Page 89 of Someone Just Like You

I jolted at the weird non-sequitur. “Is it a brand of candles?”

“It’s a resort, Molly.” She sighed impatiently as mothers did so well. “We’ve booked a trip there for the spring.”

“Who’s we?”Dare I hope she’d say, “Me and your father”?

“Some girlfriends, all newly single.”

My shoulders slumped at her comfortable use ofsingle. I reached for my stress ball until I remembered who’d held it last.

“It’s an all-inclusive resort and spa in St. Lucia devoted to wellness.”

“It sounds fabulous.” It wasn’t a lie, but the forced cheer in my voice was.

“Do you know I’ve never been on vacation with a non-relative? First it was my parents, then I married your father, and then it was the five of us. This is my first girls’ trip!”

I couldn’t help but smile, and this time it was genuine. Her excitement was infectious. “You sound happy, Mom.”

“I am. It wouldn’t be true to say I’m happier than I’ve ever been, because raising you girls was the paramount of joy…most of the time.” She chuckled. “But life doesn’t end at sixty. My world is full of opportunities and I want to take advantage of as many as I can while I’m still of able mind and body. This is the time. I’m retiring soon. My girls are out of the house and don’t need me—”

“I always need you!”

“You sure you don’t have it backwards?”

“What?”

There was a brief pause before she spoke again, her voice soft and tentative. “Are you sure you’re not confusing needing us with needing us to needyou?”

“Nice awkward phrasing, Mom,” I teased, already knowing where this was going.

“You know what I mean.”

“I do.” I frowned into my lap.

“I’ll say this once. I’mfine. I’m better than fine, and so is your father. Take care ofyou. Focus on your own joy and let us worry about us.”

“I will.” This time I meant it. First Nani and then my mother had urged me to focus on my own happiness. In a single moment, it had finally sunk in. It was so obvious. “Mom?”

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“What would you say if I told you I wanted to leave recruiting to be a career coach?”

She only hesitated for a second. “I’d say I trust you to know your own heart. You are, of course, the most practical of the Blum sisters.”

I smiled. “I gotta go. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

We ended the call, and I took in the 150 square feet of my office. It was a nice space—decent size, with my diplomas and framed drawings from my niece lining the walls and a great view of the East River—but I hadn’t been happy in it for quite some time. I put so much effort into helping candidates find their perfect job, but this wasn’tmyperfect job, even with the possibility of a promotion to director in the not-so-distant future.

I wanted what Rosaria had…what she had offeredme. And I’d turned her down because of an arbitrary plan…because I felt some sort of obligation to stick with it…like it was my punishment for leaving the law.

Working for Ceiling Crashers came with a substantial pay cut, but Rosaria said it might be temporary. As the company grew, so would my salary. And if it didn’t? So what. I’d allowed what I brought home to count for more than my happiness and job satisfaction. I used my apartment as another excuse to say no, but it was just a place to live. I could find another one. I had far less confidence I’d be offered another dream job.

I spent most of my life trying to be perfect, planning all my moves to avoid missteps. But sometimes even the best-laid plans fell apart or came with unexpected results. Sometimes you had to follow your heart, come what may. I’d followed mine from Riverdale straight to Jude’s front door and embarrassed myself with my silly, impromptu poem. Had he taken me in his arms? No. But at least I’d spoken my truth. No matter where the two of us went from here, I wouldn’t have to wonder what would have happened if I told him I loved him. I would not regret the things I didn’t do when it came to us.

Mom and Nani were right—it was time to be my own fairy godmother and make my own dreams come true. Maybe I’d get another chance with Jude and maybe I wouldn’t. But in the meantime, there was another significant relationship I needed to focus on.

I found Rosaria’s name in my contact list and pressed call.

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