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‘You know I am.’

We kept flirting, the banter easy, as I quietly accepted the fact that the man had ruined me for anyone else for the remainder of my life.

Two days later, I boarded a flight back to the States with a solid sale offer in hand.

I landed in Nashville with a fresh perspective; it was time for a new season.

One of celebrating life with the family I had.

To underscore my promise to myself, I let Christine, Théa, and Raff pick me up from the airport.

‘Mum!’ Raff yelled, tackling my waist the second I cleared the security gates.

‘Hey, shorty,’ I laughed, hugging him tight.

‘Did you bring me any M&S chocolates?’

‘Of course. A whole box.’

‘How about me?’ Christine asked, grabbing my rolling suitcase and grinning.

‘Two boxes,’ I declared.

Hey!’ Raff interjected. ‘Why does she get more?’

‘Because she’s working double time to keep you in line. You two can have it out if you want, on how you share them.’

As Raff and Christine comically faced off, I tucked my arm in with my mum’s.

‘You look rested, Ana,’ Théa noted, her eyes warm as we walked toward the parking garage.

‘I am, maman.’

More than that, I was unbound and at peace.

The banter lasted all the way home, our laughter filling the car.

It felt incredible to be back.

Over the next few weeks, free of Max, I focused on healing and being kind to myself.

I took long baths, got eight hours of sleep, ate well, worked out, and practiced yoga on the sun porch.

I meditated in the quiet mornings. I drove Raff to and from school, helped with his homework, and shuttled him between soccer, wrestling, and martial arts.

Raff and I blasted pop music, danced around the living room, and goofed off, enjoying our time together.

‘You’re more content now,’ Théa said over Sunday lunch, passing the beef bourguignon and seasonal salad we were having. ‘I see it, and I’m glad Deacon and you have mended fences, because that’s made Raff happier too.’

It wasn’t all roses.

There were days I mourned the end of my second marriage.

No matter how Max and I ended, I was still suffused with guilt that it was yet another failure of mine.

I had spells when my emotions were out of control.

From regret at the wasted years to getting angry with Max for cheating on me, to blaming myself for not seeing him for what he was from the get-go.