Page 15 of Best Kept Vows (Savannah’s Best #6)

Ophelia

S ebastian was behaving strangely .

On Monday morning, he cooked breakfast. It was just eggs and toast, but he made the effort, and that was mind-blowing.

“Are you excited about your first day at work?” He refilled my coffee cup.

What was he up to? What was his angle? I hated that I didn’t trust my husband, but I didn’t. This wasn’t like him.

“I thought you didn’t want me to work,” I reminded him.

He gave me a small smile. “I’m sorry about that, Lia. I should’ve been more supportive. I think it’s exciting that you got a job so quickly and…I’m proud of you.”

Sebastian stood across the counter, calm, gentle eyes fixed on mine, waiting for my reaction. This wasn’t normal—not anymore, anyway. I was used to fights, accusations, and cold silences. But praise? Encouragement? Breakfast ?

Maybe I was still asleep, and this was a dream!

I studied him for a long moment. “I don’t know what to say.”

A flicker of hurt passed through his eyes before he covered it with a careful smile.

I sipped my coffee. “I am excited,” I admitted finally. “Nervous, too. It’s my first job.”

“You’ll do great.” He said it so sincerely that it made my heart twist painfully.

I stood up, grabbing my purse and keys. “Thank you for breakfast. That was…unexpected.”

“Lia,” he said quietly, hesitating as if unsure of himself. “I want you to know I’m proud of you. Really. I know I haven’t shown it, but I am.”

A dull ache bloomed in my chest. “Thank you.”

He stepped closer, reaching out to briefly squeeze my hand. The touch was gentle, almost tentative—so unlike Sebastian. “Have a great first day.”

I nodded, still wary. “I’ll try.”

I left, feeling off-kilter.

Sebastian’s sudden kindness unsettled me more than our usual arguments.

As I drove toward downtown Savannah, my mind raced, replaying his words, trying not to analyze his intentions. I couldn’t afford to fall into old habits again—I couldn’t let myself disappear so he could be the man of the house.

Pulling into Savannah Lace’s parking lot, I took a deep breath to steady myself, forcing Sebastian out of my mind. My first day at a job deserved my full attention .

Rachel led me to my desk, which was in the center of the open office area where several employees worked. Surrounding this space were private offices occupied by managers and team leaders, creating a layout that balanced collaboration with designated leadership spaces.

Luna brought me a cup of coffee and leaned against my desk. “I hope you take it with a little milk.”

“I do. Thank you.”

“We’re diving straight into the hospital bid today. Ready?”

Was I?

“Yes.” I had no reason to be nervous. I worked hard for my MBA and acquired knowledge and some skills. I could do this.

Luna walked me to a conference room that looked more like a design studio. It was spacious, flooded with natural light, and filled with drafting tables, architectural models, and design plans pinned across every surface.

She introduced me to the rest of the team working on the hospital project: Evan Beard, the lead structural engineer, who specialized in integrating cutting-edge materials into healthcare design; Izabel Mar, our project coordinator, ensuring timelines, permits, and compliance were on track; and Jasper Wolf, the MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) engineer, who would make sure the hospital’s systems ran efficiently and met sustainability standards.

“And, of course, you’ve met Stella,” Luna added, nodding toward the landscape architect in charge of designing the hospital’s healing gardens and outdoor spaces .

They greeted me warmly and walked me through the blueprints and renderings, explaining the hospital’s layout, critical zones, accessibility codes, and the intricate details of creating patient-friendly spaces.

As the day progressed, I realized how seamlessly they worked together—bouncing ideas off each other, debating construction methods, and ensuring the hospital’s design was as functional as it was innovative.

Luna was brilliant, and I admired how effortlessly she balanced creativity with technical requirements.

Everyone spoke to me as an equal, not an intern, and it felt incredible.

No one was treating me like the poor schmuck who had to bring coffee and snacks for everyone—no, they included me in their conversations and asked for my input (not that I had a lot to give).

It was my first day at work, and I knew I was addicted to it—to contributing, to working with people toward a common goal.

I’d spent my life taking care of the house and raising our children, but they were gone, and honestly, I didn’t have much to do.

I’d figured that out after Tristan left and I saw how much of her own life Ada was living.

They weren’t babies—they were on their own, and that made me think about what I wanted for myself.

After the introduction, Luna took me to her office for a one-on-one meeting. “We’ll have these once a week. I’ll make sure they’re on your calendar. This is time for us to talk about what you need and how I can help you.”

Since this was my first job and I didn’t know much about the inner workings of companies, I had expected my boss to be…

well, bossy, even though the drinks the previous evening had told me that things wouldn’t entirely be as I’d seen on television.

And they weren’t. Luna was asking me how she could help me , not the other way around.

“You’ll need to familiarize yourself with healthcare codes,” Luna told me. “Especially ADA regulations, NFPA guidelines, and Savannah’s historic district restrictions. It’s a juggling act, but that’s what makes these projects challenging and rewarding.”

“Got it.” I took notes, feeling a rush of excitement. “Anything else?”

“Yes.” She grinned, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Relax. It’s your first day; you have time to learn.”

The day passed quickly. I helped Luna review the presentation for the hospital bid, learned the nuances of patient flow diagrams, and soaked in conversations about structural integrity, ADA compliance, and therapeutic garden design.

It felt incredible to be doing meaningful work surrounded by strong, talented women who supported each other.

By the time evening arrived, my mind was buzzing pleasantly, exhausted but exhilarated. I drove home, smiling uncontrollably the entire way, feeling proud, purposeful, and fulfilled in a way I hadn’t experienced in years.

I was stepping into a new and thrilling chapter—and for the first time, it was entirely mine.

When I got home, Sebastian wasn’t there. I opened the fridge and looked inside, wondering what to cook, when my phone beeped .

Sebastian: I made reservations to celebrate your first day at work .

I read the message once, then twice, and then a third time. Was I in a coma, and this was all happening in my head?

This was my old Sebastian, my husband—the one who made time for all of us no matter how busy he was. He wasn’t perfect, but then neither was I.

We used to have a decent marriage—we kept the peace—and now…I didn’t know what we had. But Sebastian was trying, and since he was, I had to as well. I had to meet him halfway.

Me: Sounds wonderful! What time and where?