Page 8 of Willow in the Wind

“You met her?” Chloe looked shocked.

“I did,” Stella said. In actuality, she’d known Mandy since high school, when they’d been on the cheer squad for exactly three weeks together before Stella broke her ankle and joined the chess team instead. But they’d re-met as adults, and theywere cool with each other. Mandy’s kids were slightly older than Logan and Chloe. It meant they were often out of the house.

“But what do you think of her?” Stella asked.

“She’s okay,” Chloe said. “Dad seems happy.”

Stella waited for a sting in her chest, but it didn’t come. She genuinely wanted Matt to be happy. That had been the whole point of getting divorced—their own happiness.

“Are they going to get married?” Chloe asked.

“I don’t know, honey.”

“I mean, do youthinkthey will?” Chloe tilted her head. Anger echoed from her face.

“I don’t think anyone can say that,” Stella assured her.

“Why aren’t you dating anyone?” Chloe demanded.

Stella had to suppress a smile. She considered sneaking off to text Matt to batten down his hatches.She’s in a mood!

“I haven’t met anyone I’m interested in, I suppose,” Stella offered.

“But you’re looking?” Chloe asked. “Are you on the apps?”

Stella laughed. “I’m not on the apps.” Her friends had shown her the apps, and they terrified her. Swiping on photos? It felt inane.

Of course, plenty of her friends had met their partners on those very same apps. She couldn’t judge.

“I was married to your dad for fourteen years,” Stella said, sweeping her fingers through Chloe’s hair. “I’ve enjoyed a year to myself. Every decision I make is for me, for you, or for Logan. Not for some random guy.”

Chloe gave her a confused look.

“Being a wife and a mother is incredible,” Stella said. “But if you ever find yourself as a wife or mother, you’ll discover that that life is about sacrifice. And it’s important to give some time back to yourself.”

To figure out who you really are,Stella thought.

Chloe mulled that over for a few seconds. Stella wasn’t sure she’d made total sense.

“But you’re not lonely?” Chloe asked.

“Not at all,” Stella assured her. “I have you and Logan and plenty of friends and family. I’m good.”

This seemed to satisfy Chloe for now.

Later that night, Stella sat awake in her office, staring at a blank document. Her fingers were poised on the keys.

Aunt Esme’s voice echoed in her mind.What is the story of your life?

Very slowly, Stella began to type:

It was the summer of my twenty-first year, and I was alone at the Athens airport. The airline had lost my suitcase, and I was an inexperienced traveler, meaning I’d packed no more than a water bottle and a book in my carry-on. I had a bit of money, but my fear of pickpockets had led me to put my bank card in the suitcase. The same suitcase that was now just a number in their system.

I grabbed a cheap beer at the airport to consider my options and wait. Maybe my suitcase would magically appear.

That was when I saw him for the first time.

He took my breath away.

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