Free A Girl's Guide to Moving On by Debbie Macomber

time I saw you,” he said, his voice low. “I felt like I’d been sucker punched. You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Nichole.”
    I forced a smile. I’d expected he would use flattery, but I was past the point of believing what he said, no matter how much I wanted to believe it. Flattery whispered in my ear wasn’t going to change my mind.
    He tucked his arm around my waist and led me to the hostess desk. The young woman smiled warmly and assured us our table was ready. We were escorted into the dining room and seated in an intimate booth. As soon as we were comfortable we were handed menus.
    Within minutes our waiter appeared and took our drink orders. The server went into great detail outlining each of the specials, and then he left us to make our decision. If only this issue of a reconciliation were as easy to make as our dinner choices.
    Jake barely glanced at the menu. He set it down on the table and reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together.
    “Thank you for this,” he whispered, and then brought my hand to his mouth for a lingering kiss.
    I gently pulled my hand back. I didn’t have anything to say. Although I had agreed to dinner, I hadn’t decided on anything else. Jake’s eyes rounded as if I’d disparaged him. I wasn’t intentionally being reserved; I simply didn’t know what to expect or what to read from his actions. Yes, I knew what he wanted, but he didn’t seriously believe all it would take was a few words and buying me an expensive dinner, did he?
    Within minutes the waiter returned with a high-end bottle of champagne. Surprised, I looked to Jake. We hadn’t ordered it. It seemed Jake had earlier. If he assumed tonight was a celebration, then he was premature. My look must have said so, because he gently squeezed my hand.
    The waiter poured us each a glass and Jake made the toast. “To love that lasts a lifetime,” he whispered, and clicked his glass with mine.
    I started to protest, but he gently pressed his finger against my lips.
    “I don’t mean to be presumptuous, Nichole. My heart is full of hope and that is all this is. Hope. I’m celebrating that you’re here with me, nothing more.”
    I sipped the champagne and had to admit it was the best I’d ever tasted. After a discreet moment the waiter returned for our dinner orders.
    Jake waited until the man had left and then he reached again for my hand, holding it in both of his. “I don’t mind telling you, I haven’t done well without you and Owen,” he said, and his voice cracked just enough for me to notice that he was struggling with emotion.
    I squeezed his hand. “This divorce hasn’t been easy on either of us. Or Owen.”
    Jake kept his head lowered. “I miss my family. I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I know I don’t deserve a second chance, but, Nichole, I’m begging you not to sign those divorce papers.”
    I bit into my lower lip. “We haven’t lived together in two years, Jake.”
    “I know, and those have been the hardest years of my life. When you first moved out I was sure you’d eventually change your mind and come back to me, but you didn’t. And then the attorneys got involved and I did everything I could to hold up the proceedings. I thought that in time we’d be able to work this out.”
    I’d caught on early to his tactics and resisted every ploy he’d used.
    “At first I couldn’t believe you were serious,” Jake admitted. “And then I was angry. It’s only been in the last few weeks that I’ve realized my life wouldn’t be worth anything without you and Owen. I need you both so badly.”
    I needed my husband, too, and Owen needed his father, which was what made this decision so difficult.
    “Coming home to an empty house is killing me because I know I’m the one who drove you away. Tell me you’ll give me another chance, Nichole. Give me hope that I haven’t destroyed our lives by my stupidity.”
    The waiter arrived with our dinner salads and Jake eased back. “Let’s