Summer wondered how that would go. She wondered if they’d become friends again. If and when they did, Summer may be ready to meet him and his son. Yes, she thought, Willow had plenty of amends to make. But now that she thought about it, she realized she did, too.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
For the first time in as long as she could remember, Summer felt totally at peace during Happy Hour at Rowdy’s. The lights twinkled, the music played and Summer sipped her wine, content.
Josie put an arm around Summer’s shoulders. “I’m so proud of you,” she said. “You did the right thing by apologizing to your mom.”
Summer smiled. “Thanks,” she said. “We have a ways to go, but I think we’re working towards something better.”
The college kids at the bar cheered at something they saw on the TVs, and Josie grinned. “See? They’re excited for you, too.”
“As always,” Summer said, “you guys were right on. I should have listened to you from the beginning. It would have saved me so much heartache.”
They both nodded, looking a little too smug for Summer’s taste, and she said, “Although, if I had listened to you, I would have missed out on that incredible staycation at the hospital.”
They giggled, but Delaney put a hand over her heart.
“You’re freakin’ me out, Summer,” she said. “I thought I was looking forward to motherhood, but now I’m afraid I should really be looking forward to hospitalization.”
They laughed.
“The good news,” Summer said, “is that you’ll be moving into a beautiful new house. And you’ll be completely ready for Delaney Junior whenever she arrives.”
“And,” Josie said, “I haven’t had a chance to tell you yet, but Paul and I actually planned a trip. A romantic getaway. We’re going to Utah. Zion.”
“That’s going to be so awesome!” Delaney said. “I am so excited for you.”
“I’ve heard it’s really romantic,” Summer said.
“See?” Josie said. “I gave you advice. But I took your advice, too.”
As she listened to Josie talk about the plans for her upcoming trip, Summer felt more grateful than ever for her best friends.
***
Summer returned home that evening to five kids in bed and a husband waiting up for her. Derek sat on the couch, and he smiled up at her as she walked through the front door.
“You’re home early,” he said.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Summer said.
Derek cringed. “You know I hate when you say that.”
Summer laughed. “I know. But it’s nothing bad. I swear.”
He patted the couch cushion next to him. She came around and sat down. “I wanted to apologize,” she said. “I know I’ve been an unbearable downer lately. And I’m sorry. Really sorry. You were as stressed out as I was, and I went and had a mental breakdown. Which I’m sure only added to your stress.”
Derek smiled and took her hand. “I understand,” he said. “And I forgive you.”
***
The next day, Summer watched her children play in the living room, their grandmother sitting on the couch orchestrating a game of hide and seek. Derek stood next to her in the kitchen, his arm around her.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” he said to Summer.
“Me, too,” she said.
Just then, her phone dinged, alerting her to a text message.
Delaney: Okay, nursery is ready. It’s gender-neutral. Do you like it?
Summer smiled at the photo Delaney had attached. The nursery was decorated in shades of tan and green. Although she had a feeling Delaney’s child was a boy, she wouldn’t know for a few weeks, yet.
Josie responded to Delaney’s text: Looks perfect. Plan on visitors. I can probably fit in the crib, so don’t worry about a blow-up mattress for me.
Summer found herself giggling uncontrollably. This, she thought, is what best friends are for. With Derek’s arm around her and her kids playing happily with her mother in the living room, Summer smiled.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Thank you for reading!
If you enjoyed “The Motherhood Intervention,” check out my Amazon author page to buy the other two books in The Intervention Series: Delaney’s story, “The Dating Intervention,” and Josie’s story, “The Marriage Intervention.”
“The Dating Intervention”
Delaney Collins’s intuition is always right on. The trouble is, she never listens to it, especially when it comes to men. So when her fail-proof dating system fails completely, Delaney’s best friends, Summer and Josie, stage The Dating Intervention, in which they take complete control of her dating life. Although she struggles to follow the rules they set out for her, her intuition tells her that if she doesn’t, she may end up alone and forever lonely in a sea of men with stained neckties and cumbersome baggage.
“The Marriage Intervention”
If Josie Garcia’s marriage were on the rocks, at least she could drink it like a vodka cranberry. Things are much worse than that. Lately, she and her husband Paul clash like peanut butter and pickles. To help repair her marriage, Josie’s best friends Delaney and Summer stage The Marriage Intervention, creating a set of rules designed to reignite the flame between Josie and Paul. The trouble is, Josie’s ex-lover (and current boss), Scott, is making things really hot at work. Scott has always been a secret-keeper, and now it’s Josie’s turn. Being a secret-keeper may cost Josie her marriage.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Hilary Dartt is a freelance writer specializing in direct response copywriting and editorial projects. She grew up among redwoods and hippies in Santa Cruz, California and graduate from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in Creative Writing. She then moved to Arizona’s high desert where she worked as a journalist before launching her freelance career. She lives with her family and an assortment of pets, including her Weimaraner, Leia and a flock of chickens. “The Marriage Intervention” is the second installment in “The Intervention Series.” Learn more at www.hilarydartt.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Friendships—with my own mom and with all of my mom friends (and non-mom friends, too!)—make motherhood so much more fun. A big thank you to all my friends for standing shoulder to shoulder with me on this march we call motherhood! Thank you to my husband and my little people.
And another big thank you to the eagle-eyed people who read and helped with this story: Mom and Desirae, and to Donna Rich, proofreader extraordinaire. And of course to Bree, who designed the covers for all three books in this series.
THE MOTHERHOOD INTERVENTION
Hilary Dartt
Copyright © 2015 Hilary Dartt
All rights reserved.
The Motherhood Intervention: Book 3 in the Intervention Series Page 26