Limitless Love (Lotus House #4)(2)
My phone chimed, reminding me that our hour was up. Instead of a buzzer, I used soft tinkling bells. It wasn’t as jarring and didn’t have the same rushed effect for the client.
“Our time is up, Dave. I know this was your first session, but if you’d like to continue with me, I’d be happy to take you on as a client.”
“Do you think you can help me?” He stood up and clasped his hands in front of him.
I reached out a hand for him to shake. He took hold.
With truth in my statement and honor in my commitment, I responded, “Yes, I believe I can.”
Dave nodded, sighed, and ran his fingers through his brown hair. “Okay, so what’s next?”
At least he was eager to seek help. Who knew? Once we got into the reasons why his wife cheated and his feelings around it, perhaps there would be the option for reconciliation. For the first six months after Kyle left me, I held on to hope. Every situation is different. I still believed in love; I just wasn’t sure it would ever happen for me again.
“Just schedule your next appointment with my receptionist in the lobby. She’ll take care of you. And Dave?”
He stopped just as he grasped the doorknob.
“It gets easier over time. I promise.” And it did. Every day I found new ways to be happy. My daughter. Mila, my best friend and confidant, was another. And last, the yoga she introduced me to. My hobby. I had things in my life that gave me joy.
He closed his eyes in what looked like relief. “Thanks, Doc. See you in a week or two?”
I nodded. “Whatever you need. I’ll be here.”
Dave left and I gathered my things. My phone buzzed on top of my planner.
“Hey, crazy, we still on for dinner?” I asked.
“Of course. Dinner doesn’t make itself in my world,” Mila scoffed dramatically.
I laughed and held the phone closer to my ear while I put my legal pad and laptop into my briefcase. “Atlas coming? Lily wants to see PowPow.” I used the cutest of many nicknames my daughter had come up with for my best friend’s boyfriend. Just thinking of my love bug made me smile.
“Yep. Lily told me if PowPow didn’t come to dinner he could no longer be the Prince of Secret Garden Land. I reiterated this to Atlas, and the man practically teared up. Wuss.” Her voice was playful, and I loved the sound of it.
Ever since Mila and Atlas became an item last year, my best friend had been happier than I’d ever seen her. They still bickered like an old married couple, but it worked for them. Two feisty personalities could manage if there was mutual love and respect. One day, I had hoped for that for myself. Of course, that would mean I’d have to do more than work, take care of Lily, and go to yoga. I sighed knowing how unlikely it was I would put myself out there again.
Without a beat, I changed my focus back to my friend. “I’ll have to talk to Lily about empty threats.”
Mila chuckled. “I don’t know. She seems pretty serious. Aren’t you, honey?”
My girl hollered through the phone. “Hi, Mommy!”
I grinned, thinking about my daughter’s happy face. “Did Auntie surprise you and pick you up from daycare today?”
“Uh-huh, and she has a prize for me!”
“A surprise?” I added more inflection on the “sur” part so she’d hear the difference.
“’S’wat I said! A prize.”
I laughed and waved to my receptionist and Dave, who was still making his next appointment. The elevator dinged, and I hopped on. Luck was on my side tonight. Having an office on the twentieth floor of a building in downtown San Francisco usually meant waiting for an elevator.
“Yeah, well, she can’t have her sur-prize until after dinner,” Mila confirmed.
“Ah, Auntie bought you some sweet treats, I think.”
“Yay!” I heard Lily clapping wildly.
“See you at home. You have a key still, right?”
Mila made a gurgling sound through the line. “I only moved out last month, Moe. And I’m never giving my key back. Though I do have one for you for our pad,” Mila said with more happiness in her tone than I’d heard in a long time. It had taken the better part of a year for Atlas to get Mila to move in with him after their big blowup last year. Since she took over half ownership of the Second Chances Gallery his father and grandfather had owned before him and he went to work for the music label, life had been coming up roses for the two artists.
“Okay, well, make yourself at home. There’s white wine chilling in the fridge. It will go best with the chicken dish I’m making.”
“Oh, and I have a pretty exciting surprise for you too!” Mila taunted.
“Really?” I asked while stepping off the elevator and into the underground parking garage.
“Yep, and it’s going to blow your saccharine-sweet mind.”
“Please tell me Atlas proposed!” I squealed, wanting so much for my friend to take the ultimate plunge and put that man out of his misery.
“He does that almost every day since I moved in with him. I have a feeling a certain recent development is going to make it a lot harder for me to keep saying no.”
“No way! Seriously?” My heart started thumping a mile a minute. Last I heard, Mila would only marry Atlas once he knocked her up. From what I understood, they were technically not trying to get pregnant, but not preventing it either. Oh my God. My insides were jumping for joy in anticipation. I crossed my fingers.