book or reading site. Thank you kindly!

  Amazon ~ Goodreads

  Visit Savannah’s Website & Blog: www.savannahpage.com

  Find her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/savannahpageauthor

  Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/savannah_page