Page 10 of Best Kept Vows (Savannah’s Best #6)

Ophelia

M y heart fluttered wildly as I parked my Polestar in front of Savannah Lace, the Bluetooth still lit up with Ada and Tristan’s voices.

“You’ve got this, Mama,” Ada encouraged cheerfully.

“Yeah, they’d be crazy not to hire you,” Tristan chimed in from New York.

I laughed softly, trying to calm my nerves. “Thanks, sweethearts. I’ll call you right after, okay?”

“We’ll be waiting,” Ada promised.

After quick goodbyes, I stepped out of the car, the humid Savannah air wrapping around me like a damp towel. I picked up my pace, desperate to get inside, before my white blouse started looking like it had been through the spin cycle of a washing machine.

Savannah Lace occupied a restored historic building in the heart of downtown. Although I’d driven and walked by it many times, I’d never paid attention to its elegant structure of pale brick and vintage windows.

Walking inside was like stepping into a magazine spread—polished wood floors gleaming beneath exposed beams and chic modern furniture, effortlessly contrasting the classic southern architecture.

A redheaded woman at reception gave me a broad smile. “Welcome to Savannah Lace. How may I help you?”

I smiled uneasily, feeling gauche. “I’m here to meet Nina Davenport. My name is?—”

“Ophelia Boone, welcome. Sorry, you did say you prefer Lia.” The woman came around the desk and held out a hand. “I’m Rachel Burnside.”

I shook her hand.

She was bright and perky, wearing a flowy summer dress. She was probably in her mid-twenties, just a little older than Tristan.

Oh God, everyone here would be younger than me , I thought, suddenly even more self-conscious than I’d been.

“Do you want a drink?” she asked as she led me to Nina’s office.

Two shots of vodka, please . “I’m good. Thank you.”

The office with Nina’s name on it was open, and I saw her at her desk, peering at her laptop screen. When she saw me, she rose and shook my hand. This handshaking was new and professional. Usually, it was hugs and air kisses.

Nina gave off an air of determination that was both comforting and intimidating. She exuded confidence in her tailored navy pantsuit that flattered her curves. She was probably my age, I thought, and she ran her own business, while I’d never worked in my life.

“Lia Boone,” she greeted me warmly, a twinkle in her eyes. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

She motioned me toward a client chair. “Me too,” I replied lamely as I parked my ass.

She studied me thoughtfully, her lips curved just a little. “Betsy is quite taken with you.”

I took a deep breath and steeled myself. This was my first job interview, and no matter how many YouTube videos I’d watched to coach myself, I was very unsure of how to handle myself.

“Thank you.”

Nina eased back comfortably into her chair. “Thank you for sending your CV to Rachel.” She had it in front of her, and I was embarrassed at how there was nothing on it, just my education and a couple of charity things I’d done that I wasn’t even proud of.

“You planned the Belle of the Ball Charity two years ago, didn’t you?” she asked, surprising me.

I licked my lips. “Yes. Ah…my”—could I say mother-in-law?—“well, the person who had to do it couldn’t, and I stepped in.”

Nina snickered. “By person , you mean Dolly.”

I smiled weakly.

“It was a good event. You did well. There were lots of moving parts, and according to the organizer, you excelled.”

I did?

And how did she even know the organizer ?

I didn’t know what to say, so I just nodded like an idiot.

Nina gave me a deliberate look. “Are you nervous, Lia?”

“Yes,” I hurriedly admitted. “This is…it’s my first job interview.”

Nina laughed. It was easy, casual, and light. “Oh, I remember my first time. I was not nearly as poised as you are.” She then picked up a pen. “What do you think your skills are, Lia?”

I had prepared for this. All the YouTube Interview Gurus had said to prepare for strengths and weaknesses.

“I am organized—very organized.” I can pull together a six-course meal for twenty people, no problem .

“I am detail-oriented.” You should see me ice cakes; it’s professional bakery level .

“I don’t get flustered easily.” Dolly has tried and failed time and again.

“I work hard.” And don’t even expect a pat on the shoulder, as my husband has never appreciated what I do for the family and him.

“All important skills for any job,” Nina remarked. She took some notes on my CV. I didn’t even dare to look in case she’d written total loser .

