Page 66 of The Havenport Collection

Astrid

I had never felt like this, so empowered and fit and badass.

Nora had talked me into going to a Krav Maga class with her, and since I had nothing better to do, I decided to go.

I had a feeling I wouldn’t be able to walk tomorrow, as every muscle in my body had been firing on all cylinders for the last hour, but my mind, my spirit… they were stoked.

I had never considered myself an athlete, but I played tennis in high school and college for fun and had enjoyed going to spin classes with friends back in law school. I liked exercise, I just didn’t have a lot of time for it. So I thought I knew what to expect.

I’d done a fair amount of workout classes in my life, but nothing compared to this.

It wasn’t just martial arts—we were running and jumping and fighting and screaming.

Yael, our instructor, taught us that Krav Maga was about saving your life and defending yourself.

The workout was incredible, but what Yael taught us—how to be aware, be agile, and be ready—was unlike anything I’d ever done before. And I was hooked.

The punching, kicking, and blocking kept my mind engaged and focused. I wasn’t stressed, and I wasn’t thinking about my career or my mother or anything else. I was solely focused on what I was doing, and I loved it.

I immediately found Yael and thanked her after class.

“You’re welcome,” she said in her Israeli-accented English. “You did well. When I saw you I thought you were one of those skinny girls who doesn’t like to get her hands dirty. You impressed me.”

“Thanks,” I replied. I wasn’t used to getting complimented on my physical prowess. “I can’t wait to come back.” She patted me on the back so hard it would probably leave a bruise and moved on to the other students.

This class was better than therapy. Not that I had given therapy much of an effort.

Almost all my colleagues were in therapy—lawyers tended to be miserable people—but it was almost impossible to make time for.

I regarded therapy as a luxury like yoga or baths that someone as busy and productive as myself couldn’t possibly make time for.

It was a shame because my therapist, Dr. Martha, was actually pretty amazing.

In our few sessions she managed to teach me that my billable hours did not measure my worth as a person.

She pushed me to try and define my personal values and encouraged me to find validation and self-esteem beyond what I was able to accomplish professionally.

Looking back, I really wished I had kept going.

Nora caught me on the way out, pulling me out of my own head. “I can’t believe Yael said that to you! She served in the IDF for ten years. She probably knows how to kill a man with a rubber band and a glue stick.”

I was flushed from the workout and the praise. “I am kind of in love with her.” Yael was in her early forties and looked like a cross between Jillian Michaels and Gal Gadot. She was effortlessly terrifying, and I wanted to learn all her secrets.

“Me too. She is my dream woman. Too bad she’s married. But seriously, that is the highest compliment from her.”

“I want to be her when I grow up.”

“Take a number, lady. I’ve been obsessed with her for months.

She moved here a few years ago. She’s married to Rose Thompson, who grew up here.

They have a couple of kids and live on the Thompson Farm.

She’s been a trainer here for a while but only recently opened this studio.

I love her classes. She gives you an incredible workout and pumps you up to go out into the world and kick ass. ”

“Yes! It’s empowerment with a side of cardio,” I said, zipping up my coat.

“I want to fuck up this day.”

“Me too. Let’s kick Wednesday’s ass.”

Nora smiled at me. “I knew I liked you. Wanna grab some coffee?”

“Hell yeah, I do.”

Nora led me to an adorable little place called High Tide.

It was definitely different than the Starbucks on the first floor of my building, where I primarily procured my caffeine.

It was kitschy and fun and a bit disjointed.

Concert posters warred with floral wallpaper, and it was filled to the brim with mismatched tables and chairs.

I read through the chalkboard menu while Nora chatted with the tattooed, purple-haired proprietress. This place was awesome. Classical music played while people worked on laptops and moms chatted while bouncing their babies.

“You need to try a scone. They are incredible,” Nora said, placing her order.

“Ooh. Can I have a blueberry?”

The punk barista handed me one on a delicate china plate. “They are also award winning. First scone’s on us. Are you new in town?”

I was taken aback a bit. I wasn’t used to this kind of small-town hospitality. Nora patted my hand. “Say thank you to the nice lady, Astrid,” she whispered, as if I were a child.

