And he’s pushing me away.
I love him. And now—right now—is the only moment I’ll hold him and my dream in my hands at the same time.
I want this to last forever, but it doesn’t.
“I’m rooting for you, too. It’s such an amazing thing you’re doing with McHuge. Your company’s going to be wildly successful. I would’ve given a lot to work at a place like that.”
He makes a rueful face. “I know.”
I want to throw something. How many times will my heart take another hit after I’ve told it to stay the hell down?
“I’m sorry, Tobe. For everything.”
I’m so, so sorry. I did all the things I mentally accused him of doing. Clammed up when things went wrong, instead of trying to fix them. Failed to see who he was, and who he’d become.Made him chase me, instead of working on a relationship where we chose to walk toward each other.
“Don’t be. I shouldn’t have talked you into the book. I’m learning I need to let people go if they want to leave. Letyougo.”
“No,” I whisper. “We planned one more scenario. We’re not finished.”
“It’s okay, Liz. We’re sad, but it’s okay. We’ll be all right.”
He’s on his feet, and I’m flooded with panic.
“You don’t have to go.”
“We both know I do. I’ll see you, Liz.”
All I can think, as I watch him walk away, is that I failed. It isn’t until well after the door closes behind him that it hits me.
I still have a chance to fail joyfully.
Chapter Twenty-eight
SCENARIO 7: THE GRAND GESTURE
Partner relationships are deeply affected by the people around us, for better and for worse.
At the most important moments in a relationship, partners need to focus on each other, without the distraction of other people.
For your final scenario, create an imaginary place where you can be alone together. Visualize yourselves walking away from the people who want to influence your characters’ actions for their own purposes (actually do this, if you like—it could be fun to start the scenario in separate locations!). Then walk toward each other. When you’ve left all the outside voices behind and it’s just thetwo (or more) of you, what do you want to tell your partner(s)? What do they need to hear from you?
—The Second Chances Handbook
It’s not easy putting together a romantic costume at nine o’clock on a Sunday morning.
Unless you’re a guest of Sharon Keller-Yakub.
I’m rifling through my third Keller-Yakub closet, which is saying a lot because these things are huge. From Sharon’s: wide belt and loose white shirt (which I hope fares better than the last one, because this one cost about a hundred times more). From Kareem’s: waxed canvas coat, big on me butsuchRegency-era greatcoat vibes.
Sharon’s nineteen-year-old daughter (she of the yellow dress) left early this morning for her job at a non-Keller workplace, which vexes her mom to no end. But her hips and boobs are roughly the same size as mine, and she’s on board with today’s fashion mission as long as she gets the photo rights for her socials.
From deep in the custom shelves, Stellar hands me pair after pair of black pants.
“I can’t tell the difference between any of these.”
Stellar shrugs. “I’m no help; you’ve seen what I wear. Pick a pair and go with it, I guess?”
I smooth a nervous hand over my hair, which I’ve styled a bit puffy, tying it low at my neck in a reasonable approximation of English style circa 1850. My brown ponytail, pulled over one shoulder, shines warmly against the matte canvas lapels.
