Delaney James seemed to have it all-a Manhattan townhouse, a thriving career as a fashion journalist, and a handsome, high-powered husband, but when he announces he's leaving her, Delaney's picture-perfect life unravels. Heartbroken and in need of a...
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My heart is heavy as I sit on the front porch, sipping my now lukewarm coffee and contemplating all the ways in which my life has changed over the last two months.
This time last year I was planning my wedding. Now, I'm back in South Grove - New York in my rearview mirror - with divorce papers filed to legally end my marriage. Will is my past and Greyson is my future. Journalism is on the back burner. Being a fashion influencer and writing my lifestyle blog is what I'm enjoying these days, because it's mine, and I created it on my own. If it becomes something, awesome, but if not, that's okay too. I'll figure it out. I've filed Writing for Vogue Magazine away in my folder of dreams that will never come true, and I'm okay with that.
Some dreams are meant to remain exactly that – dreams.
Without Nico and Sloan, my life is going to be different, but it doesn't have to be, and I don't have to miss them. I can go back to New York, but if I do, I'll have to leave Greyson here, I won't get to watch Hannah grow up, and I won't be close to Jo or my family anymore. More importantly, I'll lose everything that's made me feel happy and secure for the first time in years, and I can't think of any reason that would justify giving all of that up.
"Morning, sweetie," my mother says, as she comes outside.
"Hi, Mom."
She sits down next to me and brushes my hair off my forehead, tucking it behind my ear. "You okay?"
"Yeah." I rest my head on her shoulder. "It was hard saying goodbye to Nico when I don't know the next time I'll see him."
She reaches across my lap and pats me on the knee. "Friends like Nico don't come along every day. Which means they don't disappear overnight."
"But we're hundreds of miles apart now. How do I know that the distance between us won't be too much?"
"You don't. I think after everything that's happened the last couple of months, you understand that nothing is set in stone. But you two adore each other. Stick to a call schedule. Call each other whenever you can. Your friendship will survive these changes. Distance be damned."
My cellphone suddenly starts to ring, causing me to jump. "I have to get this, Mom. It's Jo." She presses a kiss against my temple and disappears into the house. "Hey, brownie."
"Hi. I'm sorry to be calling so early, but it's an emergency." She's out of breath and sounds flustered. "I'm desperate."
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. It's just...I'm working a double shift today and my mom was supposed to watch Hannah, but she's got a stomach bug and has been throwing up all night. Is there any possible way you can babysit?"
"What time do you need to be in?" I ask.
"Now, actually."
I pull my phone away from my ear and look at the time. It's a little after eight-fifteen. Her usual shift is eight hours, but if she's working a double that means she's closing, and she won't be done until after ten o'clock. My date will have to be postponed.
