Katy nods. “Do you know he once dated and dumped a girl because he said she was obsessed with her nails?”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
Katy and Tabitha both shake their heads. They have no idea. “Believe me when I say it’s not even the most ridiculous reason Ridge broke up with someone in the past. Our friend Tabitha here is the only one who’s ever been able to keep him. And now she’s marrying him. The whole town wants pictures.”
“We’ll put an announcement in the paper.”
Katy smiles a little wickedly. “Girl, this shit will make the front page of the paper.”
Tabitha’s face falls into a mixture of shock and horror. “Can they do that?”
“If you live in Pelican Bay, they can.”
The living room having been placed into boxes, Nate walks out from the hallway and stops where we’ve gathered.
“This is the last one from the bedrooms. I think we’re ready to go.”
Behind him, five guys stand, each of them wearing matching black polo shirts.
“Thank you so much.” The thought of hiring movers and paying for them was almost scarier than thinking of having to move all these boxes ourselves. But Nate said when you’re in Ridge’s family you have lots of help. They don’t even bring over the whole crew, just Nate, Crispin, and a few stragglers.
There wasn’t much furniture in the apartment anyway, and most of what I had we donated to neighbors. So they didn’t even need all five of the big black trucks they dedicated to the cause. I kept Emma’s crib and my favorite bedside table, but everything else furniture-wise in the new house is new. It makes the moving easier.
“Don’t worry about it. Anything for Nate’s woman,” Crispin says, slapping Nate on the back of his shoulder.
I blush. In the past being called someone’s woman would be completely un-feminist, but something about beingNate’swoman makes it okay.
Nate and his merry band of men leave the apartment getting ready to tie everything down to make sure it’s safe for the drive to Pelican Bay. I take a moment to glance around the empty apartment. I’m happy to leave and start my new adventure with Nate, but still a little sad to see this place go. Emma and I shared this home as we restarted our life. It’s where I fell in love with Nate.
“Are you ready?” Tabitha asks.
I nod. This is it and I’m ready to start the next leg of my life. “I’m just not used to this whole group thing. Everyone is so nice.” And none of the men let any of us women pick up anything. It was weird and a little awesome. I mean, I support feminism and all — making my way and handling my own boxes — but in truth it was nice not having to lift anything heavy. Very different from when I moved into the apartment.
“Trust me, Josie, you are about to get a lot of practice because you’re one of us now.”
“One of us who?”
“Well, whatever we are, don’t call us the Bakery Bandits around Katy.” Tabitha laughs while covering her mouth.
Katy scowls, pushing her on the shoulder. “That is not cool. When I figure out who gave us a name, they are in big trouble.”
I don’t think Katy’s ever going to figure it out. Nobody will admit it. Not with knowing they face Katy’s wrath.
“Are you girls ready to go?” Nate asks, leaning his head back into the apartment. “The trucks are loaded and we want to roll out.”
Tabitha and Katy walk out as Nate holds the door, but I stay behind giving the apartment one last look.
Nate leans down, whispering in my ear. “I promise it will be a lot better where we’re going.”
He’s right. I glance up, looking into his beautiful eyes with a smile. “I know.”
The restof the weekend passes in a blur and before I realize it, I’m back in the thick of things with my previous life. Well, previous life, but at our new home in Pelican Bay rather than the apartment I made so many memories in with Emma.
“I don’t have time to drive into Pelican Bay now, Josie,” my ex says, sounding perpetually pissed off. “If you’re moving into the city, you have to deal with the consequences.”
I roll my eyes thankful he can’t see. Here we go again. Another lecture from Barry about consequences. I guess because I didn’t want to jump right back into bed and perform mymarital dutiesafter having a baby, his affair was also one of my consequences.
“It’s not my fault you left your house late, Barry.” It always amazes me how after years of marriage and our divorce, I still haven’t learned that fighting with him doesn’t help. He just pisses me off so much. I didn’t allow myself to get pissed with him while we were married because I wanted to pretend it was all fine. But life with Barry was not fine and now when I’m able to get ticked, I can’t shut the emotions off even when I should.