“I know I have no experience, but?—”

“Yes, you do,” she cut me off smoothly. “You just listed them to me. Look, Lia, you’re not the first woman to take care of her family and find herself in the job market a decade or two later, wondering what she has to offer compared to the hotshot young ones.

Here is what I think. You have life experience that no twenty-five-year-old can compete with.

Your skills are honed over years of taking care of your family and dealing with the Savannah society bullshit. ”

I smiled at that.

Her eyes lit up with amusement. “When Betsy and I first talked about helping women return to work, our goal was to support people like you—not just in reentering the job market, but in discovering what truly lights you up. Not only what you’re good at, but even the things you didn’t know you could love. ”

I felt some of the tension dissipate.

Nina was right. I wasn’t the first woman to do what I was doing. “You’re right, I feel inadequate—but you’re also correct in saying that I have a lot of life experience, which has taught me patience and given me the ability to listen, learn, and adapt.”

Nina’s gaze softened with understanding.

“We have set up an internship program. Now bear with us, because you’re the first person to go through it, so you’ll be our guinea pig.

We will need you to be candid with us on what’s working and what’s not so we can build this program and bring more women into Savannah Lace, and give them the experience they need to bolster their skillset and CV. ”

“I’ll be a great guinea pig,” I blurted out.

She laughed, her face bright. “Excellent. It’s a twelve-month program, and you will spend this time in four departments.

Your first three months will be with Luna Steele as a project manager.

Luna is our head of architecture. After that, you will then spend three months with Nova Larue, who is our office manager, supporting her.

Then, you will work with Stella Carter’s team, project managing landscape design.

Lastly, you will work with me as an executive assistant, overseeing the projects I work on. ”

I gaped at her. She was giving me a job for twelve months, during which time I would be able to gain all this experience. That was…amazing! More than I ever thought this could be.

“What do you think?”

“That I need to buy Betsy Rhodes a big fat present.”

“She likes champagne,” Nina informed me. “Blanc de Blanc, preferably chardonnay.”

I tapped the side of my head. “Noted.”

“You’ll fit in very well here,” Nina stated. “Now, I have a question that may seem intrusive, but please don’t be offended. I’m from Savannah, and I know how our society works. You know that your husband’s family is not going to jump with joy that you’re working at Savannah Lace.”

“My father-in-law was happy to learn of my interview,” I told her, which was true.

Nina arched an eyebrow. “Abraham Boone has certainly softened. The last time I saw him was years ago when I was going through my divorce, and he called me a harlot.”

Since I knew Abraham, I knew he was capable of that. “He used to call me a gold-digger,” I confided cheerfully. “But after the stroke, being in a wheelchair has made him see the world with a different, kinder perspective.”

“Your husband? How does he feel?”

I shrugged. “I’m forty-four years old. My husband doesn’t have a say in what I do.”

She smiled. “Good. Because, unlike Shakespeare’s Ophelia , you shouldn’t wait around for a man to decide your future.”

My eyes widened in surprise at her bluntness, but I laughed, relieved and energized by her candor. I needed exactly this—someone who believed in me enough to challenge me.

Nina pushed an envelope toward me. “Here is the contract. Go home, read through it, and give me an answer by the end of the week.”

I shook my head. “You can get my answer now. It’s yes .”

“You don’t want to look at the contract?”

I shrugged. “We’re fortunate that we don’t need my salary to make ends meet. I care to be paid for what I do. I deserve that. But I don’t think you’ll lowball me. Also, what I get in return, regardless of my salary, is more valuable to me than the dollar amount on this contract.”

Nina seemed surprised by my response or maybe by the confidence with which I spoke, as I had been a stumbling mess at the start of this interview.

She gave me a brisk nod. “First up, you’ll be working under Luna, who is right now working on a huge hospital project bid.” There was a knock on the door then. “Speak of the devil.”

Luna peeked in. “You ready for me?”

“Yes.” Nina waved her in.

Luna looked like she belonged on a motorcycle rather than behind a drafting table. Her short, dark hair framed an expressive face, and her boots clicked sharply on the hardwood floors as she approached, offering a firm handshake. I had seen her before, at some fancy social event.

