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Skylar sipped her coffee as she made her way to an outdoor table at the winery café, where Rose and Izzy were seated with coffee and scones.
“Good morning,” they both said as Skylar joined them.
“Morning.”
The women chatted as they ate and sipped, and the breeze swept up the hill, over the vines, moving Skylar’s hair gently, rejuvenating her soul.
“Do you think it was selfish of me to leave home like I did?” Skylar asked.
Izzy’s mouth fell open in disbelief as she stared at Skylar. “Are you kidding? Everyone has times in their lives when they should be focusing on themselves. This was your time.”
“I’m not sure my family fully understands, and I feel like some pathetic girl who ran away because of a boy.”
“You ran away for your health,” Rose told her.
Izzy tucked her blonde hair behind her ear and set her coffee mug down. “Are you afraid of what people will think of you?”
“I guess I’ve always come across as this strong and capable woman. I have an important job, and a lot of people rely on me to be a leader. But inside, I don’t always feel very strong. And the sadness I felt about Franky’s engagement … I couldn’t shake it, and I knew I needed to do something.”
Rose reached over and laid her hand atop Skylar’s and squeezed. Her kind blue eyes were filled with comfort. “The fact that you recognized what was happening and took steps to heal is important. Roberto went through a period of deep depression when we were younger.”
“He did?” Skylar asked.
“He had left his home country to come here, knew nobody except me. It was a new and different culture. He was homesick and very down. Some days, I didn’t know if he would ever get back to the happy man I married. But then he started working for your dad, and they formed a friendship. Things got better once he found his purpose.”
“You never told me that, Mama,” Izzy said.
“It’s not something we’ve talked about much outside of our marriage, but I think it’s important to share our story if it will help others along the way.” She looked at Skylar again. “Have you thought about talking to someone, a counselor? They can help you make sense of your thoughts and feelings.”
“I’ve been going to a counselor in Traverse City since I’ve been here, actually. It’s been helpful. I’m working on it.”
“That’s wonderful,” Rose said.
“One of the things I’ve struggled with is nightmares about people drowning, specifically people that I love. I’ve learned that dreams like that can mean something is beyond your control, that you’re unable to do a thing to alter the outcome. That’s pretty accurate in my situation. And ever since I opened up about my nightmares, they’ve been happening less and less frequently.”
“That’s awesome,” Izzy said. “So you really have made some good progress this summer.”
“I think so,” Skylar replied. “And I’m learning how to look at my past with Franky and appreciate the time we spent together instead of letting the weight of the memories and my unmet expectations crush me.”
Her counselor had helped immensely with that, encouraging Skylar to let her thoughts and memories of Franky come, to feel whatever emotions they brought, then release them rather than cling to them with all her might and hold them inside, as she had been. She was learning how to let go a little at a time.
“You are a special person, Skylar,” Rose told her. “I can tell you have a lot of love to give, and I believe finding the best version of you and being happy with yourself is the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for your perfect match, and I’m going to pray you find him.”
Skylar smiled. “Pray for sooner rather than later.”
“You and me both,” Izzy added.
They laughed together, and Skylar felt lighter than she had in months.
“Thank you both for everything. You’ve helped me so much this summer.” The friendship of the Zanetti women had meant everything to Skylar. They had been there for her in a way she hadn’t expected, and she would be forever grateful.
“I’m so glad,” Izzy replied.
“It was our pleasure.” Rose smiled.
“I’ve spent a lot of years waiting for happiness to come from someone else when I should’ve been working on myself first. I think I’m going to focus on me for a while. It’s long overdue.”
She would always hold Franky in her heart, but it was time to move on. It was time to finally let him go.