“Wow. Thanks.” I tried to give her my most genuine smile. “I am new. I am visiting for a while. My aunt owns a cottage up on the north side of town, and I am staying there for a bit.”

“Oh, you’re Connie’s niece! I have heard so much about you. Welcome. I’m Leah.”

She gestured for me to sit down. Nora and I headed to a small table.

I bit into the scone. It was pure heaven. “I haven’t had a scone like this since I was in London.”

Nora smiled. “Told ya. These scones are famous in Havenport.”

In that moment, sitting in the coffee shop with my new friend, enjoying caffeine and delicious baked goods and still on an endorphin high from the most fun workout of my life, I was happy.

Just full-on happy. It was a good day. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt like this— light and giddy and ready to face the world.

Most of the time I felt like I was dragging around an invisible weight with me.

“Has Emily been to Krav class yet? She needs to try it.”

“No, not yet. I keep nagging her. Let’s both work on her. So do you want to go back?”

“Yup. I’ll be there tomorrow. I don’t have much going on, and this is the best I’ve felt in years.”

“So what’s going on with you and Declan? I heard you stared down Jackie at the diner last weekend.” She gave me a pointed look.

Wow. News traveled fast in this town. I studied my scone.

I didn’t want my face to give anything away.

Nora was sharp, nosy, and missed nothing.

And for some reason, my usual stoicism escaped me around her.

There was something so genuine, so disarming about Nora that I couldn’t help but spill my secrets.

I decided to keep it simple. “We’re dating.”

“Really?” She raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow.

I shoved some scone in my mouth and nodded.

“That’s great. I’m not being rude, I swear, but Declan doesn’t really date.”

“He’s dating me,” I said with a small bit of defensiveness.

“I know. And I’m psyched for you. We all know he’s a big softie underneath that broody, smoldering exterior. I’m glad you drilled down deep enough to find his soft center.”

I smiled. I really liked Nora. “Me too.”

“And I’m really glad you came into my store. Cece is so busy with Liam, I have been in need of some girl time.”

“I hear you. I can’t remember the last time I just hung out with a girlfriend. And those jeans are so comfortable.”

“And your ass has never looked better.”

I raised my coffee cup. “I’ll drink to that.”

I turned to Nora. “So what about you? Is there a special guy in your life?”

She shook her head, and her thick ponytail whipped around. “Nope. No one special.”

“I don’t believe you.” Nora didn’t seem like the type of woman who wanted for male attention.

“There isn’t. Trust me. I wish I was getting some on the regular. Cece is insufferable, constantly going on and on about all the orgasms she is having. Makes me want to cut her sometimes.”

I laughed. That would be super annoying.

She continued. “I date. When I feel like it. I also fuck when I feel like it. But it’s been a slow year. I’ve been busy with my business, and I just haven’t felt like making an effort with guys.”

I nodded. “Trust me. I get it. I spent years working around the clock. I couldn’t spare the time for a guy, especially if it meant I had to shower and put on makeup first. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.”

“Amen, sister.”

We talked about Nora’s business. She filled me in on her expansion plans, the new web portal she was planning, and about some of the challenges of retail.

It was fascinating. I had spent years digging deep into clients’ businesses, understanding everything about what they did, and I loved it.

Hearing Nora’s passion and vision was inspiring.

We talked about our families. Nora told me about her overbearing parents and her five older brothers, and I told her about my mom and being an only child. We laughed and joked, and it was so much fun to find a connection with another woman my age.

“So now that you are learning Krav Maga, are you going to go kick the ass of that guy who got you fired? Maybe a quick throat punch?”

There was a part of me that fantasized about that exact scenario.

But violence was not the answer, at least for now.

“No. I am going to get my justice. The truth will come out eventually. I’m just trying to lie low and recharge so I can go back with a vengeance.

” The firm was conducting an internal investigation into the failed merger.

Once they learned I was not responsible for the mistake and that Max had framed me, I would either be offered my job back or they would give me a recommendation so I could find a new one. I could be patient if I had to.

“Good girl. They won’t know what hit ’em.”

I smiled. I forgot how nice it was to spend time with other women.

“But speaking of annoying friends who are having lots of sex.” She eyed me warily. “You fought today with the intensity of a sexually frustrated woman. And you certainly don’t look drunk on orgasms.”