“She has accepted the offer,” Nina told Luna.

“Welcome aboard, Lia,” she greeted me warmly.

“Thank you. I’m excited to learn.”

“Wonderful! Welcome to Savannah Lace.”

“Can you walk her to Nova so we can get the ball rolling on the hiring process?” Nina requested Luna.

My new boss took me around the office, introducing me to women I’d known only vaguely from Savannah’s curated social circles. But here, they were authentic and vibrant, nothing like the carefully manicured wives I usually encountered at charity luncheons.

“This is Mira Bodine,” Luna said, gesturing toward a younger woman with luminous dark eyes who managed the bright, airy café area. “She keeps us alive with coffee and amazing food.”

Mira laughed softly. “Come by whenever. We keep snacks stocked to avoid workplace meltdowns.”

Next, Luna introduced me to Aurora Rhodes, whom I’d only met in passing before. Aurora was elegant, composed, and effortlessly sophisticated. I knew the power she wielded socially—Betsy Rhodes was Savannah royalty—but Aurora herself was refreshingly down-to-earth.

“Nice to officially meet you, Lia,” Aurora said with genuine warmth.

Luna took me to Stella Carter’s office. I knew of her and her stunning landscape designs at the Savannah Historical Museum. “Glad you’re here, Lia. New blood always brings a fresh perspective. I can’t wait for you to do your internship round with the landscaping team.”

Finally, Luna left me with Nova King Larue, the vivacious office manager, whose energy radiated outward as she squeezed my hands with delight. “I heard you were joining us. So excited. What did you think of everyone?”

Walking among these women, I felt an awakening inside of me.

My life had been limited for so long, surrounded by Dolly and Coco’s empty society gossip and my sister’s quiet homemaking.

These women were living life on their terms, unapologetically ambitious, even while juggling families and responsibilities.

I wondered if I’d have gone back to school sooner had I known women like this—if I’d have claimed my independence earlier rather than waiting until now.

“I think I’m going to be learning a lot,” I told her.

“Oh, yes, you will.”

The paperwork took another half an hour to complete, and I would start Monday at nine a.m. with a welcome breakfast.

I was literally bopping with excitement by the time I called Ada and Tristan from the car, fingers tapping impatiently on the steering wheel.

“I got it!” I exclaimed before they could even say hello.

“Mama! That’s amazing!” Tristan’s voice burst through, genuine delight clear. “We knew you would.”

Ada laughed. “Mama, I’m so proud of you.”

I felt my throat tighten slightly. My children’s unwavering belief in me brought sudden tears to my eyes. I quickly blinked them away. “It feels like I’m finally doing something real .”

“You deserve this,” Tristan said firmly.

I hesitated, suddenly nervous. “Sunday dinner with Dolly and Coco might be tricky. You know how they’ll react when they hear I’m working with Nina Davenport.”

Ada sighed audibly. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, sweetheart.” I did not want to pull my kid into the ugly Boone household drama. “I’ll handle it.”

“Mama,” Tristan’s voice cut in sharply, protective now. “Maybe you don’t need to go for these Sunday dinners at all. Why go if they’re not going to support you and your choices?”

“Yeah. Dad can go alone,” Ada agreed with her brother.

Part of me recognized my kids were right—why subject myself to the subtle cruelty, to the criticism wrapped in silk and pearls? Yet, I wasn’t quite ready to take that step. Breaking with tradition felt dangerous, even though it was probably long overdue.

“I’m not ready to burn that bridge yet,” I acknowledged softly. “But…maybe soon.”

They went quiet, understanding but frustrated for me. The silence lingered, and I knew it was a sign: my children saw my worth more clearly than I ever did .

“I love you both very much. Thank you for being there for me, for being my champions.”

“We love you, too,” Ada remarked gently. “Whatever you decide, we’re with you. ”

“Yeah, Mama,” Tristan added. “If you want to keep it copacetic with Grandma and Aunt Coco, we’ll do the same. If you want to cut them loose, that’s fine, too.”

I ended the call as I pulled into the driveway, their words sinking deep into my bones.

I was slowly building something that was mine . Maybe soon, I would be strong enough not just to cross that bridge but to set it aflame behind me and never look back.