“Tell me about this phoenix,” he finally said.
“I want to rise from the chaos that’s become my reality.”
The chaos that Kent left her alone to deal with.
She started talking with her hands. Animatedly. “I want to rise from the ashes and I want to prove to him that I have this.” She jerked her arm wide in what she hoped was a clear illustration. “And he gave it up. AndI’mfine.The kidsare fine.We’re all fine!”
“Whodo you want to prove that to?” he asked with an air of calm.
Her chest heaved as she steamed like a cup of tea. “Kent.”
“Kent’s not here,” he pointed out.
Maybe he was right, because Kent wasn’t there anymore. This was about April, and she needed to admit that.
“Who do you want to prove it to?” Jack asked again.
“Me.” Thankfully, the word came out with a resolution she wasn’t entirely sure she felt. “Me,” she said again.
“I can work with that.” He gave her a solid once-over. “Yup, I can.”
She wasn’t entirely sure she’d make it, but she was willing to grab on to hope. For now.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Stupidity is painful.”
—Cindy, Colorado, United States
Jack
Unlike April’s life and his current living situation, the best brand restorations were always simple. This was one of the rules Jack lived by in his career. April’s case was no different.
Spending more time getting cozy with livestreams so she would be perceived as easily accessible. Linking herself as a giving platform so she would be likable. Expanding her platform to MyTube and print media like cookbooks and magazines.
This was all within reach.
No more live-cleaning urine, cussing children, or other unscheduled catastrophes. And this was an idea Jack was pretty confident would work in everyone’s favor, promoting her with an already loved figure.
He had just such a figure in mind. Bonus for everyone involved, he was also Jack’s client.
Now, all he had to do was show April the beauty of this strategy.
Calmly.
With yoga.
Maybe some meditation.
Then, bah-da-bing, they’d be on their way. He’d already sent the message to Ben that he’d be in Denver until April’s appearance onPractical Parentingand her brand launched to the stratosphere, cementing her as the calmest of all the calm mothers.
Two yoga mats, the block things she kept with them, a couple of straps, and the pillows were all set up on her backyard lawn. He’d made her tea as well. A steaming cup, ready for her relaxation.
While he’d never actually practiced yoga, he’d seen enough of her content to understand the basics. So he sat cross-legged on his yoga mat and waited for her to get back from dropping the kids at school.
The amount of time he waited was, honestly, probably only thirty seconds before he started squirming.
Jack was not the kind of guy meant for slow. He was definitely not the kind of guy meant for doing nothing. Still, he tried to immerse himself in the experience of April’s backyard. Closed his eyes, did the breath thing April was so fond of…
