Page 27 of Marriage & Mockery

“I appreciate it.”

She gestured at her cart. “I should finish before the kids start texting. It was good to see you, Laina.”

“You too.”

She headed toward whatever item it was she’d forgotten, while I stood in the middle of the aisle for longer than necessary, absorbing what she’d shared with me.

Bennett stuck to his guns even though it cost him time and goodwill with the people who made his show run.

I pushed my cart forward again, filled with more hope for my marriage than I’d had since the awards ceremony. And moving even faster than I had before.

After I checked out, I loaded the bags into the back of the car, climbed in, and sat with the engine running for a moment before pulling out of the lot. It’d taken me another fifteen minutes to finish shopping, but my mind was still whirling.

Needing to talk this out with someone, I called Felicity.

“Hey. Everything okay?” she asked.

“Yeah, I just need a sounding board. Can you talk for a few minutes?”

“Perfect timing. Faith just started her screen time, so I can easily give you thirty.”

I pulled out of the parking lot and merged into traffic. “Bennett’s new publicist called.”

After I gave her the rundown from that conversation, she asked, “That’s a lot to consider. What did you tell her?”

“That I needed time.”

“Good call because that can’t be an easy decision to make.”

I tightened my grip on the wheel. “And there’s something else.”

“Wait. What?” she gasped.

“I ran into Jordan’s wife in the pasta aisle.”

I explained how Rachel was connected to Bennett and everything she told me.

“Whoa,” she breathed. “He actually followed through.”

“Yup.”

“Does that change things for you?”

I took a moment to think before answering. “If I’m being completely honest with myself, maybe. I’m still sad, but I also feel hope that we’ll somehow find our way back to each other. And that scares me almost as much as my anger did.”

Felicity’s tone softened. “You don’t have to decide about anything tonight. Just don’t punish yourself for noticing that he’s actually doing the work.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me. “I’m trying.”

“I’m here for whatever you need.”

“I know. Thank you.”

My life might be a complete mess, but I had the best friend a woman could ask for, my daughter was working hard to mend our relationship, and my husband was doing the work to try to get us back on track. Things could be a heck of a lot worse.

15

BENNETT