Free The Time of Her Life by Jeanie London

possibly possess him to sell this place. It’s a total
mystery.”
    “Ask him.”
    “I can’t ask him something personal like that.”
    “Why not? Seems a logical question to me given the fact you’re
taking over his job.”
    “Because I can’t.”
    There was a beat of silence on the other end before Karan said,
“You’re working awfully hard to delineate boundaries between professional and
personal. What’s up with that?”
    “I don’t know what you mean.” Susanna only knew she’d better
get a move on. She didn’t want to get caught gawking at Jay’s house like a
tourist.
    “I’m talking about how many times you’ve mentioned getting
personal with this man. I hear it every time we talk. You’re curious about him,
Suze.”
    “Of course I’m curious. Why doesn’t he simply parcel off the
land, sell The Arbors and keep his family home?”
    “Why don’t you ask him? Oh, wait. That’s personal. Are you
interested in Jay? I mean interested, interested.”
    “Stop it. That isn’t funny.” Neither was the heat rushing into
her cheeks at the mere mention of being interested in Jay. “I’ll have a hand in
deciding the fate of the man’s house.” And wherever Jay was headed must be
incredible considering what he’d be leaving behind. “That’s all, Karan.”
    “Mmm-hmm.”
    “I can’t even believe you. Some best friend.”
    “What can’t you believe—that I know you so well? What kind of
best friend would I be if I let you lie to yourself?”
    Susanna slowed the golf cart to a stop, pulled the phone away
from her ear and scowled at it, a thrill of annoyance overshadowing the
excitement of a moment ago. “That’s unfair.”
    “Are you sure?”
    Susanna didn’t answer because that simple question had a
complicated answer. Karan wasn’t entirely wrong. Susanna couldn’t think about
being interested in another man, not Jay or anyone. The very thought made her
uncomfortable deep inside, not so much guilty as...unable.
    She hadn’t realized until this very moment.
    “I’m broken,” she admitted.
    “No, my dear sweet friend,” Karan said in a thoughtful tone.
“You’re just making peace with the hand life dealt you. You and Skip had big
plans, and things didn’t turn out as you expected. You need a new plan.”
    “Is that what’s happening?”
    “I think so. You were with Skip for your entire adult life. Now
he’s gone. It’s got to be easier to shut down a part of yourself than it is to
open up and take chances on living a life you didn’t imagine.”
    Susanna let the idea filter through her, stared down the path
beneath the arbors in the paling dawn, vines winding through trellises and
archways so twisted it would be difficult to follow any one to the root.
Impossible to separate.
    She and Skip had been like that. Their lives entwined into one,
so now she couldn’t find her own roots, didn’t think she’d ever bloom again.
    “I’m broken. If I wasn’t, I’d be able to figure out how to move
on, because I know better than to waste a second when none of us have any idea
what the future holds.”
    “True, true,” Karan said. “But you’re not wrong to feel the way
you do, Suze. You know, but you’re human.”
    “I have everything in the world to be grateful for. I shouldn’t
be stuck—”
    “You are grateful. You’re the most grateful person I know. You
don’t waste a second with your kids or me or anyone you love. I’m just saying
that you need to branch out. Before you’re old and gray and no man would ever
want you.”
    “Karan.” But Susanna found herself smiling.
    “There’s nothing wrong with being interested in Jay.”
    “This isn’t about Jay. It’s about me.”
    But Karan laughed a knowing laugh. And kept laughing until
Susanna hit the gas and took off, obligated to drown out the laughter with some
very rational arguments.
    “He’s helping me learn the ropes around here. And even if that
wasn’t the case, even if I was stupid enough to