Sandy - Vested Interest

Becca came out of the bathroom, wrapped in a thick, white terry cloth robe. Her skin glowed—from the facial or the wine she had consumed I wasn’t sure, but she looked radiant. She had been late this morning, blushing as she rushed out to the car, Reid following her and catching her before she stepped in to kiss her long and lovingly. Judging from the smug expression on his face, there was no doubt as to why we waited for her, and it had set the tone for the day with constant teasing and banter.

She flung herself beside me with a grin. “How you doin’?” she winked and deadpanned. “Looking good, Sandy.”

I laughed. “So do you.”

Her phone buzzed and I chuckled. “I think Reid is missing you today.”

She rolled her eyes, but her grin was wide. “I think he is. My phone has been blowing up all day.”

I patted her hand. “That’s a good thing, Becca. Enjoy it.”

She nodded, her eyes on the screen. “I do. I love his silly texts and pictures.”

“He worships you,” I informed her.

Her cheeks flushed, and this time, I knew it wasn’t the wine. “The feeling is mutual.”

“I know.”

Cami and Dee strolled over to the seating area and curled up on the sofa across from us. Like me, they were both relaxed from their pampering. Liv and Emmy were finishing up with their massages and would join us. Bentley had arranged not only a light lunch, but a full afternoon tea to be served in the room. He knew how much I enjoyed a real afternoon tea, and I was touched by his efforts.

We chatted and laughed until the rest of the girls joined us. We sat, sipping our beverages and talking about a multitude of things. Life, houses, work, motherhood, and finally, the conversation turned to men. There was some oversharing, funny stories, and cute moments of the antics of all their men, and Becca turned to me.

“Sandy,” she began.

I shook my head. “I know what you’re about to say, Becca. I’m fine. Honestly, I am. I have bad days, and one in particular last week, but that is to be expected.”

Emmy leaned forward, taking my hand. “What brought it on, Sandy?”

With a sigh, I told them about the storm and my dream. They all had tears in their eyes as I recalled Max’s words.

“Do you think it was real?” Dee asked quietly. “Do you think Max was telling you it’s time to move on?”

I shrugged, unsure how to answer. It had felt real. His words had echoed the sentiments he had expressed so often when we would discuss the future and he would insist I had to accept the thought of one without him. How he wanted me to find happiness and love again.

“You have too much in you to give to spend the rest of your life grieving for me, my girl.”

“I can’t fathom loving anyone else, Max,” I informed him. It was the simple truth.

He had run his fingers over my cheek. “Not the way you love me, but you can love again, Sandy. I want you to. I need to know you will be happy again once I am gone.”

I had promised him I would try, but the truth was, I had no idea how to do so or if I even had it in me to attempt it.

I said so to the girls.

“Colin lectures me all the time to go out and start living again.”

Becca interrupted me. “I still can’t believe that fine specimen is your grandson. You’re too young to have him be your grandkid.”

I chuckled. “Fine specimen. I’ll keep that one to myself. But I’ll take the compliment. One of the perks of marrying an older man, I suppose.” I sighed. “Colin insists it’s time for me to move forward, and he hates to see me wasting away, as he calls it. Aaron agrees with him. He tells me his father would want me to be happy,” I admitted.

“What do you think?” Emmy asked, still holding my hands.

“I don’t know how to move forward,” I stated. “I have no idea how to meet someone or start again. Things have changed since I dated thirty-some-odd years ago. I don’t think people meet at clubs or dances now.”

All the girls laughed.

“No,” Becca agreed. “It’s online most of the time.”

I nodded in resignation. “Colin said the same thing. He says it easier to meet women that way. Seems so impersonal to me.”

The girls laughed.

“Trust me, sometimes there is too much personal.” Cami smirked.

I chuckled. “In my day, you went out. Locked gazes with someone. Talked. Felt that connection. How can you do that with a computer screen?”

Emmy agreed. “I—we—all got lucky we met the men we did and the way we did.”

Cami nodded. “Yes—I tried my share of dating apps. Thank goodness those days are behind me.”