My Lucky Groom

You’ll be making way more than you need to live in this place. You can go upscale! A place at the Watergate!”
    “But I like it here,” Ventura protested. There was no place she’d rather live. At least on this side of the Potomac. Her phone rang, and she saw it was Richard.
    “I’m calling to congratulate you.”
    “Thanks so much. None of this would have happened without you.”
    “I don’t believe that,” he said. “You might have taken a different path, but you would have gone that same way eventually. I’m sure of it.”
    “Ricky and Elisa were a big inspiration.”
    “The kids miss you.”
    “I miss them too.”
    “We all miss you.” There was a pause on the line; then his voice rose in a question. “Ventura? I was hoping to take you out to dinner to celebrate. I mean , you’re not working for me now. And well… I hope you don’t mind, but Jason told me you’re no longer seeing Charles.”
    Ventura stared at Mary, who innocently turned away.
    “That would be nice,” she said.
    “Can I pick you up on Saturday at seven?”
    “Seven sounds fine,” Ventura said with a grin.
    Nanette and Mary exchanged knowing glances.
    “He finally asked you out?” Mary said, sounding pleased.
    Ventura nodded, still over the moon herself. She was going out on a date with a man she was crazy about. Head-over-heels crazy about. Now, all she had to do was think up something to wear.
    “Don’t worry, dear,” Nanette said sweetly. “We’ll help you get ready.”
    “Oh, no you won’t!” Ventura said with a laugh. “I know you both mean well, and Mary, your fashion advice is the best. But, girlfriends, the Ventura Hart you see sitting before you today is not the one who walked in here all those weeks ago. I’m a new woman, my own woman . And, trust me on this,” she said with a wink. “I know just what Richard likes.”
    Mary and Nanette stared at her, both of them beaming from ear to ear.
    “Well, well,” Mary said, raising her flute of champagne. “Here’s to the new Ventura!” She paused a beat to study her. “Now that you mention it, it’s true. You are dressing better.” She brought a hand to her chin. “But in your style, not mine.”
    Nanette nodded approvingly and also lifted her glass. “I like it!”
    Ventura smiled and flipped back her hair. “Why, thanks,” she said, merrily clinking their glasses. “And here’s to both of you, my very best friends on earth. Thanks for sticking with me in the journey.”
    A tear glistened in the corner of Mary’s eye. “I’ll always stand by you, Ventura.”
    “Yeah,” Nanette said, swallowing hard. “Me too.”
    Ventura’s heart brimmed with affection for the two of them. For the first time in her life, she knew what having a mother and sister felt like. She set down her glass and stretched her arms out wide. “Aw, come here,” she urged the two of them. They put down their drinks as well to join her in a group hug, where they all giggled and cried and said how much they loved each other…until they finally decided to open another bottle of champagne.

Chapter Twelve

    The following Saturday, Ventura and Richard strolled along the path beside the Tidal Basin. The moon rose high above, casting its reflection on the water as warm breezes blew, strumming through the cherry trees. They’d had a delicious dinner at an Argentinian restaurant: enormous grilled steaks with a wonderful bottle of wine. The conversation had flowed easily. Perhaps because they already knew each other so well. Although in some ways this was their first date, in many ways it wasn’t. Ventura and Richard had been getting to know one another for quite some time. They not only shared a friendship, but a powerful mutual attraction as well. An attraction that each of them had been fighting for far too long. With the barriers that had existed between them removed, being with Richard was exhilarating. Ventura felt herself warm through and through at the thought that someone could treat her so specially. Richard made her feel just like a fairy-tale princess, and no one had made her feel that way in a while.
    “Thanks for the dinner,” she told him. “It was fabulous.”
    He stopped walking to look in her eyes. “I’m glad you’re having fun. Thanks for coming out with me.”
    If only he knew. She’d go out with him anywhere. At any time.
    “Are you chilly?” he asked as the wind picked up.
    “Not a bit,” she said, holding his gaze. His face was darkly