Nick’s eyes stay on her for a beat longer. Will he always do that? Let his gaze linger on her, even though she has made it clear that it’s Bobby whom she loves? He’d stop if she asked him to. She knows he would. What does it say about her that she’s never asked?
The lights dim. Soft applause breaks out as a short, blonde woman makes her way onstage. Gina recognizes her instantly: it’s Verena, Malaika’s mom. She had met her a few weeks ago. But Gina hadn’t seen her backstage. Verena is holding a microphone, issuing a warm welcome and thanking everyone for their presence. Gina thinks it’s sweet that Malaika has asked her mom to introduce her. It speaks volumes about her character.
“I’m proud of you.” Nick’s whisper in her right ear. She can smell his aftershave. He’s worn the same one since college. Memory is a funny, powerful thing. If she were to close her eyes, she would be transported to the night she shared with Nick, all those years ago. But she doesn’t want to turn back time. She loves Nick, will always love Nick. But she’s in love with Bobby. He is her soulmate.
“Thank you,” she mouths, glancing at him for a fraction of a second.
She turns back to the stage, exhaling when she notices Nick doing the same.
Gina reaches over and takes Bobby’s hand. He smiles at her and she leans in and gives him a quick peck on the lips.
“Hmm,” he whispers. “What was that for?”
“For being my Bobby.” She squeezes his hand. This is where she wants to be: by his side. Together, they’ve built a life. A world of their own making. Nothing matters more than their partnership, their family.
Bobby looks at her with his intense eyes. “I love you,” he says.
Gina feels it, the tug at her heart. The guilt over the secret she’s been keeping from her husband for nearly sixteen years. She’s used to it, feeling this way, especially when he looks at her like that, with such devotion. Months ago, Gina had come close to confessing, during one of their counseling sessions. They had been discussing their parents (Charles’s affair, Gina’s estrangement from her mom and dad), and for some reason (Gina doesn’t quite remember the context), Bobby had said that sometimes it was best to leave the past in the past. Those were his exact words—Gina is sure of it. They’re imprinted in her mind.
“Do you really believe that?” Gina had asked. At that point in their treatment, she’d been optimistic about hers and Bobby’s chances as a couple. Their therapist had already proven herself to be wonderful: patient and pragmatic. She’d even encouraged Gina to pick up running again, which she had, with a gusto that indicated she shouldn’t ever have quit.
Bobby had nodded, adding that if the scandal had taught him anything it was that life was about moving forward. Bobby was determined to live in the moment. He wasn’t sure what his next steps would be, professionally speaking, but he was excited for the change. And to enjoy life a little.
“Nick did it for so long,” Bobby had said. “It’s my turn now.”
It’s a convenient, cowardly move, but Gina had taken his words as a sign that she should take her secret to the grave. And not just because the truth would hurt Bobby, but also because it would hurt Calan. She doesn’t see the point in putting her family through that. Thankfully, Nick seems to agree.
“My offer still stands,” Bobby whispers in her ear.
“The island?” Gina says, smiling.
“You, me, and coconut trees.”
“What about our son?”
“He’ll be in college soon, studying to become the next Stan Lee.”
Gina smiles. It’s yet another way in which Bobby has evolved.
“What are you two whispering about?” Caroline asks, whipping her neck in their direction. She’s sitting next to Bobby.
“None of your business,” Bobby replies, not taking his eyes off Gina.
Caroline rolls her eyes. “It isn’t normal, you know, being all googly eyes for each other after fifteen years.”
“Sixteen in three months.” Bobby looks at her with utter adoration. “I love you, Jib.”
“I love you more,” Gina says. “And I’ll choose you. Forever.”
Were you utterly gripped by The Faithfuls? For more captivating emotional fiction from Cecilia Lyra, read The Sunset Sisters now!
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The Sunset Sisters
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“An emotional, heart-warming summer read… This book will envelop you and not let you out of its grasp until you have read each and every word of this bittersweet, emotional tale… pulled at my heart strings and took me on an emotional, heart-warming ride.” Goodreads Reviewer
Two sisters. A surprising inheritance. A summer that changes everything.
As children, half-sisters Cassie and Julie were nearly inseparable, bonded through happy, lazy summers playing barefoot in the surf and sleeping out on the porch of their grandmother’s Hamptons beach house. Though from wildly different backgrounds, each magical summer the girls were as close as only best friends, accomplices, sisters can be. But they haven’t spoken in nearly fifteen years—not since the funeral of Cassie’s mother—and now there is only resentment and painful memories between them.
Successful and self-contained, Cassie is shocked to learn the requirements of their Nana’s will—that she and Julie spend one final summer together in the Hamptons house in order to inherit. Cassie agrees reluctantly, she needs an excuse to leave Boston and give the growing rumors about her personal life a chance to die down.
And for Julie, who is discovering too late the cracks in her marriage, it is the chance to repair at least one damaged relationship. But for the two sisters to regain what they had, they will have to finally confront what happened the night Cassie lost her mother. With their Nana’s wisdom guiding the way, could this summer bring painful discoveries, and a new direction, for both sisters?
An emotional and riveting novel full of family drama and dark secrets. Perfect for fans of Elin Hilderbrand, Emily Giffin and Jennifer Weiner.
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