Page 105 of Surprised By Love

“He l… left,” I cry out.

“Josh?” she asks.

I nod, and she pulls me into her arms. She holds me while I cry until the hiccups start and she passes me another tissue. “When you’re ready, tell me what happened.”

I nod again, trying to control my hiccups. Once I’m able, I tell her the whole story, stopping along the way to wipe my eyes and blow my nose.

“He needs time, sweetie,” Vicki says, brushing the hair off my forehead. “I’ve known Josh for years and he’ll be back. I know it.”

“I hope you’re right, but what if you’re not? I love him, Vicki.”

“I know you do. You need to be strong right now, and I know how hard it’s going to be, but just believe in the love you have with him.”

I pray Vicki knows what she’s talking about. I don’t know how I’ll be able to deal with this and see him every day at the diner. It feels like my heart is torn in two and it’s so strange, but I’m more upset about this than I was about getting divorced.

I love him so damn much it hurts. In fact, I think I love him more than I ever loved Derek. I’m so happy I have my sisters to lean on. I don’t know what I would do without them.

“I’m tired. I’m going to go up and rest for a bit before Amelia gets home.” Vicki takes my hand and helps me up. “I’m alright, I can make it on my own.”

“I know,” she says. “Let me be the big sister and be there for you and comfort you like I wish I could have been when you found out that asshat cheated.”

She loops my arm through hers, guiding me upstairs. “Don’t worry about Amelia. I’ll pick her up from school and take her out for dinner, or maybe to Becca’s for a bit.”

I nod. “Thank you. I don’t want her to see me like this.” Vicki closes my door and I change into some comfy pyjamas and crawl into bed.

I wake up and head downstairs when I hear voices coming from the living room. I turn the corner to see Vicki, Becca, and Tiffany there.

Tiffany is on her feet, rushing to me. “Hey, there. Are you feeling alright?”

I nod, and she wraps me in a hug. “He’s a jerk.”

I can’t help but laugh. “He’s not. I get it. It’s a lot. He needs time to process. I hope he decides I’m worth it.”

“Of course, you’re worth it.” I hear Jessica’s voice coming from the coffee table. I sit beside Vicki, who has her laptop open and Jess on a video call. “No matter what happens, you have us. You are not alone. And if he decides this isn’t what he wants and ends things with you, it’s his loss. You are a beautiful, strong woman and a wonderful mother, not to mention the best little sister ever.”

“Hey!” Becca interrupts. “I’m your little sister too!”

“Shh… this is not about you,” Jess scolds, and I laugh.

Becca pouts and crosses her arms over her chest. “Fine.”

Jessica sticks her tongue out. We all laugh.

“Do you want me to put vinegar in his coffee tomorrow?” Tiff asks. “I’ll do it. Just say the word.”

I shake my head. “No. It’s okay. Although it would be funny to watch.”

I look around at the best group of ladies ever and smile. “Thank you, guys. I don’t know what I would do without you all.”

“Well, you won’t need to worry about it because we’re not going anywhere,” Vicki says as she sits down beside me and kisses my cheek.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Sam

Thenextweekanda half are a hazy mess.

Every morning I wake up crying, and it takes forever to get out of bed. The day after I called in sick.

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