The Friends We Keep

“No. You were exactly right. I appreciate the honesty.” It stung a little, but she knew Gabby had her best interest at heart. Just as important, she was telling the truth. There were things Nicole did miss about being in a relationship, but whenever she thought about dating, she had a million reasons not to try.

“I’m scared,” she admitted. “I had no idea things were so bad with Eric. I mean I knew there were problems, but not that we were headed for a divorce. After he left, I had a lot of time to think about all the things I’d done wrong. I don’t want to mess up again.”

“So it’s better not to try?”

“It’s safer.”

“But the best things in life aren’t safe. What moves us, what we want the most, always means taking a risk. Isn’t that what makes things worthwhile?”

“You’re so logical.”

Gabby smiled. “I wish. What I do know is that you have to make decisions from a position of strength. And that means understanding your motives. If you’re not dating because you’re perfectly happy on your own and can’t see what value a man would bring to the mix, then great. But if you’re hiding, then you need think about that. You’re a positive person who takes charge. Hiding isn’t like you.”

It hadn’t been her lately, Nicole thought. She might not want to face the truth, but that didn’t change it. She’d made sure all of Tyler’s needs were met, she’d seen to her business and her house, but when it came to herself, she’d been on autopilot. Gabby was right. If she wanted to be alone, then that was her decision. But hiding—that wasn’t her at all.

*

“Hey, Mom,” Gabby called as she opened the back door of her mother’s house and walked into the kitchen, the twins right on her heels. As soon as they stepped into the big kitchen, they started yelling.

“Grandma, Grandma!”

Marie Lewis walked into the room. Her arms were open, her expression happy. “My best girls,” she said as she crouched down to hug the twins. “What a fantastic surprise.”

Gabby watched her mother fuss over the girls before ushering them to the giant island and getting them settled. Next would be snacks and plenty of conversation. Marie was the perfect grandmother. She was warm, caring and just stern enough to keep everyone behaving.

Once the twins were in their seats, Marie hugged Gabby.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

“Great.”

Her mother patted her cheek, then turned her attention back to her granddaughters. Lemonade was poured into plastic glasses and cookies produced.

If Shannon was Gabby’s career ideal, then Marie was Gabby’s maternal role model. Despite five children, an assortment of pets and plenty of potential for chaos, the house had always run smoothly. Sure it had been loud, but there hadn’t been a constant scramble for things to get done. With two kids of her own and a teenage stepdaughter in the house, Gabby felt she lived three steps behind. She honestly didn’t know how her mother had done it.

She joined her daughters at the island. The kitchen was large, with white cabinets and blue-and-green tile accents. Not what she would have chosen, but nice.

Gabby watched her mom. Marie was sixty-one and still a size eight. Talk about incredibly depressing. She colored her hair but otherwise didn’t do anything to defy her age and she could pass for someone in her late forties. Gabby hoped she’d inherited the same genes.

“How’s camp?” Marie asked the girls. “Having fun?”

“Every day,” Kennedy told her. “We have art project and playtime.”

“Sometimes we work on our letters,” Kenzie added. “We know them all and we can read some words.”

“Can you? Way to go. I knew you were smart girls the first time I saw you.”

They both laughed.

When the cookies and lemonade were finished, the four of them moved out to the backyard. A new swing set had been installed when the first grandchild had been born. By the time the twins came along, it was well-worn and comfortable. Now the twins ran to it and settled on the seats.

“Are you still looking forward to be going back to work?” her mother asked, watching her grandchildren.

“You have no idea.”

“I don’t understand why you want to. You could stay home and have more babies.”

A familiar discussion, Gabby thought. “We have Makayla full-time now. Three is plenty.”

“Makayla will be gone before you know it and the twins are already heading off to kindergarten. More children would be a happy thing.”

“Not for me, Mom. I’m ready to get back to my career.”

Marie pressed her hand to her chest in mock distress. “All my friends compliment me for raising two sensible, career-oriented daughters. Little do they know how I wish you were both more like me.”

Gabby laughed because it was expected, but in her heart, she thought maybe her mother was telling the truth rather than joking. She would have preferred either of them to be a stay-at-home mom. But Gabby’s older sister was a veterinarian and Gabby was ready to get back to her law practice.

“I guess it’s up to one of the boys,” she said.