Chapter 43: Unjinxed - The Beginning After the End
Jenna: One year later
It’s strange how we survive. How life demands you keep moving even when it feels like a tornado ripped through everything you know. Months after my divorce and the breakup with Dylan, I thought I’d never see light again. That I’d be stuck in that black void forever. It felt like someone had scraped out the inside of me, and I was just a shell of a person.
Getting out of bed, putting on clothes, faking smiles for my kids… it felt like dragging ten dead bodies around all day and trying to hide them. But my girls still needed breakfast. Still needed school. Still needed me. So I moved. I carried the heavy weight, avoiding every damn mirror for weeks. I couldn’t face my reflection or the ruins of my life.
And the guilt clung to my skin like black smoke. For being in that darkness. For not being a better mother and emotionally present. For pushing Izzy away, even if I told myself it was to protect her from the fallout, from having to choose sides.
Then fall passed. Then winter.
And by spring, piece by piece, I started rebuilding my world. Washing my hair. Opening the blinds. New journals. Real smiles.
Over the past year, I poured my heart into my business—into myself—determined to stand again. For my girls. For me. But it wasn’t only work that saved me. It was the little things. Saturday mornings at the ranch (not Dylan’s, of course). Laughing with my girls as we tried to keep our horses in sync. And Friday night kickboxing, where every punch let me release the anger, fear, and heartbreak still lodged inside.
Some nights, the darkness still crept back in. I’d lie awake, listening to the silence, haunted by the one truth I can never speak. Because if there’s any hope of my girls having their father, Jacob’s secret must die with me. Even if it means letting Dylan believe I’m the one who killed his brother.
But despite the weight, I’ve learned to embrace every part of myself—the messy, the broken, the healing.
And now, after months of promotions, social media marketing, and sleepless nights building my clientele, the day I’ve dreamed of is finally here: the grand opening ofJenna’s Dream Events.
I step through the doors in a new dress, my taped-up boobs holding me together both literally and metaphorically, and for the first time in a long time, I can breathe.
For once, I’m not waiting for something to go wrong. I’m here. Single. Whole. Enough.
The space I created is all mine. Glittery balloons float above tables covered with sugary treats and champagne bottles. Andphotos from all my past events line the pale yellow walls. Every tiny detail reflects the woman who dared to dream again.
As I mingle with guests, Jacob approaches hand-in-hand with his stunning girlfriend, Calista. I met her before, awkward as hell at the girls’ dance recital. But she’s growing on me now.
“Hey,” Jacob and Calista say together at the same time. “Love the art,” she adds.
“Thanks… and thanks for coming,” I stutter, my stomach twisting with nostalgia, maybe even a flicker of sadness. After all, we shared over twenty years, two daughters, a lifetime of memories. And trust. And loyalty. And protection. And… he killed a man for me. In his own complicated, corrupt way, he kept me safe.
He glances around the room, his girlfriend drifting toward the refreshment table. “This place looks amazing. I’m proud of you.”
His sincerity takes me by surprise. Months ago, we were barely speaking, just uncomfortable exchanges during drop-offs. Now look at us. The anger, the hurt… they’ve faded, replaced by something softer. Like peace.
“That means a lot,” I murmur. “You’ll always have a special place in my heart. No matter what happened between us. You gave me two beautiful daughters. Helped me leave an abusive relationship. Protected me. And we had some damn good years too. I hope you’ve forgiven me—and yourself.”
His voice is soft, steady. “I have. And I’m happy for you.”
“I’m happy for you too.”
As he walks away, a feeling of closure settles over me. I didn’t think I needed it. But maybe I did. Before I can dwell on it, Izzy appears, launching into a bear hug.
“Jinx! I fuggen missed you!” she squeals, her champagne breath filling the air. “Life’s been shitty without you.”
“I’ve missed you too.” I half smile. “How’ve you been?”
She pulls back, leveling me with a knowing look. “Me? Don’t dodge the question. How are you holding up? I should’ve been there more, watchingFriendsreruns and eating Nutella straight from the jar, not just phone calls and texts.”
“I’m sorry I went MIA,” I admit. “I wasn’t ready to talk about everything. It got messy with your brother, and I didn’t want you caught in the middle.”
She sighs, nodding. “He’s okay now. Met someone and seems happy. What about you?”
I pause, letting the question settle. “Some days are still hard, but it gets easier. When you’re lost in the fog, it feels impossible to imagine anything beyond survival. But now? Now, I get to decide.”
She tilts her head. “And what’s next?”
