Recipes for Life

Prologue

Odette

I gripped the certified letter in my hand and squealed in excitement.

I did it! I finally did it! I passed my certifications and boards to become a PA.

While it took a bit longer than I expected, I wouldn't change anything for the world.

An excited garble that matched mine sounded from behind me, and my eyes locked with the one thing that held three-fourths of my heart. Lux, my baby girl.

Man was she a surprise. Finding out I was pregnant at twenty-one with my long-term boyfriend—now husband—came as a shock, not an unwelcome one by any means, but just a shock, nonetheless.

I finished with my Bachelor’s, but just barely before Lux was born.

Murphy went on to become a lawyer, and now, three years later, he was a damn good one.

Once he started making some real money, we were able to hire a part time nanny, and I went to night school.

It was hard for me at first to be okay with leaving Lux alone; I felt like a bad mom leaving my newborn with a nanny.

Murphy assured me that it was okay, and we would be okay.

I was very tired, my hours mixed with his, and there wasn't a lot of family time.

I spent a time or two crying to my husband about how much I felt like a failure since I wanted the best of both worlds—to be a kick ass mom and a kick ass PA.

Holding this letter in my hand made it all worth it: all the late nights, all the date nights that never happened. I couldn't stop grinning.

Murphy was spending the night in the city since he had to wine and dine with some clients this weekend.

I knew my results would be coming shortly, but I had no idea they would be today.

An idea struck me and before I knew it, I was calling my mother-in-law to see if she would watch Lux for the night so I could surprise my husband with the news and a night alone for once .

I desperately missed the intimacy we had been lacking for the last few months.

I chalked all his late nights up to the fact that he was the only one supporting us at this time.

I knew he made good money, but he paid for everything and never told us no.

I didn't ask for much; I preferred the quieter side of life, but he always insisted that we have the best, like designer clothes and handbags.

Lux had toys she would never play with and furnishings that cost more than some people make in a year.

While waiting for my mother-in-law to get here to pick up Lux, I packed an overnight bag with the raciest lingerie I owned, and Murphy had yet to see.

I wracked my brain, trying to think of the last time we had sex, and it had to have been over a month ago.

That thought made me frown; we used to have sex at least once a day, if not multiple times.

I sighed, parenthood. I wouldn't change it for the world, I just hoped now that I was done with my schooling, we would go back to spending more time together.

Murphy had been my entire heart since I was sixteen years old, but I felt so fulfilled sharing all my love between him and Lux.

The drive to the city was quiet since it was late enough for rush hour traffic to be long gone, but I couldn't help the anxiety that was rising inside.

I kept tapping the steering wheel trying to find an outlet for the energy.

Looking back on this moment, I knew there was something in the universe that was preparing me for what I was about to walk into, for what I was about to see. ..