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moment, part of me wanted him to say, “No! Don’t go on your date. Stay here with me and we’ll order Chinese.” If he would have said that, I probably would have said okay. Yet, who was I kidding? The man picking me up in an hour and a half was gorgeous and young, and his presence tended to stop my heart. Why wouldn’t I want to go out with him? Because I was scared shitless. In Luke’s house, I wasn’t scared. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t bored either. And this wasn’t purely platonic for me. But there was something oddly relaxing about being in Luke’s big, quiet house, and I wanted to stay. Forever!
    “Thanks, Luke,” I smiled, “I appreciate the support.”
    “Can I have your phone number? Maybe we could do coffee sometime or go running together.”
    Score! He asked for my number! Yet, coffee and/or exercising together seemed very platonic. Still, as he programmed my number into his cell phone, I was very happy that he wanted to see me again, no matter what we would do together.
    Luke walked me back to my car and per my request, we brought Lucky with us. I shut my car door, started the engine, and rolled down the window.
    “Make sure you look beautiful tonight,” said Luke, “I know you will. I wish I could see you all dressed up for your date.”
    “Thanks,” I smiled, glancing down at Lucky, who was panting and wagging her tail. “Thanks for everything, Luke. Bye, Lucky!” I said.
    I drove off, and in my rear view mirror I watched Luke and his dog turn around and start walking. He was adorable. Luke, that is. And Lucky… What a great name. It was funny. I was the one who felt Lucky. Luke liked me. I could tell.

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    Chapter 6
    M y doorbell rang at 7:04, and ironically, Preston could have gotten his wish if I’d have answered the door at that moment. That’s because I was still wearing just my bra and underwear thanks to Laura, who called me fifteen minutes earlier, hysterically crying upon hearing the news that Alan bought his girlfriend a three-carat diamond ring.
    “Audrey was the one who told me about it! Can you believe that? I had to find out through my daughter, that my husband is getting married!” she said, barely audible since she was sobbing while she spoke.
    “What a jerk,” I said sadly, “I’m so sorry, Laura. It’ll be okay. I promise.”
    “I don’t think so,” she sobbed, “I mean, I’m forty four years old!” She sobbed more and then went on, “In two weeks, Audrey will be off to Europe and then college, and now, when I’m supposed to start enjoying life, I’m going to end up a lonely old woman with no one.” She continued to cry and hyperventilate.
    “Laura, first of all, you’ll never end up alone. You’ll always have me. And secondly, you are going to start enjoying your life more. It’s just going to be different than what you pictured. You may actually meet someone you really love, now that Alan will be out of the picture.”
    “Meet someone? Are you crazy? I’ll never ever go near another man, ever again! I find them all to be disgusting, selfish pigs who serve no purpose in life other than to bring strong women down and ruin everything!” She began sobbing again and I realized just how much Laura was about to go through.
    Although death and divorce are very different situations, I could relate to my sister’s feelings, and I was literally getting nauseous as I remembered how I felt in the months and weeks following my husband’s sudden death. The thought of meeting, dating, touching, and/or opening up to another man in the slightest had been repulsive to me.
    I also realized, however that Laura’s outlook was temporary, and that all it would probably take for her to change her mindset was time, or let’s be honest, a Preston or a Luke. All that being said, there was no reason to tell Laura any of this right now. I just had to allow her to vent and feel this way until something within her changed. And that time was undoubtedly down the